NC-17  m/f, m/m, m/m/m/f

The sun came up and highlighted two twin beds with  young men sleeping on them within the tiny cabin nearly in the middle of nowhere.  Both sound asleep. Both snoring.  Both with dark hair, fit bodies, pale skin that showed they didn't spend much time in the sun; that nighttime was their preferred environment.  The one on the left bed groaned and rolled over as the sun hit him in the face, batting at something.  "G'way," he muttered, flipping onto his stomach.  Then he paused.  The bed he had fallen asleep in the night before was larger than this.  This bed smelled like pine and air freshener.  The motel bed he had fallen asleep in smelled like lysol and butts.   He raised his head to glance around once he was sure he was basically the only one moving, finding the other bed occupied.  He got up and walked over to look at him.  He didn't know him.  Had no idea who he was.   Well, that should change because something strange was going on here and he was not amused.  He nudged the man on the bed.

"It had better be a god-fucking emergency to make you break into my apartment and wake my ass up since I only got to bed at three and it's got to be the buttcrack of dawn," the man complained tiredly.  He didn't even open his eyes.

"I don't think I broke in here, whoever you are.  And if this is your place, you need a maid."

The man on the bed blinked at him.  "Who the hell are you?"

"Dean.  You?"

The other guy sat up.  "Xander."  He looked around.  "Though you're right, not my place.  Mine's not quite as...rustic as this is."  He stood up and looked at himself.  He was fully dressed.  Dean was fully dressed.  They both gave each other an appraising look.  "Any idea where we are yet?" Xander asked calmly.  He was used to strange things.   Teleporting in his sleep was strange but he'd seen worse.  Hell gods came to mind.

"Not a clue.  Where were you when you fell asleep?"

"Cleveland.  You?"

"Up in Wisconsin by Madison and the college."

"Okay.  This is strange."  They searched the cabin, finding a large, old, dusty book on the kitchen table.  There was a pot of coffee and two sodas on the counter.  There were two MREs there as well.  Xander snorted.  "Yeah, like I eat MREs when I'm not in Africa.  Someone screwed up."

"You were in Africa?  In the military?"

Xander looked at him.  "What do you do, Dean?  I ask because this has to do with one of about six things in my life.  Before I ruin your mental state I should figure out which one."

"Um...  My brother and I are on a road trip to find our father."

Xander shook his head at the feeble lie attempt.  He was probably better when he was more awake.  "Okay, no trying to bullshit the bullshit artist, Dean.  Please!  Do you work with Wolfram and Hart?"  He looked confused but shook his head.  "Did the Powers send you?  Or did someone in Cleveland maybe?"  He got another head shake.  "Ever hear of Sunnydale, Buffy, Faith, or the Watchers Council?"

"You're a Watcher!" he demanded, backing up a step.  They hated those guys.

"Now, since they got blown up and Giles recruited," he said dryly.  "I was on the Sunnydale crew before then.  Since you know of them, I'm figuring you're in the same rogue demon hunting business others have been recently."

"Um, yeah.  Kinda."  He looked around again, getting himself some of the coffee.  "Think it's drugged?"

"No, I think someone did this to either make a point or to handle a problem."  He looked around then patted himself down, finding his cellphone and wallet.  "Huh."  No signal.  "We need to get closer to civilization.  That way I can call in and get us some support and rides home."

Dean looked out the front window, shaking his head.  "My car's out there."

"Cool.  Can I get a ride to civilization?"

"Sure."  He looked at him.  "I've only heard rumors about Sunnydale.  They never mentioned a male on the team."

"I jumped in to help Buffy in our tenth grade year.  Half the time they call me her White Knight.  Half the time they call me annoying.  Sometimes in the same sentence."

"Okay, I have heard about some guy who jumped in now and then.  They said his name was Angel though."  He took a sip.

"No, Angel was Buffy's boyfriend and a vampire.  He was the champion for the Powers That Be.  He died in LA a little over a year ago now facing a demonic invasion."  Dean shuddered.  "Basically, yeah."  He opened one of the sodas, taking a large drink.  "Was Willow mentioned?"

"Who?"

"Her witch."

"Nah.  You guys worked with a witch?"

"Or two, or three if Giles got into the casting stuff when we needed it."  He took another drink.  "Think your car has gas?"

"It had about a quarter tank the last time I knew."

"Killer.  Let's head.  I want some answers and I need to kick someone in the ass."  He looked at the book, flipping it open. "Oh, yeah, a prophecy."  He looked up.  "Did you forget that I've screwed so many prophecies my life line come with a warning label!" he shouted.  The book shimmered and changed a bit.  "Eeeh.  Fine.  Whatever.  I'll tell Giles on the way there.  Coming?"  He shoved the two sodas in his pockets.

"Yeah, let me get more coffee.   You're kinda loud, dude."

Xander looked at him.  "Right now I've got fifteen teenage girls I'm supposed to be teaching how to make stakes, defend themselves, and how to use the crossbow.  Of course I'm loud.  I have to talk over them."

Dean shuddered at that.  "Damn."

"Yeah, basically.  But hey, I'm not dead.  Probably."  Dean gave him another look.  He pointed out the door.  "Have you ever seen a green sunrise?"

Dean looked then shrugged. "Sometimes chemicals in the air do it.  Who knows."  He went to look his car over, coming in with his travel mug to rinse it out and fill it.  "Bathroom break?"

"Yeah, probably should."  He went to do that, coming out to find Dean had the book.  "We should bring it with us."  That got a nod and they headed out together, Dean getting in to drive.  "Any idea which state we're in?"

"It's cooler and it's October so I'm thinking upper Midwest.  I'm from Kansas originally."  He started the engine, smiling when it sounded normal.  "Well, that's good at least.  We'll have to stop for gas sometime."

"Hey, first gas station we find I can ask where we are."  He settled in, reading the book.  "Hmm.  A pair of hunters shall save all mankind from terror and strife by the power of the three and the unknowing one becoming stronger," he read.  "Not sounding like a promising beginning to this story."

Dean looked at him.  "Do you actually believe in those things?"

"We had quarterly apocalypses in Sunnydale, Dean," he said dryly, giving him a look.  "I've seen plenty of prophecies and screwed up many of them.  I'm the 'but' clause in most of them so far.  I've made the 'but' clause do some very strange things over the last few years."  He went back to reading.  "Another shall they train and those that train shall not hunt but find the Source, capitalized, of the Turmoil, also capitalized, that is plaguing mankind so that the Three can fight it."

"Uh-huh.  Is that like searching for the cause of a problem?"

"Yeah.  Or the source of magic, one of the two.  Then again, I'm not Bink."  He went back to reading.  "Not liking this."  He turned the page, going on.  "Oooh, and German."  He squinted, pulling it closer to read the tiny type.  "A warning to all that shall be given this chore.  The Powers are great and many.  The Power holder is stronger than he appears.  Do not distrust the Three and do not make the Three angry.  They will bite."  He snickered.  "Good to know."

"Are the three good guys or bad?" Dean asked, finding the end of the driveway ran onto a paved two-lane road.  "Good, asphalt is better for the tires."  He sped up a bit once he hit the asphalt with all four wheels, heading east.  They both had to go east, it'd be more practical.  Because this guy was making his insides feel odd.  "Are you maybe a half-demon or something?" he asked finally.

"I was born and lived on a hellmouth, of course I have power tainting me," he said absently.  "You should feel Willow when her shields go."  He looked up then touched the necklace he wore, and the tainted feeling quit making Dean nervous.  "Better?"

"Much.  What was that?"

"Shield around me to keep random spirits out, the power inside, things from coming after me or trying to date me.  Little things like that."  He went back to reading.  "Ah, here we go.  In Thiasmus."

"Never heard of it."

"It's a fairly ancient demon language.  A lot of ancient, powerful prophecies were written in it.  They're the builders of the demons.  Made their cities, created cultures and art."  His  lips moved while he read until he suddenly burst out laughing.  "Oh, yeah, someone was on the ancient crack pipe."  He looked up again.  "Can't be us, guys.   I'm at least partially trained!"  He went back to reading, shaking his head.

"Partially?"

"Not like the Watchers were going to train the guy who jumped in.  They wanted me to go away most of the time."  He looked at him.  "They're a bit possessive about their one girl/one watcher/everyone else fuck off theory of how things should go.  Then again, they got blown up the year before Sunnydale went.  That's why we have a lot of future slayers in Cleveland and Giles trying to rebuild the Council with those of us who survived Sunnydale."  He looked at his phone.  "Well, I almost have a signal."

"Do we have any cash?  My wallet wasn't on me," Dean said at Xander's odd look.   "It was probably on the dresser with my cellphone when they took me.  Why was yours on you?"

"I climbed into bed naked," Xander said sarcastically.  "Someone had a plan."  He finally got a signal.  "Hold up."  The car stopped and Xander dialed.  "Giles, me.  Where the fuck am I?"  He listened.  "No, Giles, I'm not at  home.  I'm somewhere in the Midwest roaming at the moment.  I woke up next to a guy named Dean.  It's...huh?"  He listened to him.  "Fuck the Powers, Giles.  Have Faith do it!"  He glared at the front windshield.  "Giles, I'm not the new Champion and I don't have a whole lot to atone for," he said dryly.  "Not like Angel and his soul brooding thing."  He nodded, reaching up to rub his forehead.  "Okay, you know what?  I'm coming home.  Because even if that's true, I need crap outta my apartment.  Giles, I have forty bucks and my cellphone.  I need the stuff in my car and my apartment if I need to go hunting something like that."

"Like what?" Dean asked.

"What's your last name?"

"Winchester.  My brother is Sam before you ask."

"Huh.  Heard rumors about you two."  He listened to Giles complain.  "Giles, do *not* make me learn how to do the demon teleporty thing to come back there and bitch you out in person.  If they and you want me to hunt, I need my gear.  I don't care if you don't like it!" he shouted.   "Now, where in the hell are we?"  He rubbed his forehead again.  "Fine, I'll call back when I find that out," he said bluntly.  "We'll be talking when I get back, Giles.  No,  you can't have the artillery before you ask."  He hung up and looked at Dean.  "Find a gas station so I know which contact to call please?" he asked, sounding a bit pissed.

"Sure."  He kept going, finding them a gas station.  He decided to fill up the car because he knew he had a scammed credit card in the glove box.

Xander walked inside, smiling at the woman in there.  "We're complete idiots on a road trip and we're kinda lost.  No offense, but where in the hell are we?" he asked the old woman behind the counter.

She burst out laughing.  "Iowa."

"Okay, Iowa.  Do you have maps maybe?"  She pointed and he went to look.  "Two dollars."  She nodded.   He paid for one and walked it over.  "Okay, where in Iowa are we?"  She picked up a pen and drew a circle after a second's looking.  "Cool.  So highway is which way?"

She pointed.  "About ten miles, young man."

He leaned over to kiss her on the cheek.  "Thank you."  He paid for the gas since Dean was putting back the handle.  "You're a wonderful woman."  He walked out, putting the map on the hood of the car.  "We're here.  The highway is ten miles ahead of us."  He looked at Dean.  "And I have a contact I can call here," he said, pointing at a semi-major city relatively nearby.  "It's a gear shop."

Dean looked at him.  "What sort of gear do you guys use?"

"He'll have everything anyone could ever possibly need."  He found his phone and got into the phone book feature, finding the number.  "Phil, Xander.  I'm heading your way.  I have no idea how I got to Iowa.  I was in Cleveland the last I knew.  Yeah, big, dusty book when I woke up.  Thanks, man.  See you in a few hours."  He hung up, looking at Dean.  "Not only can he put us up, he'll be able to make sure we have enough of everything we need to get by until you can find your brother and I can find a way to go kill Giles in Cleveland."

"It's not too far out of the way.  Can I borrow the phone?"  Xander tossed it over and he called his brother.  "Sammy, it's me.  Iowa.  I have no idea, dude.  I woke up here.  There's a guy named Xander...."

"Harris.  Look up Buffy and then find me, it's easier in the databanks," Xander said dryly, leaning on the hood.

"Hear that?"  He nodded.  "Good, stay there.  I'll be back in two days at the most.  Yeah, do laundry for me."  He hung up and tossed the phone back.  "Whatever it was didn't wake him."

"That's fine," Xander said, shaking his head.  "It didn't wake me either."  He slid back in and buckled up, letting Dean fold up the map and get in to drive.  "Are we good on stuff until we get there?"

"Unless we run into an invasion I have rock salt shells and two sawed off rifles in the back," Dean said quietly, pulling out of the packette's driveway.

"You guys use...  Really?  Damn, must beat crossbows and stakes."

"You use a stake?"

"Yeah, we mostly deal with vampires.  Now and then we use swords or an axe, I'm getting pretty good with it after nine years."

Dean gave him a horrified look.  "Nine years?"  He didn't look that old.

"Nine years, dude.  Yeah.  Though ten months of it I was in Africa hunting down baby slayers and talking to shaman."

Dean shook his head quickly.  "What about your other stuff?  You mentioned artillery?"

"Sometimes the demon's really huge.  It takes the big bang.  Rockets are useless against vampires unless it burns them or severs their heads.  Why waste them on cemetery patrols?"

Dean shook his head again.  "You're strange, Xander."

"Hey, it was Sunnydale.  We're lucky we survived."

"Any ghosts?"

"Plenty.  We didn't do more than give them unhappy looks most of the time.  With that high of a death rate there were plenty of unsatisfied spirits hanging around.  We had too much to deal with to deal with them."

"No poltergeists?"

"We had one that wanted a replay of why he died and killed his lover, the music teacher.  Cordy had one in LA but that team handled it so she only had her ghost after that."  He shrugged.  "It happens.  We had nightly vamp patrols and time to hunt the hunting demons.  It happened most every night after work and dinner and before bed.  That's why Buffy ended up flunking out of school after a year."

"Wow."

"Basically.  Then again, Willow was doing most of her homework and about that time things kinda almost went to hell when Glorificus showed up to open a nasty portal to suck hell to earth.  Then Buffy died and was resurrected and the First Evil showed up.  That's why Sunnydale's a hole."  Dean stopped the car to stare at him, looking horrified.  Xander gave him a steady look back.  "The First blew up the Council and killed most of the potential slayers.  Willow activated them all," he recited, he had given this lecture a few times while finding the activated slayers.  "Then we went into the hellmouth to fight the First.  At the end of the battle the portal was closed, but it sucked in the town.  Cleveland's hellmouth was activated at that point so they ran to fix it.  That's why we're in Cleveland."

"How did none of the rest of us in the business hear about this?"

"Like we called for help?" Xander asked dryly, giving him a look.  "You guys don't come to Sunnydale, even when the world's ending.  Giles tried when there was an ascension, none of you answered.  So oh well."

"An ascension?"

"Yeah, little demon becoming bigger, pure demon.  Huge, nasty ass snake demon.  Blew up the high school to kill it during graduation.  It was the only way to sever the head of a ninety foot snake demon."

Dean blinked a few times.  "You're joking," he said finally with a grin.  "Right?"

"Hell.  No."  Xander stared at him then shook his head at the uneasy look.  "No."

"Fuck," Dean growled, getting them moving again.

"Yeah, we all felt that nudge against our assholes now and then," Xander admitted, shifting down so he was more comfortable and could close his eyes.  "Tell me when we get to the city limits so I can call again.  I've only had him shipping stuff to me before."

"Sure."  He turned on the radio and Xander grinned.  "Yes, I like music."

"Music's fine.  The slayers all have their own styles of music and half the time I end up listening to Pop divas who are about as big as crack whores."

"That's not music.  It's an attempt at music and a bad one."

Xander looked at him.  "Last year we had twenty-four teenage girls living with us, Dean."  Dean shuddered.  "Exactly.  Half of them got assigned or moved back home.  Now I only have fourteen and Dawn.  Most of the pop divas are still there.  If I have to listen to Celine Dion one more time I'm going to bash in heads and decide that brains are better than cheetos."

"Just don't do it to me," Dean ordered grimly.

Xander smirked at him.  "Are *you* listening to Celine Dion?"

"Hell no."

"Then we don't have a problem.  Though I have my phone, which has an i-pod built in.  I have my Weird Al playlist on it and my Creed, and possibly my Nickleback if you wanted to switch out."

Dean looked at him.  "Classic rock, Xander."  He got them onto the interstate, paying attention to the weak traffic flow around them.  Xander was snoring within minutes and he was happier with that.  The guy was bordering on creepy.  Especially with the way he always turned to look at him.

***

Xander walked into the store.  "Phil, my man, please tell me you have stuff?"

"I have your order right here, Xander," he said, handing over a large, squishy package.

Xander peeked inside then at him.  "Phil, it may have missed you but I'm not a girl.  I don't need a wedding dress.  If one of the girls does, I don't care.  That's Giles' job to deal with that issue and pay for it.  I'm not wearing it even if the Powers do think I should now and then."  He looked at it then at him.  "Which one?"

"Faith."

"She's...."

"About three miles away by her call."

"Interesting."  He called her cellphone.  "Woman, get your ass here now, I'm not picking up your shit and I don't care why you needed a wedding dress.  I'm not paying for it, get Giles to do it."  He hung up, looking at him, smiling a bit.  "Now that that's out of the way, I need hunting gear.  I got stolen from my apartment in Cleveland."

"You yelled at a slayer," Phil said, looking a bit ill at the moment.

"I yell at many of them every day, Phil, and I let that one have my virginity.  I can scream and rant at her if I want to.  She'll do it back if she's upset.  So, hunting supplies since Giles thought it was adorable?"

The man gave him a look then nodded.  "I know Faith has something of yours."

"Goodie.  And?"

Phil smiled.  "You don't want to know what?"

"No.  I doubt she got into any of the hidden areas.  I'll be lucky if I have a stake."  That got a nod.  "Oh, can you put Dean's needs on Giles' bill too?"

"Sure.  Did Giles authorize it?"

Xander looked at him.  Then he put the book on the counter.  Phil went very pale, which was amusing since he was a vampire who used bronzing tanner to look like a normal human.  "Yeah, so I need stuff, Phil.  Let me into the back room?"

"Sure," he agreed weakly, letting them walk off.  "Um, Mr. Winchester, we have some blessed bullets back there too if you need some.  Not too many but some.  I'm getting a new shipment in next week."

"Sure, I'll look to see if they'll fit anything I have.  Thanks," he said with a wave.  They walked past the fitting areas and up some back stairs, then got buzzed through a hidden door.  Dean found the light switch to flip it on, then stared.  "When you said everything we could need, I thought you meant less than heavy artillery to finish a war."  There was stuff in there he couldn't identify besides that it was probably a pretty explosion.  The stuff he could identify... if he ever needed something that heavy he'd better have reinforcements.  Like every single Marine ever born, and probably half the Army too.

"That's in the back area."  Dean gave him an odd look for admitting there was worse stored back there.  He pointed.  "Over there.  Bullets too probably."  He went into another side room, coming out with a few things before heading over there.  He handed Dean a stake and a crossbow.  Then he picked up a handgun to check it over.  He put it back and picked up something heavier, nodding at it.  It was checked over then slid into a holster and onto his belt for now.  A few other things then Xander found the blessed bullets.  Dean found some for his shotgun, peering into the box.  "How many?"

"Six."  He pulled them out.  "See any more?"

Xander pointed in a corner.  "Look over there.  It's either there or under the bleachers."  Dean nodded, going to find what he needed.  Xander went back into the main room, picking up a heavy case then another one, carrying them down.  He saw Faith stroking the dress.  "Invite me so I can eat cake."  He kissed her on the cheek.  "You have some of my stuff?"  She held up a keyring.  "That's Buffy's car, Faith."

"Well, yeah.  G said you needed it."

"You can't hide stuff in Buffy's car, I need mine.  Hers is a hatchback and has a pitiful engine."

"Tweedy said to bring hers," she said with a shrug.  "You gonna take 'em or not?"

He took the keys, walking the cases outside.  He looked around then smirked and undid the alarm on his car.  Dean came out to give him an odd look.  "Mine," he said with a point, loading the back.  He came back inside to get the other stuff.  "Faith, how did mine get here with Buffy's?"

"Red, how do you think?" she snorted, giving him an odd look.  Xander gave it back.  "What?  G said so!"  She handed something else over.  "Yours."

He looked at it then at her.  "How long have I been gone?"

"Two days.  Giles thought it might be a demon so he told your boss you had a sudden emergency you had to go to, all he said was you were heading west.  That's all D and Red got when they scried."  She beamed at him.  "The rest of your stuff is in the attic at the school."

"Yay me.  She include anything magicky?"

"Why would she?" she asked.  "Not your field."  He waved the book around and she grimaced. "If you had it in there, yeah."

"I had some," he muttered, going to check.  He came back in and went to the book room, coming out with three of them.  He was even nice enough to sign the purchase order and hand it to Phil.   "Now what?" he asked her and Dean.

"Now, I need to rescue my brother before he gets into trouble," Dean reminded him.  "Are you heading back to Cleveland?"

"I doubt he'll be able to," Phil said.  He pointed at the book Xander was holding.  "That's a serious prophecy.  You're going to be dealing with it for a while."

"I don't deal in that stuff," Dean complained.  "We hunt ghosts, poltergeists, minor demonic possessions, that stuff."

"Chill.  Xander's good at this stuff, he warps them so often the Powers have nightmares about planning stuff where he might be in the vicinity," Faith assured him.  She looked at Xander.  "Need anything else?"

"Yeah, I still need to hit my place since I had hidden areas."

"The sixty grand is in the trunk under the lockbox with your passport and stuff," she said bluntly.  "The other stuff and the stuff in your office is in there too, boytoy."  She smirked.  "Giles said he didn't want to know, and that's a quote."  Willow walked in.  "We about ready to head?  I've got Mara's dress."  She tossed it over.  "Specially modified so she can carry multiple weapons while wearing it.  X, in about three months.  We'll email you the time and date."

"Thanks," he said, kissing her on the head.  He looked at Willow then kissed her on the head.  "Did you get my book stash out of the floor safe in the office, Faith?"

"Um, nope.  We'll magic-gram it or something.  Anything else?"  He made a list and folded it, handing it to her.  She looked then nodded.  "All but the last one are still there.  I'll get on that when Red gets us back."  She beamed at Dean. "You need anything?"

"Sanity."

"Sorry, B, Sunnydale, and Spike took all ours," she said bluntly, strolling out.  "Thanks, Phil.  We love you, man."

"I appreciate you guys too,"  Phil said, smiling and waving.  He looked at Xander.  "If he doesn't pay for it...."

"I'll kick his ass," Xander promised.  Phil laughed.  "I can."  He looked at Dean.  "I need to finish checking over the car.  Do you need anything else here?"

"Nah, I'm good," he said, nodding a bit.  "Let's go check your ride.  Then we'll figure out where we're heading."  Xander got a book of maps and headed out with it, waving over his shoulder.  "Are you guys all like that?"

Xander grinned. "I wasn't until I got a corporate expense account."  Dean snickered at that.  "Phil remembers us from when we were bartering for crossbows.  Book?"  Dean went to get it and brought it out.  "It's smaller."  Dean looked then went back inside, bringing out another book with the first one.  "That'll work."  He got into the trunk,  pushing the collapsible concealing panel back into its slot.  "I had it modified by some gang kids in LA," he said proudly.  "It used to run drugs."

"I can see that."  He looked at the hidden areas, then at him.  "Magical hiding too?"  Xander beamed and nodded.  "Did you get the caddy just because of the trunk?"

"That and the sixteen other body compartments.  Plus it's comfy enough to sleep in."  He got back to work.  "Okay, magic stuff," he said, putting all that together.  "Sorry, had to clean recently when something spilled.  Didn't rearrange it."  He found what Faith had put up for him, nodding at it.  All three of his passports.  His extra ID's in the other identity in case he got caught.  His three extra license plates.

"How did you get those?" Dean asked quietly.

"One of the guys who worked with Angel ran a street gang and he had some contacts.  I shamelessly got him drunk and questioned him."  He grinned.  "He was *so* pissed but they agreed I needed it and could use them without using Gunn's name.  I used Angel's, it got me nearly as much good stuff."  He put the explosives in a compartment off to the side of the backseat and got back into the trunk.  "Okay, I should have everything I need but some candles and I can get those nearly anywhere."  He looked back at the store, it was closed.  "He's hiding so that's probably a good thing."  He looked at Dean again.  "It's what time?"

"Um, noon."

"Then let's hit a burger place and head to find your brother.  Once we've got him, we can go over the book in better detail?"

Dean nodded.  "That sounds reasonable.  What sort of engine do you have in her?"

Xander pulled the panels closed, locked them down, then the trunk.  "Hemy with NOS."  He popped the hood for him, getting an impressed look.  "Another mod the street gang did for me.  Fortunately I haven't had to go over a hundred yet."  He closed the hood and grinned.  "Before you ask, no I can't fix it myself.  I worked construction, not autobody stuff.  Faith can fix it, she learned in prison."  He walked around to get in, grinning at him.  "Where do you want to meet up later?"

"I was going to drive until about midnight," he admitted.  "That should put me about eight hours from where we were."

"I'm pretty sure I get better gas mileage than you, Dean.  What town did you want to meet in?  I'll get a double motel room and you can have the other bed."

Dean smirked.  "That's nice of you.  How did you get that cash?"

Xander looked at him.  "Insurance out of Sunnydale."

"Never mind.  Um," he took the atlas to look in.  "Here, that's about ten hours of driving, plus time for rest and gas breaks."

Xander looked then nodded.  "I can meet you there."  He got into his glove box and changed something out in his phone, then checked the number, writing it down for him on some scrap paper he kept in there.  "More local."  He handed it over.  "That way  you can make sure I'm there and at which motel."

Dean nodded.  "Thanks."  He headed to his car.  "See you tonight."

"Sure."  He watched Dean go, then shifted his seat position back.  Willow had moved it on him.  He made sure he had everything then started the engine, grimacing at the roughness.  "What did she do this time?" he muttered, pushing on something in his dashboard.  It settled the engine down and he backed out, slowly speeding up to highway speeds.  That magical engine fixing spell came in very handy when Willow screwed with something in his car.  Even after she had played with the radio and somehow screwed it up, it was more than worth the weekend spent sleeping with the demon to have it.

***

Xander smiled at the young guy who pounced on the door to pull it open.  "Hi, I'm Xander.  Dean's about an hour behind me."

"He told me last night.  What's going on?" Sam demanded.  Xander handed him the book.  He looked at it then at him.  "Is this the reason?"

"We woke up in a cabin in Iowa with that book and enough food for breakfast."  He sat down  in a chair, looking at him. "It's a really ancient prophecy, talks about three warriors and a few helpers, and then it gets even stranger.  We figured we'd start here with you," he added with a small grin.

Sam shook his head.  "You must drive Dean nuts."

"Fortunately I only rode with him for a few hours and slept most of it."  He got up when he heard the Impala.  "She's limping badly."  He opened the door.  "Want me to call something to put on the same engine fixing spell I have?" he asked.

"You have a what?" Dean demanded.  Xander beamed and nodded.  "No, thanks.  I can fix my own car."  He got out and slammed the door, coming up the few stairs to their shared room.  "Do we have any of it translated into English yet?" he asked.

"Gee, Dean, I'm not sure if I can drive and translate," Xander said dryly, giving him a look.  "I did about an hour's worth last night.  Other than that, no."  He pulled the folded papers out of the front cover.  "Here, where I've gotten to so far."

Dean looked it over, sitting on the end of his bed.  Sam gave him a look.  "I'm fine."

"You disappeared."

"Yeah, we were both kidnaped.  Xander's a Watcher now."

"So you said."  Sam looked at him.  "What happened to Sunnydale?"

"The First Evil."

"As in the very first evil?" Sam asked weakly.  Xander grinned and nodded.  "How?"

"When Willow resurrected Buffy she botched it a bit and brought her back slightly wrong.  It gave the First a chance to come out and play.  Needless to say, he got pissed.  Fortunately Spike managed to close the portal with a sacrifice of himself.  The town got sucked in and we headed for the new hellmouth in Cleveland."

"Cleveland?" Sam asked.

"Where they've got fourteen slayers in training," Dean told him.  "That Xander helps with their target practice and self-defense lessons."

"Plus listens to some really horrible music," Xander agreed  happily.  "I'm going to start eating brains if I had to hear Brittany or any of them anymore.  Especially Celine Dion."

Sam burst out laughing.  "This is a joke right?  Cute one, Dean, got one over on me," he said.  Dean shook his head, giving him a look.  "Not a joke?"

"Not a joke," Xander assured him.  "Wish it *was*," he offered blandly when Sam gave him a dirty look.  "Really do.  My life would be a bit easier if that whole First thing didn't happen.  The consequences were massive and annoying most days.  Speaking of, before I get back into the translation I have to make a pharmacy run.  You guys need anything?  That way you can talk about me behind my back."

"Nah, I'm good," Dean said.

"Can you get something to eat for dinner?  Dean's a bottomless pit and I have a candy bar."

"I can do that.  Burgers, Dean?"

"Onions."

"I saw last night.  It's better than what the slayer we found knocked up is eating right now," he said, going out to hit the nearest pharmacy for some saline solution to wash his glass eye and some dinner, plus some soda.  He came back to find them in a staring contest.  "Hey, no fighting around me.  I'll instinctively jump in and knock you both down," Xander said, putting down the food.  He picked up the book and went back to his translation in the new notebook he had bought with the new pens as well.

"Sam was wondering why it was us that got taken," Dean said.

"Because they apparently put him back as research assistant," Xander said, pointing at an area of the translation.  "I can't do that.  Can you?"

"No, computer and research stuff is more him than me," Dean agreed.  "Who did it in your group?"

"Computer stuff was Willow.  Book research was all of us but Buffy.  She couldn't really pay that much attention sometimes."  He got back to the translation, opening a soda to sip.  "We're getting to the third warrior.  Apparently he'll be called in about six months from now."  He kept going, frowning at some of the words.  "Huh.  He's a warrior already but not of this fight," he read.  "Someone just who is all-but a knight for the madam fair and dark.  No, no mark that means that's mustard," he muttered.  "He who is a knight but is not called will know his turn has come when the first two do save him in the city of ...  That's a strange one.  City of Power.  They shall know him because the maiden fair and the Maid of Darkness are both guarding him and the elder knight will make him go with the first two to save them all."  He looked up.  "City of Power, Sam?  Any clues?"

"There's plenty of cities that have powerful areas, like Cleveland would be I'd guess."

"No, it's not that sort of power."  He let him see.  "See, that mark means it's monetary or wealth, not magical.  If it was on the other side it'd mean magical."

"City of wealth and powerful people?" Dean said.  "New York?"

"Or possibly LA," Xander said.  "Any major city has some of them.  The way they describe him he might be in the service or a cop or something."

"Might be a problem.  A demon took my form and got killed in it," Dean said.  "After killing people."

Xander shrugged. "We can deal with it when it happens, Dean."  He went back to it.  "Oh, yeah, he's a...  Damn it, he's in DC."  He stood up, walking the book over.  "At the foot of Washington's throne and altar shall you find him and the battle shall be fierce.  One of the first for the fate of humanity shall it serve as.  He shall jump in but not know how or why until one of the first two give him a true weapon that points to his nature."  He looked at him.  "They've talked about a few mystical weapons in here.  They don't say *why* but now and then they mention one."

"Any idea how we're to get them?"

"Yeah, one's in DC.  We'll be retrieving it to keep it away from the bad guys when the fight starts.  The other two are in protective custody of an older witch in upper Texas by what I decoded."   He let him see that point.  "I know her, that's how I know it's her.  Every now and then she calls to nag Willow and keep her on the straight and narrow.  Her and the coven in Devon are both on her speed dial list and they make sure to check in very often with Wills."

"Um, who?" Sam asked, raising a hand slightly.  "Kinda lost here."

Dean smirked at him but Xander answered.  Dean had hung back to talk to her for a minute to get a better feel for the guy he was apparently stuck with.  "The white witch to the slayer in Sunnydale, Sam.  Wasn't she in there too?"

"Yeah," he said, nodding a bit.  "Then again it said she had a temper, she's evil, and she's gay."

"She only went evil when she addicted to black magic and lost her soulmate," he said, going back to reading and translating.  "Her temper?  Well, she's a redhead but she'll still call you a poopie  head if you piss her off, right before you turn into some furry thing because of her frog phobia.  Yes, the fur itches before you can ask, Dean," he sighed, turning the page.  "Then again she's been doing this as long as I have and we've all made mistakes.  I sent a vampire with a soul to hell right after she resouled him because Buffy couldn't stop him without the lie I told her."

"You worked with someone with an addiction to black magic?" Dean demanded.

"Yeah, she was part of the team."  He looked at him, then shrugged.  "She's a friend, Dean, even if she did fuck up.  We all fuck up sometime.  We stopped hers before it ended the world in her grief."  He went back to the translation.  "So far I've got three major battles and a few running ones with higher level demons," he announced a minute later.  "And then it gets worse."

"Oh, gee, great," Sam says sarcastically, taking the notes Xander's holding out.  "How bad?"

"Not as bad as Glory but badder than the ascension."  He looks at Dean.  "I have the feeling that whoever this third guy is, he doesn't know more than guns. "

"Great," he said dryly, sitting down to take the notes and read them over.  "Your handwriting sucks, Xander."

"Bite me," he said dryly, taking it back to go back to work.  "Unless you know this demon language?"

"No," they said together.

Dean looked at Sam.  "You sure?  I mean you can find nearly anything online."

"Then you'd have to type in paragraphs to translate it," Sam pointed out.  "A lot more work than having someone who can read it do it."

"Thankfully we've seen a few of these in the past," Xander offered.  "Otherwise we'd be heading to Cleveland right about now and Giles."

"No thanks," Sam said.  "The girls sound pretty scary."

"They're teenager with extended stamina, strength, and shopping abilities, Sam.  Of course they are," Xander agreed.

"So, no one punished her when she screwed up?" Dean asked.

Xander looked at him.  "Who punishes you when you screw up?" he asked bluntly.  Dean opened his mouth.  "You're human, you've had at least one, the same as I've had my share and Sam's had his.  We're adults, Dean.  She was getting over her grief at losing someone important to her and her magic addiction.  Tara was shot not five minutes after they agreed to try again.  Hell yes she went off.  You would've.  I would've.  I nearly did after the end of Sunnydale and Anya dying.  So, no, we got her help and left the judgmental crap for other people.  Now, would you like me to go get my own room and work on the translation some more over there or keep working on it here so you can get it as it's done?"

"Whatever," Dean muttered.

"Fine."  He got up and went out to the office, getting his own room. A few minutes later, he had his bag of clothes, a new soda, and the book and notebook on the bed with him while he worked on the computer Willow had left him to let them know what was going on.  Giles sent over a fairly well-documented copy of the prophecy but checking it made him realize it was missing whole sections.  Interjecting them worked very well and by the time it was dawn, he was nearly done.  Someone pounded on the door an hour later, making him get up and look at Sam.  "Nearly done."

"Have you slept?"

"Nope."  He sat down and got back to it.  "Giles had a partial translation so I'm filling in where the other person missed sections."  He finished up the last chapter and sighed, saving it down.  He sent one back to Giles and handed Sam the laptop.  "There.  I paid for today too for both rooms.  We'll figure out where we're hitting tomorrow at dinner if your master over there agrees."  He yawned.  "Now let me sleep please?"

"Sure, Xander," he said quietly, taking the laptop with him to their room, letting Xander lock himself in.  He closed his and Dean's room door, making him wake up.  "Xander found a partial translation and checked it over, then finished the parts that weren't included.  It's about six hundred pages long."

"Summary?" Dean asked tiredly.

"I'm just now getting it.  He said we'll talk at dinnertime about where each of us is going after this."  Dean grunted, flipping onto his side again and going back to sleep.  Sam shook his head, getting into the prophecy.  It was interesting, but seriously read like crack hos writing literature.  Middle Ages English literature.  Which was probably not a good thing.  He'd have to ask Xander if this is the literal translation or the modern one when he got up.

Dean finally got up again a few hours later and came over to read over his shoulder.  "He couldn't put it into real English?"  He was clearly grumpy.

"I think it's the literal translation," Sammy said.  "And I think this is the part Giles found translated already.  See, his goes back to real, human english after a while."  He showed him then went back to reading.  "We're going to have a busy two or three years."

"Two or three years?" he demanded.

Sam looked at him and nodded. "Two or three years, Dean.  On and off with the other two warriors and the rest of us helping."  He went back to reading.  "We've got mystical weapons we've got to find first."

"Are we going to get them to change into guns or are they guns?"

"I don't know," Sam admitted.  "Not a clue until we see them."  He shook his head at one phrase, going back over it a third time.  "Hey, it says you're going to get laid and then the woman's going to sacrifice herself because she knows she shouldn't have done it."

"Probably because she knows she can't get anything better," Dean said dryly, heading for the shower.  "Make coffee?"

"Already started.  Flip the button to 'on'," he told him dryly, shaking his head at the image of Dean on an altar.  It wasn't a vision.  It really wasn't a vision.  It was not going to happen that way.  He had at least figured out which one was Xander and which was the other two by the way they were talked about.   The new guy was talked about like a knight in shiny armor.  Dean was talked about more like an assassin.  One who got things done when they needed to be done.  Which he did.  Then there was Xander, which was usually a bit mixed up. A bit of how the other two were talked about but there was that hint in there that he had power and Powers that had to come out soon.  He looked over as Dean came out of the bathroom in just a towel to get some coffee.  "Did Xander mention if he could use magic or anything?"

Dean looked at him then slowly shook his head.  "No.  He does have shields, he's a medium.  He picked up magic stuff just in case."  Sam moaned.  Dean shrugged.  "He's tainted from the hellmouth stuff."  He took a sip and grabbed clothes to go change.  "Why?"

"The person who wrote this keeps talking about Powers, with a capital 'p'."  Dean shuddered.  "I'm not so sure they don't know things we don't, Dean.  Maybe not even him."

"We can ask later."

"I'm sure he read it over since he was doing the translating but he was really tired.  He hadn't slept yet."

"We'll ask him later."  He shut the door, coming out a few minutes later dressed, all but his shoes.  More coffee was gotten and he took the laptop to start reading.  "Do we have a good summary yet?"

"You two are going to find mystical weapons. You're going to go hunting, sometimes together sometimes alone, and then you're going to end up in DC in about six months.  At that time you'll run into the third guy, who's being protected by two women and an older knight, who knows and believes.  He'll send the guy with you, but Xander's going to be going off to handle something personal.  Don't know what but that's what it said.  You'd get to teach him what he needs to know and when Xander comes back there's going to be a minor apocalypse with a higher level demon, the second one.  The first is in DC, you'll be tracking him for a while."  Dean nodded once at that; he didn't look very happy at the moment.  "You'll defeat that together; the guy'll realize why you're doing this as a matter of part of himself instead of it being mystical stuff that has to be done by someone.  Then you're going to have that woman that'll try to have you then sacrifice herself.  Xander will get there in time to save you when you both could be going instead.  Then Xander's going to start working on power issues.  At which time you and the other guy'll be guarding Xander but he'll end up nearly dying to save everyone during the third apocalypse then there's a final demon after that that'll make the First Evil look like a child," Sam finished.  Dean shuddered.  "At which time any or all of you could die but if it's Xander, the demon wins and we're all dead."

"So we're going to be sacrificing ourselves to save him?"

"No, I think Xander would rather kill himself, which would negate the prophecy totally, than to have someone else die in his place.  There's a few warnings for that."

Dean finished his new cup of coffee, going back to reading.  "Can it be invalidated?"

"If we can find the month that has two new moons, no."

"There's months with two full moons."

"Yeah, but new moons are apparently how they're judging it."

"Can we figure out the proper month?"

"I tapped into the Watcher's network from his laptop to send his Mr. Giles that question. He hasn't answered yet that I know of, but Xander did tell him he was here with us.  He knows about us by rep and warned us not to feed Xander a lot of chocolate all at once."  Dean snorted, shaking his head.  "Otherwise, he said he'd check.  He had an ephemris with it in there."

"That's fine. Any idea when?"

"Probably before he wakes up."  Someone tapped on the door and Sam got up to answer it, looking at the maid.  "We're fine."

"The miserly one in the office wanted you two."

"Yay," Dean said.  He walked down there.  "Thought the other guy said he paid."  The man glared at him.  "He said he did."

"He did for his room."

Sam came out of Xander's room with the receipt, handing it to Dean.  "Really?"  The man flinched.  "He's on an expense account."

The man muttered then waved a hand.  "Must've been mistaken," he muttered.

"Sure, thanks for fixing that for us," Dean said, heading back to the room while Sam got something to drink from the machine.  He found the maid looking at the laptop.  "Do you mind?"  She huffed off.  He looked then undid the changes she had done.  "Sammy, she messed with something."

"He saved it and I opened it under a different name," he assured him.  He came in to open the original and resave the secondary copy so they could go back to it.  He looked at his big brother.  "Since they're in Texas, want to hit Deborah's place tomorrow night?"

"Could," Dean agreed, thinking about the trip.  "That's a full day of driving.  We'll have to start pretty early."  He got some more coffee and settled in to watch some of the crappy cable they had here.  "Anything else good we've got?"

"If you win that battle, there's one last chore, it's called a chore, but it's not listed as a battle.  Don't know what, it's not said and it's got one of the few words he couldn't translate.  I'm figuring it's a proper name for the ritual or whatever.  Maybe it'll let us go back to the normal cases."

"Can we still hunt ours?"

"Yeah, not an issue.  This is in-between our usual."  He turned to look at him.  "This is an every-now-and-then job not a full-time one."

"Decent.  So he can go teach the girls more about self-defense too."

"I have the feeling if he goes to Cleveland something bad'll happen."  Dean gave him a heated look.  "Really.  This doesn't appear to be one we should invalidate.  If we do, no one can fight those battles and humanity's pretty well gone at that point."

"Which is a job for his team, not guys like us," Dean pointed out.

"True, but even they have to have help now and then from the higher Powers."

"Yeah, whatever," he muttered.  "It can probably help us with our fight."

"Think what Dad would say," Sam quipped with a mean smirk.  "He hated them."

"They were arrogant bastards to anyone who jumped into the fight, even when it was our fight and not theirs."

"Well, yeah, but the new guys don't seem too bad.  I mean, Xander was hunting with a slayer and they didn't say much to him apparently.  At least not from what I've found."  The laptop beeped and he looked at it, opening the email.  "The month of two new moons is next month.  So you have to have the weapons by then.  Time enough to call around and make sure that no one else has anything on this and that we have everything we need for a prolonged hunt for the next few months."

"We'll need time to train with the new weapons," Dean reminds him.  "Any ideas?"

"What's with the cabin in Iowa?" Sam countered.

Dean shrugged. "Not a clue."

"Think he knows?"

"No, he seemed a bit pissed at them.  Like those Powers or whoever have done this to his life before."

"Maybe they have and no one knows."  He went back to his research.  This was not looking like a happy hunt.  "We should call around anyway."

"Why?  They'll know as soon as we tell Deborah.  She'll tell Steve and he'll tell everyone."

"Maybe someone knows why Iowa."

"Maybe," Dean muttered, going to start calling their contacts about this stuff to see if anyone knew anything.   Not that they probably would.  Their circle of hunters didn't really deal with prophecies very often.  Dean looked up from dialing while leaning on the balcony railing and hung up abruptly when he saw a young, brunette girl appear on the walkway.  "Isn't that a bit flashy?" he asked calmly.  He wasn't wearing a gun or else he'd have drawn it.

She gave him a long look.  "Chill, dude.  I'm Dawn, Xander's friend.  I'm here to help with the research and to make sure Xander actually eats today.  Now and then he gets involved and forgets."

"He's asleep.  Stayed up all night translating."

"Good!  Wonderful."  She came over to him, staring at him.  "Which one are you?"

He smirked a bit.  "Dean."

"Cool.  Dawn Summers, little sister to Buffy."  She held out a hand.

"Hi."  He shook it.  "Sam?"  He came to the door.  "This is Dawn Summers."

"I've read about you," he said, shaking her hand.  "What's up?"

"Four other books have mentions of this."  She took off her backpack and handed them over.  "Two are in demon languages so you'll need my help translating.  Xander can speak one but not read it and doesn't know the other."

"Sure, I'm all for that.  It says we'd have research help."

"Oh, yeah."  She followed him into the motel room.  She stared at him for a minute.  "A word of advice," she said quietly.  "Not many people get to know Xander enough to appreciate him.  Even when he's totally goofy, tripping over his feet, falling into graves, even when Willow overlooked him, not too many saw the real guy.  Things'll go easier if you at least try, even though Xander probably won't drop his protections for you guys for a very long time.  Otherwise all you'll be doing is getting frustrated with the bad jokes to ease tension and the goofy nature that suddenly turns into a hunter's focus.  Plenty of us made that mistake and I think I'm maybe the first to look deeper than the goofy exterior he puts up."

"He seemed nice."

She snorted.  "Xander's not really nice, Sam.  He does what's necessary sometimes but he's not really nice most of the time.  He's got an inner focus that most people never see."  She sat down, pulling out the first book.  "I got the translation he did and a few of the names he didn't know are rituals and a few are proper names for places or demons.  Want to start there so we can cross-reference and put links into the original translation so you can return to it at will?"

"That could help.  Saves hefting around books."

"Giles said he could have these but he's going to paddle him for getting the altar kit from Phil.  He's very scared of the idea that Xander might have to deal with magic since it goes a bit screwy around him."

"Were you in town for the love spell?"

She snorted. "Sam, I wasn't turned from a ball of energy until right before the Glory thing.  They gave me memories of it," she offered.  "But yeah, that's how things go screwy.  Or he'd be reading in Latin from a book and it'd light on fire in the library.  Pissed Giles off to no end a few times."  He shuddered.  "Anyway," she sighed, looking up the first marked phrase.  "Okay, this is the first name he couldn't translate.  It is a ritual to bless the special weapons."  She let him see the information.  He moaned.  "We know.  I have no idea where they'll get a bit of virgin blood but I'm sure it's on the black market somewhere."

The door opened and Xander walked in with Dean behind him.  "I can ask one of the girls, Dawn."  She smirked at him.  "I felt you come in.  Not really subtle, young lady."

"Oh, bite me," she said, going back to the book.  "Before I nibble on you instead.  Get me a soda?"  He put one down in front of her.  "Thanks, Xander.  You're a very hard act to follow, that's why I can't date men.  They don't live up to your standards."  She beamed at him.  "Or that's what I tell Buffy, who tries really hard to set me up with her boyfriend's new friends."

"She's dating a guy from the Navy.  Are you joining?" he asked patiently.

"No and the whole uniform and danger thing doesn't do it for me either," she assured him dryly, going over the ritual.  She finally typed it in verbatim in another document then created a link in the original one to that new page.  Sam smiled at that.  "I'm also moving it all into the same folder."  She did that with the file and the original, marking it as such without links.  "That way no one's confused."  She got back to the next one, finding it in one of the demon books.  Sam frowned at it.  "It's in demon, Sam."

Xander looked at it then shrugged.  "It sounds like someone hissing and spitting while speaking drunken Gaelic."  He looked at Dean.  "Weapons?"

"It starts next month."

"Nice of them to give us warning instead of doing it a week before the first battle this time," he said dryly.  "Cordy must've chewed them a new one."

Dawn looked over.  "I doubt that.  She did finish ascending, Xander."  He snorted, shaking his head.  "We're pretty sure.  Willow got drunk and checked one night."

"Uh-huh," he said dryly.  "And I *so* believe the Powers are suddenly happy enough with her to give her the *right* answer?"

"Might have a point," Dawn admitted, shrugging a bit and getting back to work.  "Giles is still freaked about you and magic by the way."

"You can't tell me at least one of those don't call for spells."

"The very first one is to bless the weapons so can't do that," she agreed dryly, giving him a look.  "He's having flashbacks to love spells and Anya and alternate universes...."

"Which was Cordelia and not me," he said, interrupting her list of sins.  "By the way, thanks for the leather pants last year for Solstice.  Willow freaked *very* well."

"Well, yeah," she said with a slightly evil grin.  "That was the intention, that and to get you laid."

"I don't need to hear this," Dean said.

"Oh, shut up and suck some cock, you'll feel better," Dawn said in a happy, chipper voice, making Sam splutter and Dean stare at her in horror.  She beamed.  "I have little sister rights to Xander.  My mother nearly gave me to him when she died."  She gave him a look and went back to it.

Xander looked at Dean.  "It was living in a house full of thirty young slayers, her sister, Spike, and the rest of us for a little over a month," he said blandly.

"Nah, it was Buffy stopping me from dying and watching her take a plunge off that tower.  I still say if we had thrown her shoes through the portal she would've left sooner.  Then hey, no First Evil drama and all the baby slayers would still be at home or whatever."

Xander patted her on the head.  "If she hadn't stopped you, I would've shot you.  I can do without your sister if I have to.  I'd be miserable without you."

She got up and gave him a hug.  "You stupid bastard," she muttered, but she gave him an extra squeeze.  "We've even got a sex rite it looks like," she said once she sat down again.

"Yay us," Dean said.  "With?"

"A virgin and someone who's been tainted.  So Xander and someone."  She looked at him.  "Unless you're a virgin to guys?"

"What makes you think Dean hasn't slept with bad people?" Sam asked.

She giggled.  "Dude, he nearly married a former vengeance demon.  Got all the way to the altar before the other vengeance demons stepped in.  Then she went back, came back to human, and they were going to try *again*!  Can your big brother top that?"

"No, a few witches, a spirit once," he offered.

She looked at him then at Xander.  "Well?"

"It probably is me," Xander admitted.  "Every little once in a while I tend to go a bit odd and do stupid things.   Like sleep with a vampire."  He shook his head, sitting down with the translation to go over it again from Sam's laptop.  "What happens if the third guy isn't a virgin to guys, Dawn?"

"Find.  Someone," she said bluntly.

"Yeah, we'll take an ad out in the in the paper," Xander said, giving her a look.  "Any other options?"

"Death, destruction, and you being reborn more hyped than Willow more painfully than necessary."

"Ooh, yay," he said flatly.  "Hold on, that should be Dean or the new guy."

"No," Sam said, shaking his head, coming over to help him.  "See, this is how they talk about you, Xander.  This one is Dean, and this is the new guy."  Xander grumbled something under his breath and the lights dimmed.  He looked at him.  "How did you do that?"

"Huh?"  He grinned at him.  "Practice at her sister's back."

"Andrew taught it to him before he died in the last hellmouth battle," Dawn quipped, waving a hand.  She sipped her soda.  "He *was* uber-geek and very, very strange at times."

"He wasn't as bad as some I've seen.  After all, I've met Star Trek loving demons too, Dawn.  Some who're even stranger.  Hell, one was a slaver demon who was quoting Riker."

She looked at him. "That's just sad.  Tell me you slayed him?"

"Of course.  I slay any of the slaver demons I run into," he said bluntly, going back to his reading.  "This can't be me, Sam.  I'm not that insane."  She snickered.  "I'm not," he said firmly.  "I haven't been since I got back from Africa."

She looked at him. "Then you'd date and give Buffy and Willow nieces so they could fuss over someone other than me."  She got back to work.

Dean looked at his baby brother.  "Drink?"

"Yeah, get me one too," he agreed.  Dean nodded, going to do that.

"She gets worse!" Xander called after him.  "This is her on semi-blunt, not fully blunt!"

"I only go fully blunt when there's blood and world endage involved," she said, giving him a look.   "It's not my fault they want me to have a period every once in a while and I get locked in the stupid bunker during it.  It's really boring down there, even with cable and all that stuff.  So bite me, Xander."

"That'd draw blood," he said dryly.  "Like the vamp that got you last time that became a portal."

She snorted.  "Amused Buffy to *no* end to bitch at me about going and getting drunk for my eighteenth."  She got back to work.

"Huh?" Sam asked.  He probably looked very confused but he couldn't help it.

Dawn looked at him.  "I'm the Key, Sam.  Glory came for me.  That's why I got sent to Sunnydale.  My blood opens portals to other dimensions.  Therefore, me having a period is very dangerous and I get to be snarky, mean, and blunt when they happen.  Any other questions about that subject, ask Xander."  She bent back over the book.

Sam looked at Xander, who nodded.  "It does, even to this day.  It annoys her to no end when she's cut."  He smirked.  "The vampire turned into a walking portal and someone slit him open to get at it.  He was not a happy vampire while slit open and complaining about his buddy crawling through his chest cavity."  Sam shuddered and went to help Dean get drinks.  "You sure you wanted them to know?" he asked more quietly.

"Yeah, they'll probably find out sometime."  She looked at him.  "You good?"

He shrugged.  "I've been sent to do worse."

"Uh-huh."  She kept staring at him.

"If I ever see the Powers they're going to get their asses kicked," he assured her.  "That doesn't mean they haven't sent me to do worse.  Trust me."

"Okay.  I can do that, Xander."  She got back to work, shaking her head slightly.  "What if he's a real virgin?"

"He's a cop, Dawn.  I doubt he's an actual virgin."

"Fine.  Wonder if Dean is."

"Nope."  He smirked at her sideways look.  "Hunters live too hard of a life to deny themselves any pleasures.  The same as your sister never misses an opportunity to shop, we don't miss an opportunity to revel in the light.  There's too much darkness and sometimes your flashlight goes out if you don't take the light when it's offered."

"Good point."  She sighed and typed in the next section, citing book and page number but summarizing this time.  She saved that and linked it in then got back to work.  "Did you bag Faith after that one time?"

"You know, I don't know if she climbed on top while she was choking me," he said dryly. "After that?  Nope."  She snickered.  "She offered once but she was too drunk and I'm not that desperate."

"Yeah, you are, Xander.  It's been months."  She looked at him.  "It really has."

"Nope."  He smirked at her.  "Stress relief is universal, Dawn, and it paid for some work on the car."  She gaped.  He shrugged.  "It was cheaper and wasn't that bad for a weekend of stress relief.  Got the oil changed too."  He went back to reading.

"So you were the freak of Sunnydale?" she teased.

"Not back in those days.  Hell no, Willow would've caught on and beaten me with a floated paddle."

"Good point," she decided.  "I won't tell her now so she doesn't fry you with lightening or something.  Though you did make a pretty cat the last time she caught you flirting with a girl."

"Yeah, well, you petted my hair funny.  Don't next time.  Go with the grain of the hair."

"Yes, Xander," she sighed.  She got back to work and both brothers came back.  "I'll behave if you two don't stare in awe at my magnificence."

"Sure, we can not stare at you," Dean agreed.

She looked at him and smirked.  "I know he told you, Dean.  I wouldn't have told him if I didn't want both of you to know."

"Speaking of blood rites," Xander said, looking at her.  "Have we gotten you away from Giles on that?"

"Oh, yeah.  I looked at him, told him it was creepy, and if he came near me again I was going to open the hellmouth and have him eaten then fucked by something slimy.  He walked off cleaning his glasses and muttering.  Buffy's ready to put a chastity belt on me to make sure I never have a boyfriend who'll have me.  That's why she keeps trying to set me up with lonely sailors just back from their tours.  I think he warns them off but it's still disgusting."

"Then figure it out, Dawn, and do it for yourself," Xander said bluntly.  "You can do a containing rite just as well as they can."

"I know," she muttered. "Still a hell of a lot of work for very little fun."

"Huh?" Dean asked.

"I'd have to bleed to be broken in," Dawn said patiently, looking at him.  "If my blood opens portals...."  They both shuddered.  She smiled.  "So my sisters' trying to set me up with guys who don't want sex and failing miserably."

"Instead I'd rather she do a containment rite and do it on her own," Xander said.  "That way no one could complain. Oh, speaking of which, Dawn, the virgin blood for the spell?  Don't even consider it."

"Won't.  I'm too powerful for that."  She looked outside at the thunder. "That's Willow," she said dryly, shifting closer to the wall.  "I'd answer the door before she breaks it."

Dean opened the door, looking at the glaring redhead.  "What?" he demanded.

"Dawn is not to..."

"Lady, she's an adult.  As long as she takes proper precautions, who gives a damn what she does?" he asked.

"Here, here," Xander agreed dryly from the bed.

"You," Willow started, storming inside.  "You know she can't."

Xander looked at her.  "She can as long as she uses the containment rite Giles found," he said slowly and clearly.  "As was Giles' intention last year, Willow.  Get over it!" he snapped.  "Some day she'll want a real boyfriend who makes her giggle too.  The same as Kennedy does to you."  She growled.  He stood up, glaring down at her.  "Shut up.  Go away.  Don't turn anyone into a pet this time."

"How dare...!" she started.

He smacked her on the forehead with the palm of his hand.  "Clearly you need sleep, woman.  Go nap."  He stared down at her.  He looked up.  "Cordelia!" he called.  "I know you're up there listening!"

A figure faded into view.  "Well, she is but she can't come help," the woman said with a grin.  She squealed and hugged him.  "Xander!"

"Fred.  How?"

"Illaryia didn't kill me, silly."  She poked him on the chest.  "Cute muscles."  She beamed at him then at Willow.  "Yes, she can, as long as she uses the containment rite and it's someone who has a clue but isn't a witch or anything like that.  She could even do it with a girl if she wanted to, and Spike said that'd be cute and all, but she's allowed.  She's a real girl now, Willow.  The same as her period thingy can be solved by having kids."

"Eww, plus more blood spilled at the end," Dawn said dryly, still working.  "Thanks, Fred.  Got any hints?"

She shrugged.  "Who cares?  Pick someone who has a clue and will make it good.  Good is always better than mediocre sex or cuddling.  Mediocre sex leads to all sorts of nasty thoughts like 'Wesley looks good today' and "Gunn and Wes would look very hot together'.  Then you get the nasty dreams and if you keep being bored you might make them try to come true."

"They did," Xander agreed dryly, giving her a look.

She cackled.  "I know, that's why I got them drunk on moonshine."  She beamed at him.  "Thanks for finding it for me, Xander."

"Welcome, Fred."  He kissed her on the forehead.  "Now, can you please take Willow back to Cleveland?  We've got shit we gotta do and get ready to do for you guys.  By the way, even if they have chains and stuff, it won't stop me from kicking their asses."

"Okay, I'll let 'em know," she said cheerfully, taking Willow with her.

Xander sat back down, getting comfortable again.  "So, that was Fred.  She was saved by Angel after being stolen for about five years to a demon dimension as a slave.  She worked on their team for a while before ending up the host of a goddess.  Then she died."  He looked at them, grinning a bit. "The other was Willow.  Watch out for her if she shows up in a snit but she'll make really good cookies later after Fred's babbled at her and made her see she's being an idiot again."

"I'm hoping for rum raisin," Dawn said, typing that to Kennedy's email.  "I'm adding you wanted white chocolate and fudge chips, Xander."

"Or butterscotch, either one."  She nodded, amending it and sending it.  He grinned at the shocked brothers. "Yes, dealing with Sunnydale robbed us all of vital sanity points.  It makes us more fun and more able to deal with issues when they show up, like this one.  Otherwise I'd still be swearing at the Powers."

"What else have they sent you on?" Sam asked calmly.

"They sent me to nudge a few of their chosen into behaving better.  They sent me to Africa to gather slayers and help with a few civil wars that way.  Plus to learn from some of the Shaman.  Plus I was the one that got sent the dream about a slayer who was using her powers to take over area and had to deal with her."  He got back to his reading.  "Dawn, this perenaltima thingy?"

"Proper name of someplace," she said, pulling it up for him on the laptop she had.  "There."

"Isn't that where Mother Grim lives?"

"Yeah, basically.  So that's where your weapons are."

"Charming!"  He got back to his reading.

The brothers shared another look.  "How many things are you going to have to translate for us, Dawn?" Dean asked.

She looked at him then gave him a mean smirk.  "I'm the higher research authority for Sam to go to when he's stuck since I've got the remains of the Watchers' Library at my disposal."  Sam whimpered at that.  "Get used to me.  You're keeping me away from Buffy for the moment."

Xander looked at her.  "Saying her name three times means she'll call."

"It's been like four."

He pointed at her phone.  "It was vibrating a minute ago."

She looked then sighed and listened to the voicemail while she typed.  Then she sent her sister an email saying how great it was going to be, she'd go pick up some nice guy in the bar tonight, and then it'd be all safe again.  Then she sent it and got back to work.  Her phone rang again.  She looked.  "He got someone to text message me.  I'm impressed with Giles."

"Telling you to be careful?"

"Reminding me where the rite can be found online."  She bookmarked it then went back to her research.  "It's the most handy rite, ritual, and spell database there is," she told Sam, getting a nod.  "Half the time we find it online first.  It's a good thing Willow's a hacker."

"Yes and if she makes my identity disappear again I get to paddle her this time," Xander reminded her.  "I've got a good paddle with metal spikes all picked out."

"Sure, I'll find you good straps and a bench to put her over," she agreed happily.

"We don't need to hear about you two and freaky bondage games," Sam said patiently.

She just smiled at him.  "Awww, did you want to try it first?"  He went red but shook his head quickly.  "Okay, if you're sure."  She got back to decoding things for them.  "Oooh, Dean, my man, that thing that's going to have you then commit ritual suicide?  Take Tylenol PM with you that month."  She added that into the document and linked it in, then got back to the next one.

He came over to look.  "What was she?"

She let him have that book since it was in English.  "Apparently very horny but weirder than I am."

"Interesting."  He looked at Xander.  "Ever run into one of these?" he asked Xander, letting him see it.

"Yeah, the Powers sent me after a slayer trying to take over her country and she had some of them as her bodyguards.  They decided it was time to use the ritual sacrifice option because I beat three of the eight that were on duty at the time."  He looked up at Dean.  "If they're broken in then they have to commit suicide.  It's part of the ritual.  Fortunately the slayer felt the magic gathering to destroy everything and stopped them for me before the explosion of magic energy to take themselves out ripped through the compound and got everyone."  He handed the book back and got back to his own reading.  "Dawn, this...."  She handed him a book.  "Not that one.  The one after it."  She pointed at the book in English so he took it and read through the section he needed, giving her an odd look.  "Gee, the Powers think I need laid too?"

"Probably.  You're more fun when you've had some, Xander."

"Uh-huh.  How would you know?"

"You've been a miserable prick for months," she said, giving him a look.  "That's how we *all* know.  Even the slayerettes.  Even Willow realized why you were being such a prick.  So get over it."  She took the books back to get into the next one she needed to do.

"You and me both apparently," Dean said dryly.

Xander grinned at him.  "At least they haven't said it'll be us together yet."

"That's probably later," Sam joked.  Dawn handed him a book and pointed at a line, making him cackle.  "Depending on who they pick, it's later."  Both men groaned and shook their heads, going back to reading the translated portions.

***

Xander got out of his car, looking at the small motel Dean had said to meet them at, looking over at the amused guys.  "Sorry, got lost."  He shut the door and walked up to them.  "Did we get my room?"

"Not yet," Sam said.  "Steve's in the office."

"Sure."  He went to get his own room, smiling at the nice looking middle aged guy behind the counter.  "Hi, need one for myself."

"The boys said they had a friend coming," he offered, handing over the notecard for him to fill out.  "Singles are forty but we do have efficiencies."

Xander grinned.  "As long as there's soda I'll be fine.  Thanks though."  He finished filling it out and handed over some money.  He took his key and waved.  "Thank you."  He took his bag up to his room then collapsed on the bed, happy not to be sitting upright.  "I have got to change that one seat's cushion.  That spring is going to drive me nuts," he muttered.  Someone knocked.  "I'm still awake."  Dean strolled in.  "Any idea how I change the seat out?  I've got a spring issue on my lower back."

"Junkyard?" he suggested with a small shrug.  "Or dealership, but it'll be more expensive."

"Then I'll have to call around once we get to Texas."

"Did you call her already?"

"Nope.  She's all-knowing.  She knows we're coming.  She told me a few months back she'd be seeing me soon.  We all thought it was Willow going off the deep end after a fight with Kennedy again."  He shrugged.  "The directions are on my dashboard if you wanted  a copy."

"I'll get 'em when we get to Texas."  He sat on the foot of the bed.  "Anything new come up during the trip here?"

"Spring," Xander said dryly.  "Phone call from Dawn.  Apparently the guy woosed out on her.  There was oral sex but nothing better."

"Didn't feel like dealing with a virgin?"

"Yup."  He nodded.  "I remember that feeling.  Then I realized it'd be easier if I did, they had lower expectations, didn't get demanding, and I could be as creative as I wanted without someone huffing in irritation because I wasn't giving them the exact version of oral sex they wanted."

"You go down on women?" Dean asked.  "Even strange women?"

Xander looked at him.  "Not if they're nasty, dirty, or otherwise funky, no.  Otherwise, most women seem to appreciate it.  It gets me repeat begging."  He smirked. "Anya taught me that."

"Um..."

"The one I nearly married."

"Oh, yeah, the former vengeance demon.  Okay."

"She was a bit nympho after not having any for eleven hundred years."

"Gotcha," he said, nodding and smiling a bit.  "Dinner?"

"Starved," Xander admitted, sitting up.  "Are we ordering or dinering it or what?"

"There's about three fast food places and don't eat at the diner.  I speak from personal experience.  The cook's nasty and scuzzy, he's got half of every infection known to mankind.  The waitress will hit on you and give you terrible crap if you don't flirt back.  She's in her sixties and doesn't know that a bath includes more than her hair and face.  Just don't."

"Thanks for the warning," Xander said with a small grin.  "Anywhere good?"

"Depends on Deborah.  She half owns this place."  He stood up. "Anything else come up?"

"Dawn's in St. Louis watching out for things and talking to a young slayer."  That got a nod and Dean left him alone.  He finally got out of bed and went in search of food and gas for the car.  He found both but it was fairly unappetizing.  So he came back to the motel, finding Steve hauling out trash.  He decided helping was in order and carried out the rest for him.  "There ya go."

"Thanks," Steve offered with a grin.  "We've already fed the boys, even managed to fill Dean up, which is a minor miracle.  You hungry?"

Xander grinned.  "I could eat.  That drive-in place's burgers tasted like sawdust."

"Yeah, they've never been good."  He led him into the kitchen, nodding at his wife.  "Xander's back.  He hit the drive-in."

"Poor thing.  Are you feeling sick yet?"

"My former girlfriend had to learn how to cook.  I'm kinda used to eating nearly anything after that and being in Africa.  Can I help so I don't mooch?"

"No, sweetie, sit down."  She brought over some open faced sandwiches and some water, smiling at the boy, who grinned back.  She sat across from him.  "So, tell me what happened in Sunnydale?"

"You're part of their circle?"

"One of their research people."  She smirked at him.  "All we knew was that someone finally covered the stupid hellmouth up."

He snorted.  "The First Evil."  He ate a bite while she blanched.  "Want my laptop?  It's got the whole info file in there."  She nodded so he went to get it from Sam, handing it to her.  "Here you go.  It's by date so look up the month before it happened."  He sat down to eat again.  "You do cook very well, ma'am."

"Thank you, Xander."  She opened the laptop, looking at the open page.  "Hmm.  What was Sam looking up?"

Xander looked then shrugged.  "One of the rites to bless the weapons I think.  Looks about like it."  He went back to eating, then took it to get into the proper file, letting her read the journal entries they had compiled as the information file.  She read it slowly, her fingers tapping now and then on the page down key.  Until she finally looked at him.  He stared back.  "What?"

"You're...."

"Alive," he said bluntly, nodding a bit, eating his last bite then smiling and leaning over to kiss her on the cheek.  "Thank you."

"Do they know?"

"Know what?"

"About your injury," she said bluntly.  She gave him a look for trying to play stupid.

He sighed.  "I went into the battle with it.  I've compensated since then.  I'm actually pretty good with it.  I honed some of the skills I have retrieving slayers from parts of Africa having a civil war.  A few places where I did more than my fair share of helping to get villages free."  She shuddered.  "No matter how much I wanted to retire, I still got sent to Africa by the Powers nudging Giles.  They apparently don't want to let me retire and I've learned how to live without it.  Even if it is really annoying when I walk into doors sometimes."

"It's something they should know.  It be a problem in the middle of a fight."

Xander smiled gently at her.  "Do you think they'd tell me if they had those sort of issues?" he asked calmly.  "We barely know each other.  I don't talk about it even with those who were there, ma'am.  If it becomes pertinent to a battle, I'll let someone know. Until then, it's like any scar, only it's got a glass replacement."  She sighed but went back to reading.  "Can I help with the dishes?"

"Get another one, Xander."

"I'm...."

"Xander," she said firmly.  "I raised three girls and one son.  Eat something else."  She heard him sigh but move to get something to nibble on while she finished reading.  She got a CD to burn the information down on, giving him back the laptop before he left for the night.  "You need something to help you sleep?"

"No, ma'am.  I'm good on sleeping.  I've learned the secret of long naps to cure things."  She nodded at that, watching him leave after cleaning up after himself.  He went up to his room, going to lay down and look at the rite Sam had been looking up.  He bookmarked a different one under Sam's name and turned off the computer, getting comfortable for the night.  It wasn't like the nightmares were going to interrupt what sleep he got.  After a few years you got used to them.

***

Dean looked over as Deborah joined him outside later that night.  "Did you drug him?  He came in and went to bed after eating."

"I made him stuff himself.  He's a bit skinny for his size."  She sat on the stairs next to him.  "Dean, there's things you should know in those files."

He looked at her.  "I figured it wasn't all rosy goodness," he assured her.

She looked at her hands then at him again.  "The boy's been injured."

"Haven't we all?  That's why Steve's got only half the feeling in one hand."

She sighed.  "No, he's had more than that, Dean."  She looked at him.  "Are you guys going to trust him?"

He shrugged.  "I don't know.  The kid kinda creeps me out."

"Dean, dear, he's the same age you are."

"He is?"

She nodded.  "He is."  She reached over to smooth down some of his hair that the wind was playing with.  "Train and spar against him for a bit.  I'm not sure how well his training went.  He never had any formal training, like you did."

"Did he tell you that?"

"He didn't have to.  The way he moves told me that," she said more firmly.  "I think you and he need to learn to trust each other just a bit so you can spar and get comfortable with each other.  From what you and Sam showed me earlier, you're going to have to work together in the same fight.  You can't do that if you don't trust the guy to watch your back."

He considered it then nodded slowly.  "We've got to train with the new weapons anyway."  He looked at his room then at her again.  "How injured?"

"Some people would've seen it as a reason to give up," she said bluntly.  Dean shuddered.  "He's lived and moved on but I think it'll come out that his training isn't as comprehensive as you think it may be.  So maybe some training time would help you learn to trust what he does know and help him finish up whatever training he got back on the mouth of hell."  She stood up.  "Not that I don't think he'll protect you and Sam but it'd be easier if you guys learned to trust each other."

He nodded.  "I'll talk to him about it tomorrow.  Thanks, Deb."

"Welcome, Dean."  She patted down his hair again.  "Go sleep, dear.  You need rest because it's a long drive tomorrow."  He nodded, going to their room to crash for the night.  She went back to Steve and their bedroom.  "I didn't outright tell him but I did tell him that he needed to spar with the boy to make sure they could trust each other and work together easily enough."

"I think Xander's a lot better than some people think, Deb," he said patiently, pulling her closer to him.  "He had to be to survive so long working with a slayer and now he's a Watcher.  They do train their own."

"The old Council would've taken him out of the field," she pointed out.

"Yes, but they're dead and the new people seem to be nicer."

"Or more desperate."

"Or more desperate," he agreed, because that could be a good reason for still having the boy in the field.  "Is Dean going to take the advice?"

"He looked like he was thinking."  She stroked his stomach.  "I hope this goes well.  I know it has to but it could be a very rough start.  Dean and Sam don't trust many and the boy obviously has a few anger issues by the way he was talking earlier."

"They'll survive.  Just like the prophecy says," he assured her, giving her a squeeze. "We'll be there when the boys need help."  She nodded, snuggling in  so she could rest as well.  He watched her fall asleep, laying there thinking about this nearly unholy alliance between the Watchers' Council and their group of hunters.  There were going to be some worried hunters since Dean and Sam were some of their brightest stars.

***

Sam got up first, yawning and stretching.  He noticed the paper on the floor and got up to get it.  //Sam, got up at the buttcrack of dawn.  Went ahead, here's directions to the town.  Should be about eight or nine hours of travel for you guys. Cell still works in that area if you get lost.  Xander//  He groaned, nudging Dean and handing over the note before going to shower.

"Why can't he sleep?" Dean complained, getting up to take the second shower then make sure they had everything before they left.  They got into the car after dropping their keys off in the office for the couple then headed for breakfast before getting back onto the highway.  Once they had eaten and were back on the road, Dean decided to talk to his little brother.  "Deborah said that we need time to train with Xander."

"I can see the point.  We don't know his style or how he was trained.  He's got to have at least some training with how long he's survived but who knows what style they used out there."

"Stakes, nightly patrols, crossbows," Dean said grimly.  He tapped the bassline of the song playing on the steering wheel.  "Deb also said he'd been injured in the past.  Like serious injury."

"Who hasn't?  In this field it's pretty common."

"She was talking like ending or suicide causing injury, not head injury or broken ribs."

"Oh."  He considered it.  "I don't remember running into anything about that, Dean.  Maybe she'd tell us how?"  Dean shook his head.  "Do we think it'll make his fighting go oddly?  Though that could depend on when he got injured and whether or not he's learned how to compensate for it."

"She didn't sound like it was in the last two weeks."

"So maybe he's got a good compensation," Sam offered, trying to cheer him up.  "If he's survived this long doing what we do, then he's got to have some skills."

"No, I think she may've had a point, Sammy.  We don't know how he was trained.  If he was trained or if he had to pick things up on his own.  Can you trust a hunter that you don't know the training on?  Or how he really is?"

"Well...."

"Yeah, me either."  Dean frowned.  "So we need training time with the new weapons."

"We'll see what we can work out.  I'll ask him later."

"No, I should.  I don't know why they don't want you fighting but they don't.  He might think it's us ganging up on him if you go to him.  I would."

"He's not you, Dean."

"No, and that's what's bothering me.  Why does he do it?"

Sam gave him a look then cleared his throat.  "His first fight was to try to rescue a friend that got taken," he said quietly.  "His best friends both got taken.  They saved Willow and not his male friend."

"Dam it," Dean muttered.  "So, trauma."

"He ended up staking him a few months later during something called a Harvest."  Dean pulled off the road to look at him so Sam pulled out the pages he had downloaded.  "There, his whole bio as seen by outsiders who've never talked to him."

Dean read it over slowly, licking his lips now and then.  "How reliable do we think this is?"

"Ask him," Sam said.  "He's not going to dodge it if it's honest."

Dean closed it and handed the laptop back.  "Dawn warned me that no one, except for maybe her, ever sees Xander.  They let the masks fool them."

"She told me the same thing," Sam nodded.  "We all wear one."

"Yeah, but you get past mine, I can see past yours, and so can most of the guys we know.  How can his friends not see past his?"

Sam considered it.  "They're not as close as they like to think?  The site said that.  Said that something came between them their last year.  Hinted it was sexual."

Dean shook his head.  "If they weren't seeing him before then, then how would they know?"

"Then maybe this Jesse kid was the only one who's really ever seen him."

They both looked back when a twinkling started in the backseat.  "Hi, Fred," Dean said, smirking at her.  "Got some input?"

"You're right.  Though he'll never admit it, Xander doesn't let anyone that close to him.  Jesse knew because he'd been there to see it.  Willow saw some but ignored what didn't fit into her recipe for best friend. Then they smooched and it got worse."  She leaned on the back of the seat.  "Don't try to pressure him, Dean.  He'll kick your ass and walk off.  He'll come back when he's needed and if you do that, you've already lost.  You two need to get close and as tight as a hunting team can be."

Dean nodded slowly.  "So what about training with him?  Figuring it out that way?"

She let out a geeky sounding chuckle.  "Well."  She considered it, looking up.  Then at them.  "No, he trained himself.  The Watchers ordered Giles to not train him or Willow.  Giles did train her in magic and Xander did spar with Buffy now and then."  They both nodded slowly.  "The rest he picked up by learning how to block a punch the hard way - he got hit.  A lot.  Even before being on patrol really but he's not going to talk about it."  They both nodded slowly again.  "Yes, the training time could help him, but he's going to get defensive about it.  He's lived this long with what he can do and he's content to learn what he can when he can as long as he's not forced."

"But new weapons mean training time," Sam offered.

"Yeah, but these are special.  You'll already know how to use them."  She shrugged. "You might suggest it to him since he's not to go back to Cleveland until this is done with."

"And he's supposed to do what instead?" Dean asked.

"Teach him how you do things," she said, giving him a look.  "That way he's nearby when you're jumped in about four months.  That way you don't have to call and wait when they take Sam."

"Why wasn't I included?" Sam asked.

She pinched him on the cheek.  "Too valuable to risk, Sam.  You're so cute!" she cooed.  Then she faded out again.

Dean looked at him, grinning some.  "Well, you are cute.  Too bad she's dead."

"Not.  Funny."  Sam shifted around again, looking out the front windshield.  "So do we teach him what we know?  He told us he didn't deal in ghosts very often."

"I don't know," Dean said, considering it.  Xander sounded kind of like him.  Only without the brother or a father that had taught him anything.  "We can ask.  Let him see if it's what he wants to do.  Because she's right.  I'd get stubborn too if someone tried to force it onto me."

"Yeah, me too," Sam said quietly, looking at him.  "We can do that."

"And hey, maybe he'll teach us how to use the pretty artillery or build bombs."  He started the car again and went back to driving.  It was a long drive to the middle of the state of Texas.  A long, hot drive since the Impala didn't have A/C.

***

Xander walked up onto the porch and knocked on the door.  "Nanny Grimsley!" he yelled.  "It's Xander!"

"'Round back, boy!" a southern voice shouted in a deep woman's voice.

"Okay," he said, walking that way.  He walked around to lean on the fence, watching the woman hang up laundry. "So, you knew we were coming?"

She looked at him. "It's not that easy, boy."

Xander smirked.  "It never is.  Just don't make me kill you or something."

She snorted.  "Like you could.  I'm still a witch."  He cackled and had to lean on the fence for support.  "What?  You think I can't take you?"

"I think if you tried I'm going to suck in the spirit that's hanging around you and let him thump you good for pouting," he said dryly, smirking at her.  "Remember, mediums suck in many things, including energy."  He smiled a little boy's smile when she laughed. "Wanna try?  I haven't had to do anything dangerous in days."

"With those two Winchester boys with you?"

He shrugged.  "They seem nice enough.  Regular guys who got sucked in or jumped in like I did."  He shifted his stance.  "You do know one of the battles is happening at the grove?"  She glared at him.  "It's in the stupid book, Nanny Grimsley.  In about a year."

"Well, horse manure," she muttered.  "Fine.  We won't fight but we don't like their kind.  They're often not the sort to ask for things.  They take.  They steal.  They remind me of that Faith brat."

"Yeah, well, they don't have a Watcher's expense account," he said dryly.

She looked at him. "While this is going on, do you?"

He grinned.  "Not exactly but I do have Giles behind me or else I get to go destroy what I helped him build.  He's still on shaky ground with the new Council."  He walked around the fence and came out to look at her.  "They're not bad kids and both circles are going to have to learn to work together, even yours.  Even Giles and the slayers.  If we can't, we'll all die."

"No, they'll die.  You'll live."

He gave her a look.  "We both know it won't be me."  She shrugged at that.  "Or that I'd let it be me.  I'm not the sort to let others sacrifice when I should go instead."  She stepped back at that.  "Though I did see all the warnings to watch out for me jumping off something very high.  Now, do we think we can work together?  I have the feeling I've got to do some magic during this too.  I learned watching Willow."

She gave him a horrified look.  "We'll figure that out."  He nodded.  She led him into the house, getting him some lemonade and sitting him down in her work area to go over the rituals he knew he'd have to be doing.  He needed some foolproof, Xander proof, instructions.  Because even if it was foolproof he could still mess it up somehow.  She heard when the other car got there, grimacing.  Xander kindly popped her on the head.  "Fine, I'll try to get along.  As long as they don't try to burn me or nothin'," she said, going out to the porch.  "At least you're cute, even if you arrogant bastards with an attitude problem," she said.

"Us?" Dean asked with a grin.  "Who told you that?"

"Your sterling reputations."  She stopped them from coming onto her porch.  "I'll help ye, but you try to burn me and we'll be having a go round.  You hear?"

"I only hurt those who hurt others," Dean said, staring at her.  "Did Xander say that?"

"No, like I said, I've heard about you two and your ways.  Your daddy's ways too."

"We only handle evil bitches," Dean assured her.  Xander came out onto the porch and carried the old woman off.  "Hey!  That's not nice!"

"It's too hot out here to argue!" Xander called.  "Get your skinny asses in here."

"Ooh, yes, master," Sam said dryly, walking up the steps.  He winced as a psychic block went off in front of him.  "Not nice," he called.

"Very not nice," Dean agreed.

Xander came out and looked at them then at it.  Then back at them. "It's set to friends only.  You really don't want to hurt her, right?"

"Not if she's not an evil bitch," Dean sighed.  "We're not like that.  We've heard your team was like that."

"We were dealing with an overrun situation.  We're lucky we didn't lose."  He reached up to rub over the marking and it came down.  "That should help.  Sam, a promise?"

"I'm not going to hurt her if she's not hunting others," he said.  It let him pass.

"Ditto," Dean said.  It let him pass too and he grinned at Xander.  "You really think that of us?"

"She really thinks that of you and she thinks that there's good reason to fear you guys."  Xander looked at him.  "Then again, it's her or Willow helping us with the rites and spells we'll be doing."

"We've done rites and exorcisms before," Sam offered.

Xander looked at him then snorted.  "That database didn't have a warning not to do magic around me, Sam?"  He nodded that it did.  "There's a reason for that.  She's going to make sure it goes *right* around me."  He walked them inside, getting them some lemonade too.  "We're in her sitting room, guys."  He led the way and found her sipping some brandy.  "See, they promised.  Now, can we please get along?"

"Fine," she muttered.

"Of course," Dean agreed.  "So, I hear there's weapons?"

"In the grove," she said bluntly.  "You'll have to go be *nice* to them too."

"Lots of people consider us nice boys," Sam assured her.  "We only hurt those that're hurting others."

"Do you ask first?" she asked.  "Sometimes hurting isn't the same as you think.  Sometimes people do ask to be hurt."

"S&M beside the point," Xander said.  "They go after problem things, like we did the hunters in Sunnydale, Granny.  They could be a lot less discriminate about who they go after."  She grimaced but sipped her brandy again.  "Fine.  We'll come back for the battle nearby and I'll call if we need help with a spell.  Okay?"

She looked at him.  "You willing to go with them?"

Xander stood up.  "Do I have a choice?" he asked sarcastically.  "Not like the Powers said 'oh, you're an alternate'.  They said 'you get to do the shit work we wouldn't even send our champions or slayers to do, now suck it up and bend over' like always."  He finished his lemonade.  "The grove still north?"  She nodded.  "Thanks."  He kissed her on the head.  "We'll check in before we hit the town and a motel."

She looked at them.  "Stay in the barn, boys.  It's cheaper and there's a well out there.  Get your own dinner but you can stay out there."

"Thank you," Sam said with a small grin.

"No trying to charm me either.  My last boy was a chaos sorcerer.  I *know* how thin the charm veneer is."  Sam gave her an odd look.

"He's her last son," Xander said.  "He's still floating around because he screwed up a spell."  He hauled Sam up.  "C'mon.  We'll be back probably just after dark.  That seems to be how these things go.  Stay safe, Nanny."

"You too, boys."  She watched Dean finish his lemonade, putting their glasses in the sink before leaving out the back door after the boy.  She sighed, looking at her altar setup.  "Do we trust them?  They got past my wards but do I really have to trust three angry young men with chips on their shoulders and not a single idea 'bout the good sides of life?" she asked quietly.

Xander led the way out the back door.  "There's a sacred grove to honor a powerful sacrifice just over that small hill," he said with a point.  "Nanny Grimsley and the other witches around here guard it.  It's pure energy."  He looked at them.  "It may hate us because we're male.  Fortunately we're supposed to be here."

Dean put a hand on his arm.  "What's her issue?"

Xander looked at him.  "Your father killed two of her kids for almost turning dark, Dean."  They both gave him horrified looks.  "At one he was drunk off his ass and didn't ask questions.  He saw her working a spell on her friend and ended it before he decided it was going to get out of hand."

"Hell," Sam muttered.  "The other?"

"Her very powerful chaos sorcerer son was trying to work a protection against all hunters getting near his mother.  He knew that what she does is good for everyone, even if he was a bit twisted with the path he chose."  He moved closer.  "The spell to protect her and the grove permanently was hard, called for a sacrifice of blood.  A few of you guys heard about that."  He looked at Dean.  "You may've even heard the call out."

"I barely remember that," he said quietly.  He looked back at the house then at him.  "If I remember right the guy attacked."

"The kid was sixteen, he panicked," Xander agreed.  "He thought they were there to kill his mother for her work."  Dean nodded slowly.  "So no, she's got a real bad issue with every single person who's ever hunted.  She came down on Willow the first time they talked because Willow hunted.  She hates us because we were saving the world by hunting.  You guys too."

"Us especially," Sam finished.

"Dean especially," Xander corrected. "He's the one that reads as a hunter in the family, Sam.  Like Fred told you, you're more valuable than plain, old fashioned muscle and grunt work."

"You knew Fred came to see us?" Dean asked.

"Yeah, we were talking."  He shrugged. "She was chewing me a new one for getting lost in the duty again.  It's happened before.  Cordy did it too."  He turned around to look.  "We should go.  The earliest we can get in there is three and it's nearly quarter til."  They nodded, following him that way.  "Whatever you do, no matter what comes at us, do not make a threatening move in the grove.  The sacrifice that created the holy spot was done so that a lot of others survived.  It's got spirits out the ass in there.  Over thirty people died in that battle to keep the world going."  He looked at them.  "Two were the slayer and watcher of the time.  Another was the next girl to be called.  She lived about a nanosecond after being called."  Sam shuddered.  "Yeah, it was a bad thing.  It would've been much worse if the witches didn't step in.  One sacrificed her life and health to finish sealing the spell to destroy the higher demon.  She's back at the house."

"She's reincarnated?" Dean asked.

"No, she's been made the guardian of the grove.  She was barely eighteen when she was called.  All three of her kids have died since then.  It's been a while now," he said quietly.  "The grove is part of her and she's part of it.  So even if they come out to jump at you, no matter what, you do not threaten anything."

"What about you?" Sam asked, having a feeling.

Xander looked at him.  "I have the right to keep them out of me.  That's all I'll be doing.  She'll try to brain me later for that much.  They always do," he finished with a sigh as they walked up the small rise.  He pointed at the scrubby little group of trees.  "It's a mystical nightmare to sense that thing."

Dean looked.  "Looks small."

"Looks can be deceiving," Sam reminded him.

"Yup," Xander agreed, heading down there.  He ran into the other guardian first, staring at her.  "They called us.  We came."

The guardian looked at him.  "You're a smartass."

"No, really?" he asked dryly.  "Why are *we* doing the bending over and taking it this time?"

"The Powers have needs, Xander.  The same as you do.  Yours will be met by helping them."

"They haven't yet," he said bluntly.

"Let's not irritate the nice guardian," Sam complained.

She looked at him.  "He has a right to be angry.  The Powers do not like him."

"I'm on the shit list," Xander said simply, giving him a look.  He looked at the spirit again.  "So why me and them?"

"There must be cooperation for a while.  Things must work and flow again."  She floated closer to him.  "Do you truly want to do this?"  He stayed silent.  She smiled.  "Wise of you not to make a false statement."

"Can I play with the unicorn again this time?"

She laughed.  "If it comes for you and you change."  She let them into the grove, watching as they walked and were changed once they hit the shadows of the interior.

Sam looked at himself.  "I'm eight."

Dean nodded.  "Yeah, me too."

Xander, the eight-year-old version, grinned and pointed.  "There's a unicorn ahead, guys.  We should visit before we get the shiny, pokey things."

"How can we play with a unicorn?  None of us are that innocent," Sam complained.  Xander took off running anyway.  "Dean?"

"Follow him.  He's been here before."   They took off running after the eight-year-old Xander.  "Xander, wait for us!" he yelled.  "We don't need to get lost in here!"  They both stopped when they saw the thing rising out of leaves and twigs from the forest floor.  All it had were leaves, twigs, and two eyes.  "Ooh, yeah," he said grimly.

"No threatening moves," a male voice called.

"What if it attacks?" Dean called.

"It can't hurt you."  The demon roared and they both backed up.

"Is this like one of those face your fears things?" Sam asked.

"No," Dean said.  "That's not something I'm afraid of.  I'm almost more afraid of the unicorn."  His brother gave him an odd look.  "Like I was ever that innocent!"

"Uh-huh.  All babies are born innocent, Dean.  Even us."  They looked at the leaf monster again, each taking a side to walk around it.  It tried for him but he closed his eyes and stiffened.  Nothing.  He looked up and the monster was staring at him in confusion.  "We don't want to hurt you," he said calmly.  "Even if you are trying to scare us."

The monster grunted and looked at Dean, who shrugged.  "He's the nice one.  I just wanna get away right now."  The monster groaned and fell back into a pile of leaves and twigs.  "That's freaky."

"Yeah, a lot," Sam said.  They heard a high pitched scream.  "Xander!" he called, taking off running again.  They found the boy with a small wound on his arm but a unicorn letting him pet her.  "Xander, what's wrong with your arm?"

"She got him with the horn," Dean said, moving closer.  "Hey, can we look at the wound?"

Xander looked at him.  "Why?"

"To see if you need a bandaid."

"Nope."  He went back to humming and petting her.  "You should see Gretchen.  She's at the altar.  I'll stay and pet her.  She's nice."

"Don't you have to see Gretchen?" Dean asked.

Xander smiled and giggled.  "Who said I'm not doing something else, Dean?"  Dean stared.  Xander just smirked and the unicorn stabbed him gently again but he glared at her.  "Quit that!  Keep it up and the bad girls will come again!  Then Willow will turn me back into a cat for trying to date!"  He went back to petting her, getting down to braiding her mane.  "The altar's through the light area, guys.  Go there."

"Sure," Dean agreed.  "Will you be okay?"

Xander grinned and nodded.  "Of course.  I'm always all right.  I'm a Xander."  He went back to humming and braiding.

Dean looked at his brother, who could only shrug.  "Okay.  Altar's which way?"  The horn was pointed in a direction and scratched Xander again coming back.  "No, you scratch us if you want to; you don't hurt him," he ordered calmly.

Xander looked at him.  "Even innocence has a price, Dean.  It's not the first time I've paid it.  Now shoo.  You're interrupting my braiding and I'll lose the pattern."

Sam nodded, pulling Dean away.  Though he did watch the braid pattern for a few steps.  There was something familiar about it.  They found the lit area where sunlight came through the trees and stepped through it, coming out themselves on the other side.  "The braid was strange," he said.

Dean looked at him.  "And us being eight at the same time wasn't?"

"Okay, stranger," he defended.  A female voice laughed so they headed toward it.  "Are you Gretchen?"

"I am."  She looked them over then stared at Dean.  "Why do you break the sacredness of our grove, Dean Winchester?  You have much blood on your soul."

"To protect others.  I was sent here after being chosen by some Powers and a book."

She laughed again.  "You have no idea what that means, do you?"

"Not yet.  Can we get a bit of info on that too?"

She shook her head.  "No.  You'll figure it out eventually.  The rest of them have."

"The rest of who?" Sam asked.

"Champions," Xander said as he walked out of the other side of the clearing.  "Lady Gretchen."

"Back again I see," she said with less tolerance.

"Hey, yell at them.  Not like I *need* to atone for that many things."

"No, you don't," she agreed.  "They simply like you.  It keeps you from screwing up their plans by making you do their work."

"Yet I screw it up anyway and then they get mad," Xander said bluntly.  "Can we have a talk of the ass-plug variety with the Powers?  Because I'm tired of needing one."

She shrugged.  "Take it up with them.  You'll be able to by the end of this fight."

"War," Dean corrected calmly.  "No *fight* takes three years.  A war maybe, but not a single fight."

She looked at him.  "Even if it's the manifestation of the same entity?"

He shook his head.  "That's still a war and it's been going on forever.  So why us?"

"Someone's got to understand him and control him," she said dryly.  "No one else can.  Not even Rosenburg."

"You know, you call her and she shows up," Xander said dryly.  He looked at Dean.  "She needs her caffeine fix."  He handed her a glowing, golden rose, making her sigh in pleasure and sniff.  "Now, weapons?"

"You have to ask the power, Xander."

"Fine.  Come on, guys."  He led them that way.

"Were you really in the clearing?" Sam asked.

Xander looked at him then shook his head.  "Nope.  We all go there our first time.  I got higher level advice than 'all innocence has a price'."  He looked at them.  "Yes, it's all cryptic.  It seems to be the way of higher powers when they want you to do something."

"So you really screw up everything?" Dean asked.

Xander glared at him.  "Not that way."

"Didn't mean it that way," he said, backing off.  "Are you sure you're really Xander?"

Xander stopped to look at him.  "Dean, you don't know me yet.  Yes, I'm me.  I'm really me.  All me.  All that.  Even I have my dark days.  So let's just drop the insinuation that I'm the fuck up node and switch of the universe, okay?"

"I wasn't asking that," he told him, stepping closer.  "I wasn't."

"I'm also not fragile."

"We just saw you get hurt by the unicorn," Sam said.  "Three different times."

Xander rolled up his sleeve to show scars in the same places. "Yeah, I know."  He rolled down his sleeve then walked on.  "We'll be here until midnight if we don't hurry up and they're not known for their patience with anyone who's been called to do stuff."  The two brothers shared a look behind his back and kept going.  "I've heard it before.  Don't worry about it.  This stuff makes my skin crawl."

"It was too much time spent surrounded by evil," a male voice said, fading into view.

Xander looked at him.  "Wes."

"Xander.  Dean.  Sam."  He looked at Xander again.  "You may not pass with that attitude."

"Hey, never asked for it.  You know very well these things put me into a bad mood and why, Wes.  I'll be damned if I'm going to enjoy this."

"Yes, well, be that as it may, you do still have a test to go through.  I can't simply let you pass."  He manifested a sword.

Xander laughed and walked through him shaking his head, wincing and rubbing the spot where the sword would've cut him.  "Thanks for the giggle, needed it."

"I do loathe you sometimes, Xander," Wesley called after him.

"Yup.  They all do.  Yet they keep trying to make me not retire.  Ever figure that riddle out?"

"You're at least important.  Not like before."

Xander glared back at him.  "I was important then, Wes, or Buffy wouldn't be living.  Nor would the town of Sunnydale.  I don't care *what* the Powers or anyone thinks.  I've given up giving a damn about other opinions, even yours or theirs.  You can tell them I said that."  He kept walking, pulling Dean with him, muttering under his breath.

"Not friends?" Dean asked.

"A former Watcher, one who hated those of us who jumped in and then found himself at odds with them so he ended up working with Angel.  Another person who didn't want to see that I'm more than a tool to be used.  Like the Powers."  He walked them into a clearing.  "Grab Sam's hand.  There's another barrier."  Dean did that and they walked across the barrier.  "Howdy."

"Why are you here?" the young seeming girl asked calmly from her spot on the ground.

Xander squatted down in front of her.  "You know why I'm here, Nanny.  You have known why I was called.  Why Dean was called.  You've known now for years and didn't even hint the last time I had to come interrupt everyone's rest and make them disquieted."

"Yes, but why today?  Why not in a few weeks?"

"Because doing it now means that we have time to get some training and learn how to work with each other," Dean told her.  "Good teams aren't born, they're made and train together.  Like Sam and I do."

She stared at him then snickered.  "Sometimes they are born."

"Everyone's born," Sam told her.  "Some are just born to do things while others are born to exist and let them have things to do."

She shook her head.  "Not exactly."  She looked at Xander again.  "You won't wake them this time, Xander."  He stared at her.  "You won't."

"I will.  We both know I will because me going near the sacred spot wakes every single spirit in this woods because of what's touched me."

She nodded. "This time we're ready for you."  She walked them on, taking them to a dark place in the forest floor.  "Here we bled," she told them, looking at Sam.  "Would you bleed to save everyone?"

"I have."

"We both have," Dean told her.  "We will again if it's necessary."

She looked at him.  "Your choice is not one of bravery, Dean.  It's not that sort of choice.  Your choice is finding a true calling beyond vengeance.  His choice is one of bravery.  Xander's choice is one of pain."  She looked at Sam again.  "I know you are a helper in this fight."

"War," Dean corrected.

"This is only one long fight in the war, Dean.  The war never changes, never stops, and never begins."

"Soldiers die but never move past their battles?" he asked.

"Not always.  Sometimes."  She took his hand, then Sam's hand, walking them into the dark spot so they disappeared.  "Listen to your heart, make your own choices," she said quietly.

Dean closed his eyes, as he was probably supposed to do.  He didn't understand all this mystic bullcrap most of the time.  It just felt right.  He felt his insides be touched, like something was running a hand over his guts and chest cavity, making him wince and shudder.  He felt Sam grab onto his arm and steadied himself.  It was disgusting feeling.  Then it stopped.  He opened his eyes, looking back at Sam, who shrugged but was smiling, then nodded in front of him.  Dean looked and there was a really pretty, totally impractical long sword.  "Huh."  He put a hand on it and it dropped from hanging so he had to hold it up.  He winced as it burned into his hand for a moment.  "Ow."  He changed hands and continued to look at it.  "Does it do anything special?"  He was thinking about how he'd hide the long thing when it changed into his favorite gun, making him smirk.  "Neat."  He grinned at Sam.

"Very neat," he agreed.  They walked out the other side.  Xander closed his eyes and walked into the circle, disappearing.  Sam blinked, his ability was showing him something.

"Pay no attention to that," the girl said.  "That is his choice; if he wants you to know he'll tell you.  If you make him."  Dean looked at her.  "Xander doesn't always share when he wants to.  Sometimes he has to."  She smiled.  "You'll come to find those situations bothersome and tedious, but they do happen to all of us."

Xander came out the other side with a pocket knife that glowed silver.  He put it into a pocket, then looked at the little girl.  "Maybe that's because I do have the right to private thoughts, even as a Watcher.  Do we have to go back the same way or can we take the fast track out?  The spirits are getting restless again and I don't want to be attacked."

"Go," she agreed, waving a hand.  "Go north."  They headed that way, Xander checking the dial on his watch.  She shook her head.  "Some day he'll learn to appreciate things."

"I already do," Xander called back.  "Normal things that aren't battles or the Powers.  I appreciate plenty of things.  Thanks anyway."  He waved and they appeared out of the scrub trees, looking at each other.  "We're on the other side and we should probably walk around.  Before we get attacked.  They really don't like me."

"Why?" Sam asked.

"Because Sunnydale taints things and each time he's possessed or faces off with something it adds a bit of taint to your soul," Dean said, looking at Xander.  "Right?"  Xander nodded.  "Dawn said so."

"It figures.  They read that I've been in this battle and that battle and then lived in Sunnydale most of my life.  It freaked almost all the true shaman out.  One had been in his own battles before moving back home."  He pointed.  "Farm and the barn's that way, guys.  Let's hike?  Please?"  They nodded, walking far around the grove so none of the spirits would get too restless.  They were all tired and none of them wanted to face some angry spirits tonight.

Sam looked at Xander's arm, then at him.  "Did it really hurt you?"

Xander looked at him and nodded.  "It does every time.  Mediums are touchable by spirits in every manifestation.  It sucks.  But it's what I was born as.  Another great part of Sunnydale spread throughout the world.  Anyone the least bit psychic is activated or killed there."  He kept walking.  "Being with the slayer kept me out of most of the trouble but not all of it.  Especially around Halloween even though demons supposedly take that night off."

"Since when?" Dean asked.  "We always get trouble."

"Really?  Our demons and vamps always took the night off.  It was chaos sorcerers and everything but demons that night for us."

"Wow.  We always get more poltergeist action and that stuff," Sam said.  "Maybe it's a difference because of the hellmouth?"

"Giles said it was everywhere.  It was a night for them to party and relax, that it was bad enough without them."

"Maybe the other stuff we deal with is that," Dean suggested.  "You said you guys didn't do much about ghosts and poltergeists."

"No, not really," Xander agreed.  "It wasn't our thing.  Vamps, eating demons, not ghosts.  Too many in town I guess."

"How many people died in the last ten years?" Sam asked.

Xander considered it.  "Well, the last six months before the last battle we had eighteen turned, twenty-six die, and another four disappear so we assumed dead."

"That was average?" Dean said, stopping him to make Xander look at him.  "How many vampires did you have!"

"Um, in that same six months we staked all but one that got turned and another ten or so."

"Was that average?" Sam asked.  Xander smirked and nodded.  "How many were in your town?"

"Vampires breed like roaches.  A master vampire, like Spike was, Angel was, them guys, can make about ten minions a night or one strong childe."  He started to walk again.  "Most of the ones we got were newly risen fledges.  Now and then we got one of the older ones but they tended not to be stupid and hang out in cemeteries, the Bronze, places like that.  They were more cautious about their hunting so we hardly ever saw them."

"The Bronze?" Dean asked.

"It was about the only teen friendly dance club in town," he said, grinning at him.  "Which meant it was basically a vamp buffet nearly every night.  We'd go, we'd stake when we found one hunting, but even we had to go to school the next day."

"Is that why your GPA sucked so badly?" Sam asked.

"School and I didn't work out too well before then," Xander admitted calmly.  "Not my thing."

"Mine either," Dean admitted.  "Overall, how many vamps were there that then relocated?"

"Half of them went with the implosion," Xander admitted.  "We got the humans out and some of the demons ran beforehand, but then again there was the invasion the next year in LA so we lost a lot of them then."  He shrugged a bit.  "Maybe eighty percent moved.  Mostly to other areas where there's hellmouths.  Sixteen slayers does do a lot more work than one, a witch or two, and a construction worker.  Plus all the badness in LA, a few went to Miami, a few went to New Orleans.  Some headed for the old country if they were really old.  A few started a cult to God, as close as they could come to church I guess, to thank him for surviving Sunnydale.  One of them started a 'non-hunting' movement.  She was killed a while back too but she had her own cult of those who ate from the butcher."  He shrugged again.  "Those who knew evacuated.  Those who didn't know, ran when they figured it out.  Some of the town's still standing," he admitted.  "A few houses on the edge of town.  Part of the road.  The hellmouth was under the high school's library."

"No way," Dean said.  "They couldn't.  No.  No, not right."

Xander grinned.  "Way back when, Sunnydale was founded by a guy named Richard Wilkins.  Who was the mayor when I graduated.  He was a minor demon, wanted to become a more powerful demon, which takes about a hundred and ten years really.  He became the bigger demon during our graduation ceremony and we had to blow up the school to kill him.  He built the town: the underground condos for the demons, their walkway in the sewer system that wasn't really used for sewery stuff, the school, the hospital that was more of a restaurant than a good hospital, the circles for summoning higher things in one of the parks.  All that to draw more demons there because having them there made the hellmouth stronger."

"Which would in turn help him ascend," Sam finished.  Xander nodded.  "Wow.  So...."

"A lot more demons and the whole town was like a farm with a high denial rate.  I mean, you could lose a friend one minute and then forget she existed a few hours later in some cases.  The whole town nearly died a few times and no one said a word.  Even after graduation no one said anything.  A few more people became drunk for a few extra weeks but then they quit too.  Sunnydale might as well have been a river in Egypt.  Which was a very pretty river by the way."  He let out a laugh.  "Buffy got arrested for killing the guy dating her mother who turned out to be a robot.  That was about our level of cops out there.  They were seriously going to charge her with manslaughter when the robot Ted attacked her and she pushed him down some stairs to kill him.  Then he came back and well, it was Sunnydale."  He grinned at Dean again.  "So, anything like that in the rest of the world?"

"Not that we've seen."

"Is Cleveland turning that way?"

"Maybe when it's been active for over two hundred years or so," Xander said.  "We know the Sunnydale hellmouth was active for over three hundred.  Oh, hey, on spirits, did you guys ever get cursed to diseases by native spirits?"

"No," Dean said.  "You?"

"Yeah, the crew was digging something for the campus and we fell into a native burial chamber.  I ended up with ghostly syphilis and smallpox for Thanksgiving one year thanks to them.  Anya was not amused.  She swore up and down, threatened them with bunnies, everything."

"Bunnies?" Sam asked, looking a little confused but also kinda amused at that thought.

"Yeah, my big, bad former vengeance demon honey was scared of bunny rabbits.  Claimed their twitchy noses and tails were evil."  Dean burst out laughing.  "Yup.  She got over it thanks to a Halloween but yeah.  Damn I miss her sometimes."

"She ever come visit?" Sam asked.

Xander looked at him.  "Nope.  She's moved on, she's telling someone in heaven or wherever how she used to torture unfaithful men who pissed their women off enough to call her."  He beamed.  "She was over women scorned.  Cordy made her make a *whole* alternate universe because I called Cordelia by Buffy's name.  I saw a vamp me and a vamp Willow.  Very, very scary, and very gay in Willow's case.  It was kind almost a portent of bad things to come."

Dean was smiling but he was also shaking his head.  "If we ever find a place like that in the US, we'll help blow it up so no one else has to have these sort of memories.  Wanna help?"

Xander beamed at him.  "I love the pretty booms.  They're so good."

"Good.  Then we'll blow it up together."  They ran into the farm again.  "Is this the same place?"

Xander looked then sighed.  "Maybe."  He waved them to stay and walked up to the back porch, tapping.  "This isn't Nanny Grimsley's place, is it?"

"'Bout half a block to the right, young man," the old woman said dryly.  She stared at him.  "What did you turn yours into?"

"A pocket knife.  It's much easier to carry around than a long sword."  He beamed.  "Thanks."  He walked back to them.  "Half a block to the right."  They headed that way.  "Sorry, too much course correction."

"Better to be safe than to anger them anymore," Sam told him.  Dean nodded.  "We deal with a lot of angry spirits."

"I'm sure Sunnydale had some.  We never saw 'em but I'm sure we had some."

"We should visit, make sure they're all passed on," Dean said quietly to Sam.

Xander looked at him.  "The taint's still there, Dean.  You'd come out tainted and if Sam's any bit psychic like the book hinted, he'd be in massive pain and probably kidnaped or turned."

"We'll teach you how to do it and then watch from nearby," he offered.

Xander considered it.  "If we have time."

"Sure."  He patted him on the arm, but the kid moved out of range.  "Okay, no friendly touching like I do to Sam."  Xander gave him a look.  "I hit him on the arm too."

"He's related to you."

"Good point.  Training with these new things?  That way we get used to them?"

Xander looked down to watch his feet walk.  "I know I can't go back to Cleveland but I do have a few things I could and should do before the battle.  Go visit graves and the like."  He looked at him.  "As long as it doesn't take too long."

"I can handle that," Dean agreed.  "We've to get used to working with each other.  I have *no* idea how you were trained."

"I jumped in."

"I got that feeling from what we've seen," he admitted.  "Sam and I were trained by our Dad, who was a Marine."

"Mine was a something.  I don't know what," he admitted.  He made a face. "By the time I was old enough to know anything about his past it had already floated away down the not- really-a-sewer."

"Dad started Dean just before his sixth birthday," Sam told him.  "I got started about three."

"That sucks," Xander said bluntly.

"Yeah," Sam agreed.  "It's definitely not the usual way to grow up."  Dean looked at him.  "It wasn't."

"No, but it could've been worse.  He could've dropped us into the system and left us to hunt down the demon."

"True," Sam agreed.

"I spent some time in the system.  It wasn't totally horrible.  Even though one of the four was in it for the check the others were pretty nice."  Both brothers stared at him.  "My mother got forcefully admitted to a rehab center for six months.  Dad refused to keep me at home while she was gone.  He decided it was my fault."

"They catch her hurting you?" Dean asked calmly.

Xander looked at him then shook his head.  "No, they caught me buying liquor for her and driving her home from the bar one night.  She got done, passed two screening tests, then the Sunnydale denial issue came back to her."

"How old were you?" Sam asked quietly.

"Seven."

"You were driving at seven?" Dean asked.

Xander grinned. "I had to stand up to reach the pedals and look over the steering wheel.  Only happened about four times.  The last time I kinda ran us into a bus I hadn't seen."  He started to walk again.  "It wasn't much but it was home."

"Yeah, we had that feeling now and then too," Sam agreed quietly, looking at Dean.  "So, how long do you think before you have to go do those things?"

"Maybe a week?  That should ease out most of the roughness.  I don't take it that we'll have to be fighting back to back or anything like tied together.  I'm not sure if the episode of car jousting is going to be any fun in my caddy or not, but we'll have to see."

"I didn't see anything about car jousting," Dean said, starting to frown. "That might wreck my car."

Xander grinned at him.  "Cars can be fixed.  That was the kids in a bus thing where they're possessed and trying to run people down.  Or that could've been one of mine and not yours.  Who knows."  He found the barn and pointed.  "There we are.  That's her laundry."  They headed to get their bags and sleeping gear, finding the hayloft wasn't so bad really.  The loose hay made for good bedding once sleeping bags were thrown over it.  Xander had soda in his car.  Dean had instant coffee in his.  Xander also had cheese crackers and peanuts.  It was a good enough supper.  They settled down, Xander falling asleep quickly.

Dean looked over at Sam.  "Want to visit his hometown?" he asked quietly.

"Not really.  I don't think I'd make a good vampire."

"You'd hate eating people," Dean agreed.

"I think I'd be a mean one."

Dean snorted.  "Not even.   You're too afraid of bruising or messing up your hair, Sammy."

"Don't call me that," he muttered, flipping in the other direction.  "We'd stake you pretty quickly because you have *no* subtlety left and we know all your BS by now," he countered.

"You haven't even seen how deep I can go when I'm in the mood to BS," Dean said smugly.

"Guys, unless we want me to call Dawn so she can have that graphic talk about how to have sex with each other, quit," Xander said quietly.  "I don't need those mental images to interrupt my dreams.  'Kay?"  He flipped in the other direction and went back to sleep while they laughed.  Laughter was a good start.

"Well, she did tell you to go suck some dick," Sam said smugly.

"I doubt she meant yours since you barely have one."

"I do so!  I pleased Jess every single time."

Dean snorted.  "That's not a hardship since you had so long to practice on her.  I can do any woman."

"Yay you, you're a slut," Sam told him.

"Don't make me hit you."

"Like you'd land one."

"Enough!" a female voice called from out of nowhere.  "Damn you two are annoying bitches.  Go to sleep!  Now!"

"Yes, ma'am," they said in unison, ducking down before whatever spirit that was got hold of them.  They were too tired to do more than play fight with each other.

***

Xander woke up to the cautious poke the next morning, blinking at the man standing over him.  "It had better be at least ten."

"No, closer to eight," Dean said with a grin.  "Wake up time, Xander."

"Fuck no."  He burrowed back in again.  "It's inhumane."

"No it's not.  We got to bed last night before midnight.  You can get up now."

"I'm making up for all the nights I didn't get any sleep at all.  Wake me up at ten."

"We don't have time if we want to get some practicing in."

Xander moved the sleeping bag to glare at him.  "Do I *really* look like a masochist?"

"Don't know.  Never worked in one of those bars."  At least the other guy snickered at that.  Even if he did cover up again.  "Come on or I won't let Sam get you any breakfast."

"Not hungry.  I can wait until lunch."

"That is lunch," Sam called.  One hand with one finger upraised came out of the sleeping bag.  Dean snickered and backed up.  "No, don't."

"He leaves us no choice.  It's gotta be the water hose."  Xander was back to snoring so he didn't hear him.  Pity.  Dean grabbed the hose and turned it onto the boy, making him shriek and pounce him to beat his ass.  "Hey!" he complained, trying to get him off him.  He wasn't half bad as a fighter.  "This isn't the practice I meant," he complained.  He finally pinned Xander, staring down at him, grinning.  "Good morning!"

"It's an oxymoron," Xander growled, surging up and flipping Dean onto his stomach, landing on his back.  "Let sleeping bitches lie, Dean.  It's safer for everyone if I get some sleep now and then.  Especially since I don't sleep that good usually," he growled in his ear.  "Okay?"

"You're up now, and warmed up.  Can we start practicing again?"

"Guys," Sam said, coming up on Xander's left side.  He noticed Xander didn't really pay any attention to him until he grabbed his shoulder but then he ended up pinned down next to his big brother.  "Morning."

"Fuck off," Xander growled, going to curl up in a sunny corner of the hayloft.

Dean looked over at him then at Sam.  "He didn't feel you coming?"

"He wasn't paying attention to me or to that side.  One of the two."

"Huh."  He got up and hauled Sam up, going to wake Xander up again.  They needed to know what was going on over there.  Xander tried to bite so Dean popped him on the top of the head, getting bitten on the leg.  Fortunately without breaking the skin.  "Hey!"  He pulled back rubbing the sore spot.  "Mean shit!"

"Xander, do we have to try to do an exorcism on the last of the hyena?" Sam asked.  Xander growled and curled up in a smaller ball, one arm over his head.  "Well, I guess it couldn't hurt."

Dean gave him a look.  "They didn't remove it all?"

"Apparently not.  Look how he's acting."

"Get your ass up, boy!" Nanny Grismley yelled from the doorway.  Xander simply growled at that.  She stomped up there, staring at him.  "What is wrong with you?"

"I think maybe something last night brought the hyena closer again," Sam told her.  "Any idea if it was the grove?"

She frowned, then shook her head.  "Last time too," she sighed.  "I plum forgot about that."  She walked over more gently.  "Xander?"  She got a growl.  She whispered something in another language and the boy went limp.  "Let him finish sleeping it off.  Of course it would've brought it closer to the surface and I was stupid for not warning you two."  Dean rubbed his leg.  "Need a bandaid?"

"Didn't break the skin," he said, looking at her.  "Can't we remove the taint?"

"No," she said bluntly.  "That Giles boy tried awfully hard.  Didn't work."  She walked off again.  "I've got some coffee started for you two."

"Thanks, Nanny Grimsley," Dean said, smiling at her back.  They headed after her.  "Would you happen to know anything about why his left side was a weaker defense?"

She stared at him.  "Ask the boy yourself."

"Fine.  I can do that," he agreed, backing off.

"Xander said that any manifestation can harm a medium.  I've never heard of that," Sam said, sitting at the table, watching her cook.  He hoped for them but they could find their own food if necessary.

She leaned on the counter, looking back at him.  "Some mediums are like a train station.  In and out all the time.  Some are like toilets.  You leave a bit of yourself there and it ain't always the good parts."  They both nodded at that.  "Xander, now and then he can be like a backed up toilet that won't flush.  It just sticks around no matter how hard you try to flush it."  Dean looked a bit grossed out at that.  She smirked at him.  "The unicorn get him again?"  They both nodded.  "I'm surprised it didn't get either of you."

"No, we got the advice that there's always a cost for innocence," Dean told her.  "He kept us from petting her.  Then Xander did a funny looking braid in her hair."  She stiffened at that.  "Got *any* ideas before I have Sam hijack a satellite thingy to look it up online?"

"Draw it out for me," she said firmly, going back to cooking.  "I'm not cooking for you two.  I did enough of that for my kids."

"We can make do with fast food," Dean assured her, letting Sam draw it out on some scrap paper from the fridge.  "So, no idea about his left side?  A hearing loss maybe?"

"Ask him yourself, Dean," she ordered.

"Okay.  How long do you think it'll take to make her go back to sleep?"  Sam gave him a funny look.  "It said he was possessed by a female hyena, the pack leader."

"I must've skimmed that part."  He handed it over.  "That's all he had done when we left him there."

She looked at it then sighed, going to get her numerology book to look it up.  That was clearly a number pattern. She came back with it translated but Dean looked and snatched it, finishing the last number.  "You know it?"

"That's our father's phone number."

"You drag him here, you bury him," she said simply.

"I wouldn't do that to you," he said, looking at her.  "Our father can be...focused now and then.  I'm sure he'd apologize if he realized he was being dumb."

She smirked.  "And I thought he was the one who had lived with a girl so he knew how to apologize."  She went back to making her breakfast.  "Give him an hour and try again.  I doubt the Watchers got up too early with overnight patrols going on.  Now shoo before I get begging looks."

"Yes, ma'am," Sam said, taking the paper with him, dragging Dean out to the car so they could get breakfast.  "Should we call him?"

"Yeah, I think we should," Dean said.  "It had to mean something that it showed up then."

"He was talking about a price for innocence, Dean."

Dean looked at him.  "We pay that price so others don't have to know and can live normal lives," he said.  "We've already hit that toll."  He dialed as he backed out of the driveway, smiling at the blunt, unhappy answer he got.  "Dad."  He smirked.  "No, it came to us in a dream.  Or maybe a vision."  He pulled onto the main road.  "Yeah, your number.  Actually, talking about innocence.  So, what's up?  No, we got poked for a special assignment.  It won't be anytime soon.  No, I can't tell you where we are."

Sam took the phone from him.  "Dad, we're dealing with something picky and training with a new weapon.  We can't tell you where we are but we can meet you somewhere in a few weeks or so.  Where do you want us to meet you?"  He looked at Dean.  "If the stuff starts next month..."  His father shouted something.  "Yeah, that was us, Dad.  Actually, the Watcher's name is Xander and he was part of the team in Sunnydale before it fell in.  He's not one of the uptight bastard Watchers.  No, he doesn't have a slayer assigned.  He was teaching them all self-defense and how to use some archaic weapons in Cleveland.  Dad, that's a really long story and we're roaming," he said bluntly.  Dean nodded at that, taking the phone back.  "Bye."

"Dad, when and where in about three weeks?"  He listened to him complain. "Dad," he said finally, frowning.  "Hey, the world can end.  Your choice.  No, I got chosen, Sammy gets research detail.  Xander and me are the two chosen.  He's got a friend from there who's helping Sammy with the research stuff."  He listened to him complain.  "St. Louis, really?"  He and Sam shared a look.  "That's fine.  No, we're good.  Wondering why your phone number showed up in a dream sequence about the price of innocence."  He hung up on the silence.  "So, three weeks, St. Louis?"

"Sounds good.  The first fight would be when?"

"About two weeks after that if I remember right.  Sounds like's it's nearly on the west coast too."

"I'll go over that later."  He pointed.  "There?"

"There looks good," Dean agreed, driving them through.  "Are we picking up for the growling one?"

"We probably should.  It's not his fault she came back."

"Point," he muttered.  "He can pay us back."

"Sure."  They got breakfast and headed back to the farm, going to try to wake Xander up again.  They found him with his head in the horse trough.  "Do not drown," Sam ordered.

Xander pulled his head up.  "I used to swim.  I nearly became a sea creature.  I'm not gonna drown."  He put his head back in there, then pulled it out and ran his fingers through it before standing up and pumping more water until it was all clean.  "Sorry, had to do my hair."

"Sure," Dean agreed.  "You back to normal?"

"I guess."  He took his bag, looking inside.  Then he changed with Dean.  "Nauseating grease."

Dean snickered.  "Don't eat much on the run?"

Xander looked at him.  "Don't each much period these days.  We have a caf at the school but I'm usually doing private lessons with some of the younger girls during lunch.  Then I'm too tired to eat when I get home.  Sometimes microwave popcorn is a good dinner."  He handed over a five, getting a nod from Dean, who had already taken his first bite.  "Can you use a sword?"

"Barely.  We use machetes or axes."

"Like battle?"

"Like fireman," Sam told him.

Xander sighed.  "So far out of my usual."

"We'll work on the sword stuff together," Dean said.  "Do you use guns?"

"Now and then.  Sometimes it doesn't really help."  He shrugged and ate another bite.  "Sorry for whoever I bit."  Dean wiggled his fingers.  "Did I drink blood?"

"Nah.  Barely bruised me," he told him.  Xander grinned a bit and nodded, going back to his breakfast.  "We can't shower?"

"I'll shower after I'm sweaty.  After ten months in Africa I can't stand to have dirty hair anymore."  He finished up then stood up to stretch.  He tossed out the papers and the bag into the proper can then pulled out his new, shiny, multiple use weapon.  It expanded in his hand to the former sword length, letting him look it over.  "Scratches," he said.  "Been used before."

Dean pulled his to look at it, frowning.  "Mine too."

"Guess they had this problem before," Sam quipped, getting out of the way.  He watched Xander slowly swing the sword, getting the feel for it.  "Can't you change it into something you're more used to?"

"That takes concentration and I won't have any to spare during fights," Xander told him.  "Each weapon has its own balance issues and feels different in your hand.  I've got to get used to it as it is."

"True," Dean agreed, swinging his a few times.

"No, like this," Xander said, showing him.  Dean watched them mimicked it, getting a smile.  "Good.  That's a basic move.  Then combine it with this," he said, doing another one.  Dean followed along as he slowly taught him his first true sword kata.  Then he lunged and Dean blocked his blow, grinning a bit and fighting back.  "Remember, high and low shots, just like before," he said, changing his angle of attack.  Which was killing his shoulders and wrists but had to be done.  Dean kept blocking.  He wasn't making any offensive moves but his defensive were getting good.  Xander backed off nodding.  "Good enough for a first one.  Go back to it until it feels natural."

"I'm still more used to guns."

"Guns are nice," Xander agreed.  "They're not practical against everything though."

"He shot at ghosts before," Sam told him.

"Gee, very helpful, Sammy," Dean shot back.

"Hey, I've nearly shot a few of the slayers who broke into my place," Xander offered.  "Including Faith a few times."

Dean smirked.  "They would've kicked your ass."

"Buffy definitely would have.  Then again, Faith's the better den mother to the horde of girls, believe it or not."

"That's strange," Dean agreed.  "She didn't seem like the warm fuzzy sort."

"She's not, but she gets through to them when Buffy's more a commander sort."  He shrugged and went back to it, moving into a more advanced kata.  The sword really didn't feel comfy in his hand.  He decided to try to change the weapon, making it his favorite axe.  It stayed even when he wasn't concentrating.  That was a good thing.  It also let him move into a different pattern of movements, which he could admit to himself was partially showing off.

Sam gaped as he watched him move.  "Damn," he said quietly.

Xander shot him a grin.  "I used to watch Highlander a lot."  Dean snickered at that.  "Hey, taught me way more than Giles did."  He got back to it.  Dean attacked and Xander showed him how this was a different weapon to guard against.  They were both getting sweaty and nasty but it wasn't *too* bad.  It appeared they could work together at least.  Xander stepped back and waved Dean off, getting a panting nod from the other guy.  "Good."

"Thanks," Dean agreed.  "It stayed?"  Xander nodded.  So Dean concentrated and his sword changed back to his favorite gun.  "That's more like it."

"Bullets?" Sam asked.

Dean looked then sighed, going to get some to test it out.  "You too, Xander," he said, handing over a few.  They went to find an old tree to blow a few rounds into.  Xander wasn't a bad shot.  Not marksman by any means.  His sword was an automatic weapon instead of a revolver or a shotgun.  "What about casings and ballistics?"

"I almost always manage to police all my own brass," Xander assured him, picking them up.  He had to find one but that was fine.  They came back and found the old woman giving Sam odd looks.  "Sorry, their weapon of choice."

"Uh-huh."

Dean shrugged.  "It's more handy in what we do."

"Uh-huh," she repeated.

"We were making sure they'd work if we had to go that way," Xander said.

"You'll still have the bullets blessed, boys.  With a sword or something it's a clean cut through with a blessed weapon."

Dean nodded.  "All ours are blessed or made with consecrated materials, ma'am."

She nodded and smirked at that.  "Good.  Now go clean up.  You're all sweaty and nasty.  It'll be getting near ninety in an hour or so."  She went back inside.

Xander thought his sword back to its more handy pocket knife size and slid it into his pocket.  "Want first shower or second?"

"Second," Dean said.  Xander nodded, going to get his kit from his car and beg to use the shower.  "Save me some of the hot water, Xander."

"Of course."

He grinned at his brother.  "Not bad as weapons go."

"You still look a bit awkward with the long blade," Sam told him.

"Yeah, make fun of me because I'm short and you're both freakishly huge," he said, going inside.  "Hey, Xander, can I try yours?" he called.  She gave him a very dirty look.  "It's still awkward in my hand."  Xander walked into the kitchen without a shirt on, handing his over.  "Thanks."

"Not an issue.  I had the same problem.  It's not comfy like it's supposed to fit."  He shrugged and walked off again.

"That wasn't a payment I needed, boy," she called after him.

"Sorry, Nanny."  She shooed Dean outside, watching him work at it.  This one wasn't much better by his expression but he was doing all right with the unfamiliar weapon.

He finally gave it up and came inside, going to hand it back to Xander. Dean tapped on the bathroom door, sliding it underneath.  "Here you go, Xander."

"Thanks," he said, sounding a bit pained.

"You all right?  Did I tag you too hard?"

"No, just some muscle stiffness.  Give me three more."  The water came on and Dean could've sworn he heard a wet, squishing sound but that could've been anything.  He went back downstairs to grab his own bag.  By the time he got back up there, Xander was done and getting dressed again.  "Am I making the lunch run since you two got breakfast?"

"Sure," Dean agreed happily.  "Thanks."

"Uh-huh.  Not a problem."  He stepped into his shoes and headed out, going to figure out what they wanted to eat.  "Sam, lunch run?"

"Sure," he agreed, following him back to his car.  "Is it a really comfy ride?"

"All but this annoying spring that seems to have popped up," Xander told him.

Sam looked then poked and pushed, making it settle back where it should be.  "Try it now."  Xander beamed and got in, sighing in pleasure.  Sam walked around to get in, smiling at the comfortableness of the ride too.  It wasn't a long drive to town and everyone, including the cops, gave them funny looks.  Especially when they got out.  He guessed they weren't too used to seeing white boys driving an older caddy.  "Officer," he said when one walked over.

Xander grinned at him.  "In visiting Nanny Grimsley, officer."

He blinked.  "You sell drugs, kids?"

"No," Xander snorted. "The caddy used to but I got it off the person who took it from the old dealer."

"Oh.  Seizure stuff then.  No wonder."  He looked at the car then at the two happy young men.  "You two together?  I know she deals in strange stuff."

"Nah, I was sent to work with his brother on something," Xander said with a head-nod towards Sam.  "He's in the shower and we're doing the lunch run since Nanny said young men eat like horses and refused to feed us."  The officer laughed and walked off nodding.  They went inside to make their orders, coming out with a few boxes.  By the time they got back to the house she'd been called at least by one person and was not exactly happy.  Which was why Xander handed her a box with a kiss to the cheek.  "Are we sure I can't sneak back into Cleveland for the hunting supplies?"

"No," she told him.  "You'll get sucked in there."

He looked at her.  "I can hide from most of them, Nanny."  He walked out back, letting Sam hand Dean his food.  He caught the bottle of saline solution when it was tossed at him.  "Thanks, must've forgotten it."

"Why do you need that?" Dean asked.  "Injury stuff?  Need stitches checked?" he asked at Xander's odd look.

"No, maintenance."  He sat down to eat, watching the weather off to the west.  "We'll get a storm tonight," he said.  "Hey, Nanny, it's supposed to be a bad storm tonight or a good one?" he bellowed.

"Bad.  I'd pull the cars into the barn, boys."

"Thanks," Xander called back.  He looked at the weather again.

Dean watched it too.  "Looks like we've got a few hours.  Plains storms aren't instant things, they don't usually creep up on you.  You see them coming for a while."  Xander nodded, diving back into his food.  "So, maintenance?  Some sort of injury we should know about?" he tried again.  Xander gave him another odd look. "What?  All we know is that you got injured sometime in the past."

"Well, yeah, but I have it compensated for pretty well unless I'm dead tired," Xander assured him.  "Had to over the years."

"Is this something we should be concerned about?" Sam asked.  "Like having to keep some extra supplies on hand?"

"Just saline solution and I can pick it up anywhere."

"Okay," Dean agreed.  "You'll tell us sometime?"

"Maybe."  He ate another bite.  "Not like I proclaim it," he said at Dean's dirty look in his direction.  "I haven't shouted it out yet.  Half the girls don't even know I have it.  If they did I'd be babied to death and I'd never be able to do anything without them fussing over me."

"Why did Willow turn you into a cat for dating?" Sam asked.

"I kinda draw bad girls and she decided the last one I was flirting with was one so she turned me and then screamed at her.  I spent about a week as a cat."  They both snickered.  "Of course, that didn't help since I work a mundane job most mornings before going to help the girls in the afternoons."  He finished his lunch and got up to toss out his box and plastic fork.

"It's nothing too bad then," Sam told him.

Dean looked at him.  "Maybe."  He finished up and tossed his box out too, smiling at the old lady.  "Need anything done around here since all we have to do is to figure out how to work together?"

She gave him a look.  "Shoo.  Now."

"Yes, ma'am."  He headed back out to the barn.

Xander grinned at her.  "Be nicer," he chided with a small smirk.

"You too!"

He kissed her on the forehead.  "Remember, we've got Dawn working with us too.  They've already met semi-blunt Dawn."  She cackled.  He nodded.  "So they could use nicer.  Really."  He strolled back out to the front, going to pull his car around.  Dean came jogging out to do the same.  "This won't work."  He looked at the doors then his car.  "Really won't work."

Dean leaned out his window.  "I can get mine in."

"Mine won't fit through the door.  It's a bit more broad than yours.  Go ahead, I'll pull mine into the sheltered spot."  That got a nod and Dean pulled his car inside.  Xander parked in front of the door and got out, going to look in his trunk.  Dean came back to snoop.  "What?"

"I can help sharpen blades if you want."

Xander looked at him.  "That's something to do during the storm," he said.  He pulled out one locking case and handed it over.  "Let me get the whetstone."  Dean nodded, carrying it inside.  Xander found his whetstone and oil kit, carrying it inside once the trunk was closed too.  They all settled in to work on the knives.

"Xander, this one's nearly dull," Dean complained.

"I haven't used some of them yet.  Is that the one I just picked up?"

"No, that one's sharp."

Xander looked over.  "That's a Buffy present.  I basically stuck it in the kit and haven't touched it yet.  It's too big to carry openly."

"Dean sleeps with one of those under his pillow," Sam told him.

Xander looked at Dean.  "I used to sleep with a stake."  He got back to work on his.

Dean watched him.  "Slower.  It leads to a finer edge," he said quietly.  Xander gave him an odd look.  "It does."  He let him see his knife.  "See?"  Xander felt it then sighed and went slower.  "Want to break down the other weapons for cleaning too?"

"That means I have to repack the trunk," Xander complained.

"Ours need it too," Dean promised.

Xander looked at him.  "Yours are inside."

"Good point.  We can do those tomorrow or something."  He got back to work on the present knife, testing the edge against his thumb.  "This one doesn't want to hold a firm edge very well."

"Again, Buffy present," Xander said dryly.  He finished with his, then went to get something else, bringing it inside.  The small foot-pump grinding wheel was much easier than the whetstone any day.  It also wasn't that hard to keep packed.  Sam gave it an odd look but it worked for him.  Dean came over to try it on his current one.  It did help some.  Not a lot but some.  Xander took it to sharpen then handed it back.  "Should be better.  No bead on the edge."

Dean felt it.  "Not bad.  I still like the whetstone method, it lets me think."

Xander looked at him. "I build stuff when I want to think."  He finished up with his part of the knives, but Sam picked up another one to work on.  "Fine."  He repacked the wheel and the ones he had done, going to get a lantern since it was suddenly dark outside.  Plus a few books.  Though he did decide to bring something else in too, tossing it at Sam.  "There.  Yours, research boy."

Sam looked at the book on ritual magic, then smirked.  "What I needed.  Thanks, Xander."

"Welcome."  He lit the lantern and put it between them, getting a small smirk from Dean.  "Can't read in the dark."

"True, you can't," Dean agreed.  He looked at the books.  "No crime novels, nothing but fantasy?"

"Sorry, preferred genre.  You could go find a romance novel at the house I'm sure."

"I'd rather stab myself repeatedly and have Sammy do the stitches without local."

Xander snickered.  "That's about how I feel about them, only it'd be Buffy and Willow doing the stitches.  Willow's good, she could probably operate if she had to, but she's a bit cheerful when she's putting you back together again."  Sam gave him a confused look.  "She used to play nurse from medical textbooks when we were kids."  Dean snickered at that.  "She did!  She got a lot of my earlier scrapes and told her mother when my appendix burst on me so I could be taken to the ER.  She'll chat or yell at you while she stitches you back together again and then she'll shoo you off with a 'do better next time' at the end."

"I know a few hunters who'd appreciate that," Sam teased.

"Have to take her and her girlfriend Kennedy," Xander quipped back with an evil smirk.  "And yes, Kennedy's the worst of the two.  She's a bit possessive of her Willow snuggly."

"Fully lesbian?" Dean asked.  "Get any good watching in?"

"She'd blind me if I ever tried," Xander assured him.  "Then I'm not really good to anybody.  No, if I want to watch it, there's a small coven up there who deals with a lot of fertility stuff for their members.  They had the great, big, honkin' fertility raising orgy a few months back.  That was fun.  Participating was okay too."

Dean stared at him.  "You got to help?"

Xander grinned.  "I'm good at collecting power.  Then they bleed it off me and turn it to their own uses.  Willow hates it and them but oh well.  It helped.  There's now a few new daughters being born to the coven."  He went back to reading.

"Are you going to need an address to get fathers day cards at?" Dean asked.

"Nope.  Not my thing.  Or my part of the rite."  He shot him a smirk.  "But I did get to do some watching while I sat there and gathered the power before they took it from me."  He went back to his book.

"You live a much wilder life than we do," Sam said, getting into his own book.  "Why are you carrying around a book on sex magic?"

"It's only half sex magic, Sam.  The rest is regular rites that include sex.  It's like hunter's porn."

"Eww," Dean said.  "Some of us go to strip clubs instead.  It's better porn."

Xander looked at him.  "I did that for a while when I got broken down."  Dean gave him a horrified look so he snickered.  "The look on your face, man.  But yeah, I did."  He grinned at his book again.

Sam looked at Dean.  "You know, the next time we're short on funds you could try that instead of hustling pool."

Dean glared at him.  "You dance better than I do and you're closer to a girl than I am."

"I am not!" he huffed.

"Are so, bitch."

"You jerk!"

"Boys," Xander said.  "Don't make me call Dawn so she can give you another lesson in how to bond like family."

"I'm not really sure Dad would appreciate us sleeping together," Sam told him.

Xander looked at him.  "He's in St. Louis with Dawn, right?"

Dean shuddered.  "Ooh, that's a bad thought."

"St. Louis is big enough for them to miss each other," Sam reminded him.  "Dad won't call you with the migraine.  Or how she told him to go suck cock."

Dean punched his brother on the shoulder.  "Take that back!  I'm not into that!"

Xander shifted, moving the lantern out of the way even though it wasn't supposed to be breakable and it was electric run instead of oil or gas based.  Those two ended up on the floor, rolling around hitting each other.  "You know, watching you two is nearly as good as watching a comedy show."  He turned the page.  A hand grabbed his ankle so he looked down at Sam.  "Don't make me thump you too."

"I doubt you could," he taunted with an evil little smirk.  Xander sighed, put down his book, and joined in.

"Hey, only I get to pound him into a greasy spot!" Dean complained, coming over to help his little brother.  Xander got him down and was tickling him.  "Quit!" he shouted, trying to get away.  "Sammy!"  Sam pounced Xander, who casually knocked him down, thumping his head onto the ground.  "Too rough, Xander."

"He's fine.  I've hit gravestones with mine a lot harder than I thumped him."  He thumped Dean's head.  "See?" he asked with a bright, cheerful grin.  Then he went back to tickling him.

Dean finally got out from under him and got Xander pinned down.  "Are *you* ticklish?"

Xander beamed and shook his head.  "Nope.  Spike tried many times when we were cohabitating."

"You...lived with a vampire?  Were we taking Dawn's advice to a new extreme?"

"Giles had a foreign hotty over for a booty call.  I got stuck with the fangless one."  He shrugged and shifted but Dean shifted with him and pinned him down better.  "We're not having sex, Dean."

"No, we're not."  Xander kneed him on the inside of his thigh, making him wince.  "Ow!"

"Get off, I can't breathe."  Dean shifted back and Xander pounced again, tickling him until he finally got free and had to go outside to pee in the rain.  Xander beamed at Sam.  "The benefits of only having Willow and Jesse.  Jesse was *very* ticklish too.  You?"

"Um, no," he said, smirking and pouncing.  Xander and he were the same height so he couldn't use the same advantage he had over Dean.

Dean came back in and smiled, but shook his head.  "We're still playing?  Thanks for the help, Sam."  He dove in and they tried to torture Xander but he wasn't ticklish anywhere and even though he rolled around with them he clearly wasn't much for playing.  Dean finally got him pinned down on his stomach, one arm behind his back and held at an angle that had to hurt some.  "See, we play," Dean said in his ear.  "It's good for brothers to play."

"You guys invited me."

"I know.  Next time don't thump his head too hard.  He might lose brain cells."  He got off Xander's back, helping Sam up.  Xander pushed himself up, rubbing his shoulder.  "Did we really hurt you?"

"Eeeh, bit stiff.  Needs to pop."  He popped it and both brothers winced at that sound.  "They tried to do the cheesy pulling me apart at the seams thing once.  Didn't work."  He found his book and lantern, sitting down again.

Dean looked at Sam, then at Xander.  "I've got to work on his back later.  You need that sort of popping help too?"

"No, anytime my lower back goes I can usually do the squeezing buttcheeks thing until it pops.  Thanks anyway."

"Sure."  Sam smirked at him.  "What?  I'm tryin' ta be nice," he complained, smacking him on the arm.  "Lean against something, Sammy."  Sam leaned on the car, letting Dean pop his back for him.  Sleeping on the hay hadn't been good for his back either but Sam couldn't pop his.  Xander came over and he nearly jumped at the feel of hands on his back.  "No groping, Xander."

"If I was groping, you'd know it, Dean."  He pushed, then he wrapped his arms around him, lifted and pressed, until Dean let out a moan and they all heard the popping noise.  "Better?"  Dean smiled and nodded.  "Make a bed on top of one of the bales.  Add the loose hay.  It's like an ancient pillowtop mattress."  He went back to his book.

Dean stretched a few times.  "That feels much better."  Sam grinned and punched him on the arm, going back to the book on sexual magic.  Dean got into their trunk, looking at what needed checked.  It was time for some gun maintenance and a bit of repair work on handles.  He pulled out what he needed, settling in on the floor next to the lantern to work on his stuff.  Xander gave him a curious look.  "I've got it.  I've always taken care of the gear."

"I can understand that.  Buffy can't fix a broken crossbow to save her life.  Or mine."

Dean just nodded.  There wasn't really a comeback to that.  Though his father would've screamed at whoever didn't teach her proper weapons maintenance.

***

Dawn knew she was being stalked around the city so she had settled in a nice spot at a small cafe without many people sitting outside with them.  She had ordered a light lunch and coffee, sitting there with a magazine.  The guy stalking her was not someone she knew.  She knew he was a hunter.  She kinda thought she knew who he might be.  He did look a bit like the boys with Xander.  She turned the page, looking at the man stomping her way.  "Sit, please," she said dryly, putting down her magazine so she could sip her coffee.  "Who're you?"

"I should ask you that," he said, sitting across from her.  "I saw you interrupting what I was doing last night."

She snickered.  "I had more right to be there than you did, dear."  She smiled sweetly at him.  "Do we have a name or should I call you something imaginative I make up for you?"

"John'll do."

"That's fine.  I'm Dawn."  She held out a hand.  "From the *New* Council."

He shuddered.  "One of those sort.  You're awfully young, *Dawn*."

"Yeah, well, change happens to the best of us when your town gets sucked into hell."  He gaped and she ate a bite of her croissant.  "Hi," she told the waiter.  "Can you get him some coffee?  He's very uptight."  The waiter nodded, heading to do that for her.  She smiled once it was brought and gave him a tip.  "We need to have a chat.  Don't come too often?"  He nodded, smiling at the pretty girl before leaving.  Then she did something.  He stiffened. "Relax, Cujo.  I put up a shield so we don't have eavesdroppers."  She looked around.  "Shift to the left please?"  He gave her an odd look but did that.  She mouthed at the woman who was clearly reading their lips, "my brother and his sons are on a hunting expedition together, we've got to talk about weapons and things we're shipping to them," and left it there.  Then she sipped her coffee.  "I don't like the Homeland people.  They keep bugging my sister."

"Who are you?" he demanded.

"Dawn Summers.  Little sister to Buffy Summers."

"The slayer?"

"One of many," she agreed dryly.  She leaned on the table.  "I'm also on as research support for the team thing our Xander and your boys got sucked into."  He gaped.  "So therefore, be nicer, Cujo.  I'm not the mean one here.  I'm a lot nicer than my sister is."  She stared at him.  "Oh, that werewolf you were chasing last night?  She usually locks herself up but got free last night when her cage got rattled by that accident on the river.  Don't hunt her, she does take proper precautions."

"I don't know of any...."

"Wow.  And yet, we worked with one who did.  He was dating Willow for a long time," she interrupted.  She leaned on the table.  "So, you're their dad I'm guessing.  Sam doesn't look much like you but Dean kinda does."

"They both take after their mother," he said calmly.

"That's cool."  She grinned.  "So do I."  He gave her a look.  She smirked.  "I do."

"Their mother died."

"So did mine.  She had a suddenly appearing brain tumor right after we took down a military group creating a super demon-part warrior and right before a hell goddess got into it with us."  He gaped.  "That was Sunnydale, John.  Welcome to our cracked out life."

"New council?"

"The First Evil blew up the old council.  Giles had to reform it.  I'm mostly a research sort but I had to come help the local girl with her big sister.  I'm local because Xander might need support if your boys act like you."

"My boys are good kids.  Sam's a comforting sort.  I'm sure they'll baby him."

She snickered.  "Xander?  The White Knight of Sunnydale?  Babied?"  She laughed louder.  He stared at her.  "Yeah, that's who they called from our side, John.  It was going to take someone stubborn.  I'm sure he's watching out for your boys."

"They said something about new weapons."

"Special blessed things."  She patted him on the hand.  "If you *ever* go near that grove in Texas again, I will personally make it my life's mission to see you in hell, alive, and have fun joining in," she said quietly.  "Am I clear?"  He glared.  "You took out a young guy who was trying to protect his mother from you.  Next time, ask questions before you shoot.  Some people will blame your boys for that and they had a hell of a time convincing them to help get the weapons they'd need to save everyone."

"That's your kind's job," he reminded her.

"This time the Powers decided it wasn't.  They could've picked a lot of people.  They picked Dean, Xander, and whoever the third guy is with me and Sam helping.  Seems kinda uneven to me but Xander's proven he's as good as nearly half the team by himself if it's an emergency and he has to be.  Not that we like it but sometimes he has to do it."  She nibbled another piece of fruit, pushing the plate over. "You clearly haven't eaten in days, John.  Nibble.  I'm not that evil.  I'm female and mean and snarky sometimes but I'm not that evil.  I don't want to see anyone pass out from hunger."  She finished that piece of fruit and half of her coffee, shaking her head at the approaching waiter.  "Now, do you think we can work together?  Because if so, there's a forest creature that migrated near the edge of town that is your kind of thing.  My girl can't get near it.  It can sense slayers.  We can work together.  She does know where it's lairing.  But only if you lose the stick up your ass and soon.  I don't put up with uptight bastards who survived the First.  I'm not putting up with it in you."

"Can you hunt?"

"Yeah, we all did a bit of it in Sunnydale.  Then again, I'm mostly research support because I don't like to hunt.  I'm only here because the girl needs me and Xander needs me closer in case a question comes up in one of the books that they have. Or about the blessing ritual coming up for the new weapons."

"Ritual?"  She nodded.  "Magic?"

"Some.  Then again so are the weapons."  She shrugged slightly and grinned. "Eat!" she snapped.  He took a bite then glared at her.  "I learned it from Mommy," she said with a happy grin.  "She used to sit down our vampire helpers and give them cocoa to talk about their love lives."

John shook his head at that.  "You guys are strange."

"Well, yeah," she admitted dryly.  "Duh.  Sunnydale was like that."  She shrugged again and grinned.  "Eat, please.  I am on the corporate tit."  He grumbled but ate another piece of fruit and had some of his coffee.  "Anyway, was Dean always that uptight?  He seriously looked like he needed laid and didn't like my suggestion that he go to the gay bar and get hit on."

John choked.  "He's not like that," he wheezed.

"If you're sure.  If not, maybe he'll keep Xander from picking up evil women who want to kill others."  She picked up a piece of fruit to nibble on.  "Finish it, dear. I had lunch an hour ago."  He groaned but did eat.  "Good boy."  She patted him on the hand again.  "Now, would you like to know about this creature or should I go and try to handle it myself tonight?"

"I'd better since you're not a hunter."  He looked her over.  "You're a witch?"

"Better trained than Willow Rosenburg ever was," she agreed.  "I learned it the right way and didn't steal books.  My mother would've been *way* pissed off if I had."

"Sometimes you have to steal."

"Well, yeah," she agreed, handing him back his wallet.  He gaped.  "The things a vampire will teach you when he's in love with your sister," she said dryly.  "At one time it got me a lot of clothes."  She stood up and put down money, taking down the shield and smiling at the waiter.  "I'm at the Excelsior.  Yes, *that* one," she agreed at his look.  "No one wanted to talk to me there."  She strolled off, heading back to her hotel room to make notes on this for Giles.

John finished the lunch and glared at her back, then put his wallet up.  Something was not right with what his sons were involved in.  He had taught them better than to deal with *watchers*.

***

Dean hung up his phone.  "Our hopes were too high.  They've clearly run into each other," he announced a few hours later.

Xander looked over.  "Did Dawn call?"

"No, that was my father making sure I wasn't gay."

Sam burst out cackling.  "She told him that?"

"Apparently," Dean agreed.  "He's yelling, Sam.  He still has a thing against the watchers."

"Most everyone in the circle does," Sam reminded him.  "They were pushy, nosy, assholes who butted into our hunts."

Xander snickered.  "To the watchers it was the other way around, guys.  To them it's the slayer's job, no one else's.  That's why they created the slayer's line."

"Then how do they explain guys like you?" Dean asked.

"They don't like us," Xander said bluntly, looking at him.  "As their bag and tag team showed."  Dean shuddered at that.  "They don't like it when the girls go rogue.  They don't like us jumping in.  I got plenty of threats from the Council before they fired Giles.  I didn't tell him because it wouldn't do any good.  He was trying to get me to back off too because I didn't have  special skill like being a witch."  He stared Dean down, making him shiver.  "So anyway, no, they considered you guys to be playing dress up.  The new Council is mostly the Sunnydale crew and a few older ones.  They know they're outnumbered and ready to be overrun so they're more willing to accept help, even if they will insult you behind your back.  That's just the council way."  He went back to what he had been doing, which was fixing holes in a t-shirt.

"They called a chosen warrior and so they're overly smug?" Sam asked.

"No, they did that, they wrote almost all the books, have been doing it since we were going 'fire pretty', so they've gotten a superiority complex over the centuries," Xander corrected.

"The council's that old?" Dean demanded.

Xander looked over and nodded.  "Yup.  I have proof of it.  To beat the Initiative we had to call up the first slayer to help Buffy.  She wasn't very talkative, grunted a lot, had a small forehead ridge.  Wearing mystical symbols drawn all over her."

"Physically?"

"Imbuing Buffy with her spirit.  Then she tagged us in our dreams for a good, long time.  I kept getting my heart ripped out.  I think it was a warning but who knows."  He went back to his mending.

"Who were the Initiative?" Sam asked.  "We've never heard of them."

Xander let out a bitter chuckle.  "You guys didn't hear the military was torturing demons and chipping vampires to see if they could make them grunts?"  Both brothers moaned at that.  Xander nodded a bit.  "Yeah.  We stopped them and their frankenstein monster.  The rest are demon hunting for the UN or in prison at the moment."

"Define torture?" Sam asked.

"Got a sat uplink on the laptop?"

"Um, no, but you do."  Xander got his laptop and got online to find the pages he wanted, handing it over.  Sam read it, choking a few times.  Dean came over to read over his shoulder.  "How...."

"Crackpots with grant money from the NSA, CIA, and Area 51," Xander said bluntly.  "Then taken over by someone in the Pentagon for Area 51.  We stepped in right before the changeover to save a friend and then after the changeover to stop them.  I should've blown up that base," he said quietly, getting back to work.

Dean gave him a horrified look.  "Are they still doing it?"

Xander looked over at them.  "According to the guys on the UN hunting patrol, one of who is Buffy's ex, no.  Can they take what they learned to do other things?  Yes.  Are there some doing private research?  Yup.  Even some with grants.  They're doing it more quietly."  He called Dawn.  "It's me.  Is there an Initiative wannabe in your area?  Just got a thought that you might wanna watch out for them.  Yeah.  Huh?  Why is she doing it on the water front?  Oh, the tunnels are easily....  Sure.  If you get into the council's files we have plans for safe cages for weres.  Yeah, I did one with Oz.  Under miscellaneous.  So, how was their father?"  She said something.  "Dean."  He handed over the phone.

"You and our dad talked?"  He listened to her babble while she found the file she needed.  He shook his head.  "No, he called up to make sure I wasn't really gay, Dawn."   He snickered.  "No, even if I was I probably wouldn't be taking Xander in so he'd quit dating."

"Shut up, Dawn!" Xander called.  "If I want to go out and have all the demons in a three- county radius come for my ass, then I will."

Dean looked at him.  "Warn us first?  Please?"

"Sure.  I'm going clubbing later," Xander told him.  "That's why I'm fixing this shirt."

"It's ugly.  Wear something better, dude," Sam ordered.

Xander looked at him.  "For you who dress like the Gap ads, shut up.  I don't want the fashion advice.  I'm comfy in my clothes no matter what the Summers women and Willow want to think about.  Hell, I managed to bag Anya, Cordy, and a few notable others I'm not naming so they can't go hunt them down in my clothes.  I think I can get hit on tonight too."  He finished his mending.  "Don't use all my minutes," he told Dean, going to get changed in his car.  Then he went inside, kissing her on the cheek.  "I'm going to go clubbing because I'm bored stupid," he told her, getting a horrified look.  "What?  I promise I won't egg on the local serial killer."  He walked back out, taking his phone back from Dean.  "I'll be back by the time you two get up."

"We can go," Dean told him.

"Men hunting in packs leads to the wrong image," Xander said, getting into his car and backing out of the driveway.  He tooted his horn before he pulled onto the road.

Dean looked at the old lady on the porch.  "Should we mount a rescue mission like Dawn wanted?"

"There's no female serial killer around here.  Not too many harmful demons.  A few plant ones but nothing too harmful.  He should be okay.  Then again the only place he could be is a country place in town.  Unless he went to the gay bar."

"I don't think he is," Sam said from behind Dean.  "Should we mount a rescue?"

"Nah, let the boy have some stress relief," she told them.  "Even you boys need it now and then.  If you do, I don't wanna know about it."  She went back inside.

"We're not like that!" Dean complained loudly.  They could hear her cackling inside.  He looked at his brother.  "Why does everyone think I'm bending you over and making you beg me for it?"

Sam walked off shaking his head.  "I didn't need that mental image any more than I needed the one of you going off to suck cock, Dean.  Maybe you and Dawn should hook up."

"Not funny!" he called.  "She's too young for me and way too nice."

"Then go hit on Xander!"

"Not," he said, going to check his car for any necessary repairs. "Wanna hit the country place?"

"Go for it," Sam said patiently.  "I'm not."  Dean got dressed and headed out to get some action of his own.  "I'm guessing they got picked due to their libidos.  Thankfully I have a normal one instead of theirs," he muttered while he read Xander's book from earlier.  The sex magic one was freaking him out.  He didn't know some of those things were possible.

***

Xander looked over as Dean walked in, groaning and shaking his head.  But Dean went to the other side of the bar so that was fine with him.  The girl flirting with him gave Dean a look then him.  "Yeah, I know him.  I didn't want him to follow me tonight.  I need some stress relief."  He grinned and she grinned back, taking him out onto the floor to teach him how to dance.  She was a lot of fun and very soft in the right places.

"Are you visiting someone?"

"Yeah, a friend of a friend. I'm on a vacation road trip."  She laughed at that.  "It's good for me.  I've got an old caddy that I found seized.  It's comfy.  It's a nice thing.  I've done part of the midwest recently."

"Wow.  I hardly ever get out of town."

He grinned.  "Sometimes that's the best thing about a small town.  I was born in one out in California."

"Hippies?  Or movie stars?" she teased.

"Neither.  Looked a like Cleaver-land.  White picket fences, lots of people who wanted to ignore what their neighbors were doing unless it was good gossip.  Then I moved to Cleveland after a long pitstop in Africa for work."

She leaned against his chest.  "You've been to Africa?"

He grinned and nodded.  "Ten months in Africa."  She gaped in awe.  "It was really a heady experience, even though there weren't a lot of free baths.  I got to dance with shaman doing rites and all sorts of stuff."  She cooed and moved closer, letting him grin down at her.  "I even got shot at a few times."

"Peace Corps?"

"Nah.  Work.  Mostly investigating something and mapping where a few places were."

"Oil company?"

"No.  I work with a group of eggheads who do research stuff.  They wanted maps of where they were reading about was."  She laughed.  "So they paid me to go to Africa and get really dirty a few times."  He gave her a squeeze.  "It's still better than Central America.  I was there on a visit for about two weeks last year."  She nuzzled his neck.  "Oooh.  Like that."  He sniffed her hair and grinned at her.  "Think the next one'll be something we can dance closer to?"

"Probably the song afterward with the sets they play."  They got back into the dancing and the cuddling one was the song after that.  Then she led him out back and attacked him.

Xander looked at the hand in his chest then at her.  "Feel better, sweetie?"

"Who are you!" she demanded.

"Harris.  Of Sunnydale."  She gaped, backing up.  He pulled her closer to kiss her.  "I'm not hunting you.  I'm here on a vacation.  Needed to talk to someone in the grove.  I think you're fun."  She beamed and moved closer.  "No more than snacking," he ordered.

"I won't," she pouted but it was still fun.  She was a succubus and they did know what fun was.  She wasn't going to be disappointed either.  When she finally let him wobble away, she was more than sated.  She was stuffed and he was much happier and less filled with the bad magic.  She stretched and purred, then fell asleep.

***

Sam looked up as Dean drove back in.  "She good?"

"She was nice," he agreed with a grin, looking around.  "No Xander?  I saw him leave with some chick."

"He's getting cleaned up."  He waved a hand.  "The rite's next week, you know that right?"

"Huh?"

"To bless the weapons?"

"Oh, that one.  Yeah.  We'll deal.  What do we need to pick up?"

"Virgin blood.  A few other things.  Some goat hairs."  He let him see the list on the laptop.  Dean nodded at that.  "Got any ideas?"

Xander strolled in and handed over a few things.  "Snitched them from the succubus last night.  All we need is to make a call to Cleveland and have Dawnie deliver virgin blood."  He went over to the ladder for the hayloft and climbed up it.  "Have fun, Dean?"

"Yeah, you?" he asked, staring at his back.  "Did you say succubus?"  Xander beamed and nodded.  "Is she safe?  Like gone?"

"No, she's sated and happy and I'm less full of hellmouth energy.  It was good, thanks for asking."  He laid down.  "Give me an hour and we'll go again.  Go shower, you stink like the plant demon you slept with."

Sam cackled.  "So, she was that good, huh?" he asked his big brother.

"No comment."  He went to shower, getting an odd look.  "She didn't seem like a demon."

"Those born to it often don't," she agreed dryly.  "The other one?"

"Succubus."

"Well, Joy'll be happy today then.  She doesn't often drain anyone unless they're bad folk.  It works for us."  He gave her an odd look.  "It does and she's the best thing any cheating husband's wife ever had.  We all *know* when our boys have went out with her."

He nodded, going up to shower.  He'd consider that information later.  After he worked out with Xander with their new weapons.  Right now, he could bask in the afterglow for a bit.  His hadn't been harmful.  Though now he knew what Dawn meant about keeping Xander out of trouble.  The guy was worse than him.

***

Dean looked at Xander's weapon.  "Why does mine feel more comfy to you and yours not feel comfy at all?"

"You probably need the third one," he said, giving him a sideways look.  "They went by reputation and what they think we're like, Dean.  It's not like they *look* and *see* who I am.  Hell, the book has me half-insane and closer to Willow grieving than not."  He stood up.  "Come on.  Let's get back to it.  Dawn should be sending Sam that blood anytime now and we've got to finish up here so I can do some other things."

Dean stopped him.  "You don't think this'll end well?" he asked calmly.

Xander looked at him.  "By the last few paragraphs of the prophecy?  I think that last chore is you two taking me out," he said bluntly.  Dean slumped.  "There's never been a chosen warrior, called or not, that wasn't hampered somehow by them.  Giving me power when I already screw up what they're doing isn't like them and it won't do their plans any good.   So yeah, I think that last chore is you two taking me out and Sam making sure I'm fully gone and not hanging around when some of it switches into him."

"It...."

"It can and might," Xander admitted.  "Like I said, the Powers never *look* and *see* me.  They see what they want to see.  The same as everyone else does.  They don't want to pay more attention than to the surface of a soul.  Not the depths.  Otherwise they'd have put in there how you were going to protect Sam.  Not the other guy that time when the demon comes for him."

Dean nodded once at that.  "They're supposed to be higher powers."

"Who're playing a giant game of chess and we're higher level pawns," he said calmly.  "It's multi-dimensional.  It's got lower pawns, higher pawns, the ones they call and have chosen as slayers and champions.  Dawn's one of those.  She's too valuable to risk in any way.  Even though she won't give in to them unless the fate of the world is at stake.  The same as I have power inside me and they're not using it.  All they're using is the weapons skills and the stubbornness.  If they actually looked at me they might use me in a way that's more efficient and would've never sent me to Central America."

"Maybe they were preparing you for this," he offered.

"By taking out a slayer I had worked with, trained, and then coddled when she started to lose it after breaking up?"

Dean slumped.  "You did?"

"Yeah.  She was trying to claim territory as the new dictator.  She was using demons to do that.  They sent me to deal with her.  I had to deal with her.  She made it a 'me or her' thing and I wasn't going to die down there.  There's no telling who'd pick up parts of me and come use them against Buffy and them."  He shrugged, still looking perfectly calm.  "Welcome to being fucked up the ass by the Powers, Dean.  They see what they want to see, and it's probably not your base personality you build the mask on top of.  Or else this would be Faith and someone else doing this."

"Why not use a slayer?"

"I have the feeling that they're going to be dropping into the fight now and then for the big things, but they have to keep them in reserve.  Why waste a slayer and a higher pawn when you can use lower ones and ones that're replaceable?"

"I'm not."

"You are.  How many kids have you introduced to the concept of bad things?" he asked quietly, moving closer.  "Someone introduced us, even if it was the demons themselves.  As long as others are being preyed on, there's others being introduced.  They may be the next generation of hunters.  They may even be the next generation of really good priests and ministers because they know what's out there that can hunt man.  They may go back into denial like everyone in Sunnydale.  But if we die, there's more who'll follow in our footsteps.  If you die, Sam's going to get revenge for you."

"Will anyone go destroy them for you?" he asked.

"Maybe Dawn."  He shrugged.  "We're a bit too used to losing others from our team.  It happened to often.  Hell, I commanded a major battle in Sunnydale and lost some of my friends and schoolmates there.  There weren't any lavish funerals.  No wailing parents.  Some wailing but it calmed down within a few weeks.  No one demanding answer from those of us who survived.  They decided it was a gas leak.  Even those who were there mostly decided it was a gas leak."

Dean shivered.  "How can you talk about it that way?"

"Because in some ways I have to.  Think about it, Dean.  Sunnydale wasn't a city.  We had one school.  We had two kindergarten classes the year I started."  Dean whimpered.  "I knew *everyone* at that last battle.  I knew most of the ones we staked.  They might not've recognized me because I was a social outcast and nearly invisible to half of them.  But I knew them."  He shrugged.  "After a while you bury those things.  You grieve when you can.  You remember those who were important to you and the others are minor pains and aches that you feel every night when you drift off because you pulled another muscle doing it again.  Then one day you walk away.  Until it calls you back."

"Did you walk away?"

"I tried to take a road trip after graduation, see what normal people were like.  I got to Oxnard and the car exploded.  I ended up stripping to make it back home."  Dean shuddered at that.  "Yeah, well, it was a job.  I learned a lot about people doing it."  He grinned and shrugged.  "Then I went back home because normal kinda sucked too."

"That's not normal," Sam said, coming out of the barn.  "I left the life to have a normal one, Xander.  I went to college, got a real girlfriend I was living with."

"He did until a demon killed her," Dean agreed.  "Then he came back."

Xander looked at him.  "Would you go back once it's killed?"

"I'm not sure I can anymore."

"I reached that point in tenth grade."  He walked off again.

"You wanna talk about that stuff?" Dean asked.  "I don't do chick flick moments but I'll let you babble at me.  Not like we don't understand."

Xander gave him a gentle smile but shook his head.  "You'll never fully understand until you wear the other person's soul, Dean.  Even if you've been there, each person processes things differently."  He got into his car and backed out, heading off to get something to eat.  It was his turn.

Dean looked at his brother.  "He's going to snap."

"He might be right about that last chore.  I heard you guys talking so I paged down to it.  It's a possibility.  It says to wrap up loose endings in it's non-blunt way."

"I'm not an assassin."

"Neither is he but sometimes you have to kill someone to save them," Sam reminded him gently.  Dean gaped at him.  "You do.  To save the person sometimes the demon has to be exorcized even if there's no way to save them at the end.  It sucks, but it's like sparing a dog a lot of suffering by putting them down."

"Where did you get that?"

"Dad."  He grimaced. "Right before I left for school.  It's what made up my mind.  He was drunk one night and told me that.  Apparently he'd just had one of those."

"Fuck," Dean muttered, going back into the barn.  "I'm not doing it."

"That's fine.  There's every chance he'll realize it and walk off into the sunset so we don't have to."  Dean glared at him.  "There is."

"We save people, Sam.  Even from themselves sometimes.  Would you let another hunter do that?"

"Plenty of times they go out with a death wish.  Look at how we got into it and how dad did.  It's possible that Dad never expects to come home.  Is that any different?"

He sighed but shook his head.  "I always know I'm coming home and so are you even if I have to smack you around to make sure of it."

Sam nodded.  "Which makes you a good hunter, Dean, and maybe why you were chosen.  You're a lot deeper than most people expect."

"See, now we're going back into feelings territory.  I don't like that country."

Sam rolled his eyes, going back over the rite again.  "Are we blessing the weapons here?"

"Does it say where?"

"No."

"Then let me go ask."  He went up to the house.  "Ma'am?"

"Sitting room."

Dean walked in there and looked at her.  "Are we supposed to be blessing the weapons here or somewhere else?"

She looked at him.  "I think they left that up to you."

"That's what Sam was thinking so do you want us to do it here or somewhere else?"

She smirked at him.  "If yours doesn't feel right, what makes you thinking blessing and binding it to you will help?"  She took a sip of her lemonade.

"It says to do it now and we don't have the third weapon until we have to hit DC.  If we go early Sam thinks it'll call the demon early.  Before we're ready."

"Hmm.  Perhaps."  She took another drink.  "Do it here.  Outside the barn since it's got to be done in moonlight.  He'll know what to do.  I've went over it with Xander.  I'll go over it with Sam for you."

"Thank you."  He walked back outside.  "Sam, she can go over that with you.  We're doing it around here."  He nodded, bringing his laptop inside to go over the rite with her.  Even if he did have to come out and get the original book so they could make sure Dawn had gotten it all.

***

Dean walked up to where Xander and Sam were with his weapon out in sword form, which was making his arm ache.  He and Xander had decided to switch since his felt better to Xander than his own had.  He hoped the third weapon was easier on him.  He nodded at Sam, who handed him the bowl of whatever that had been mixed.

"Coat the blade, intone the ritual," Sam said quietly.

Dean scooped out some, coating both sides of the blade with it.  He read the words that Sam had written down.  "This is my weapon, my choice, and my duty; my honor to do this duty, and my soul's duty to see it fulfilled with this weapon, which is mine," he said.

Xander did the same thing, wincing when his hand was cut during the wiping down.  "This is my weapon, my choice, and my duty; my honor to do this duty, and my soul's duty to see it fulfilled with this weapon, which is mine," he read.  He hissed at his hand, shaking it some.  "Ow."

Sam looked at it.  "You cut yourself?"

"No, the blade cut me."  He looked at the blade, it seemed newer, shinier to him.  "No more scratches."

Dean looked at his.  "Mine still has a few but not as many."  They let Sam bless the blades, then Nanny Grimsley do it overtop of his, watching them glow where they laid crossed on the small, makeshift altar of wood.  Dean looked around, he could feel something come up behind him, something with power, something that wasn't fully pure.

Dawn appeared and looked at the blades.  "So as do I, as the Key, bless them as well, unto the warriors they go and travel.  Keep them, save them, help them."  She added some blood to each tip, then blew on it, looking down at them.  She looked at Dean.  "The third one is yours.  It's also a shorter blade."

"Gee thanks."

She smirked.  "Could be worse."

"True, could be."  He picked up his again, giving it a test swing.  It didn't feel so wrong anymore.  He looked at her. "Not part of the original plan?"

"No, but necessary."  She looked at Xander.  "You've got to hit home."

"Cleveland home or Sunnydale home?"

"Cleveland home.  Sneak in, don't talk to the others, don't jump in.  The twins are getting ready to head out and need you for a few to gear them up.  Otherwise Faith is.  You've seen her pack and they hate leather."

He nodded.  "I can do that."  He kissed her on the head.  "Go fix that.  Take one of them and go fix that."  He walked off.  "Thanks, Nanny.  See you in about a year?"

"You'll be back," she agreed.  She looked at Dawn, who shrugged.  "Yes, fix that.  Before something else comes at you, child!"  She swatted her then handed her to Sam.  "Taint her so that the thing that calls out to powerful witches can't come for her too.  It's already started."

"Yeah, their dad yelled at me for being a virg too," Dawn said dryly.

"He had us broken in at sixteen," Dean told her.

She shrugged.  "I've been busy!"

Sam looked at her then at Dean.  "This is more your thing than mine."

"There'll be magic there.  Besides, you're closer to her age.  I doubt she wants to hit and it forget it with me, Sammy."  He looked at Dawn.  "Your choice and all."

"Like I have a clue?  Can't exactly compare, guys."

"Good point."  He grinned at her.  "C'mon.  He can go sleep in the car tonight."

"We can do that in the special bedroom I do birthings in," Nanny said.  "It's had more than one blessing and one protection on it."  Dawn hugged her.  "Go, shoo.  I should have everything."  She held up the fanny pack she was wearing.  "That's fine then.  Even less strain on my supplies."  She walked Sam off.  Nanny looked at Dean.  "You okay?"

"I'm fine.  Will Sam be okay?"

"As long as the portal's contained and stopped in time it'll be fine.  Same as it is every month she'll bleed.  I'm grateful we have drugs to stop that now.  Otherwise someone would've had to knock the poor girl up."

"Is there something that comes after pure witches?"

She grimaced and nodded.  "Yup.  You'll be running into it here in about a year."  She walked off.  "Come get dinner, Dean."

"Yes, ma'am."  He cleaned up the area before following her, handing her the candles they had used and the cloth that had been under things.  She pointed and he went to put them back.  He didn't know many witches he could respect but she could kick his ass and then spank him so he'd respect her.  Plus she made really good biscuits.  He looked up when Dawn shrieked.  "Apparently Jess taught him well."

She swatted him.  "They found the mouse up there."  Something thumped.  "If girls scream like that when they see you, you scare 'em, boy."

Dean smirked.  "You say some of the sweetest things."  She swatted him but gave him dinner anyway.  They both had to listen as it happened, Dean scratching his arms when the magic started to flow.  "I don't usually feel it like that."

"It's the sword," she told him.  "It'll fade soon."  She ate a bite then looked up when the girl shrieked for different reasons.  "Huh.  He does know what he's doing.  Maybe I should let him date my granddaughter."

"Please don't.  Dad would freak out and I'd have to get in the middle.  He didn't want Sam to have a steady anybody or me," he said at her look.  "It took us from the reason for the hunt."

"Uh-huh.  Yet it brought him back to it."

"Which was kinda freaky," Dean said.  "Usually it only went after newborns."

"Was she pregnant?"  Dean shook his head.  "You sure?"

"Not that he knew.  I asked."

"Huh.  Well, you could meet it during this anyway, Dean.  Who knows."  They heard Sam getting noisy and the bed starting to shake.  She put a hand on his arm.  "That's not strong thighs.  No boy's that strong.  That's the magic trying to get out."  He shrugged and ate another bite, watching the ceiling in case it cracked.  Which it did a few minutes later but it stopped after that and it went quiet except for some groaning going on.  "They'll be fine and I'm sure he'll be back in the morning.  That way she knows what it's like when it's not a rite."

"That's fine.  I know she won't hurt him."  He finished dinner and helped by carrying his plate into the kitchen.  "Dishes?"

"Nah. You go to bed, Dean.  Xander'll meet you in a few weeks or so.  After he's said some things to some people."  He nodded, leaving the house.  She looked up there.  "Let's hope she's smart enough to jump him again.  A good boy like that should be savored."  She dusted some drywall dust off her head and took another bite of dinner, going to get seconds once she was done.  There was enough for those two too.

***

Xander made it back to his garage, pulling inside and shutting off the car.  He climbed out and looked at Faith.  "I'm not supposed to see you guys."

She smirked.  "I know.  I made brownies."

"What happened?" he sighed.

"Small, minor demon that's about ten foot tall and you have all the artillery."

"No I don't.  I loaded the armory with everything you guys should need."

"None of us know how to use it, Xander."

"Oh, fuck," he muttered, heading up with her to get her something.  He tapped in the security code then walked inside, nodding at the guys who were clearly federal agents in there.  "And you would be?"

"Here about the demon, sir."

"Huh."  He got something and looked at her.  "Fire or otherwise?"

"Fire, blessed."  He got something else and tossed it to her.  "What do I do with this?"

He opened the case and gave it to her.  "You aim through the little...."  He looked at the snickering agent.  "You know how to use it?"  He nodded. "Good.  Do that."  He tossed it to him.  "Do my job while I've been called away on a semi-permanent thing for the next few years."  He looked at Faith.  "Brownies?"

"Kitchen."  He went to get some while she drug the agent with her, letting him take aim and fire the stupid rocket at the demon.  It went up in a brilliant blue flame and died screaming and shrieking in pain.  "B, you good?" she yelled.

"Ewww!" floated back in multiple voices.

Faith grinned.  "I love the rear position."

The agent looked at her.  "I won't comment on that."  He handed her back the tube, then turned off his car alarm, taking it back to put inside.  "We don't like you guys."

"You wanna do it?" she offered.

"No.  That's why we tolerate you."

Faith blew a kiss.  "Have fun with that.  We'll wank off to it later too."  He grimaced and his partner came outside so they could go report.  Buffy and her troop of slime covered mini-slayers stomped back up to the house.  "The agent knew how to use the Xander stuff."

"Yay," Buffy said.  "He back?"

"And heading again," she agreed.  Buffy pouted.  "They told him he can't get sucked back in or he'll miss the important battles, B.  You know how the Powers are.  He's doing the grabbing his ankles thing for them the same way we have."

"Not a mental image I want," Buffy complained as she trudged.

"Hey, it could be one of the psycho posse who love him doin' it," Faith called.

"Last time it was a succubus who was taking some of the hellmouth taint," Xander called from inside.  "Twins!"  They came running down the stairs.  He drug them down to the garage, handing them a set of keys.  "There you go, ladies. Your very own ancient beamer with a hidden area in the trunk and already packed for you."  He showed them were everything was, getting nods since they knew how to use everything.  "Anything I missed?"

"Clothes?" one of the twins asked.

"Duh, you have half the trunk," he said dryly.  "And a backseat, Brit."  He patted her on the head.  "Quit being a stupid bitch.  Grow up like Faith and Dawnie."  The other one giggled.  "Really."  He looked at them.  "Now, anything else?"  They shook their heads.  "Good!"  He walked off, heading up to his office to get into the hidden areas no one knew how to get into apparently.  Not like it was hard, they were hidden safes.  He came down with the few envelopes, a few books, and one nasty looking ancient dagger.  He ran into Giles.  "Three years of being the Powers' butt monkey this time."  He walked past him shaking his head.  "Can I still use the corporate card?  Not like I can settle down."

"If you must," he sighed.  "Use your emergency fund first, Xander."

Xander looked back at him. "Sure.  Yeah."  He went to load those into the trunk too, finding a few things missing.  He glared at the twins, who gave them back with sheepish looks.  "Thank you."  He repacked the magical supplies.  "Sometimes I have to too.  Especially with that huge prophecy going on and me being given mystical weapons."  He patted his pocket just in case.  Still there in pocketknife form.  He closed the trunk and turned on his alarm then went to the magical supplies cabinets, finding the things he might need and a bag to pack the tupperware containers he was using to store them in.  Willow made a horrified noise.  "Huge ass prophecy, Wills," he said patiently.  "Three years of it.  Multiple battles and rites.  That's why we have Dawn helping."  He looked at one thing then added his special ingredients from the next cabinet over.  Then he sighed in pleasure and looked at her.  "C-4?"

"The usual spot.  The agents didn't take it."

"Cool."  He went to get that then headed down to stuff a few more of the compartments in his car.  He turned and found Willow and Giles standing there.  "Hey, yell at them.  Please.  Not like it was my choice.  It was me or the world goes to hell.  And I don't even get to do the sex magic rite in the center it looks like."  He beamed before getting into his car and then getting out and heading upstairs.  "Could've used more than three outfits, Giles."  He found his traveling duffel and packed it full of all his clothes, then went back down there. The indicator on the dash said it was all good so he climbed in and tooted, backing out of the garage and heading off to deal with some past issues so he could die in peace.

Giles huffed.  "I do not like this prophecy business."

"You don't like it?  They're having him do magic, Giles!" Willow complained.  "Even sex magic stuff!"  He looked at her.  "We have to get a full copy of everything from Dawn."

"I have all that, including the links she put into the original document for special places or events."  She stomped up to his office, dragging him with her.  "I could get us some tea."

"No you can't."

Dawn stepped in their way.  "Oh no!"  She pushed Willow back.  "If we invalidate this one, the first is worse than an ascension and less evil than Glory.  The last few are about First Evil levels.  We are not *touching* this prophecy, Willow.  Even if it does require Xander to do magic.  I don't care how much it freaks you out, would you rather the world ends?"

"No," she muttered, glaring at her.

"Then get to know Dean and Sam.  They're nice guys and they'll have to help Xander.  We should support them all, not just Xander.  Even their people are getting that clue."

"Dawn, something seems a bit different about you," Giles said.

She beamed.  "Sam was really sweet about it too.  Even when the bed collapsed from the magic underneath us."  She looked at Willow again, seeing the gape in horror.  She beamed.  "Him or some frat boy and he had a clue since he's part of a hunting team.  Nanny Grimsley had us use her warded room and everything."  She kissed her on the cheek.  "I don't know why you gave up boys, Willow.  Feels good."  She walked off.  "By the way, Giles, I took that file and locked it on you.  And from her.  We cannot invalidate it and Xander cannot come back here because if he gets sucked in he'll miss things.  So said the new messenger for the Powers, Fred."

Willow shuddered at that.  "Why him?" she whined.

"He's a strong boy and he'll survive this one as well, Willow," he said calmly, patting her on the back.  "Come on, let's get some tea and we'll think about what we can do to help him."  She nodded, following him down to the kitchen.  All the brownies, cookies, twinkies, and ho-hos had disappeared.  All the sodas as well.  Giles sighed but put it onto the shopping list.  Before the girls could complain.

***

Xander found the motel the others were at three weeks later, pulling in and honking.  He got out, holding his ribs.  Sam came out, giving him a bad look.  "Morning."

"Only if you've been turned.  Are you all right?"

"Could use an ice pack.  Get me a room yet?"

"Nope."

Dean came to the door.  "They're about out of rooms.  All they have is a tiny corner thing."

"As long as it's got a shower.  Come lock this thing for me."  He got into the trunk, getting his wallet from it and heading inside.  "Hey, room left?"

"One.  Dean said he was expecting a friend."

"Which would be me."  He put down his corporate card.  "I need a shower."

"I can smell that."  He handed the boy a card to fill out.  Xander did that and passed it back.  The card declined.  He snickered.  "Your bosses being mean?"

"Yeah but I get to kick his ass."  He pulled out cash, getting a nod.  The card went back into his wallet.  "Thanks.  Where?"

"Eighteen.  On the end, little corner room.  You'll have noise all night."

"That's fine.  I'm used to it."  He took the key, trudging that way.  Sam got him some ice from the machine.  Dean handed him a soda.  "Thanks."

"What was it?" Dean asked.  Xander winced as he took off his shirt, getting a hiss back.  "Dude, what hit you?"

"The trooper going eighty without his lights and siren on about a week ago.  Thank god for body and car fixing spells."  He laid down with the ice pack, getting comfy.  "Nice, thanks, guys.  Night."

"Night," Dean said dryly, shaking his head.  "We have anything?"

"Hmm.  Tomorrow.  Shit."

"Money?" Sam asked.  Xander handed over his wallet.  "Thanks, Xander."

"Call Dawn, tell her to chew Giles a new one about the card."

"I can do that," Dean agreed, going to do that from their room while Sam upped them to a full week each.  Sam came back.  "He asleep?"

"Out like a light.  Snoring like he had drugs."

"You never know.  We carry a bit in our field kit.  There's no telling what's in his car."

"Wanna go check it out?" Sam asked dryly.

"Well, yeah, but I'll wait until the middle of the night."  He beamed at him.  "Less chance of nosy people looking over my shoulder."

"Did we see something about a cop hitting a civvie?"

"Yeah, on the news.  Nearly totaled the car.  So apparently those bodywork spells work very well."

"Yeah, apparently."  He laid down on his bed.  "Now what?"

"Now, the thing shows up here in about four days.  We have to figure out where the babble talks about."

"It's a park of some sort.  Doing a city search found four."

"Okay, I guess that's good.  Anything distinguishing them?"

"One's near a cemetery?"  He shrugged.  "How would I know?"

"Good point."  He frowned.  "We'll figure it out," he decided.  "Maybe he knows or the swords know."

"Hopefully," Sam agreed. His cellphone rang.  "Hey," he said, smiling at the cheerful voice on the other end.  "Hi, Willow.  Yeah, it did.  Taking on the first fight.  No, he's had a bad week.  That trooper that hit someone hit him."  He sat up.  "No, he's not dead."

"No, he wasn't dead," Dean assured him.  "Why?"

"No, not that one, Willow.  The one in Kansas.  No, we're in lower Kentucky at the moment.  Yeah, he's fine.  Bruised but fine.  Yeah, he still has the caddy.  I'm guessing no one touched the car.  He said he had a bodywork spell on it."  He nodded.  "Probably.  I don't know how he got it modified."

"He said something to Dawn about it being stress relief that paid for it," Dean told him.

"Oh, okay, Dean does know how it got on there.  Xander slept with someone and they put it on there for him."  He nodded. "Yeah, basically.  Because we need stress relief too, Willow.  Think about what we do all day every day.  Just like Buffy and Dawn go shopping, we're guys.  We hit on women."  He hung up at her huffing.  "Sorry, she hates that idea."

"Well, if one of us turns into a cat, we'll know why."

"Yeah, and then we'll get Dawn and make her fix it for us."

Dawn appeared in the corner, handing him a box.  "Chicken.  Giles said he's changing all the cards, that's what was wrong with Xander's."  She kissed Dean on the head.  "Because you need a mother, dumbass.  Don't take on the thing with four arms unarmed the next time.  It's stronger than even a slayer and you're not."  She grinned at Sam before kissing him on the head too.  "He had to do a blinding spell to get the car free. They decided it wasn't drugs since the drug dog didn't hit on it at the accident scene.  Or the one that smelled bomb stuff.  I don't know how but they didn't.  So anyway he's good there.  We weren't telling Willow, she's being a bitch this week.  She has major Wicca PMS and her spells are going screwy.  I'll be watching in case one of you turn into a lizard.  That's how her changing spell went last time."  She beamed and disappeared.

Sam looked at Dean, who was sniffing the open box.  "You took on something with four arms while unarmed?"

"Three years ago," he said with a smirk.  "Dad was not amused either."

"Scyring spell?"

"Probably heard it from Dad."  He handed over the box.  "Get two, the rest are mine."

Sam picked out three and let him have the rest.  Dean and his stomach.  It was nearly as large as his ego.

***

Xander looked at the maps the next day.  "The only really good way to do this is to split up and take a park then call."

"Which means it'll be in the park we're not in," Sam said.  "By Murphy's law it's a given."

Xander grimaced and nodded.  "Yeah, but it'll be drawn to the swords."  He grinned at him.  "So even then it'll come for us."

"Okay," Dean said.  "And we do what with it?"

"Take off it's head.  It works with most everything."  He pushed over a book.  "On that particular demon.  Giles found it for us and gave it to Dawn.  How was the chicken?"

"Good," Dean said.  "We ate it all though."  Xander pointed at the box on the dresser.  "Aww, she does love you."

"She used to have a wicked crush on me too."  He pointed.  "I'll take this one.  Just in case there's vamps?" he suggested.

Dean looked then at him.  "We're used to spirits.  It should be one of us."

"Guys, if there's more than the demon, we're screwed," Sam pointed out.

"You can handle anything mundane, right?" Xander asked him.

"Maybe.  Why?"

"Then you take that one in case there's ghosts or vamps."  He grinned and Dean nodded at that.  "What does the book say about his habitat?"

Dean looked him up.  "Wet.  Swamp lands.  Night."

Xander looked.  "That's got a good pond but a lot of lights by what I drove past last night."  He yawned.  "Oh, Dean, there's a hidden alarm that lets me know if anyone gets into the hidden areas on the car.  Ask next time."

"I stole a block of C-4 just in case."

"Sure."  He pointed.  "That one's got a fountain but little lights.  The other one has neither and the one near the cemetery has lights.  Lots and lots of lights."

"He's carrying concealed then," Dean said.  "I'll let you use my holster."

"Thanks," Sam said.  "Stakes?"

"Got like ten in the car," Xander promised.  Sam nodded and went to get some when Dean held out the keys.  "Think you can use that sucker?"

"Yeah, probably.  You?"

"Not the first time with a sword, Dean."

"Point.  I still like machetes better."

"They're definitely easier to carry than a long sword."  He looked at him.  "By the way, if you're knocked out and your sword is on you, it'll change back to a sword and jump at the nurse."  Dean snickered.  "It will.   She shrieked for hours."  He went back to the map.  "You want dark and not so damp or light and damp?"

"I'll take light and damp this time.  Next time I'll take the darker spot."

"Good for me."  He let him have that part of the map.  "I changed my sim card on my phone so I'm local to you guys now for calling.  I even have walkie-talkie."

"Sorry, got a normal phone.  Sam has one."

"That'll work."  He looked at him.  "Call if it hits you.  I'll call you if it hits me.  We'll both go running if it hits Sam."  He heard a siren go off and shook his head.  "Not my week."  He walked out there, taking the keys Sam tossed up at him.  "Yes, Officer?" he asked with a smile.

"Boy, you a bit strange?"

"I'm from near LA, most people in the Midwest seemed to think I'm strange."  He grinned.  "I'm a ghost hunter by long reputation and family work."

"Uh-huh.  So the books in strange languages?  The sword we heard you had from the nurse?"

Xander nodded.  "Yeah.  It's part of the business."  He came down and got into the less hidden areas of the trunk, pulling out his bag of magical supplies. "Needed to check my herb supply?"

The guy looked at the labeled bags and tupperware containers then at him.  "How long you staying and why are you here, son?"

Xander beamed.  "We heard there's supposed to be something going on in the park this week.  See, I'm training Sam here and his brother's making sure I'm doing it right.  We'll behave.  I'm not going to bother anyone but the local food places and the park at night."

The officer just nodded.  "How do you know it's coming here?"  Xander pulled out the printed off copy of the prophecy, letting him see it. "Oh.  Yeah, that's us," he said with a small sigh at the end.  "How long?"

"Within the week."  He beamed.  "If it does happen we'll make sure it's harmless or trap it or something."

"You don't carry stuff like in that movie, right?"

"Proton packs?"  He snorted.  "Hell no.  Portable nuclear generators and lasers are still really expensive.  Though I do know someone who could make one for me, but I'd have to pay for the expenses.  I didn't feel like paying the thirteen grand he quoted me."

"Only thirteen grand?" he asked, sounding a bit weak and tired.

Xander beamed and nodded. "If you know who to ask.  Hell, last month I took down a ghost in an abandoned mine.  Made him move on so he'd quit taking hikers who were looking for copper and things."

The officer shook his head.  "How long you been doing this?"

"Tenth grade.  I'm twenty-six."  He beamed. "Like I said, family business.  Drove my dad totally off the wall getting one of them to move on.  He went into a bottle and never came out.  I had to pick up the slack."

The Officer sighed again.  "Okay.  You're not gonna hurt anyone?"  Xander shook his head.  "The sword?"  Xander pulled out one, letting him see it.  "Just in case?"

"Yeah, tends to scare off muggers.  I do a mean Crocodile Dundee impression."

"Never mind," he muttered.  "Anything else I should know?"

"I've got a California style emergency kit in case I get trapped in a cave-in or something.  It's got a small squishy ball of explosives.  Enough to blow a door or collapsed wall.  I'm from that town Sunnydale, the one that fell in."  The sheriff shuddered, walking back to his car.  "You let us know if you hear anything about it, Officer.  I'm in room eighteen."

"I will, just don't do anything I'll have to arrest you for."  He slid behind the wheel and drove off very quickly.

Xander handed Sam a stake with a grin, then put back the sword.  "See, I'm a fun guy to know."  He closed the trunk, making sure it was locked, before heading back upstairs.

Dean was giggling against the wall.  "That was good."

"Thanks."  He beamed.  "Just enough to leave us alone when we're working."  He sat down.  "The best bs always has a lot of true stuff in it."  Sam walked in and shut the door.  "So, apprentice ghost hunter Sam.  As I told your brother, I changed my Sim card on my phone so I'm local to where yours were taken out."

"Thanks, Xander.  Have a walkie talkie too?"  Xander nodded.  "Decent.  I'll yell if I have problems."

"We'll both come running if you have problems," Dean assured him.  "I don't even want to think about you staking vampires that night."

"Maybe there won't be any."

Xander looked at him and snorted.  "Yes there are.  There's a higher level master across town and he's been nibbling.  It was in the news."

"I didn't see that," Dean complained.  Xander pulled over their paper to show him the obit.  "Attacked by a ... wild animal," he finished with a sigh.  "Standard cover-up."

"Yup," Xander agreed.  "That or kids on PCP.  Sunnydale used that one a lot."  He went back to the map.  "Where do you want to start?  Walking around the park or in one spot?"

"Let's scout the park during the daylight first," Sam said.  That got a nod and they went to do that in the Impala.  Xander's car was going to stay there for a few more days, until the cops were calmed down about it.  Fortunately that panel only had some ancient, dusty books, a few swords, and a small handgun underneath everything.

***

"Here, vampy, vampy, vampy," Xander called quietly.  "Oops, I mean here, demon, demon, demon.  Here demon, come and get me," he called.

"Boy, you on a check?" that same officer asked as he walked over to him.

Xander grinned at him.  "Nah, I work for some cracked out researchers making notes on places that they're researching.  It pays for a lot of traveling and I get to do my own on the road.  It works pretty well.  They're in Cleveland."

The officer shook his head quickly.  "Okay.  Now what's supposed to be happening?"

"Depends on if it happens here or the other parks.  It should be drawn to me.  If not, I've got the other two in the other parks."  He shrugged.  "If it makes it into the daylight I'd be surprised."  He frowned, looking around.  Everything just got a bit too quiet.  He listened.  He could almost hear Sam panting.  "Hmm."  He pulled out his phone to call him.  "Sam, you okay?" he called.

"Vamps," he called back.  "Six or seven."

"Run to me, Sam," Xander ordered calmly.  "Excuse me, Officer."  He moved him out of the way, letting Sam run past him.  His sword came out and the first two in the lead were taken down.  The others paused.  "Morning.  Sunnydale Protection Society for the Living."  That got a few hisses.  "Bring it on, bitches."  They rushed and he went after them.  A few managed to land blows or scratches but he staked them.  Sam got one that made it to his back.  He got the last one then turned to look at the officer, throwing the stake at the one hugging him.  She went to dust.  Xander looked down at himself, then shrugged.  "I've had worse.  Sam?"  He looked at him, seeing him looking pale. "Did you get bitten!" he demanded.  "I thought you guys trained in self defense!"

"I did," he said.  "No, I'm fine.  Just tired from the run."

Dean came jogging over.  "Behind me," he panted. "Sword wouldn't cut it.  Bullets either.  Ate a poodle."

Xander looked then lunged at the demon, attacking it.  It was impervious at the moment.  "Fine, we'll do it my way.  We need lights," he called.  The officer rushed off to get them turned on.  It wasn't much but Xander could get him back into a pool under one of the street lamps.  "Dean, take his back!" he called about a half-hour later once he had him in one.  He was even more bruised and a bit more scratched from it fighting back.

Dean lunged back in instead of helping harass and move it, taking on his back.  This time he was able to cut into the flesh.  The demon screamed.   Xander distracted it while he took a killing blow.  Xander got the other half of the neck from the other side.  The demon fell and they both panted.  "This is so much harder than shooting them."

Xander looked at him and nodded.  "Well, yeah."  He looked at the demon.  "What'm I looking for, Sam?"

"Chest cavity, gold something."  Xander stabbed down and he came over to look.  He pointed. "That's a gold egg."

"That's one of those chocolate eggs wrapped in gold foil."  He dug it out anyway then got the rest of the cavity open.  He found the small gold coin, flipping it at Dean.  "There, now we can torch it.  Want that job?"

"Please, it stinks," the officer said, staring at the demon.   He watched as Xander cut it into a few easier to handle pieces then Dean got some gas from the car to light it on fire there on the sidewalk.  The smaller pieces meant it didn't get anywhere near the grass.  The cop found his radio.  "Boss, you won't believe this one," he called.  "By the way, don't call the Fire boys.  It's handled.  Come to the park though?"  He hung up and watched the fire burn.  Xander was giving the chocolate looks.  "Don't you even think about it, boy.  That's nasty."

"You left a few twinkies in the car, Xander," Dean reminded him.  He nodded, going to get them.  Dean looked at him and grinned.  "He's got slowly dropping blood sugar after that.  That's harder work than putting in a fence and digging the post holes."

"I can see how that'd happen.  Looks like hard work."

Xander came back nibbling on a twinkie.  "We'll deal with the major vamp tonight too.  That way you don't have to worry about more people being turned."  Someone stomped over and he grinned and waved.  "Hi, how are you tonight.  Speaking of, are you the head vamp or just his minion?"

The chief of police growled.  "How dare you...."

"Xander Harris, from Sunnydale," Sam said.  "He's Dean, I'm Sam...."

The vampire stepped back, giving them an alarmed look.  "They consented."

"Did their families?" Xander asked.

"Most of the time.  I made him do it that way.  Why?"

"Sam nearly got overrun."

"They were out to have some fun in the cemetery with a new friend," he muttered.  "What's that?"

"Prophecied demon."  The Chief shook his head.  Xander grinned.  "The Powers sent us."

"Go away."  Xander nodded at that order.

"You sure we should?" Dean asked Xander.

Xander shrugged. "If they're consenting I can't stop them.  Unless I catch them hunting like I did when they caught Sam."

"They did?" Dean asked his brother, giving him a look.  "You okay?"

"Ran like hell.  There were seven of them."

"Huh."  He looked at the Chief again then at Xander.  "You sure?"

"If they're not in the middle of a hunt and were turned consensually it's not any different than assisted suicide."

Dean nodded.  He looked at the main vamp again.  "We hear about it becoming non- consensual or serious hunting, we'll be back."

"Agreed, boys.  Now shoo."

Xander frowned.  "Can't we shower and sleep?"

"As long as you're gone by sundown tomorrow," the Chief said firmly.

Xander shrugged.  "Fine. We have to be in New York in another few weeks."  They all shuddered.  "Upstate."  They backed off.  "Okay, guys, our work is done here."

"No holy water on the ashes?" Sam asked.

"Nah.  It'll burn itself down to a goo," Xander told them.  "Scoop it up..."

"Salt it, bury the goo in a box," Dean finished.

"That'll work.  We usually put it in with a newly consecrated grave or with a nun who's been buried recently."  That got a nod.  He walked off.  "Can I drive?"

"Hell no," Dean called, following after him.  He tugged on Sam's arm.  "Hold onto that coin.  We don't want them getting it back."

"On my necklace," he promised, putting it onto there.  He got into the passenger's seat.  Xander sprayed his neck and he hissed.  "Ow!"

"Holy water, dumbass."  Xander handed it to him.  "Bathe it until it quits hurting."

"Yes, Xander."  Dean got in after some swearing outside the car.  "Need the holy water?"

"After I shower."  He started the car and they headed back to the motel.  Dean held Sam down to bathe his injuries until he quit squirming and complaining.  Then he went to take a shower.  By then Xander was asleep in his own bed and it was a decent enough night.   This time.  This had been a warm-up exercise to the real battles.

***

Xander looked up at the house he was parked at, frowning.  This was not going to be happy moments.  He walked up to the front door, tapping gently.  The old woman who lived there sneered at him.  "Hi, Paul's Mother."

"What are you doing here, Xander?  My son isn't going with your kind ever again."

"There's a battle coming up the road.  We need to be nearby but not in the middle of the town that it's going on in.  Or else it can get worse and take us early."  He stared at her.  "So, can the other two guys and me bum the guest house?  We'll even cook for ourselves and not leave a mess once we're gone."

She stared at him.  "Why should I believe you won't suck in my son?"

Xander smirked a bit.  "Because the Powers said so."  She whimpered.  "No outside help beyond those two and Dawnie.  Though I heard their father's nearby."

She let out a huff of irritation.  "Fine.  You know where it is?"

"Yeah.  Want me to brief Paul so it can be sent back to Giles?  I'm forbidden from going to them for help if something happens at the moment."

"If you *must*," she complained.  The black car pulled up behind the dark green Cadillac in her driveway.  "That them?"

Xander looked then nodded.  "Yup.  Guys?"  They joined him on the porch a moment later.  "Paul's Mother, this is Dean, who's fighting with me in the next few days, and Sam, his brother and research support.  We'll stay out of the way totally and keep Paul from it.  We'll even try to protect him if it comes for him.  It could come for hunters and we know he can't protect you right now.  He's a good target by what we know."

"Fine.  Go around back, boys.  There's a guest house you can borrow.  Do not make a mess or destroy things."

"Yes, ma'am," Sam said, smiling at her.  "Thank you for your help."  She walked off.  "Are we going to have to tell this Paul person?"

Xander grinned.  "Later tonight.  He's not awake right now.  It's daytime meds time."  They went to get their bags and walk it around to the back.  Dean decided to park in the alley behind the gate.  It was a bit easier to reach the car.  Xander left his there.  He looked around.  "Sam, do a small grocery run?  I promised we'd cook and clean up after ourselves."  He nodded, going to do that.  He looked at Dean.  "Your father's in the next town, the one we can't walk into until it's time or we'll be captured and used to bring the demon up."

"I'll tell him to get out of dodge," he said, sitting down to text message his father's phone.  He looked up, watching Xander watch the house.  "So he's a what?"

"He's a former Watcher.  He was out in the field on a hunt and got paralyzed when they were attacked by something other than what they were prepared for."  Xander looked at him.  "Basically I rescued him in Central America and brought him home with the other two's bodies.  He's pretty heavily drugged at the moment for the pain.  He's got half a lung and about a quarter of one leg left.  The pack of demons took a good chuck out of his side and then ate his legs."  Dean shuddered.  "Yeah, well, they weren't native and we couldn't be sure that she didn't call them."  He turned around again.  "I'll let him know because he keeps in touch with Giles.  That way someone has a clue and if we have to, he has the local contacts to evacuate the towns."  He frowned for a minute then cleared it up.  "His father's back.  He was doing something with an oil company in Iraq and Syria the last I knew."  He opened the door.  "Hi, Paul's dad."

"Mr. Harris."

"Xander.  Please."

"Xander then.  What's going on?"  Xander got the page he needed from his hard copy and let him see it, getting a shudder.  "It's in the next town?"

"They need a hunter to call it.  If any of us go over there before it's time or it's risen we'll be taken and killed for it.  The prophecy says so."

"I can see that."  He handed it back.  "Paul's had some bad days recently, Xander."

"I'm only going to tell him so if something seriously goes wrong he can call some friends and have both towns evacuated for a bit.  Plus he can write to Giles since the prophecy says I can't until after DC.  Mostly I chose here because he's vulnerable if they decide to go looking for hunters to sacrifice."

"There's more?"

"There's another two years," he said.  "It's a bad, evil convention coming up."

He nodded.  "All right then.  He'll probably be awake around seven or so.  We give him his bath then.  Tell the one with the muscle car to watch out for the delivery vans out there and the garbage truck on Wednesdays."

"I will.  We'll stay out of your way unless Paul wants to talk to us.  We simply needed somewhere safe to stay and plan until it's time."

"That's fine.  You're getting groceries?"

"Sam's Dean's younger brother and he went."

"Good."  He clapped him on the arm.  "We'll see you then, Xander."  He walked back inside.  Some female was still ranting when the door was open but Xander went back to the other house once it was closed.

"So, what's your history beyond that?" Dean asked quietly.

Xander kept staring up at a bedroom window.  "We were on the way out when they were attacked.  The remains of the old Council sent the team after the slayer.  The Powers sent me about a day behind them.  She had captured them.  I got her and then got them free.  We were heading back to civilization through the jungle when the demons attacked.  They weren't even supposed to be on this plane."  He looked at him again, seeing the sadness.  "The three-man team was down to one within seconds.  I was knocked out but protected by the duty they sent me on.  They couldn't eat me for at least another day.  I woke up to him screaming as they ate him."  Dean shuddered.  "And I killed the pack.  We had one called in Sunnydale once.  It took Buffy nearly an hour to kill that one.  I was a bit more motivated.  I had a grenade loaded with silver shrapnel.  I set it off and it nearly killed him but I got him bandaged well enough and to a native camp.  They summoned help while holding his injuries closed."  He turned back around to stare at the house again.  "His mother asked me why."

"Why you brought him back that way?"  Xander nodded.  "It might've been kinder."

"The natives offered it to him, Dean.  He refused."  He shrugged.  "When the Powers aren't happy you, you know it."  He looked at him again.  "Get your dad?"

"Yeah, he told me to go away."

"They'll take us if we go over there.  He could be used as the sacrifice."

"I pointed that out.  He told me I'm worrying for nothing and to not tell Sam because he'd worry worse."

"It means you still have the capacity to give a damn, Dean.  It's a good thing."  He watched the alley.  "By the way, crazy delivery guys use the alley and there's a garbage truck Wednesday morning."

"I'll make sure it's out of the way," he said, going to do that.  He didn't even want to think about being in that situation but he could imagine how horrible it had to be.  Sam pulled in and parked.  "Fit it a bit closer to the wall and away from the dumpster," he called.

Sam got out, leaving the door open.  "Why?"

"Garbage in the morning and crazy delivery drivers."

"Sure.  Xander?"

"Having a moment.  Go inside, Sammy."  He got in to park it out of the way, back under some trees.  He put a tarp over it then headed inside once the alarm was back on.  He saw Sam putting up food.  "What's for dinner?"

"Food.  Unless I decide to fix you dog shit," Sam quipped.  Xander gave him an odd look.  "He picked on me for the last three hundred miles or so."

"Ah."  He nodded.  "That happens when you have siblings.  Jesse tried that with me a few times."  He went back to watching the house, then took Dean's phone from him, dialing the number for his father.  "Get your stupid ass the hell out of that town before your boys have to bury your dumb ass parts, John Winchester.  Or else I'm so calling Dawn and having her remove you and freeze you so you're the shopping approval committee for *all* the slayers.  Am I clear?  Because they need a hunter to raise the fucking demon and you're one, dumbass.  We have it on high from the Powers.  Cite *your* source," he said dryly when he complained.  "Good, fuctard, then get your ass out of there and any other hunters you have with you.  Before you all die because more hunters means stronger demon."  He hung up and tossed the phone back.  "You know, yelling at him cathartic."

"Next time I need to yell at him I'll let you do it for me," Dean offered, patting him on the back.  He went to help Sam.  "Xander swore at Dad."

"Good.  He's an idiot if he was staying over there."  He gave him a look.  "Now and then you get that from him."

"Shut up, Sammy."  He smacked him on the head.  "Not half as much as you do."

"Boys, unless this is your version of Dawnie foreplay, stop it," Xander snapped.

"Yes, mom," they called in unison.

Xander looked back at them.  "Don't tempt Willow.  She'll make me a woman and you two infants that I'll have to breastfeed."  He gave them a look when they gave him horrified looks.  "Understood?"  He turned back around.

"Are you sure she got help for that addiction stuff?" Dean asked.

"Yeah, we detoxed her before we sent her to Devon.  Then they did the Magic Anonymous thing for her."

"Maybe she should go back?"

"Should she do it, we'll call Nanny Grimsley," Sam reminded him.  "She said she helps chew Willow a new one now and then."  Xander nodded at that.  "She get her after you were turned into a cat?"

"Nope.  Got her the third time I was a cat though."  Someone pounded on the house's door.  "Around back, John!" he yelled.  He stomped that way.  "Your dad's here."  He let him inside without the invitation.  "Morning, dumbass."  He walked off shaking his head.  "Sam, no magic this stop, right?"

"No, no magic this stop, Xander.  Spell next week in PA and then onto Utah.  Then DC from there."  That got a nod.  "Are we hitting DC early?"

"Nope.  As soon as we step foot into town the demon's called and it'll be hunting until that specific date. We need to get there as late as possible and retrieve that other weapon first thing."  He sat down to watch the alley, ignoring John.  "I know I'm pretty, all the evil chicks say so, John.  Quit staring unless you're an evil chick too."  Sam smothered a laugh.

"Yeah, was gonna ask about that, Xander.  Succubus?"

"Good lays," Xander said.  "Takes some of the Sunnydale taint from me.  It's good sex.  I'm satisfied."  He shrugged.  "Why not."

"Do you have a death wish?" John demanded.

Xander looked at him.  "Ask me next month, John.  Right now I'm in 'doing what's necessary' mode.  Next month we'll have a bit of downtime after the case in Utah."  He got up.  "Get any chips, Sam?"

"Cabinet behind me."  Xander found them and sat down to nibble and watch outside.  "Should I be keeping these coins in a special box or something?"

"The closer it is to you the harder it is for the demon to take them," Dean reminded him.

"Dawn suggested we sew a skin flap inside his asshole and let them be slid in there so no one takes them," Xander quipped.

"That could work.  Sammy?" Dean asked.  John growled at his son.  "Relax, Dad.  We're just picking on him."  Sam punched him on the arm.  "Though it would be safer."

"Giles might know someone who could do that," Xander admitted.  He ate another chip.  "Then again, Dawn did say we could use you, Dean."

"Still not gay, Xander."

"She's sure Sam isn't.  She's not too sure about you."

"I'll pounce her the next time we run into her," he said dryly, looking at his father.  "Were you there alone?"

"Yes," he ground out.

"Good.  Then maybe we won't have to worry about it raising."

"Any hunter, including someone who hunts people to hurt them," Xander told him.  "They'll have a sudden drop in domestic abuse calls and rape calls."  He ate another chip.  John took the bag from him.  Xander kicked him on the leg and took it back.  "Mine."  He settled in again and went back to nibbling.  "Sam, want me to cook so you can help calm him down?  He sounds like Willow when she's gained water weight."  He ate another chip.

"Sure."  Xander came in to do that so he couldn't annoy John anymore.  He came out to look at him.  "We know what it takes to raise it.  We have the full prophecy.  Dawn even went over his translation to make sure it was correct."

"Apparently I shift tense a form of the verb 'be' that they were using," Xander said.  "Puts it into the future tense instead of the past.  The person who wrote down their vision put it in the past."  He went back to browning the hamburger.  He saw the box on the counter.  Hamburger helper was fine with him.  "Is one box going to be enough?  Dean eats like an ox."

"Some of us are hungry guys," Dean complained.  "I'll hold it in and finish the chips later."

"I got you your own bag so you two wouldn't argue," Sam told him, shaking his head a bit.  "So, dad, long time no see.  We should hit you for that."  Dean gave him a look.  Sam looked at him.  "What?"

"Okay, we were worried," Dean agreed, looking at their father.  "By the way, we have your journal, Dad."

"Thank you."  He sat down, staring at his boys.  "We got word that something's massing up this way."  Sam got the prophecy page and handed it over.  "It's only one page long?"

"No, that's the pertinent page for this event," Dean said.  "The whole thing's like eight hundred pages once you put in the specifics for some rites and some places and some demons."  He sat down too, sprawling out.  His father gave him a look.  "We've been driving since five.  I can get comfy."

"Fine."  He read it over, then handed it off.  "Why you two?"  Dean pulled his sword and turned it back into a sword, waving it a bit.  John sighed.  It was put back.  "So you were called like the mouthy one said?"  Both boys nodded.  "And him?"

"Xander and I were called as the first two warriors.  We'll be getting the third in DC."

"So you'll have to train them both?" he demanded.

"No, Dad, Xander's already pretty well trained in his areas.  I've had to teach him a few things to deal with stuff his people never did.  They didn't bother with ghosts and things.  He taught me how to use a sword pretty well and how to spot succuba.  They all flock to him like he's bird food in the park."  Xander cackled at that.  "They do," he called.

"Cheap, easy, good fun, Dean.  Stress relief for when your moral flashlight is starting to go out."

"I hit on the waitresses," Dean admitted.  "Sam huffs at me for it.  That must be his recharging cord."

Sam glared at him.  "I do hit on some of the women, Dean."

"Name one!" he snorted.

Sam glared at him.  "I got that one that you didn't last week."

"Yeah, because I gave up when I saw the scabs on her thighs."

"Those were from her getting a tattoo lasered off," Sam said smugly.  He sat down too.  "So, Dad.  How's it been going?"

"Not so good."  He looked in the kitchen then at his boys.  "Sam, son, I heard."

Sam nodded.  "One of us will get it."

"Dawn thinks it's off schedule or off ritual," Dean reminded him.  "She's looking it up for us in the Council's library.  It might help us track it better."  Sam grinned at him.  "What?  I like the hyper little babbling thing.  She's nice.  If I didn't already have you as a little sister I'd pick her.  She's definitely spunky and able to protect herself, even if she does worry about her nails."

"Then pounce her the next time she shows up," Sam offered.  "She was pretty decent about everything and emails me stuff about every other day to let us know what's going on up there and what she's got on research.  They've had another group of chaos people trying to open the hellmouth, Xander."

"That's fine, Giles can smack them around like he did Ethan back at home," Xander called back.  "How do I drain this stuff again?"  Dean came in to do that.  "Thanks.  I always manage to spill it when I pour the grease out and I never get it all with a spoon."

"That's fine."  He finished up and handed the pan back.  "Thanks."

"Welcome."  He grinned.  "Just remember not to piss off Willow or else you'll end up my kids.  Then you'll be really screwed up."

Dean walked off laughing.  He turned around when he heard the squeak, picking up the lizard.  "She must've been listening."

"Calling," Sam agreed while Dean sat down to keep the Xander lizard calm.  "Dawn, us.  Xander's a lizard.  Iguana.  Thanks."  He hung up.  "Not Willow, one of the other slayers is learning magic and followed her spell to see what had done it.  She thought it looked interesting."

"They let them get away with that?" John demanded.

Dean shrugged.  "They've got fourteen young slayers, two older ones, Dawn, Rosenburg, and the head of the new council in one building, Dad.  They're doing really good to make sure they can make it to bed on time."  Xander changed back in his lap.  "Hi."

"Hi."  He gave him a hug.  "Thanks."   He got up and went back to the kitchen.

"My son's not gay, young man."

"A hug can be between friends unless you're doubting your own sexuality," Xander said bluntly, giving him a look.  "I know where I stand on the gay/bi/straight divide, John.  You?"  He went red in the face.

"Guys," Dean said, standing up to break the eye contact.  "Dad, quit baiting Xander.  Xander, quit snapping back.  Please?  You promised we wouldn't destroy their guest house."

"Point," he muttered, getting back to dinner.  "Sam, milk?"

"Powdered stuff in the cabinet, Xander.  Mix it really well."  Xander found it and made a glass by the directions then poured it into the pan with the sauce mix.  Sam looked at his father.  "Dad, leave Xander alone.  He's been doing this now for nearly ten years.  I think he's more than good enough to fit up to our circle's standards."  He stood up and walked in there to help him.  He took the spoon.  "You okay?" he asked quietly.

Xander looked at him.  "I haven't cared what anyone thought about me for years, Sam.  But thanks."  He gave him a hug too and went to clean up.  "Dean, find plates or something?"

"Sure."  He found the stack of paper plates and got some out for them, handing John his.  Xander came out of the bathroom so he got his handed to him too.  Dean walked back in there.  "Can we call a truce?"  He sat down, getting comfortable again.  "Nice job, guys."  He dug in and Sam came out with the last of it.  "Nothing left?"

"Bread in the fridge, Dean."  He got some and came back.  "So, Dad, how's things been beyond this hunt?"

"Nothing too exciting.  You two?"

"The last fight was in a town that was partially controlled by vampires," Sam offered.

"Sam nearly got eaten while we were waiting for the demon to rise," Xander agreed.  "Next time he'll get the spot away from the vamps since he smells like the dinner bell for them."

"How many were there?" John asked Sam.

"Xander and I got the seven coming for me.  The rest we talked to.  They said it was consensual and they weren't hunting."

"Of course the demon lied so you staked them anyway?" John asked.

"We asked normal people too, Dad.  Including one who was a parent of one."  Xander looked at Dean, getting a nod back.  "That officer had a daughter who went over.  She asked his permission and everything."  He ate a bite of his dinner.  "Xander and I talked about it.  He felt it was like assisted suicide in those cases so he wasn't going to.  I decided that if they weren't hunting and it was consensual it wasn't anything I could do anything about.  It's none of my business as long as they don't hunt," he added when his father moaned.  "If they want to do the Ann Rice crap, that's their thing.  As long as they're not hunting or hurting others against their will, it's not our job."

"If they start it, we'll go back there," Sam agreed.  "I agreed at that time and I still do, Dad."

"I think there was an S&M club in town and that's how they were getting feeders," Xander offered.  "Remember that purple and black club?"

Dean nodded.  "I thought it was a goth club."

"It was called the Nailed Chain, Dean."

"Probably right then."  He ate a bite of bread with some of the sauce.  "Other than that, we did a lot of training with the swords.  We found out they can change shape and apparently I'm supposed to have the one in DC.  I'm not sure if those Powers weren't paying attention when they handed them out or what."

"It could've been on purpose so you know how to tell which is yours," Xander offered.  "Or they could've not been paying a lot of attention.  Take your pick."  He checked his watch.  "It's nearly seven.  I'm going to go visit Paul.  I'll be back in about an hour."  He finished dinner and headed outside, climbing up the trellis to his room.  "Hey."

"Hey," the man on the bed said weakly.  "Dad said you were here.  Mom's still throwing fits.  Why?"

"Prophecy in the next town."

"The demon raising using hunters' blood?"  Xander nodded.  "You got chosen again?"

"Yup.  Sucks to be me," Xander agreed, sitting on the foot of the bed.  "How you been?"

"Not bad.  Well, bad but not horribly so.  Some bad days, some more decent days.  They think they can finish closing off my side finally."

"Congrats."

"Thanks."  He grinned weakly.  "Who's with you?"

"The Winchester brothers and at the moment their father because he was over there and being stupid.  So I called and told him that," he finished with a grin.

"Travers always did say your main ability was the ability to irritate others," Paul said dryly.  Xander beamed at him.  "How's it going otherwise?"

"Eeeh.  We can work together at the moment."  He curled up some when Paul's mother came in.  "Hi."  He watched her fuss at her son, even trying to feed him.

"Mom, my arms still work," he complained.  "Really.  Thanks though."  She stormed off.  "Sorry."

"She's your mother, Paul.  She's supposed to fuss because you're injured," Xander said quietly.  "Think how fussy Willow would become if it was me."

"I know," he muttered, eating a bite.  "Need some?"

"Nah, we had hamburger helper."

He finished his dinner and put the tray aside.  "So, now what?"

"Now, I need to know if you have plans for that town.  If it gets too horrible and evil, I need you able to call someone to evac the towns."

Paul nodded.  "That's sensible.  On the desk behind you is a binder of the surrounding areas.  I heard you had another one up here."

"Lower Vermont actually," Xander admitted, finding the binder.  He waved it and got a nod.  "Thanks, man."

"My father's been wanting to dig in my closet anyway," he said dryly.

"Any idea where they could be working from?"

"How cliche but the library or the high school are the only buildings big enough to raise it in.  The library does have a diagram on the floor that could be converted with a few scratches to eliminate lines."  Xander nodded, looking that up.  "It's also defensible."

"I can see that."  He looked at him.  "Been used?"  Paul nodded.  "Then we'll carefully scout that way."  He patted him on the hip.  "You can tell them I'm okay.  I got to yell at their dad like Dawn did."  He laughed and Xander had to help him sit up when he started to cough.  "None of that, dude.  You don't have the extra lung to cough one up," he teased.

"Oooh, that hurt," he said, laying back down.  "Thanks."

"Not an issue."  He gave him another pat.  "I'm going to go before your mother comes in to stab me for making that joke."

"If it wasn't for you I wouldn't have this other lung at all," he said blandly.  "Much less give her something to fuss over.  Did you ever find out why you were only knocked out?"

"The Powers sent me, Paul," he said quietly.  The man on the bed groaned.  "I had their protection for another day.  I'm lucky I woke up fast enough to save you."  He gave him a look.  "You know, there's nice wheelchairs and all.  You can become a professor, teach gifted kids...."

Paul snorted, shaking his head.  "I'd hate that.  I don't have the patience to teach mutants known as children."  He nodded at the window.  "Go ahead and head, Xander.  I'll be fine."

"No you won't be.  You're mortal and we all end up in the same place."

"Good point.  Still, only the good die young and I was on a capture team so I'm not."

Xander leaned down in his face.  "Bull, Paul.  You've done a lot to help Giles."  He sat up again.

"Yes, but if I redeem myself too much then I'm good again and then I too shall die young."

"Wes did.  Angel did."

"I doubt you could call a two-hundred-year-old vampire young."

"Spike did then.  Twice."

He shook his head.  "Perhaps you could count him on mental capabilities.  Like you."

Xander smirked. "You say the sweetest things, Paul."  He stood up.  "Let me run back there before John beats his boys to death.  He doesn't like me at all.  Or Dawn."  He smirked.  "She faced him down when she ran into him.  He just told me his sons aren't gay."

"Yes but if you were the world would miss finding all those evil women you seem to attract," Paul said blandly.

"Hey, I'm sticking with succuba recently," he defended with an evil little smirk.  "It's even taking some of the Sunnydale taint."

"Charming.  I'm sure Rupert is quite impressed with that."

"Who said we're sharing sex stories?  He'd be creeped out and so would I that he has some."  He shrugged then climbed out the window with the book.  "See you soon, Paul.  Yell if you need us."  He climbed down the lattice, heading back to the guest house.  He was knocked out as he walked in.

"Dad!" Dean snapped.  He and Sam came over to put Xander on the couch, him taking the book to look at.  "Hey, maps."  He put them aside.  "What did you do?"

"I heard he's got a side weakness."

"Dad, you could've gotten me coming through the door like that," Dean complained.  "Even if he does, he's got it compensated for in fights.  I made sure of it."  Sam got Xander some water when he started to groan.  "Hey, he's sorry.  He's being an ass."

"Willow can do that for you," he said, holding his cheek.  "Ow.  Fractured?"

"Nah, doesn't look it."  He helped him sit up.  Sam handed over the water.  "Here."

Xander sipped, nodding at the book.  "Paul thinks he knows where.  Not too many places big enough."

"Okay, we can handle that," Dean agreed.  "Where?"  Xander looked at John then at him.  "He's not that dumb.  He won't go alone.  If he tries, Sam and I get to tie him up and hand him to Bobby to beat senseless.  Again."  He shot his father a glare, getting a bland look back.  "Right, Dad?"

"Right," he said, coming over.  "I'm not stupid enough to take off on my own but we do need it scouted, kid."  He tipped the boy's face up to look at it.  "It'll bruise but you'll live."  He let go of his chin.

Xander looked at him.  "I have a skull fracture about ten inches from that, John."  The older man gave him a horrified look. That meant he could've killed the boy.  "Have now for about four years.  Don't do that again.  I'd hate to make your boys bury you and I am the mean one in this room."  He looked at Dean.  "The high school or the library are big enough.  Paul said the library's been used before.  It's got a floor mosaic with a diagram that only needs some lines taken out or covered to be used."  He finished the water, opening the book to show him.  "This is his information file on the surrounding areas."

"Okay," Dean agreed, sitting beside him to look it over.  "It's hard to get to."

"Paul called it defensible.  It looks like an old manor house that got transplanted."

Sam looked.  "It could be.  That was done plenty of times in New England."

"Thank you, Professor Archeology," Dean said.

"That's architecture, Dean," Xander said with a grin.  "Like my former construction stuff was.  Unless he's got the hat and the whip?"  The book got handed over.  They had front, back, and side pictures.  "If we could find a way through the squishy garden without leaving tracks, we could probably get in through this window by moving the a/c unit," he said.

Dean looked at the notes.  "It says it's not bolted in, it gets taken out every winter.  What's a clean room?"

"A room where you can pull out ancient books and not worry about them being hit with humidity, skin salts, those things.  Pure of contaminants that might ruin ancient books."

"Huh.  It says it's locked with a deadbolt but I'm guessing we can get it open easy enough," he said, reading over it.  "Why no tracks?"

"The normals, Dean.  They'll be looking."

"Point."

"How about a daytime trip?" Sam suggested.

"They can still capture us during the daytime," Dean pointed out.

"So you go in pairs," Sam pointed out.  That got a nod and the two hunters looked at each other, nodding.

"Go get a library card?" Dean offered.

"Could," Xander agreed.  He grinned.  "Good idea, Sam."

"Thanks."  He sat down, smiling at his father.  "Then one of us can go with you a few days later."

"That'll work," John agreed.  "Dean, you and I go first?"

"No, Dad, since Xander and I have to actually fight there, we'll go first," he said bluntly, looking at him.  "I need to know the terrain.  Not like I spent a lot of time in libraries in high school."

"I did," Xander said.  "Right overtop of the hellmouth.  It's where we hung out and planned."

Sam shook his head quickly.  "That's insane."

"Giles was a librarian.  All the books, weapons, and him was in there.  Besides, the principal was a troll and he didn't come in there that often.  He was a bit scared of Giles."

"Literally?" Dean asked.

Xander got into his laptop to find his picture from a press release, letting him see it.  "Almost."

"Close enough for government work," Dean decided.  He handed it to Sam, who shuddered.  "He a prick?"

"All the time.  I got detention once for having untied sneakers and a shirt that was mis- buttoned because one broke."

Sam blinked at him.  "That was unfair."

"And?  He was on a power trip, Sam.  He was working with the mayor.  Actually, the mayor ate him first when he turned."

"Hopefully the giant tequila worm got indigestion before it died," Dean quipped.  Xander smirked at him.  "Okay, you and me tomorrow.  Sam, go over what kills it.  I don't wanna have another 'have to find a light in the middle of a park at night' problem."

"Sure, Dean.  It said silver and blessed objects.  Its skin is pretty tough but it can be killed by stabbing it through the brain or the liver."

"Which are going to be where?" Xander asked.  "And our swords aren't silver."

"Oh."  He got up to find it, coming back with it.  "Okay, here we go.  Liver is about ten feet off the ground.  Brain's on top of the head, which is between its legs."

"Like most guys," Dean agreed.

"Does it change or is it just like that?" Xander asked.  "Any growing time?"

Sam looked.  "Egg, ten minute super grow, then huge ass demon."  He looked at them.  "So maybe in that ten minutes or in the egg?"

"Is the egg able to be cremated or anything?" John asked.

Sam went back to reading, then shrugged. "Doesn't say, Dad."  He looked at Xander.  "We do know it'll be some demons summoning it.  It looks like getting them all before its summoned would be for the best.  Then we'd have to dig out the coin from the egg."

"If they're smart, they'll be there all day of it," Xander said, leaning back and thinking.  "Pretending to be kids roleplaying or something in one of the back rooms."  Dean gave him an odd look.  "Public library, Dean. You have to have a reason to hang around."

"Did you role play?"

"With Jesse."  He went back to the interior map.  "Floor diagrams on two different floors but it'll be about fifteen feet tall so I'm guessing it's the one in the mezzanine.  Or else there's not enough room."  He let him see.  "It'd be simple enough to hide from the librarians when they're closing up."  Dean nodded at that.  "We might want to do the same since by then they'll have their victims."

"The more the merrier," Sam reminded him.

"Yeah but they won't have time to prepare any they find that day," Dean pointed out.  "They have to be put through that purification ritual."  He read that part over.  "Which doesn't look fun.  It starts with an enema and ends with one with 'shrooms."

"I've heard of doing it with champagne," Xander offered.

John gave him an odd look.  "Are you sure you're not gay?"

"Why would it matter?  And yeah, I'm fairly certain I'm bi but your sons don't really do it for me and neither do you.  Anything else?"  John gave him a shocked look.  Xander stared back.  "I've done things that make most people find God, John Winchester.  I'm going to take my fun and ease those pains however I can.  Whether that includes plunging into a guy's ass or a girl's doesn't really matter to me most of the time."  He looked at the plans again.  "Still not going to jump you, Sam."

"Thanks, Xander."  He grinned at Dean.  "There's always Dawn's plan, Dean."

"Shuddup," he complained, going back to it.  He gave Xander a look.  "You're not, right?"

"Dean, don't you remember?  You get to have sex magic with the demon who's going to kill herself and possibly you soon.  Why would I want to ruin that for you by making it so you can only get it up for me?"

Dean burst out in snickers, shaking his head.  "Good one, Xander."  He got back to the plans.  "So we'll go the day of the event.  Say, early afternoon?  It says it closes at five.  We'll make sure of it.  Make up some lie about needing to check our email before we leave the next morning?"  Xander nodded.  "Okay.  Hiding spots?"

"Basement with a locked access.  Bathrooms, closet if there's not too much in there."  He pointed at those.  "You get to be slimed this time searching for it.  I had to dig into the last demon."

"Fine," Dean agreed.  "Remind me to take off my watch."  He got back to it.  It was only fair.  "Can't Sam?"

"Do you really want him in town that day?"

"No," he decided.  "He's too valuable to risk by the prophecy, especially with that first thing.  Sorry, Sammy."

"Not a problem, Dean.  I'll get the next hunt we have since they'll be coming for me."

Xander looked at him.  Then at Dean.  "Want me to tag along instead of heading directly to Utah?"

"You'll be nearby the day it happens anyway," Dean reminded him.  "Shouldn't be necessary."

"Okay.  Let me know."  He went back over the plans.  "Third level reading room."

Dean looked at it.  "Probably only used by the book nerds like Sammy.  Probably quiet too."

"Two closets?"

"Two closets," Dean agreed.  "We'll check it out slowly and carefully tomorrow.  Go on a tour then do the email thing or something."  They nodded.  "Okay, anything else we have to deal with?"

"Sleep," Sam said.  "Eating.  Make sure all the demons are the same type so they're all killed with the same thing."

"Silver, but more minor amounts," Xander told him.  "So Dean could shoot them if he wanted to."

"You could too," Dean agreed.

"With the way this is feeling my aim would go wide," Xander said, looking at him. "I'm not having the good feeling."

"Do you get visions?" John asked.

"Caleb tried really hard but I only get them when they relate to me."

Dean nodded.  "Then we'll be on careful watch.  Sam, take first watch tonight?"  He nodded.  "Good.  Dad, take dawn.  I'll get woken by Sam, I'll wake Xander."  They both nodded.   "Then let's hit the sack.  We can't be tired and we've been on the road since five this morning."  He got up and went up to the room they had claimed.

"We need time to do the mundane stuff tomorrow too," Xander pointed out.  "Unless you found a washer?"  Sam shook his head.  "Then I'll find one and do it when we have a few free minutes."  He got up.  "Night all."  He headed up to his room and laid down - his head was throbbing and he needed to take something for it.  He got up to deal with his eye wash for the night then laid back down.  It'd be fine.  He knew he could make it fine.  No matter how bad his senses were telling him this was going to be.

***

Xander looked up from doing his wash when an older lady walked in, nodding politely at her then going back to his book.  Something was feeling very wrong to him.  He checked the laundry, seeing it was about half dry.  So he put down his book and went to look outside.  Dean was at the hardware store getting something.  He could barely see his car up the street.  Xander looked the other direction.  Still nothing.  He heard movement behind him and turned to find a giant worm behind him.  "Huh.  I forgot why Paul got involved with the Watchers.  You're here."  He shrugged and went back to looking outside.  "I'm not the one you want to jump, lady."

"Tainted," she hissed, wiggling closer.

Xander turned to look at her, then shrugged.  "Hellmouth born."  The demon hissed again.  It bent down to sniff him.  "Oh, get off."  He shoved at her.  "I'm not going to feed you; I worked with a slayer."  The demon hissed again and tried to bite him.  John came rushing in but Xander had pulled out the pocket knife that turned back into a sword, and went through her twice before he could pull his gun.  Then Xander looked at his clothes.  "Eww."  He grabbed something from the dryer to put on, tossing the now very dirty and slimy clothes into a free washer.  He added his special anti-slime mix to the soaking water, then went to toss the pieces out back into the alleyway.  He came back in and checked, but his pocket knife was in John's hand.  "Mystical weapon please?" he asked as he snatched it.  He slid it back into his pocket and went to fold the stuff that was dry enough.  The rest got combined into the dryer with the most time and another quarter was added.

"How?"

"I fought in Sunnydale, John.  I've seen stranger than the demon worm who ate any guys who aren't virgins."  He finished folding and stuffed those into his duffle bag, going to switch the laundry's cycle around.  It went onto a heavy wash and more of the anti-slime mix was added.  Then he looked at him, seeing the horrified look.  "I've been doing what I'm doing now for almost ten years.  It'll be ten years in October."  John shuddered.  "So let's give me *some* credit, okay?  It's not like I didn't help during the battle with the First Evil.  Or Glorificus.  Or any of the other ones.  Even when my girls became trifling bitches now and then I was still there.  So jump on another ship, John.  The cabin boy doesn't want fucked up the ass anymore."  He went back to the dryer, finding most everything done.  The washer cut off for the rinse cycle.  Xander reached down to pull the plug so he could restart it.  He plugged it back in and started it again with the heavy wash cycle, again adding the anti-slime mix.  "This is so much easier at home."  He went to fold the rest of the dry stuff.  The guy who ran the laundry came in.  "Hey."

"Did you just unplug one?"

"I needed to restart it at the wash level.  I plugged it back in."

"Are you dying in there?"

"No, I had some slime.  I added special stuff to cut it.  It'll make sure the machines's clean too."  That got a nod and a look that said the guy would be checking.  "Oh, the worm thingy that eats non-virginal, non-married males?  Gone."

"How...."

Xander grinned.  "She tripped over that bar out back and ripped herself apart trying to get back up off her back."

"Oh.  I didn't know it was that simple."

Xander shrugged.  "Sometimes it is.  Sometimes it's not."

"Are you one of Paul's friends?"

"I'm the one who brought him home.  I'm handling another problem locally, next town over.  Heard anything strange going on over there?"

"It's always strange over there but nothing particular.  Tell Paul I said hi."

"Sure, I can do that."  He grinned and got back to his laundry folding and stuffing.

The owner looked at John.  "It's nice that the Watchers finally got people who aren't snobby bastards."

"It is," he agreed.  "Though Xander's apparently very original."

Xander just grinned.  "Well, yeah, and I'm still not sleeping with your sons."  The owner laughed and Xander finished up, coming over to take his clothes out when they were done washing and putting them into the same warm dryer.  A few more quarters from his roll and they were set.  They'd be dry in a half-hour.  Xander sat down with his book.  It was a good story.

John shook his head, going to find Dean and Sam.  "He's got one last load in the dryer."

Dean looked over from fixing a paint ding on his hood.  "How long?"

"Half an hour.  It went in when the worm splashed him."

"Eww."  He shuddered then went back to fixing the paint job.

"He drove anyway," Sam pointed out.

"Did you know what a smartass he is?"  Both boys nodded.  "And how dangerous and burned out he is?"

Dean looked at him.  "Yeah, I'm seeing him and you the same way sometimes," he said.  "Those same nights you head to a bar and don't come out for three days is burnout, Dad.  We're hoping that some of this is solved before we get there too."  They shared a look and he went back to his touch-up.  "There, it'll dry and hopefully be fully covered."

Sam looked.  "Missed the lower one, Dean," he said with a point.

Dean moved to fix that one too.  "Thanks."

"Branch?" John asked.

"Claw," Sam said.  "The thing rushed us in the car.  It ran into us."  He shrugged.

"Still better than Xander being hit by that trooper going eighty," Dean muttered.

"Maybe Dawn'll put the bodywork spell on the Impala," Sam offered with a grin.

Dean looked at him.  "No spells on the car, Sammy."  He went back to fixing it.  "I can do nearly everything she needs.  We don't need that sort of help most of the time."

"Fine."

"Bodywork spell?" John asked.  Sam nodded.  "To fix the car?"

"He has one to do his engine when it starts to go too," Dean told him.

"Why can't he fix it?"

"Never learned," Dean told him.  "Faith knows how.  She learned in jail."  He looked up.  "That would be one of the senior slayers by the way."  John gave him a horrified look.  Dean smirked.  "She's not that bad.  We talked for a few minutes when she and Willow brought his car to him in Iowa."

"I wondered if he had it with him like you had yours or if he had somehow made it back to Cleveland in extra speedy time," Sam said, leaning against the side of the car.

"No, it was us, breakfast, that book, and the Impala.  He had his wallet and cellphone.  I fortunately had the keys."  Dean looked at him.  "Willow brought it to the gear shop he knew about with Faith.  She was there to pick up a wedding dress they had customed so one of the younger slayers could carry weapons during her wedding."

John shook his head.  "She'll have to?"

"Don't know," Dean admitted.  "She might just want to.  Then again I heard she was pregnant when they found her."  He shrugged and got back to work.

"How are there more than one?"

"Xander the first time then Willow," Sam told him.

"Huh?"

"Xander did CPR when Buffy was drowned, hence there being two.  Then during the whole First Evil thing Willow activated the others."

"Which is why they had twenty-four and ten were good enough to get assigned already," Dean finished.  "The other fourteen are down there and Xander was working on their self- defense and weapons skills for things like crossbows and swords."

"He's still jerky when he moves, son.  So are you."

Sam grinned.  "When they're called, they're given all sorts of information.  Fighting styles, weapons work, all that stuff, Dad.  All he had to do was push them into using it."

"Oh."  He looked up the street at the laundry, watching Xander drag his duffle out.  "He goes with that much clothes?"

Dean looked then shrugged.  "Means he doesn't have to do that as often as we do.  He also has a bigger trunk."  He finished and recapped the paint pen.  "There.  Beautiful again."  He patted the hood and walked around.  Sam slid into his side.  His father got into the back with a grumble.  "Did you get the shells and stuff?"  John nodded, pointing at the bag.  "Cool."  He headed back the borrowed house.  Xander was already back there going through his trunk.  Dean came over to look, pointing at something.  "What's that?"

"Slingshot."  He grinned at him.  "Good for annoying slayers on their first patrol when they're goofing off."  Dean snickered, walking off shaking his head.  He finished arranging things then closed the trunk, heading inside.  "Okay, what'm I doing, Sam?"

"Come help me melt silver, Xander."  He came back there to help him.  "We've got to melt then pour," he said grimly.

"I'm not great at pouring at the moment," he admitted, "but I can help melt."

"That'll work."  He added more silver chain from the pawn shop to the small pot.  "That should be enough."

Dean came in waving something.  "We have mail."

"From...." Xander asked.

"Your people."  Xander took it with a light snatch, looking at it with a sigh of displeasure.  "Wedding invitation?"

"Yup and I can't be back there until after DC."  He put it down then jiggled the pot a bit.  "Should we stir?"

"It'll waste some," Dean said, coming over to show him how it was done.  "You want to pour?"

"Pouring and I don't always get along these days," Xander said quietly.

"Okay."  He watched him look at the invitation.  "She good?"

"She's fine.  It's the weekend after we should be done in DC."  He put it into his things and came back.  "So I can probably go to it as long as we don't die in DC."  He looked at the other things.  "Rock salt?"

"It can bust up a ghost long enough to let you burn their remains," Dean said.

Xander looked at him.  "Then what do you do if they're cremated?"

Dean blinked.  "Never seen one."

"No, we haven't," Sam said.

Xander shrugged.  "Fred was cremated by the portal that she threw herself into to close it.  Instant burn."

"Huh," the brothers said.  "We'll have to figure that out."  They went back to making new silver bullets.

Dean looked at him.  "Why can't you pour?"

"Depth perception issues."

Dean looked at him.  "Would this be the same weakness you have compensated for?"  Xander nodded.  "Okay."  He went back to it.  "So far it hasn't mattered."

"I walked into a door this morning but it usually doesn't."  He held the tray steady while Sam poured. "Are we making them uneven?"

"He'll fix that," Dean promised.  Sam did go back to fix the few that were lower in their molds.  Then he nodded and went to help his father pack rock salt into shotgun shell casings.

"Leave it here?" Xander asked.

"Yeah, if you put them into the fridge they can crack," Sam said with a small smile.  They both went to help pack bullets.  Xander knew how to make regular ones so he got to do that with the silver ones they had in reserve.

Dean tested one.  "A bit weak of the bond, Xander."

"I get better distance with mine," he said, taking it back to press it down again for him.  "How's that?"

He looked then shook his head.  "Still pretty loose."  He got up to try it but it wasn't going to press down any farther.  "Is it the press?"

"No, the head's a bit too big for that one," Sam said, snatching it and handing him another one.  Dean nodded that one was fine.  Sam checked the others, taking the heads to melt down while Xander packed the new ones into their new shells.

Dean watched him then got back to his own duty.  "So, Xander.  When were you injured?"

"Caleb.  Minion of the First.  Insane preacher person.  Believe it or not, Spike saved me from him totally ruining me.  Then Buffy cut him in two."

"Wow."  Dean looked at him.  He knew it was his eye now.  He couldn't tell that one was cloudy or anything.  Xander stared back.  "The saline solution?"

"I don't make tears from that side anymore so it gets too dry.  I have to do an eyewash every night."

"Oh.  Okay.  Doesn't bother you during the day?"

"It's not that hard to deal with if it does.  Only takes a minute and some contact saline solution."

"Good.  That's something nice to have anyway for rinsing out wounds."

"True," Xander agreed, getting back to work.  "Some of these are still a bit soft, Sam."

"Sometimes they do that.  It usually means there's a bubble."  Xander tossed him that one so it could be remelted.  "Do we need to do any of yours?"

"I have mine blessed," Xander admitted.  "I buy off the shelf for most of my collection.  I can hand-pack because we had to in Sunnydale.  Now and then Giles was cheap.  Not that Buffy used guns but now and then we had to.  I was working on a wooden one but it was never hard enough.  If I could've teflon coated I think it might've worked."

"The teflon would've come off after release from the barrel," Dean said, thinking about it.  "It still might compact in the air but it should still work."

Xander nodded.  "That's what I was thinking but I don't know how to teflon coat bullets."

"Dad?"

"No one I know can either, son."

"We'll ask around, Xander.  That way we can test it the next time Sam gets jumped by seven vampires."

Xander looked at him.  "He managed to get at least three of them."

"Good!  I'd hope he had some sense."

"He was running when I heard him.  He didn't pull a Buffy or a me and stand there to do it by himself."

John gave him a look.   "You did?"

"Not much choice.  They managed to get into my building and woke my ass up," Xander said bluntly.  "Anya wasn't going to.  Buffy quipped while she did hers."

"She's probably trying to hide her burnout," John said.

"No, she's just like that.  Always has been," Xander told him.  "Then again, my ex Cordy perfected the 'you broke my nail, bastard' attack."  He shrugged and got back to it while Dean laughed.  "You'd have to meet Cordelia.  You really would."

Dean nudged him with his shoulder.  "It could be much worse."

"Yeah, we could still be dating.  Or Anya and I could've gotten married.  She'd still be pouting about never getting her powers back."

"She was a witch?"

"Yeah and then they offered her a spot on the vengeance demon team," Xander said.  "Over women scorned."  John dropped the shell he was working on.  Dean and Sam both snickered.  "After she made an alternate reality for Cordelia her power center got broken by accident when we stepped on it coming out of that issue.  So she decided I was going to date her.  Hadn't had sex in eleven hundred years.  Fortunately she could do a stamina spell our first few times."  He got back to what he was doing, tossing another at Sam.  "One of the molds is a bigger size."

"Oops.  I'll find it and fill it in," Sam said.  "I think this one's been melted too many times."

"Then make them into bits and pieces to put in with the rock salt," Xander told him.  "It won't have to hold a shape."

"Good idea," Dean agreed.  "You were really going to marry her?"

"Yeah, I left her at the altar after some of her coworkers showed me how miserable we'd be.  I couldn't do that to her.  So she got her powers back and went back to it, then figured out she had a conscience now so she couldn't after nearly killing a frat house for hurting one girl.  She came back to being a normal human witch again and we were making moves back toward friendship when things went to hell, nearly literally."  He grinned at Dean.  "Before you ask, I didn't see any televangelist or politicians during the battle.  Just a lot of super-vamps.  Then again it was only one hell dimension.  They could've been in another one for all we know."

"You're strange, Xander," Dean told him.

"You try being me.  All I'm ever surrounded by are slayers and witches."  He gave him a look.  "Like Willow.  Hi, Willow."  She stomped in.  "I'll be at the wedding if I can."  He got back to his task, finishing the last one.  "Okay.  Check those for me?"  Dean checked then nodded and put them into the box of bullets for later use.  He grinned at Willow.  "What's up?"

"Doctor's appointment for your eye?"

He shrugged.  "Not really necessary and can't really do it," he said dryly.  "I'll try when we get a longer break.  Oh, Dean, medical records are in the glove box if we ever need them."  That got a nod.  He looked at Willow again.  "What else is up?"

"You're not answering your email."

"I'm not supposed to be talking to you guys until after DC so I can't get sucked in and miss the battle in Utah."

"Crap.  Faith's missing."

He sighed, rubbing his forehead.  "I'm assuming scrying, plotting, and those things aren't working?"  She shook her head.  "Is she kidnaped missing or just missing and went on a bender due to this being the anniversary of when she killed the guy next week?"

She slumped.  "I didn't realize it was next week.  I know she takes off most years."

Xander nodded.  "She probably did this time too.  Either that or you might ask the agents who're bothering you guys if they know.  I'm sure if they're watching they're having her tracked."

"Good idea."  She got up and kissed him on the head, then stared at Dean.  "Date him for us please?  That way he quits picking up dangerous women?"

"Can't do that, not gay.  At the most it'd be stress relief."

"Shoot.  What about the other one?"

"Sam?  No."

She glared at him.  "So it was you."

Sam looked back at her.  "Dawn asked when Nanny Grimsley said she was in danger if she didn't.  It was her choice.  I don't have to force women, Willow."

Dean loaded a shotgun and gave her a pointed look.  She huffed off.  He looked at his little brother.  "Welcome."

"Thanks."  He came over with the parts so they could load some shells with those too.  The paint pen marked around which ones had it.  Then they got packed too.  Xander went to take a nap.  Dean went over the plans he had for the library.  They had been doing a bit of construction in one area so they had to modify what they were going to do.

***

Xander was on watch when he saw the people on the lawn.  He opened his phone to call over there but he didn't have a signal.  "What a time for them to go down," he muttered.  "GUYS!" he shouted.  Dean came jogging down as he ran out the door.  He knew what they were going to do.  Paul had been a hunter, he'd be worthy blood and it was the right date for them to gather him.  "Get out of here!" he snarled at one, spinning him around and glaring at him.

The lights came on.  "Who're they!" Paul's mother demanded.

"Unless one of you know them they're here to take your son," he said bluntly.

Another one rushed in from the front door, shooting wildly.  "Die!"

"No!" Xander snapped, shooting him back, then he killed the one next to him.  The demon turned back into human but he didn't care.  He rushed up to Paul's room to see if he was still there.  When he wasn't, he headed out.  He knew where they were keeping them, he thought.  Plus he had a better engine than whatever car they were using.

Dean rushed over to the other house, going to deal with the demons.  He frowned when one turned into a human after it was dead.  "Sam, get someone!"  He nodded, calling in help before taking on another demon.  He found Paul's father already dead.  His mother was sobbing and holding her injured arm.  "Shh," he said, squatting down in front of her.  "Where's Paul?"

"They must've taken him.  Xander rushed off," she said, gulping air.  Cops rushed in.  "Oh, God, they came after Paul!" she wailed.  "Xander went after them!"

Dean looked at the officer.  "I'm helping Xander."

"We heard."  He helped her up to look at the injury.  "Get her somewhere," he ordered.  He looked at the mess then at the two boys.  He saw Sam fighting with one on the back lawn and watched as it turned into a human when it died.  "They all do that?" he asked with a nod.

Dean looked then nodded.  "All but his father, yeah.  He was dead when I checked.  In the living room."

"How did you hear?"

"Xander yelled.  He apparently took off to find Paul."

"Go."  He nodded, going to finish getting dressed and do that with John.  The officers looked around.  "This is a damn mess," he said, calling in help.  "This is Perkins.  Some strange people came for Paul Masters.  The guests with them went after the boy.  There were intruders here.  Bring bags and gloves."  He hung up and went to check the rest of the house.  One of them came out of hiding in the bathroom so he shot it.

Sam rushed in and stabbed it.  "Sorry, won't work.  Have to sever things."  He helped him back downstairs, bandaging the cuts.  More cops rushed in.  "I'm here helping Paul, guys.  One attacked him."  Paramedics rushed him off and the others came in to deal with this.  Sam decided he was tired of handing out excuses the normal people would deal with.  Someone here had a clue and the worst they could do was hold him. "They were demons, they turned back into humans when you killed them.  They're the reason we're here because they're raising something this week."

"Like the worm thingy that ate slutty boys?" one asked.

Sam looked at him.  "There is?"

"Yeah," he said, nodding.  "You friend cut her up pretty good but she kinda regrew a bit."

"We'll see if we can handle that on the way out," he said dryly.  "But yeah, only worse and bigger.  Like fifteen feet tall bigger."

The officers all nodded.  "Okay," one said, grinning at him.   "Anything we should know?"

"One of them took Paul.  Dean, our Dad, and Xander all took off to get them."

"Interesting, but we won't stop someone going that fast this time at night unless they're drunk, son.  Go ahead back to the guest house, let us clean up this unholy mess."  He nodded and went to do that.  "Okay, anyone who wasn't a demon?"

"The boy's father's in the living room," one said, coming back from looking.  "No more that I could find, boss."

"Good.  Clean it, let the local priest deal with it."  They nodded, gathering up bodies to cart over to the church.  He could deal with this stuff.  The father was carefully gathered and brought back to the morgue.  His wife could deal with him later.

***

Xander woke up suspended to a pipe by his wrists, frowning up at it.  His head was very cloudy.  "Know I didn't wreck the car," he muttered to himself while he checked the bindings.  He was clearly drugged.  Everything had a nice pink halo around it.  He was so screwed.  He saw his pocket knife on the table across from him and blinked.  "You didn't change this time?"  He sighed.  Psychological bullcrap, putting it in front of him to give him hope.  Well, he was better than they thought.  He concentrated, wincing at the feeling of the drugs not parting to make way for the magic.  He tried harder.  "I am better than Luke.  I do have the force," he muttered over and over while he worked.  The knife came flying back, letting him open it and saw through the ropes.  He landed and it turned into a sword.  He cut down the others and went hunting.  He knew they had taken Paul.  He was in fragile shape.  A few of the demons rushed him so he killed them, wincing when they turned back into humans.  He kept going.  He had to keep going.  It was light outside and that was a bad sign.  He got another demon then stabbed something coming through the door.  He walked through it.  "Paul!" he yelled.  He heard a groan so he went that way, dealing with the demons around the injured man's body.  "Hey."

"Xander, get help?" he asked weakly.  "I think the stitches are infecting."

"I can do that, buddy.  Come on.  Like last time."  He looked at the wound then winced when green puss came out.  "That's not an infection, Paul.  That's nasty."  He lunged up to get the two demons coming for him this time, getting them down.  "Fuckers."  He felt someone coming up on his blind side and turned to get them too, two quick stabs and they were done with.  He turned back to Paul.  "Okay, I'm taking you into the other room.  It's got light and other victims."  He picked him up, letting him ride piggy-back on him.  He let him down carefully on the other victims then went to finish cleaning out the nest.  He heard someone banging on the door at the top of the stairs and headed up there cautiously, looking at the woman.  "You're not one of the demons."

"No," she said weakly.  "I'm not.  They're here?"

He nodded.  "Were.  Eggs?"

"Um....  We guard them....." she said, trailing off at his look.  "Are you all right?"

"The other victims need an ambulance.  Especially Paul.  He's got gangrene it looks like." She rushed off.  He leaned against the wall, head against the concrete while he rested.  He heard movement and looked back as more demons rushed in.  "I love summer emptiness."  He attacked them, driving a few outside.  The drugs were wearing out with all this exercise.  He ran one into John, but Dean got him from behind.  "Thank you!  Victims in the basement," he panted.  "Including Paul.  Gangrene."  John rushed that way.  "Principal guarding the eggs."  Dean ran to do that while he finished off the last three demons.  By then his head was swimming and he was really tired.  He collapsed on the stairs, looking at the paramedics who came up, stopping one by grabbing his ankle.  "They drugged us," he said calmly.  "Including 'shrooms later.  There's like five steps, all enemas."  That got a nod.  "Paul's side has gangrene," he said when he tried to get free.  "I piled the victims together."

"Okay.  We'll get them to your kind's hospital," he promised, heading to deal with that.  The injury on the one guy made him hiss and wince in sympathy.  "Let's hope they can cure that, sir."

"I need a human hospital or a Mohr demon's blood," he said.

"We'll get you some blood over at your own kind's hospital."  He picked him up, letting the others get the others.  "The guy outside with the sword said that the drugs were administered by enema, at least five steps, he said mushrooms came later."  They nodded, making note of that.  "They all human?"  That got another nod and they took the victims out.

Dean pressed the principal against the wall.  "The eggs so we can keep one from rising?"

"We guard them," she said weakly.

"Those guys weren't guarding, they were activating them, lady.  Where?"  She winced as his gun became a sword, starting to shake.  "Now!" he snapped.  She nodded, leading him to a different room in the basement.  He looked at the racks of eggs.  "Damn it, how do we find out which one they're using?"

"They're all still here."

He looked at her.  "One of them was infected with something small, gold, and a coin."  She groaned, slumping some.  "Any idea?"

"We can tell which ones might be active."  She went to get the small box, letting him use it.  "If it beeps, they're able to be awakened this year."

He took the ones that it could be, carrying them upstairs to put in the trunk.  His father was guarding Xander.  "He good?"

"No.  He's asleep again.  The boy sleeps more than anyone I know."

"I don't think he gets all the sleep we think he does," Dean said dryly.  He went back to recheck the eggs, then got into the demon's bodies.  Another stab and they turned back to demon.  He turned when he felt something coming down, a huge demon wearing a few of the coins.  "Huh," he said.  "Peaceful?"  The demon growled.  "I guess not."  He lunged in to get him.  He still wasn't that comfortable with a sword but he had seen this one in one of the books.  He knew he had to cut off its head.  He finally managed it then grabbed the coins he was wearing.  He ran the meter over him and found another one, stabbing him in the stomach so he could reach inside and get it.  "Eww.  Now I know why Xander didn't want to do this."  He found it and came out with it, shaking off his hand.  "Silver?"  He shrugged and put it in with the other ones, walking out after rechecking the basement area.  He found his father had Xander in the back of the Impala. "He still asleep?"

"Nearly had a nightmare, flinched when I tried to touch him to wake him, shifted a few times, then went back to sleep," he reported.

Dean held up the coins.  "Now we have to get the things out of the eggs.  I'm all for Sammy doing it."  He got in to drive, heading back to the other house.  He found Paul's mother pacing.  He walked up to her.  "They put Paul in the hospital.  Need a ride?"

She blinked at him.  "You found him?"

"Xander freed him.  We freed Xander."

She slumped, nodding.  "Was he all right?"

"Xander told one of the paramedics his side was infecting," Dean said quietly.  "Do you want a ride, ma'am?"

"No.  I have someone who can," she said, straightening up.  "Thank you, young man."

"Not an issue.  Let us know if we can help while we're here."  She nodded, walking off.  He went to help carry Xander around to the guest house.  "Sam, go get the eggs, crack the eggs, dig out the coins.  I got more in my pockets."  Sam grimaced but did that.  He looked Xander over.  "You are the king of head injuries aren't you?" he asked dryly.  His cellphone rang.  "Yeah?"  He blinked.  "I'll come pick it up in a few.  No, we weren't sure where his car was," he told the officer.  "Was it wrecked?  Oh, they were moving the bodies and got him.  Okay.  We'll be over in a few."  He looked at John.  "Let him sleep it off."  He walked off.  "You can crack the eggs, just find all the gold coins."  He gave Sam a nudge.  "We've gotta pick up Xander's car."

"Sure."  He jogged in to pat him down.  "No keys?" he called.

"Maybe they're there.  If not, they're at the high school."

"I thought they were storing them closer to the library," Sam complained.  "It makes no sense to carry them across town before the thing happened."  He got into the car, letting Dean back down the driveway.

"They had whole racks of eggs," Dean said grimly.  "Maybe they were picking which one would raise with the victims."

"No wonder you came home with so many."  It wasn't a long drive, only ten miles.  "Did you two get pounced last night?"

"Three times," Dean agreed.  "Then my sword decided to activate on the seat when Xander's did apparently.  It led me to him."

"Good to know.  Dawn's blessing?"

"Maybe.  Like I know," he muttered.  They found his car and Sam got out to search it.  An officer brought back a baggie and Sam found the keys and Xander's phone and wallet in it.  "Thanks."  That got a nod and they left.  That town was nearly as freaky as Sunnydale had supposedly been.  He'd have to ask Dawn about that.  They got back and found John still watching Xander.  "He have more nightmares?"  John nodded.  "Figures.  Eggs?"

"Eggs," Sam complained, going to get the last few from the trunk.  They set up a spot on the grass and cracked them with hammers, digging inside the black goo to find the small, gold coins.

"This is nastier than we usually deal with," John complained.

"Yeah, ya think?" Dean asked.  His father glared at him.  "What?  Xander had to take the first one out of the demon's chest cavity, dad.  These are just eggs.  We've got another seventeen that we'll have to check."  He found his next one, shaking his hand to sling off the goo.  It got tossed into a pile with the others that had been found.   "Is that one silver?" he asked.

"Yeah, why?" Sam asked, letting him see it.

"One of the ones I took off the last demon was silver.  I'll dig them out in a few."  Sam nodded, he'd look at them later.  "Can we at least burn them later?" Dean asked.

"Please, they stink," John said.

Sam shrugged.  "I don't see why not."  They had seen the leaf burn barrel and drug the empty shells over there.  John gathered the coins to wash them off in the kitchen.  Dean went to get the lighter fluid.  It was a pretty bonfire.  Sam looked at his brother, who was staring at the fire.  "What?"

"Xander fights much better than I do," he said quietly.  "He took out most of the demons drugged."

Sam gave him a nudge on the arm.  "Think about why he can do that, Dean.  It doesn't make him better, it means he had to do it before."  Dean nodded that was probably true.  "Besides, you still beat him in self-defense stuff.  So bar brawls are all yours."

"Maybe," he said, cheered up a bit.  "Thanks, Sammy."

"Quit calling me that," he complained.

"No."  He walked off.  "Do the goo too?"  He walked inside to shower.  He was nasty and there was sweat underneath the slime making it itch.  Xander was in a little ball on the couch under the throw John had tossed on top of him.  "Xander, shower?" he called.  One skinny finger poked out.  "Okay.  When you come down then."  He went to shower, thinking while he scrubbed.  The black goo was *not* going to come off without it.  It also stained as he found out when he looked at his hands.  He came out to call Dawn.  "Black demon goo from the eggs stains skin?"  He listened to how it was fixed.  "Thanks.  No, he's good.  Sleeping it off.  Paul might be fine.  Yeah, they did so Xander took off to save him.  Thanks, Dawnie."  He hung up and went to find some vinegar at the main house.  Then he trudged back there.  "The black goo needs to be soaked off with vinegar."

"Wet down a towel and use it to wrap your hands," Sam ordered.  Dean nodded that was wise and went to do that before getting dressed in something clean that wasn't going to get stained.  Sam shook his head, poking a shell with a stick so it fell deeper into the fire.  John came out checking Dean's clothes for things then threw them in there too.  "That bad?"

"Yeah."  He walked back inside, going to clean those coins as well.  It was really nasty.

Sam checked himself.  Not any on him. He had been using a towel to shield himself as he cracked them.  His hands were messy but he could fix that later.  When it was finally out he went inside to check on Xander, finding him still under the blankets.  He peeked in and grinned when he saw him awake.  "You good?"

"Mushrooms bad when it goes up your butt.  Funner when you nibble."

"I'll take your word for it, Xander.  Want to clean up?"  Xander shook his head.  "Why not?"

"The needle's coming to suck at the other eye."

"Okay.  I'll let you hide down here until you're down and the needle's gone."  He put down the blanket and went to take some of the vinegar from Dean.  "He said there's a needle coming to suck at his other eye."

"He can hide until he comes down," John said calmly.  "I've never seen anyone react that strongly."

"He said it's better fun when you nibble on them," Sam told him.  John gaped.  He shrugged.  "Who knows how he knows that.  Then again, doing it in an enema would lead directly to the blood stream.  I looked up alcohol ones.  It's led to a lot of cases of alcohol poisoning."

"Waste of good liquor," John muttered, walking out to check on the fire and the lawn.  "We should bury this."

"We'll burn it clean in a few," Dean called.   He looked at his brother.  "Think he was trying it out or what?"

"Who knows," he repeated.  "He did have that first road trip."

"Good point."  He looked at his hands.  "This is going to take forever."

"It'll fade.  We'll pick up more to soak with later."  Dean nodded, going back to trying scrub it off.  Sam wrapped his hands with a soaked towel then gave him a nudge.  "Make sure Xander doesn't freak out."  He went to do that while Sam soaked his hands.  Dean had some up to nearly his elbow on one arm.  Sam barely had some on his palms.  It was more efficient this way.

***

They finally got to Utah after the spell that Sam had to do for them.  It wasn't a hard one and it was necessary to release some of the magical tension in the area they were traveling through.  Utah was a whole different matter.  The people gave them suspicious looks.  One had bluntly asked them if they were in a gang.  Dean's answer of 'do I look like I'm wearing a bandana and colors' wasn't appreciated but it was a gas station.  The motel didn't want to rent a double room to Dean and Sam, even pointing out that they were brothers, but felt comfortable renting one to Sam and Xander for some reason.  Dean was highly confused.  Maybe the guy was another member of the 'Sam and Dean are having sex' club but him and Xander were better?  Who knew with some people.

They got there about a day before the fight this time.  Xander had the longer trip because he had been called to deal with something in St. Louis for Dawn.  So when he got there he was exhausted, having driven most of the day and the night to get there in time.  Sam was giving him worried looks but Dean shook his head that it'd be fine.  It was, even through most of the fight.  Xander had *some* sleep in his system.  Not a whole lot but some.  Sam had told him that there'd been a lot of nightmares.  So he was still somewhat tired when they were jumped by the demon.  It was making Xander clumsy.  It was also pissing Dean off when he realized how injured Xander actually was.  No one had told him that he was missing an eye.  How could he not tell him!  They got the demon killed, even though Xander slipped again, then faced off with him.  "Xander."  Xander panted, looking over at him.  "You *lost* the eye?  Or are you just blind in it?"

"Lost it," he said quietly, standing up and walking over.  "A few weeks before the last battle in Sunnydale."  He faced him down.  "It doesn't make me weaker, Dean, and it only matters when I'm tired or trying to pour something."

"This time it did, Xander."

"You know what?  I think I can handle this, even with that problem.  I have been for a few years.  It's not my fault that our slayer in St. Louis has a sister that keeps breaking her cage."  Dean gaped.  "Yeah, her.  She keeps breaking her cage.  Someone was messing with it.  I had to help her put up a new one on the second day of the full moon to hold her last night and tonight."  Dean shuddered.  He stepped closer.  "I'm fine.  I got up.  You handled that side.  I'm sorry if you're pissed because no one told you Caleb took a dirty fingernail to it, but yay."  He walked past him, not touching him.  "I'll see you guys in DC."

"Where are you going?" Dean demanded.  "We don't have time for fits, Xander."

"I'm going to LA to check on the remaining members of Angel's crew.  They're about to have another problem and unfortunately they need me too, Dean.  I'll make it to DC in time."  He waved over his shoulder.  "Laters."

Dean glared at him.  Then he stomped back to his car.  He had to come back to get the stupid coin but he was still pissed.  He walked into the room Xander and Sam had been sharing, slamming the door shut.  "He walked off in a snit."

"Why?" Sam asked, taking the coin to put on his necklace.

"It wasn't an injured eye, it's a removed eye."

"Oh."  Sam nodded.  "He compensates pretty well for that."

"He didn't today!"

"He will when it's more important, Dean.  This was a minor demon."  He stood up, looking at his brother.  "He was tired, that's probably what happened.  He told you before that it only mattered when he was tired or trying to pour things."

"He let me think it was something like it was a cataract."

"He never said that.  You assumed.  I assumed it was some muscle damage around it since he said he had problems producing tears."  He stared at Dean.  "He'll be fine, Dean."

"How can I trust him to guard that side?"

"How did you before?" he asked.

Dean huffed, sitting down and frowning at him.  "I'm not sure I was."

"I'm sure you were," Sam told him.  "Now you've got to trust him to know what he's doing.  Remember, he's had a few years since it happened, Dean."

"Yeah, well, he shouldn't be fighting.  Deborah was right, plenty of us would've given up."

"More of us haven't when we've been that injured," Sam said bluntly.  "I don't take Xander as the sort to curl up and die in a corner because he got hurt."  Dean slumped.  "Now, do you think maybe you should call so he doesn't think you don't trust him?"

Dean looked at him.  "How is he compensating?"

"How do blind martial arts masters do it?"

"He's not."

"No, but that's probably what he taught himself to do.  Air currents, sensing power, that stuff."  He looked outside.  "Where did he stomp off to?"

"LA.  He needed to check on Angel's former crew and help with an invasion."

"He doesn't have time for that."

"Neither do we," Dean sighed.  "Fine.  You know what, I'll call tomorrow.  When we're both calm."  Fred appeared, giving him a look like he was an errant child.  "What?"

"Xander can't be in LA, guys.  He'll never make it to DC.  That's one of the reasons we didn't want him in contact with the Cleveland group, so he couldn't get sucked in."

Sam pulled out his phone to call him.  "Xander, it's us.  Fred said you're not supposed to go to LA.  That's part of the not talking to Cleveland stuff."  He got hung up on.  He tried it again.  "She said so, Xander.  She just appeared and said so.  Besides, Dean's sorry he's an asshole," he said into the voicemail.  "He overreacted from the battle stress.  That's all that was.  Call, please?"   He hung up.  "I tried, Fred."

"I know," she said, looking at Dean.  "You really should've thought first."

He stood up.  "How in the hell is he managing to fight like that?"

"The same way Wes did after his throat was nearly slashed all the way through.  We've all fought with injuries.  If they're too bad, you learn how to fight in spite of them or how to use it to your advantage.  There's even deaf hunters, Dean.  You're being a bonehead."  She patted him on the cheek.  "Stop it and make your own apology."  She disappeared.

Dean pulled out his phone to call.  "Xander, me.  Get your ass back here.  I didn't mean it like that."  He hung up so he could look at his brother.  "Want to head?"

"Yeah, let's head.  We've only got a week to make it to DC."  They got to work packing, watching for Xander to return.  Nothing.  Not even a cadillac on the streets. They'd have to talk to him once he got back with them in DC.

***

Xander looked up from his eating and typing one handed into his laptop for his journal entries as Fred appeared in the back seat.  "Morning.  Want one?  I got two."

"No.  Thanks anyway."  She leaned forward.  "You can't go to LA, Xander."

He stared at her.  "I have to.  They don't know that they've got the demonic moles coming.  Plus, no one's checked on Gunn recently or heard from him.  Someone should find him and see how he's doing.  And hey, I need to warn Connor since he's the only fighter LA has left."

"I can send the boys' father out there," she offered.

He gave her a look then burst out laughing.  "Connor having to deal with him?  He'd kill you."

"Well, probably."  She sighed then nodded.  "Okay, you still can't get sucked into the fight."

"Yes I can.  As long as I make it to DC on the appointed day."

"There's no way you can drive that far.  The invasion's in five days, Xander."

"I can fly," Xander pointed out dryly.  He grinned at her.  "Then fly to Cleveland for the wedding, and then fly back here to get my damn car."  She slumped.  "I know the Powers see Connor as about as annoying as I am.  I'm still not letting one of us die from it."

"You could call."

"No I can't.  Connor doesn't have a phone."  She slumped further.  "Have *you* checked on them?"

She looked at him.  "I'm not allowed."

"There ya go, the root cause of the problems, Fred."  He ate another bite of his breakfast sandwich.  "I have a plan.  It'll be fine.  If you want to get John out here, do it.  I'll introduce him to Connor if he's here fast enough."  He grinned sweetly.  "Besides, not like you have anyone else to do this."

"They think you won't make it out of LA in time."

"Who said I'm going into LA proper?"  She groaned.  He snickered.  "You should know me better by now, Fred.  Now, go make Sam quit worrying that I'm going to slay Dean.  It comes as a shock to many people that I can still do things instead of sitting around and whining about how injured I am."  He finished his sandwich and his journal entry, pulling back onto the road.  She disappeared.  He was about a day and a half from his target.  He really had to warn Connor about the battle they'd be fighting out here too.  He hoped both cars made it that long.  If not, they were screwed.  There was no way they could stand to all be in the same car together for two more years.

***

Xander looked at the man who was drug over by the demon, reaching over to tip the demon, getting a grunt and a nod before it disappeared.  "By order the Powers I'm not to get sucked into any of LA's current problems because I'm needed in DC in about a day," he said dryly.  Charles Gunn, former helper to Angel, glared at him.  "No one's heard from you recently, Gunn.  Not even about your cousin marrying," he said more gently.  He slid off his hood, walking closer.  "You good?"

"No," he said, frowning but relaxing.  "Are you?"

"No," he said, shaking his head.  "I got summoned by the Powers to do shit."

"What do you have to atone for?"

"Not a fucking clue," Xander said.  He nodded.  "Air conditioning in the car."

"I'm good."  He looked him over then at the guy walking up the street.  "You called Connor too?"

"Yeah, he's got an invasion of demonic moles coming up.  Plus we've got a battle out here in about nine months."  He looked over.  "Hey."

"Xander."  He smiled at Gunn.  "Gunn.  Long time no see."

"I had to heal."  He gave him a hug then looked at Xander.  "Demonic moles?"

"That're going to attack UCLA."

"Charming," Connor said.  "Don't you have good news?"

"Gunn's cousin is getting married in about two weekends.  In nine months the Powers have called me and two other warriors back here for another battle that could end your city.  And you can't help."

"Now, *that's* good news," Gunn said grimly.  "We can't help?"

"Not with the main demon.  We've even got the mystical weapon BS going on."  He handed Gunn something.  "I'm sure you've got an ID somewhere."

"Yeah."  He looked at the ticket then at him.  "Thanks."

"Welcome."  He looked at Connor.  "Fred is the newest messenger.  She was told she couldn't come see you guys.  She did offer to send my fellow hunter's father, who is a hunter and a grumpy bastard, out here if you wanted."

"I could use it," Connor admitted.  "Even Sunnydale's drawn something."

"I have the feeling I'll be there in a while."  He texted someone, getting an answer back.  "Give it ten."  He sat on the hood of his car again.  "I'm not allowed to get sucked into the demonic moles but Dawn's on for our research support.  You might call her to see if there's an easy way to banish them when they show up in three days."

"Three whole days.  That's a warning," Gunn said.

"I only found out before I got to Utah, guys.  Sorry."  He shrugged.  A black pickup truck pulled in beside them and an older guy got out.  "John, this is Connor Angel, the vampire Angel's human son, chosen warrior for the Powers That Be Morons locally.  The other is Charles Gunn."  He pointed at them as he introduced them.  "Guys, this is John Winchester.  I'm presently tied up by the Powers with his sons."

John nodded.  "Pleasure, boys."

Xander looked at him.  "Thanks to the invasion and other issues, LA is down to them and Gunn's been on healing time."

John moaned.  "I can stay for a bit.  Not forever but for a bit."  LA had too many demons for only one hunter!  It was also an starting point for many invasions and the trafficking and travel lines.  "Hopefully I can help weed it down a bit."

Xander got something out of his car, handing it to him.  "Dawn found it.  It's the demon that attacked your family, John.  She's not sure how you'd summon it but that's what it is, where it came from, and all that."  That got a small smile and a nod.  "Not a payment or a bribe, but Connor's got demonic moles attacking UCLA in three days.  We've got one of *our* battles here in just about nine months."

"I can probably take that long.  What about the surrounding areas?"

"FUBAR as that Riley guy I kicked the ass of put it," Connor told him.  John shuddered.  "The Sunnydale hellmouth is still active and it radiates into LA."

"It's not fully active," Xander corrected.  "Or else we'd have begging demons near me already.  It's that all the irradiated dirt and things are still up there.  The hellmouth was leaking for over three hundred years, and the implosion let out even more."

"So it spiked and now it's slowly lowering the levels of radiation," Gunn finished.  "So in a few generations it'll be nothing?"

"If it doesn't reopen," Xander agreed.  "If it does?  Well, there's been that prophecy that the West Coast would fall off the US."  All three men groaned so he grinned.  "Fred came to me last night about that problem.  She knew you were going to have problems, Connor, and she knows a math and science geek set at a local school who can figure this out, even if you do have to convince them that evil, magic, and all that stuff is real.  Though you probably won't have to convince the physics guy that much."  He grinned, handing over an address.  "From the Messenger who's not allowed to come see her former friend and snuggly one."

He looked at it then smirked.  "That could help?"

"That could help and he could also help the group in Cleveland figure out if we're going to have spikes from either one of them, or all of them, anytime soon."

"I'll go scout the guy out," John offered.  "How geek?  Worse than Sam?"

Xander snickered.  "Like hit college at fourteen.  Nobel bound and works with someone in the FBI."

"Oh, massive brains.  Okay."  Connor smirked at him.  "What?  My son wanted to go to law school before the family curse hit him."

"Sorry about that," Connor said.

John shrugged.  "It gives us a reason to hunt."

"I was born," Connor said simply.  He looked at Xander.  "They're so pissed at you."

"Yay me.  I can fly to DC.  The Powers can fuck themselves for a change.  My ass is sore and I'm tired of them coming to this well for their needs."

"I'd hate it too," Gunn said, giving him a pat on the arm.  "Anything else going on?"

"I get to do magic during this thing," Xander said with a bright, happy grin.

"Shit, we're all going to die," Connor muttered, shaking his head.

"It'll be fine.  I'm sure he has Willow looking over his shoulder," Gunn said, giving Xander a look.  "Right?"

"Dawn."

"Nearly as good.  She was trained by Tara and kept her ways," he decided.

Xander beamed at him.  "The first time she met Dean she called him uptight and told him to go suck cock at a gay bar to fix it."  Gunn and Connor both burst out in giggles, Gunn having to lean on the car so he wouldn't fall down.

"I love Dawn," Connor said, shaking his head. "There's a woman I could marry someday if I ever got around to figuring out girls."

"Don't count on that ever happening," John told him.  "I never did.  No man I know has."

"Actually, they're not a bad match," Xander told him with a fond grin.  "They're a lot alike underneath and it'd give her someone to fuss over.  Then again she'd probably never stay with someone hunting full time.  She's seen the soul sucking it can cause in her sister and all of us."  He looked at Connor.  "Just don't ask Buffy's permission, okay?  Dawn had to do the rite and Buffy is not pleased, still.  It's been a few months and Buffy's not pleased, still."

Connor nodded.  "I'll see if she wants to chat later.  Thanks, man.  Head."

Xander looked at his watch.  "I only have four days to make it to DC.  I can fly, Connor."

"If you do you'll have problems getting out of DC," Gunn pointed out.

"That's what rental cars are for," Xander said dryly.  "Then I'm going to hit Cleveland, then head back here.  We get two months off after the DC battle for the new guy to train.  Dean's decided I'm stupid and helpless so I'm going to finish wallowing in my memories for a few days."  He looked at Connor.  "I'll warn you if I get local again."  That got a nod.  "Thanks."  He looked at John.  "It's a lot of vamps, a former law firm that worked for all demons and used to manipulate the world, and this is still an immigration point.  Oh, Lorne is *nice* even if he does make you sing for him.  Don't smite him."  He looked at them.  "Heading now. Call me if you need help, guys.  I'll have downtime."  He got into his car and drove off, leaving them together.

John looked at them.  "You guys are about the same age my sons are,"

Connor shrugged. "My parents were both vampires, dude.  I'm not your kid.  I'll respect you as a fellow hunter if you want, as long as you don't do the touchy-feely crap."

"Forgive him, he was stolen and raised on a hell dimension," Gunn told him.  He grinned.  "Need me?"

"Yeah, probably could.  If you're better?"

"Getting there," he admitted, smiling a bit.  "Catch a ride with someone?"

"I walked," Connor said.  "It did me good."  They piled into the truck and took John back to where Connor was lairing now.  It was a good thing Xander had done, even if it was against orders.

***

Xander got off the plane and looked up at the nearest window, smiling.  "Pretty night," he told the person staring at him.  He looked at the guard.  "Problems?"

"No, sir.  Wondering why you stopped."

"I don't often get to appreciate things these days.  At least not the simple ones."  He walked off, going to get his bag.  Then the rental car desk.  It wasn't that hard to get a car for the week.  He drove out of the airport an hour later, finding his cellphone in his bag.  "Hey, it's me.  Where am I hitting to stay?"  He listened to Sam rant.  "Sam, was it active?  Then there's not a problem.  No, I had to introduce your dad to Connor out in LA so he'd have some help," he said.  It got very quiet on that end.  "Okay?"  He hung up and decided to find his own rathole motel.  He knew where they'd need to be - the Washington monument.  He found a cheap place after pulling next to a cabbie to ask.  Checking in was easily done with the excuse he was a tourist.  Then he sat down to check his gun and sword over while he watched tv.  It was still a pretty night.  Calm.  Quiet.  The demon was just now raising.  He went to get a map from the desk, though he ended up at a convenience store for it, dinner, and sodas.  They had no idea where the demon was coming up, just that it was going to be up now that both of them were in the city.  Looked like he'd be scouting tomorrow and hunting the next night.

***

Sam hung up.  "Xander's in."

"Where?"

"He hung up after saying he introduced Dad to someone named Connor out in LA because they're down on hunters at the moment."  Dean gave him an odd look.  "He did."

"Is he coming here?"

"No, I froze when he said that.  My brain locked up."  He shrugged.  "I'm sure we'll be able to find him.  He's got to be nearby."

"Probably," Dean agreed.  "Or we'll meet him when we start scouting the monument tomorrow."

Sam nodded.  "That too probably."  He shifted on his bed.  "Are you all right?"

"Why is Dad in LA?"  He called him.  "What are you doing?"  He listened to him complain about Connor's training on a demon dimension.  "So teach him hand-to-hand, Dad."  He shook his head.  "Whatever.  Demonic moles?"  He snickered.  "Well, better than us."  He listened.  "Want Sam to come talk to the eggheads?  He can probably babble in their language."  He looked at Sam.  "Fred told Connor to talk to a set of eggheads out there about the hellmouth energy issue."

"It might help."

Dean listened.  "Yeah, we're here.  Xander called to say he's in too."  He listened.  "So his car's with you guys out there.  That means he's in a rental.  Okay.  Any idea where he was for the other two days?"  He shook his head.  "Charming.  Okay.  We'll find him tomorrow.  No, he called to say he was in.  Be safe, Dad.  LA is dangerous for more reasons than the demons."  He hung up.  "Dad's not amused.  Connor's a good hunter.  Just not fully trained."

"Dad can fix that.  It'll make him not nag about heirs in a few years," Sam said grimly.

Dean looked at him.  "Nanny Grimsley wanted to know if Jess had been pregnant."

"No," he said, shaking his head.  "There's no way."  He laid down.  "Any good news from out there?"

"They stopped the moles.  Connor's a chosen warrior as well, and the son of two vampires."  Sam sat up, staring at him for that one.  "He's got a vamp's skills but he's still living.  Dad said it's strange and he's having to adapt some thinking but he'll deal with it.  Oh, and their friend Lorne showed up.  He's a demon who runs a karaoke bar.  Tried to make Dad sing so he could see his future."

"Dad would hate that."

"Dad did, and said he nearly punched him but Dawn showed up and nagged him into humming.  It was enough and Lorne said he wasn't going to die this year."

"Good to know," Sam said.  He laid back down, smiling a bit.  The other circle's insanity was spreading to them.  That was the only answer he had for his father dealing with a karaoke singing demon.  "Want to go to the monument first thing?"

"Yeah, we should," he agreed.  He laid down too.  He didn't want to think about his dad singing karaoke.  It was too strange for his brain to handle without cracking.  "Think we should try to call Xander back?"

"We'll talk in person.  That way he can't hang up on us.  You can apologize and everything."

"I'm sure he got the voicemail."

"Fine."  He flipped onto his side and turned out the lights so they could sleep.

Dean stared at the ceiling for a bit.  This was still too strange for him.  He'd have to beat up on Xander for a bit tomorrow to make sure they were okay again.

***

Xander smiled as he passed some tourists at the monument, taking pictures of the surrounding areas first.  He knew, about, where the sword should be.  He looked up at the giant obelisk and sighed.  "You know they had to know about the occult to put that up," he muttered.

"There are rumors that state the Founding Fathers were in the Masons, who are founded on such principals," an older male voice said from behind him.

Xander turned to look at him.  "I heard that.  Saw the movie last year too."  The older man laughed.  "Xander."

"Donald."  He shook his hand.  "Your first trip?"

"Yup.  I'm a West Coast boy."  He grinned, taking a picture of him.  "There, now I've seen scenic and important things."  Donald laughed.  "Historian?  I work with a few."

"No, lad.  An ME actually.  We're going to be clearing the area here in a moment and for some reason I thought you might need a better incentive than someone barking at you."

"Well, it's always nice, but I don't usually ignore every order I'm given."  The older man laughed at that, walking him off.  He saw the scene tape and sighed.  "Poor guy."

"In this case it's poor lady and yes," he sighed.  "A tragic waste of life."  He smiled.  "Now shoo and come back in a few hours."

"Can we look at the other side and the other monuments?"

"Do go ahead, just stay out of this area, lad."

"Thanks, Donald.  I wish you had a better job to do."  He walked off, going to look at the other nearby monuments.  Something on that scene was making his skin crawl.  Definitely demonic.  He was  pounced and instinctively threw the person on the ground, getting ready to stomp on them.  "Sam!"

"Sorry," he laughed.

Dean hauled him up.  "Morning, dumbass."

"Gee, you say the sweetest things.  I can't think *why* I'm not going with Dawn's plan."

Dean smirked.  "It's hard to resist, I know."  He nodded.  "What's going on?"

"Dead lady in Navy whites," Xander said, looking at him.  "Right where the sword should be."  Dean moaned.  Sam too.  "But I did meet a very nice ME who said that the Founding Fathers might've been into the occult."

"Interesting, and many rumors of that," Sam agreed.  "How long?"

"Few hours probably.  We can go anywhere but there."  They nodded, going that way.  "Dean, is your hand cramping?"

"Yeah," he said, flexing his sword hand.  "It's close, isn't it?"

"I think so."  They both looked up at the monument, then sighed when they saw someone coming their way.  "Do we need to move farther away?"

"No," the older man said.  "You two were staring in our direction?"

"They asked what was going on," Xander said honestly.  The other man stared at him.  He grinned.  "I'm here researching stuff, Officer."

"Agent."

"Oh, sorry."  Xander grinned again.  "We won't get in the way.  We're here doing some research shots for some people we work with now and then."

"Who?"

"The Watcher's Council," Sam said.  The man went pale.  "He's actually a Watcher."

"Xander Harris," he said, shaking his hand.

"Is that your thing?" he demanded calmly.

Xander shrugged.  "Not like I have a clue.  I got in last night, Agent..."

"Gibbs.  Why are you *here* *today*, Mr. Harris."

Xander sighed, looking at Dean, who shrugged.  The guy obviously had a clue.  He looked at him again.  "Mystical weapon retrieval and if that isn't our sort of thing, then there's going to be others that are.  We're here to stop it," he said.  "It's supposedly going to take about a week."

"How many bodies?"

"One," Xander said.  "And I have no idea how I know that before you ask."  He looked over then at him again.  "Is it our sort of thing?"

"Slit repeatedly."

"Parallel marks, like claws?"

"Probably."

"Want us to look?" Sam offered.  "Technically we need to find something over there anyway."  Dean gave him a look.  "Or we can sneak back later."

"Who're you two again?"

"They're the usual sort of hunters.  We're working together on this matter and a few others," Xander said calmly, stepping closer.  "I can look at it and see if it was claws and any sort of slime that can be sent to Cleveland to be run for you," he offered quietly.

"Cleveland?"

"The London branch got blown up.  You didn't hear about that?  Happened a few years ago.  We had to reform."

"Shame all the assholes died," he said bluntly.

Xander grinned.  "They hated me anyway, Agent Gibbs.  Most of the new Council isn't like the old one."

"Fine.  One look.  You two stay out of my crime scene."  He walked them over.  "Stop here."  They paused and Xander handed Dean his camera, heading under the tape to get a look.  "What are those?"

Xander frowned, looking at it.  "That's something of ours all right, but not what I was expecting.  Hey, Dean, get my blue vial ... never mind, car's in LA.  Holy water?"  It was tossed over by Sam.  "Thanks."  He picked up a bit of hair from nearby and used it to scoop up something, pouring the water over it.  It fizzled.  He looked at him.  "You have a werewolf," he said quietly.  "One who's learned enough control to not turn on the full moon.  It's not that rare, there's a temple in Tibet that teaches it.  I've got a friend over there now."  He looked at the body.  "She put up a hell of a fight.  The thing's injured."  He looked around, blinking at something.  "Come on."  He pulled him with him, Sam and Dean following.  The two other guys working the scene did too.  Around some bushes and off to the side Xander slowed, pointing at the tracks.  "Injured," he said quietly.  He snuck closer, looking inside the branches.  The body was laying in there.  Xander felt for a pulse then nodded.  "Broken neck but still living.  She tried damn hard, Agent Gibbs."  The body moaned.  "Don't move, kid.  You've got a vertebrae fracture."  The boy blinked at him.  "Watcher's Council.  Wanna tell me why you attacked her?"

"She cheated on me," he whispered.  "She took our cub and she cheated on me."

Gibbs looked at him.  "Okay, we'll get to the bottom of this.  Thank you for your help, Mr. Harris."

Xander stood up.  "He can control it except under extreme stress, Agent Gibbs," he said firmly.

"I got that point, kid."  He stared at him.  "I'm not going to have him shot with silver."  The werewolf moaned.  "I am going to get him to a hospital and take his statement then treat him like I would anyone else who killed someone, even if he couldn't help it.  That's not for me to decide."

"The system's yanked, we all know that."

"I know."  He stared at him.  "Do I know you?"

"Did you have to help clean up the Initiative crap?"  He nodded.  "I helped bring them down."

"Good.  Thank you.  Can we work?"

"As long as he's not going to be executed out of hand."

"Your kind are more like that than we are," Gibbs told him.

Xander gave him a look.  "Not anymore we're not."  He looked at the other two, confused looking, men.  "Hi.  Watcher's Council."

"Fuck," one muttered, walking off.  "I'll get the paramedics, boss."

"Thanks, McGee."  He looked at the other guy then at Harris again.  "Now, why are you really here?"

Sam coughed.  "Huge demon rising starting last night.  The weapon to fight him is somewhere in or around the monument."

Gibbs moaned.  "Why me?" he muttered.

Xander grinned.  "Its on the spot where the sun hits at tea time according to the prophecy."

"Has it been right so far?" the other guy demanded.

"Yeah, right on.  We've fought a few other things in it already.  The spot glows silver when the tea time bell dings and then the third warrior will be called and summoned."

"Four over here or over there?" Sam asked.  "I wasn't sure, Xander."

Xander shrugged.  "He didn't say.  We can sit here during both times."  He looked at Gibbs.  "We don't want to get in your way."

"Thank you.  I'll make sure you're guarded quietly."

"Thanks.  Though if the demon comes up, I want whoever to run like hell."  That got a nod.  "Thank you."  He walked off, letting Sam do the math about when it would hit.  Dean could reach in and get the weapon at that time.

"The east coast is minus five hours from Greenwich Mean Time," Sam said.  "So four there is ... eleven here."  They all checked their watches.  An hour and a few minutes. "There wasn't a specific date, right?"

"No, just when the demon was risen.  As long as it's risen it's good," Xander told him.  "Dean, you get the weapon and anything else."  That got a nod.  "Good."  He clapped his hands.  "Which side is the sun on?" he asked, looking up.  Right in the crime scene.  "Joy."

Dean watched where the sun was.  "We'll need a ladder."

Xander nodded.  "Good point."   Gibbs muttered something but got them one.  When eleven came around it wasn't perfectly placed but it was able to be moved quickly enough when the silver glow started.  Dean climbed up while Xander steadied it.  Dean reached in and yelped, bringing out a weapon and a book, plus a wrapped bundle.  He reached in again and had to pull his hand back out after a second before the hole closed on him.  "We good?"

"We're good," Dean said, coming down with it.  "This is my baby," he said, holding it up.

"As proven, it bit you," Xander said dryly.  He looked at the book, handing it to Sam.  Then the bundle.  "Talisman?"  He looked at Sam, holding it up.  It got snatched too.  "Okay."   They folded up the ladder with a smile and handed it back.  "Thanks, Agent Gibbs.  Ignore us if you see us running for something."

Dean paused by him.  "Xander, it's one of them."

"I know.  I don't know which."  He looked at Gibbs.  "One of your people is about to get a yank of the destiny cord, Gibbs."

"Why?"

"Prophecy said a third to back us up."

He shuddered.  "Not me?"

Dean pulled out the gun and let it change, handing it to him.  Gibbs grimaced and handed it back.  "No, not you."

"Did that gun...." one of the guys said.  He stomped over there.  "What is going on?"

"Strange crap," Xander said.  "A perfect summary."  Dean handed him the sword when he scowled.

"It's not that bad of a sword."  McGee came over to look at it, taking it to look at closer.  "So, strange crap?"

"Great, we have a choice," Xander said, looking at Dean.  Who nodded.  He looked at them then at Gibbs.  "Tonight?"

"We can talk tonight.  Give them back the sword, McGee."  It was handed back and changed back into a gun.  He looked at Xander.  "Don't have one?"  He pulled out his pocket knife and let it expand.  Gibbs groaned.  "More practical than a gun."

"I had to fly, they drove."  The agents walked off.  "Pick a spot."

"I'll meet you at six at the Mall, in front of the aerospace museum," Gibbs ordered.

"Yes, sir," Xander said, walking off with the other two.  "Okay, Sam, what's with the book?"

"It's on the demon."

"Good!  A big help," Dean said.  "The doohickey?"

"Lights up when it's nearby."  They all looked at it, non lit up.  "Are you sure, Xander?"

Xander looked at him and nodded.  "Half the agents in the world knew the old Council, Sam.  It got a lot less questions asked now and then.  Though some of them do hate us.  A lot."  He grinned.  "Fortunately we're the *new* council and not the old one."  He headed to his rental car.  "I'm heading for lunch.  Dean, need to practice?"

"I should."  He looked at the thing in his hand.  He had shrunk it down to a pocket knife too.  "Xander, camera," he said, tossing it to him.  He barely caught it.  "Sorry."

"Not an issue.  It's Willow's."  He grinned as he slid into his car, heading off to get something to eat.

"That's not a bad idea," Dean said.

"We'll get something so you can practice in the room," Sam agreed.  They headed off so Sam could read the new book and Dean could practice with his weapon.

***

Xander looked at the guy with Agent Gibbs.  "Boyfriend?" he asked.

"FBI, Mr. Harris."

Xander grinned.  "I've seen a few of your people over the years."

"The old Council blew up."

"And was reformed under Rupert in Cleveland."

"Crap," he muttered, typing that into his phone.

"Some of your guys and Homeland's guys have already come up to bother us."  He sat down, handing over the few pages from his copy of the prophecy.  "This is the current problem for here.  We're on a two-to-three year problem binge at the moment."

"I looked up the other two by license plate," Gibbs said.  "You know one's...."

"Identity was stolen and used?  Yeah.  He warned me when we heard the third warrior was a cop of some sort."

"Oh."  He read it over then looked at him.  "Why come so early?"

"Had to get the weapon to Dean, Gibbs.  It's his.  He's been carrying the third guy's weapon so he didn't have to hike to Texas to get it suddenly."  He leaned his elbows on the table.  "Who else freaked out?"

"Our director had a screaming fit.  She's put both my agents into protective custody."

Xander snickered.  "Well, it does say a maiden faire and a Maid of Darkness."

"His director's a redhead," Fornell told him.  "She's probably the Maid of Darkness."  He took them to look over.  "We found that body earlier."

"Figured you would," Xander agreed.  "Any idea where it headed to?"  They both shook their heads.  "If so then we might be able to jump it sooner, before that fateful battle at a very public monument with cameras."

Gibbs shook his head.  "We'd like that too."

"If we don't, the demon can join with others to end the city, and then start on other cities."

"I understand the risks, Mr. Harris," Gibbs assured him.  "We'd like it ended too."  He took the forms back.  "Which one do you think it is?"

"I don't know," Xander admitted.  "It's one of them.  Dean and I are both experienced hunters so we'll be able to train whichever one it is.  We'll protect your guy like he's family.  That's not an issue with us."

"Good to know," Fornell said.  "He's supposed to take the time off?"

"We've got breaks built in for healing time and things," Xander offered.  "After this, there's a few things I personally have to do and then I've got about two months off.  Dean's taking Sam back to their usual area and then we'll meet up for the next one."

"More battles?" Gibbs asked.

"A slayer's wedding next weekend.  Then some healing time for myself."

"Injured?" Gibbs demanded.

"Tired," Xander said bluntly.  "I've been doing this straight since tenth grade, Gibbs."

"Then you need some R&R," he agreed.  He looked at him then slumped.  "Speaking of injured."

"I know, I've got to clean it.  I didn't when I got up."  He rubbed at the fake eye.  "I teach self-defense, Gibbs.  I'm a bit bitter that the higher powers didn't want me to retire."  He stood up.  "It looks like we'll have to have it there if you can't find him for us.  Or if you're willing to let us there so we can track it?"

"You can try," Fornell offered.  "Want your cohorts to do it?"

"They've got the techie gear.  They can if you want.  Know where they are?"  Fornell nodded. "Then you're one up on me."  He shrugged, looking at Gibbs.  "Anything else you need?  Need to photocopy those to brief your people?  Go ahead."  He nodded, taking them off to copy them in the museum.  He looked at Fornell.  "Not like we asked for it.  I got stabbed with the pointy stick of destiny."

"Not bitter at all, are you?" he asked dryly.

"Nah," Xander said, shaking his head.  "Not at all.  This isn't my first call-out."  He took the papers back when Gibbs came back.  "Okay, I'm sure you can find me by now too."  He wrote down a phone number.  "That's my present one if you need me for some reason, or if they're with us and you need them."

"We can handle that," Gibbs said.  "How long?"

"It's been six months.  One of the later ones has a screwy time code.  It could be six days after the previous battle or it could be six months.  We're not sure.  Up to three years total."  That got a nod.  "I have no idea how they'd pick.  I do know they've got to be in good shape to work with you.  They'll need it for ours."

"Agreed.  Sword work is hard," Gibbs said patiently.

Xander grinned.  "It is, but it can change into other weapons."  He beamed.  "I love me some artillery."  He walked off smirking because both agents were groaning.  They were even in harmony.

Gibbs looked at Fornell.  "Briefing your boss?"  He held up his wire.  "Should've done that.  I'm off to be screamed at."  He walked to his car, heading back to the office.  He hauled Abby up with him.  "Okay, we know why the Watchers are here."  He put down the papers.  Abby took them to look over.  "It looks like there's one battle in town and then they're gone.  Probably with someone."

Abby looked at him.  "I'm not the Maid of Darkness this time."

"I noticed."  He looked at the director again.  "Our choices this time are to support them and let them do it or face something worse than terrorists.  Your choice," he finished bluntly.

"One's a wanted felon."

"No, one had his identity stolen by something and used," he said.  "I asked."  He looked at Abby.  "It's coming down to DiNozzo or McGee."

"McGee might know more," she admitted.  "Then again, Tony might've run into the council before now."  She considered it.  "You've got to be in fantastic shape for this, Gibbs.  Running, fighting battles with weapons.  Can Tony do that?"

He shrugged.  "I don't know.  I've got to tell them soon."

"They can't go," the director said.  "If they do I will fire them."

Gibbs looked at her.  "No you won't.  If you do then they can't work at peak efficiency to stop this so the world doesn't end.  Which would you rather have?"

"The world to end," she said bluntly.  "The US government does not support this action.  The president said so, Jethro."

"Yay him."  He looked at Abby.  "Go explain it to them."

"If you do so, you will be fired as well," the director promised.

Abby looked at her.  "I can probably go work for the Council at a higher rate of pay without all the little rule changes that make us hate you," she said bluntly, giving her a look.  "And still be doing good work.  Or hey, the FBI is always recruiting.  I'd have less work, a whole lab full of gremlins to help me, and be considered a Goddess over there."  She walked off, going to where Tony and McGee were being held hostage by the director.  She walked in and looked at the agents, who both glared at her.  "Don't make me set off sleeping gas."  She walked them outside to talk to them.  They were in the middle of nowhere, it was safe.  She handed them the forms.  "The problem is that one of you is going to be called," she said when they both read them.  "And the director's a bitch."

"Knew that," McGee muttered.  "I don't believe in this stuff."

"Me either," Tony said.  "Now and then I have to because it happens in front of me.  Like the werewolf this morning."  Abby gave him a look.  "He tore her up because she cheated and took their kid."

"I'm not sure which one I feel sorry for in that situation," she admitted.  She looked at Tony.  "It means you'd be on the road.  You'd be fighting with them, training with them, and using a sword, Tony."

"I can," he assured her.

"Your lungs?" she asked more gently.

He grimaced.  "Not as bad as they could be.  What about McGee?  He's not exactly the warrior stereotype."

"I can kind of use a sword," McGee admitted.  "I picked one up to play around with now and then when I was trying to write fantasy novels."  He leaned on the railing.  "How will we know?"

"The battle's in a week," Sam said as he joined them.  Tony gaped.  He smirked back.  "We're hunters, Agent DiNozzo.  Of course we can track and follow you around."  He walked up onto the porch, smiling at Abby.  "Morning."

"Morning."  She smiled and gave him a hug.  "Whichever one you get I *will* be getting constant phone calls to make sure they're all right and addresses so I can send cookies and stuff to them.  Am I clear?"

"Yes, ma'am," he said with a smile.  "It's good when you have someone to fuss over you."  He looked at them, handing over the extra sword.   "Go ahead, see if it likes you more."

Tony took it, holding it in his hand.  It felt...okay.  Not perfect.  Not great.  But it felt good enough.  He handed it over.  McGee didn't look radiant but for some reason he looked... right with it.  He looked at Sam.  "He'll be trained?"

"Whichever it is will be trained by my brother and Xander.  Dean and I were trained military style.  Xander was trained hunting with the Council's slayer."

McGee handed it back.  "How will we know?"

Sam grimaced.  "That battle should call you, Agent McGee."

"Did a background?"

"Looked you up.  Nothing further."  He looked at Abby.  "Xander said if you had to retire due to your director being half succubus and a failed one at that, to call Willow Rosenburg in Cleveland and talk to her.  She'll be up there in a few weekends for a wedding."  She nodded at that.  He looked at them again.  He knew which was his choice but it wasn't really his choice.  "Whoever it is, we'll be leaving the next day.  Xander's got to go to that same wedding.  Meet up with him or with us.  Ignore Dean's method of income generation, please."

"Theft?" Tony asked dryly.

"Pool games, the occasional credit card scam."

"Eeh.  We've seen worse," Tony admitted.  He looked at Abby, kissing her on the head.  "You should go be safe."   She nodded, heading off.  He looked at him.  "How long?"

"Another two years or so."

"Two years?" McGee demanded.

"One of the time codes is a bit strange.  It's a total of two-to-three years, McGee.  We're six months in as of tomorrow."

Tony looked at him.  "Go," he said quietly.  "This is your chance to do something great for humanity beyond amusing them.  You're probably going to be in better shape than I am for this.  Plus it likes you more."

"But... work?" he suggested.  "Computer, writing?"

"We drive," Sam said.  "I have a laptop."

"He types," Tony said, leaning against the railing.  "McGee, there's no way the boss is going to put up with you doing my job for two years.  Or someone doing  your job for two years," he admitted.  "But it's easier to send you to do it than it is me.  Remember, I still have doctor's appointments for things like my lungs."  The other agent nodded at that.  "You know I'll watch Abby and everyone for you.  We'd rather have you go than me go.   It's easier for you to travel that way.  It'd do good for your writing.  You'll get to meet all sorts of people you won't get locally.  The Council itself is ancient and has a great research library.  The training can only help you when you come back to us.  Plus it'll even help your online gaming stuff," he finished with a grin.  "You're going to be safe and write all the time of course."  He clapped him on the arm, then stared at Sam for a moment.  "Keep him safe or else, Winchester.  I can find you and we will hunt you down.  Gibbs is worse than *every* demon.  Am I clear?"  Sam nodded.  "Good.  Then give him a while to finish things at work."  He walked back inside.

Sam looked at him.  "Meet us at the battle," he said quietly.  "Xander outfits the slayers and we can help with that too."  That got a nod.  "Come see us if you have problems."  He handed over a card with a wink.  "The FBI are really nosy."  He walked off into the woods again.

McGee put the card into his pants pocket then looked at the sword.  "How do I hide you?"  It shrank down to a letter opener, earning a smile.  "That'll work."  He put it into his pocket too and went back inside.  He had plans to make.  He wasn't fully sure what to bring.  He'd never lived on the road before.  Tony slid over something and he smiled at the list of their traveling supplies.  He could build on that.  Plus take most of his money out of the bank.  He'd need funds for motel rooms when they were available.

***

Sam walked into the motel room they were sharing.  "McGee."

"He seemed a bit soft but he's got to be able to at least pass a physical endurance test," Dean said, going back to cleaning his gun.  "Xander?"

"No answer when I called.  Went right to voicemail.  It's probably turned off."  He sat down on the other bed, looking at his brother.  "Are you okay?"

"I'm worried that Xander's going to snap."

"He will."  Dean looked at him.  "It wasn't a vision, Dean.  Just a recurring dream now and then.  We'll be hunting him down in Sunnydale.  After that he'll trust us more and get more comfortable with us since we've seen him at his lowest point."

"Yay us," he muttered.  "Where is he now?"

"The same spot.  His voicemail message said that he's staying there so the feds don't get pissed when they try to look for him and can't find him."  He grinned.  "He's a nice guy."

"McGee?  He seemed like it."

"He writes." Dean gave him an odd look.  "He roleplays online."

"Geek," he muttered, but he was smiling.  "At least it's easier to yell Tim across a field than it is Xander."

"He's not replacing Xander."

"Now and then I have the feeling that I'm Xander's backup.  He's like this super warrior."

Sam leaned over to take the gun from him and put it down.  "You saved him."

"He was halfway to saving himself."

"And he was drugged, Dean.  We know we didn't get all of them.  They could've recaptured him if you and Dad hadn't shown up."

Dean nodded at that.  "Maybe."

"Later on, there's more battles for you than him. Including protecting him.  Maybe this is their way of letting you realize what a goofball he is so you're not surprised when he suddenly breaks out in issues and you have to guard him."

"He does jump in," Dean agreed thoughtfully.  "You think?"

"I know."  He grinned. "It said so."  He handed him back the gun.  "Where's the battle?"

"The monument."

"Can't be.  It said a statue."  He got into his laptop to look at it.  "Yeah, here, statue.  The demon's going to try to get something from the statue."

Dean gave him a horrified look.  "Why?"

"I don't know."

"You think it's the other one?"

"I don't remember any other statues being around there."

"Damn it," he muttered, calling Xander.  He actually got an answer.  "The battle here might not be at the same monument.  Sammy said there's a statue."  He listened to the calm voice.  "You sure?"  He nodded slowly.  "How do you know?  Oh, Dawn.  Why didn't she tell us?  I'll have him do that."  He hung up.  "She said it's in your email."

Sam groaned, nodding.  "I'll go to the library tomorrow to check it."

"Can we do the satellite uplink thingy he does?"

"It's expensive and I've got to fix some of the hardware, add on something."

"Define expensive?"

"We might be able to talk to Giles and his people, see if they can get me hooked up cheaper," he offered. "Otherwise, like my cellphone a month."

"Eeeeh," he said.  "Free wireless hotspot stuff?"

"That I can already do.  It's not available here."

"Can you find one tomorrow?"

"Sure.  Not an issue."  He smiled.  "Tim's a computer guy anyway.  He might be able to help me tinker it into working."

"Even better.  Tinkering is always cheaper."  He finished his gun and put it back together again, putting it in the holster.  "Now what?"

"Now we relax."

"It seems wrong."

"We have no idea where the demon is, Dean.  We don't know our way around the city.  We don't have any contacts nearby who can help us."

"We've made due with worse."  He called Xander again.  "What are you doing?"  He smirked.  "You couldn't suggest we could come along to the gear guy you know locally?"  He nodded.  "Sure.  We're here.  We can meet you there.  About thirty.  See you then."  He hung up.  "Xander's going to introduce us to someone locally."  They grabbed shoes and left, driving to where he was.  It wasn't a hard address to find.  The psychic advisor sign wasn't even that unusual.  Dean walked in first, smiling a bit.  "Hi, Xander told us to meet him here?"

"Xander ran after a huffy girl that didn't want to kill him."  She beamed at him.  "So you're Sam?"

"I'm Dean.  He's Sam."

Xander walked in and pointed.  "Not her.  Meredith?" he called plaintively.  A young girl came out of the back.  "Dean, Sam.  Meredith.  Play nicely.  Going to find what was wrong with that demon."  He went to deal with that.

"That's not the usual sort of introduction," Sam said dryly.

She giggled.  "I've known Xander for a little over two years now.  I've seen worse.  Especially when he was introducing his women."  She smiled at the older woman.  "They're hunters too, Grandma."  She pulled Dean with her up to her room, which was bright pink and had colorful rainbows over the ceiling.  "Yes, I know.  Grams decorated when I was eight."  She sat on her bed.  "So, what can DC's slayer do for you two?"

Sam smirked.  "Any idea where the demon is?"

"Yup, but if you go after him too soon he can kill again because he's only vulnerable that one day after that one rite.  Dawn said so."

Dean sat down, looking at her.  "How about any other problems?"

"Not too many.  The vampires don't want to turn politicians or lobbyists.  They might take their power away from them.  Now and then we get someone turned in the military.  Or a civvie."  She shrugged.  "Not much hunting really.  It's why I came home.  Gram wants me to join up when I get old enough.  I'm not sure which branch yet but she wants me out of this business."

"We're going to be working with someone from NCIS.  Maybe you can ask him questions at the wedding," Sam offered.

She beamed.  "That could help.   Oh, hold on.  NCIS, the growly ones?"  Dean nodded.  "Why?"

"The prophecy picked one of them," Dean told her.

She whimpered.  "You poor assholes."  Dean laughed at that.  "Really.  Who're you getting?"

"McGee."

"He's not bad.  A bit nice.  Gentle.  DiNozzo's a player.  I've seen him out before."

"He'd take all my women," Dean told her.  "It's better he stay here."

She giggled.  "That's one way of looking at it."  She stood up.  "You two need to hunt something else?"

"We're on the 'waiting for it to happen' treadmill," Sam told her.

"Been there, done that.  The last time I did my nails in the cemetery and totally messed up two of them."  She pointed at the door.  "Let me change.  We'll hit a few hunting clubs."  They left so she could change into something more suitable.  She came out and giggled at their horrified looks.  "Buffy picked it out."

"Go change," Dean ordered.

She glared.  "You're not a relation, Winchester."

"We don't want to be arrested either," he said bluntly.

"Hey!  Buffy said it's cute."

"How many times has she been picked up for looking like a ho?" he asked.

She stomped back inside and came out in something a bit more demure.  "Better?"

"Can you fight in that skirt?" Sam asked.  "You know, this is probably why Dad never gave us a sister, Dean."  He looked at her.  "Wear something Dawn would."

"I don't own leather pants."  Sam walked her in there and got her something better, coming back out shaking his head.

"It that bad?"

"Fashionable, thin tops, short skirts, heels.  Wedge heels.  Booty shorts."

Dean shook his head.  "Dad would've screamed and ranted if we had a sister and she dressed like that."

"Oh yeah," Sam agreed.  "I can see him trying an exorcism the first time she would've shown up wearing something like that too."

"Putting it mildly.  Wonder how he and Connor are doing in the land of pretty people."

"LA has it's own underbelly," she said as she came back out in the still cute, but pants and shirt outfit.  "I was in the hellmouth battle, boys.  Wearing booty shorts even," she said smugly.  "Hell was really warm.  My clothes didn't catch on anything."

Dean looked at her.  "Would Xander have let you out wearing that?"

"He left clothing up to Buffy unless it was totally indecent and then he yelled and ranted until we were embarrassed because he'd track us down and do it in public until we ran off to change."  She walked out with them.  "Going hunting, Grams," she called since she wasn't out front.  "Usually I go in looking like a ho so they let me into the club I hunt in."

Dean looked at her.  "You're not that young.  You can get in normally now."  He let her into the car and walked around to drive.  Sam got into the passenger's seat and they headed off at her directions.  The club was dark, smoky, dank, and stunk, but it was full of vampires feeding on the depressed lower classes of DC.  They were even nice enough to help her take out the drug dealing gang of vampires.  One less menace in the city.

***

Xander looked at the demon coming into the monument, frowning.  "Putz," he called, stepping into the light.  "Morning, Sunshine."

"Who're you?" he sneered.

"Harris.  Sunnydale's Harris."  He looked up then muttered the spell he had learned the night before.  The cameras all blinked out but one and that one he threw a rock at so it went out.  It didn't have a microphone so they were clear.  "Come on, you wanna try it?"

The demon sneered.  "No.  You're nothing.  Everyone says so."

"Everyone doesn't know me.  Yet."  Dean and Sam stomped in.  Meredith was behind them.  "Merry, back.  Do anything extra with Sam."  She nodded, pulling Sam back.  "C'mon."  He waved him on.

"No third?"

"No, I'm here," McGee said, coming in the other entrance.  He took the place Xander pointed at.  "Come on."  The demon sneered at him.  "I've seen worse.  Usually on the pitiful spousal abusers."  The demon lunged at him.  Fortunately he had been spending some time with some SCA friends who could use a sword.  Dean lunged to get the thing's back while Xander started the chant to banish the stupid thing.  "How long do these last?" he panted.

"We've had one that lasted over an hour and one that lasted twenty minutes, Tim.  Get used to it," Dean offered, barely out of breath.  "Training cures that.  Xander, spell!" he shouted.  Xander chanted louder, dodging in to take over McGee's slack.  The demon faded long before he was done.  "What went wrong?" Dean demanded.

Sam coughed and pointed.  "Guys,  how do you fight a statue?"  The statue was blinking down at them.

"Exorcize it," Dean said.  "Sam!"  He went to do that while they protected him and fought off the statue's hands.  Meredith was handling the demons coming in with someone else who rushed up.  Dean glanced back but kept at it.  Sam finished his exorcism and the statue howled, grabbing its head.

"Please don't make it stick that way," Xander muttered, tossing something on it.  He could see the fit if the statue stuck in that position.  They would be filleted and served to Gibbs' people.  The statue went limp and the demon came out.  Xander picked up his spell at the beginning, shouting it this time.  The demon reformed and they went back to it.  Tim was off to his right and slightly behind him, it was a safer spot for him to be.  He finished his chant.  The demon paused.  Then giggled.  Xander groaned, going back over it.  He had a last line to do.  He did it and the demon screamed.  They got it contained and the coin fell out as it shrank.

"Hey, no goo this time," Sam said, snatching it to put onto his necklace.  He looked at Xander.  "We're going over the spell stuff, Xander."

"That's what I've been doing!" he complained.  He looked over when Meredith shrieked, going to help her.  The vamps and demons were massing and it was not a happy moment.  Dean jumped in with Sam on his other side.  McGee, well, he guarded the demon.  It was safer.  He could watch and see what they were doing.  One made it past them to try to free it but he stabbed it.  Meredith fell so McGee rushed in to drag her out of the way.  He could call for help for her.  The three hunters took out the demons with Gibbs on the other side with Tony.  He looked over at the last few dying ones.  "She needs a hospital."

"Call her an ambulance," Xander snapped.  He did that.  He looked at Tony, waving.  "Hi again."

"Hi.  You guys okay?"

"We're fine."  Dean took a deep breath.  "Any more?"

"Not  yet," Gibbs admitted.  "You guys rush off into the sunset.  Before someone else gets here."  They nodded, heading for their cars.  "McGee!" he snapped. "Go with them."

"I'm meeting them this weekend, boss."  The ambulance and park service guys rolled up, with Homeland Security behind them.  "She's been trampled and beaten," he told the paramedics.  They nodded, taking her off immediately.  He grabbed the demon and stood up, coming over to hand it to his boss.  "I have no idea what I'm supposed to do with that, boss," he said quietly.  He shrank his sword and put it away before anyone noticed it.

"I'll have it hidden," he promised, taking it.  "DiNozzo, hold that."  He took it to hold and guard.  He looked at him.  "Go.  Come back when you're done.  Be safe."

McGee nodded.  "I will, boss.  How did you know?"

"The slayer a few years back saved me in the Gulf," he said quietly.  McGee nodded at that.  "Trust them to train you.  Write Abby often so she doesn't complain."  He nodded, hurrying off to head to Cleveland.  At least Xander would be heading there.  Gibbs watched the agents stomping over.  "Don't ask us.  We just got here when we heard McGee call.  We were having dinner."

The bottle rocked in Tony's hands so he growled something at it.  It quit.  He looked at his boss.  "Yes, my mother did those things.  Freaked me out usually."  He walked off, heading back to the car.

Gibbs followed.  "Have a good clean-up, guys."

"Who were they?" one of the agents yelled, chasing after him.  He tried to grab him but Gibbs glared and he quit.  "Who were they?"

"The people who handle these things."

"The Watchers Council was destroyed."

"And reformed," Tony called.  "You guys go interfere with them often enough.  Don't you talk to your own people?"  He slid into the passenger's seat.  Gibbs smirked as he walked over to join him in the car.  "Assholes," Tony said once the door was closed with Gibbs in the driver's seat.  "I was never that bad.  Was I?"

"Not usually.  Now and then  you pull up an inner princess, DiNozzo."  He drove them off.   Let someone else do the paperwork this time.  It was his night off-call.  Besides, they had to bury the demon somewhere no one would look.

***

Tim knocked on the door of a school he had found out was the Watchers Council.  "Hi, Tim McGee here to see Xander."

"He's not here."

"I'm one of the ones hunting with him.  He said he would be."

"Oh, sorry.  We all looked up Dean and Sam, who's a hotty, but we weren't sure who you'd be.  Come on in.  Ignore the chaos.  It's a wedding this weekend."  She shut the door and walked him up to Xander's office.  "Visitor," she called before knocking.  She walked off.  "Kitchen's at the bottom of the back stairs."

"Thank you, miss."  He tapped then walked in.  "Hi."

"Hi."  He grinned.  "Welcome to my former insanity.  My future one is somewhere in Kansas by now probably."

"Kansas?"

"That's where they're from, Tim."  He stood up.  "Come on, let's show you the training area and get you a room."  He walked him out, walking him past a small redheaded girl.

"Miss Rosenburg," Tim said dryly.  "Please don't hack NCIS while I'm not there.  Abby would be very pissed and make me retaliate later."  He nodded at the older guy.  Xander was snickering quietly.

"Who is he?" Willow demanded.

"The third one in the prophecy, Willow," Xander called.  "Leave Tim alone."  He opened a door.  "The training area.  Don't worry about the gymnastics stuff, Buffy insisted."  That got a nod.  He led him to the normal room.  "We do hand-to-hand training in here."

"I'm not the best but the boss made sure I had some."

"Good.  We can up those levels."  He walked him up some stairs.  "These are the back stairs.  At the bottom is the kitchen.  Don't touch the reception food or Rebecca will have a fit and smack you around.  She may be twelve but she's a slayer on a fussing kick."  He opened a door then closed it and moved on.  The next one was empty.  "Here you go.  If someone tries to claim it later, tell them I said you could have it.  If they still argue, have them find you one.  Some of the girls are seriously stressed right now about clothes and things."

"Dean said something about clothes and Meredith."

"Sometimes she takes Buffy's clothing ideas a bit too far."  He patted him on the back.  "I'll be filing reports in my office.  Come get me once you're settled in.  We'll get to work on the hand-to-hand stuff."

McGee stopped him.  "You do know Sam's coming?"

"I'll tell Rebecca to add another bottomless pit and Dawn's date then."  He grinned and walked off, heading down to the kitchen to find the happy bride-to-be making her own appetizers.  "Mara, three more than you expected.  My current hunting partners are coming."  Dawn squealed somewhere.  "And that may be them."  She rolled her eyes, making more little nibbly things on crackers for the event.  He went to find Dawn.  "Did you get goosed?" he asked dryly.

"No, she saw my handsome face and squealed in pleasure," Dean told him.

"It could've been fear.  We couldn't tell from the kitchen."  Dawn batted at him.  "Tim's here."

"We sent him ahead," Dean agreed.  "You okay?"

Xander looked at him.  "Paperwork, Dean."

"Never mind.  That's why I don't work a desk job."

"Lawyers don't have that much, just arguments we have to write.  It's like writing research papers."  He grinned and got his own hug from Dawn.  "How've you been?"

"Good.  Come on, come meet everyone else."  She drug them off.  "Xander, Giles was serious about wanting those journal entries and reports."

"I know," he complained, going back to them once he had a new soda.  It was all the leeway he'd have.  He'd be filling out forms well past midnight.

Sam saw Tim and snagged him.  "Ladies, this is Tim, he's in the same prophecy as Xander."  They all cooed at him.  "He's a hacker too."  That got a few more interested looks.

"And he'll be gone from here like Xander will very shortly," Dean told them.

"Pity," one said.

McGee smiled at her.  "Usually I have to have dating to get more than cuddly and you're a bit young for me, miss.  My sister's older than you."  She pouted but gave him a hug anyway.

Dean looked at him.  "Really?  You might want to reconsider that."

"Don't listen to him. There's other methods of stress relief and fun on the road," Sam said, walking him on.  "Okay, someone show us around," he called.  Dawn huffed.  He grinned.  "I thought you were going to be busy."

"Hell no!  I'm not planning this wedding.  I might start having visions of my future one and get creeped out or something.  Giles wants me to marry the son of some other Watcher and I'm about to let Willow turn him into something."  The girls giggled but led them off to show them around.  They ran into Buffy.  "Buffy, these are Dean and Sam, and Tim McGee, all of whom are in the same prophecy suckage as Xander.  Who's still doing forms if Giles was looking for him to do something else as well."

"Of course he was.  There's a broken window," Buffy said.

"We can help with that," Sam told her.

She blinked at him then at Dawn.  "The Sam?"

"Yes, the Sam," she sighed.  "It's not like we're dating!"

"He's free," Dean offered.  "I get approval of anyone serious but you can have him for a few hours."

Dawn pinched him hard enough to make him yelp.  "I could never date a hunter.  You're never home."  She walked them on.  "Come on, guys.  Let's see where the broken window is."

"Third floor, attic," Buffy called.  "A bat flew into it."  She smiled and went to tell Giles all of them were there.  "Giles, all of Xander's current hunting party are here.  Sam's a hotty.  Dawnie does have good taste after all."  She strolled off.  "Oh, they offered to fix the window for Xander since he's busy doing all the paperwork you don't want to do."

"Thank you," he said, sighing a bit.  He had his own paperwork to do.  How the old council had done this much he wasn't sure.  He hadn't when he had been employed.  He got up to check on Xander, finding him staring at one, looking confused.  "For when you used your card?" he suggested.

"It's still declining."  He looked at him.  Then up.  "If the Powers want me to keep traveling, they should fund it!" he yelled.  "I didn't go bankrupt with Anya, I'm not now!"

Fred appeared.  "Not like they have a bank account or a credit card, Xander."

"They created the concept of money, they can create the concept of paying us."  He handed over that form.  "Since there's no use for it in my life."  He got back to the others.  "Journal entries were uploaded.  Hunting journal too.  Magic journal is already online so you could read over my shoulder.  Ask Dawn for the address.  Fred, wedding?"

"Oooh!" she squealed, going to find the happy bride and make sure she didn't have any messages for her.

"Some day you could have my job," Giles said blandly.

Xander looked at him.  "Considering the last chore of the trip looks like taking me out?  Probably not."  He got back to work.  "Anything else today, Giles?  If not, I''m going to be here for the next few days.  I'll try to come out for the wedding.  Let Dean run hand-to- hand for me."

"Fine," he muttered, going to find them and talk to them.  "Dean, Xander claims I've piled on too much paperwork for him to run the hand-to-hand session today.  Can you do so?  He suggested you do it.  That way you could work with Timothy and see how well he does."

"Sure, I can do that," he agreed.  "Our dad taught us the Marine way."

Giles smiled.  "That will do as well.  Most of the girls pick and choose which styles suit them best."

"Yeah but they still have to counter other ways," Sam reminded him.  The girls all pouted.  He gave them looks.  "We learned starting as kids, guys.  Come on.  Let's go practice.  That way the stuff for the wedding isn't interfered with by us nibbling.  Dawn?"

"Must I?"

"Yes," Dean said.  "You could end up drawn into one of the battles too, young lady."  He grinned at her.  "I'll use you as a demonstration model."

"I'm not a slayer."

"Witches need it too," Sam told her.  "Possibly even more than we do."  She pouted but let them all go into the training area.  He looked at the equipment.  "Xander can use this?"

"No, Buffy can use this.  They said hand-to-hand, ladies, not Buffy aerobics."  They groaned but went to that room, finding Tim already in there warming up.  "He showed you?"

"On the way upstairs," he said with a smile.   He looked at the girls.  One was clearly pregnant.  "She's practicing?"

"More than most.  She's vulnerable now," Dean told him.  "There's plenty of things that'll attack her while she's in labor."

"She's having the baby here and we'll guard her," Dawn promised.  That got a nod.  "Okay, let's pair up, ladies."  They continued to chat.  Sam whistled.  She smiled.  "Nearly as good as a gym teacher, Sam."  She patted him on the chest.  "Line the fuck up!" she shouted.  They did that, still grumbling.  "Do not make Xander upset.  We all know better."  They grumbled but got where they were supposed to be.  She looked at Dean.  "These are the hunting pairs.  That way they get used to them most often."

"That works," he agreed.  "Okay, with your partner, let's do the usual hand-to-hand."  He looked at Dawn.  "Do you get to practice?"

"Screaming and running away?  Yes, often."  She smiled.  "Buffy said so."

Sam snorted, shaking his head.  "No.  Sorry."  He attacked Dean and Dean defended, smirking and attacking back.  "Out of practice," he teased.

"Not hardly, woose boy."  He got him down but Sam flipped him over.  "Hey!"  He got them back over and smirked down at him.  "Now what you gonna do, college boy?"  Sam kneed him in the groin, making him groan.  "That was mean."

"See, we're getting up to that level," Dawn said.  They all nodded and attacked their partners.  "I'll work with you, Tim."  She attacked him and he defended.

Sam got up and pulled her off.  "I'll work with him, you work with Dean."  He attacked, showing Tim what he was supposed to be doing.

Dean went to correct some of the girls by smacking them on the head.  A few who weren't even trying he attacked and made both of them defend themselves. Then he went back to fighting with Dawn.

"They get knowledge of the skills and stuff, but Xander has to make them practice it," Dawn explained while she worked with him.

"Uh-huh."  He showed her a new move and she got him back with it.  "Better."  He looked over.  "Okay, let's move into a free-for-all fight.  Each person for themself!"  They all gave him horrified looks.

"Now!" Xander snapped from the doorway.  "I will *not* be embarrassed by your lackluster performance and I will not be burying any you of this fucking year!  Am I clear!"

"Yes, Xander," they all mumbled. A few attacked.  Then more jumped in.  Xander looked at the last few, who jumped in with sighs of complaint.

"I knew I shouldn't have left Buffy in charge," Xander complained, getting into the middle of it.

"Now see here!" Giles complained from the doorway.

"No, let 'em," Dean called.  "They need the workout and to be able to defeat the other girls if they go psycho or get possessed."  He nudged Tim, making him get in there.  "Sam, I think you can beat most of them."

"I know I can beat most of them," he muttered, diving in with Dawn behind him.

"They make an interesting hunting pair," Xander said, coming out the other side, dragging the pregnant one over to sit in a corner.

"They do.  Now all she needs is work."

"Buffy said no.  That was basically the whole phrase that explained it."

"Pity."  He nodded.  "We should show 'em how it's done."

"Yeah, but I still have paperwork."  He gave it a longing look then shrugged. "What the hell, I won't sleep tonight anyway."  He dove in with Dean behind him.  It did come down to Dean, Sam, and him in the end.  The last girl whined as she flopped down under Dawn but got Dawn tagged hard enough she couldn't breath.  "Gonna beat me if I hit Sam?"

"Probably."

Xander shrugged and knocked Sam out, tossing him on top of Dawn.  "There, she can baby him.  She needs something to fuss over."  Dean laughed and attacked him.  He defended, moving slower.

"Come on, I know I'm not a vampire, but you can do better, Xander," Dean chided.

"Yeah, sure.  But fighting faster means that you'll get hurt," he taunted.

"Bet me and I've been hurt before.  Go for it."  Xander sped up to his usual speed and Dean had to defend himself now.  He did manage to trip Xander, trying to pin him down.  Xander wiggled and got free, getting him in a headlock.  He punched his elbow backward, getting him in the ribs.  No lessening.  "Give," he said finally.  Xander let him go.  He rubbed his throat.  "Good job."  He looked at the horrified looking slayers.  "We do the job you do, and we're normal guys.  Shouldn't you be better by now?"

"If Gunn and Connor are coming up for the wedding, they might bring your father," Xander offered.

"He'd never come," Sam said.  He looked at the girls.  "Yes, you're supposed to be better than us.  That's part of the calling, ladies."

Faith clapped from the doorway.  "He's right.  Which is why none of us wanted Buffy to do these lessons with you girls.  She sucks at it."  She walked in, helping Dean up.  "Come on, show 'em how it's done."

"Sure," he agreed, attacking her.  She defended but it wasn't as good as Xander.

"But...  She's not as good as these guys are," one of the younger ones complained.

"She's out of practice," Xander said dryly, giving her a look.  She wilted.  "Hold up!" he ordered.  Faith backed off.  "Dean, no offense, but they need faster.  Vamps are faster."  He waved her on.  "C'mon."  She opened her mouth.  He popped her one on the chin.  "Now!"  She huffed and attacked him faster, like a slayer should.  "Not like you're gonna really hurt me, Faith," he taunted a few minutes later.  "You don't have a stake."  She growled and fought harder.  He had to break her back into attacking bad guys again.  He really did.  He did something very mean and spanked her once.

"Hey!  Not yours!" she shouted, taking a backswing at him.  He ducked and the fight was truly on.  She ended up winning.  Barely.  She looked down at him, panting.  "I am out of practice."

"Duh," he agreed.  "Can I breathe now?  Before I have senior year flashbacks?"  She got off with a laugh, helping him up.  "*This* is what you're supposed to look like," Xander announced.  "None of you have managed to knock me down yet.  I know some of it's my fault but not all of it.  Therefore, line up and let's go again."  They nodded, doing it.  He looked at her.  "Better?"

"I've been holding back," she admitted.

"Duh," he repeated.  He patted her on the back.  "Go angst to ice cream."  He walked around her and looked at Sam's chin.  "You okay?"

"Fine.  Thanks."  He grinned.  "Not bad."

"Hers is prior trauma.  Buffy!  Front and center!" he shouted.  She leaned in.  "Now!  Right now!  You haven't been practicing either.  Those are your fat jeans."  She growled at that.  "I don't care!  Get your ass in here, slayer."  She came in and worked with some of the younger girls.  He looked at Dean.  "Would you mind terribly?"

"Not in the least."  He jumped in to attack Buffy, making her growl at him.  "I'm nearly as good as he is in this stuff.  I have a different style."  She attacked him harder, doing her usual stuff.  That put her at a severe disadvantage to him.

McGee looked at Sam.  "Will I get there?"

"Sometime," he agreed, smiling a bit.  "Between these two knuckleheads?  Yeah."  McGee nodded, taking Dawn back to work with her.  He helped them both because they needed it.

"I don't want her fighting," Buffy complained.

"Then how will she get away from muggers?" Dean asked.  He wasn't really winded at all, she was panting.  He knocked her down and pinned her, pulling a dagger out.  "Now what're you going to do, Buffy?"

"Yell for my partner?"

"By the time someone got there, you'd be dying," he said bluntly.

Xander clapped.  "He's got a point, Buffy.  He looked around.  "Hey, Fred, can they have someone who can at least fight at Spike's level to take my place?"

"Call Gibbs," floated up the hall.

McGee looked at him.  "Unless the director pisses him off, he's still at NCIS."

"Try it anyway, tell him you're fine," Sam offered.  "Fred's the Messenger for the Powers That Be."

"Stupid," Dawn finished.  "Heartless also fits."  Someone came in.  "Connor!"  She squealed and went to pounce him.   "Come help us.  We're miserable with Xander gone.  Six months and Buffy's in her fat clothes and the other girls are miserable with their training.  Buffy's been doing it."

"I'm retaining water!" Buffy defended.

"And Ben and Jerry's," Connor said, looking her over.  "You don't look like a tired crack ho anymore.  You did the last time I saw you," he offered, grinning a bit.  He looked at the two brothers.  "Guys, your father is an annoying prick."  They laughed and nodded.  "Could've warned us.  Gunn let his boys take him down the other day.  They beat his ass and took him to a titty bar for some reason."

"Stress relief," Xander said.  Connor gave him a confused look.  "A titty bar is a strip club, Connor.  Where you go see naked women."

"I'm not even used to clothed women.  Why would I want to go there?"

"Poor thing," Dawn cooed.  He smacked her on the head.  "Hey!  No messing with the hair!"

"Cordelia said that to me once," he said, shaking his head quickly.  Xander snickered, leaning on Sam's shoulder.  "She did."

"I'm sure she did.  Come on, we're trying to get them back on track since we only have Xander for the wedding."

"Sure, I can help.  I haven't had major practice since our last Grenisth demon."

"Don't they have five arms and are about eight feet tall?" one girl asked.  Connor beamed and nodded.  "Did you stab it?"

"Ripped it apart with my bare hands."  They all sulked and pouted at him.  "You're slayers?" he asked.  He looked at Buffy, who huffed off.  "For some reason I can hear John throwing a fit in the back of my head.  It sounds a lot like the one I got the other day for trying to sleep in."

"Us too," Sam said.  "Very loudly.  And the next morning we'd be starting over with four am PT."  The girls whimpered.  He smiled.  "Not if you had patrol the night before of course.  Then you could wait until eight."

"Maybe nine if he was being generous and you got in after three," Dean agreed.  They all groaned and got back to work.  "Better," he said a few minutes later.  Sam was working with Dawn and McGee again.  Connor was helping some of the older girls.  Dean and Xander shared a look.  "Not your fault."

"I know.  I tried.  I tried really hard."  He went back to his office and his soda.  One he needed, the other he was still trying very hard not to burn.  Dawn came in and took the lighter from him, making him pout. "Fine!" he called after her.

Dawn handed Giles the lighter.  "Don't make Xander do your paperwork.  It's cruel and we can't enjoy him."  He sighed and went to see what he had left to do.  He hated paperwork as much as the boy did.  "Night off to celebrate tonight if the hunters clear you!" she announced.  Suddenly the girls did a lot better.  It was nearly miraculous.

***

Dean leaned against his car's hood, watching Xander come out of the school.  "So, where you heading after this?"

"Back to LA.  I wanted to go see some stuff in Sunnydale."  He grimaced.  "Then I'll hit the next spot."

"You sure?" Dean asked.  "You're already pretty wound up.  That could hurt more."

"I have to, Dean.  I have to cut some old ties before I can move on," he said quietly.  That got a nod.  "You guys are more than welcome to come out to Sunnydale with me."

"No thanks," he said, shuddering.  "Even the pictures of the hole in the ground is too much."  He nodded.  "Give you a ride to the club?"

"Are we heading with the girls?"

"They don't get chaperones?"

"Buffy's the mistress of hunting in the clubs.  She's the chaperone."

"For that many girls?"

"Most of the older ones *do* have sense," he said, giving him a look.  "Besides, I don't feel like babysitting."

"That's fine, we'll go wherever you want.  Probably pretty girls.  Unless you're taking Dawn's advice?"

"You're not bent over, so I can't be," he said dryly.  Dean laughed.  They got in together, Sam in the back seat.  "We're taking the bright one?"

"Dawn threatened to join us later too," Sam told him.  "McGee's curled up with his laptop and a good book."  That got a nod and Dean drove them down the driveway.

"We're going to a little bar called the Road Map.  It's on the west end."  Dean nodded, heading that way.  "Go over a street.  This one gets congested in about a block when it merges."  Dean did that and they headed off.  He looked back at Sam. "It's a bit rough.  We can drop you off."

"No, I'll be fine," Sam promised patiently.  "I've been plenty of rough places, Xander."

"Okay."  He gave quiet directions the rest of the way there, making Dean gape at the outside of the bar.  He grinned.  "Relax.  It's a nice enough place as long as you don't piss someone off."  He walked them inside, paying cover.  The bartender smiled at him, handing him a drink as he walked past.  "Thanks!  These are my friends, Dean and Sam."  Sam waved.  Xander went onto the dance floor to tease and play with the people out there.

Dean and Sam got a table, Dean flirting with the waitress and a few nearby girls.  Sam gave him a shove so he went to play too.  Sam smiled at one of the girls he had been flirting with.  "He could use some fun."  She went to pounce Dean and make him have some fun.  Sam sipped his beer, comfortable here in this bar.  It was calm.  Not peaceful but soothing sort of calm.  He took another drink and ended up out on the floor too, playing and laughing with a few girls.  When Dawn showed up he let her flirt with him before going off to find someone else.  Faith showed up later too but she kept to herself in a corner, even if he did offer to dance with her.  He went back to his playing, feeling a lot better for the night off.  He watched a slightly tipsy Dean tease a slightly tipsy Dawn and gave her a nudge, making her pounce him.  Then he went to tease Xander, making him laugh and shake his head.  "What?" he asked over the music.

"Hopefully she shows some sense and hits her apartment," he called back.  A girl got between them so they both danced with her.  She kept Sam from moving.

At the end of the night, they had to hotwire Dawn's car but that was fine.  "What sort of club was that?" Sam asked once they were on their way back to the school.

"I figure it's the dance club version of Callahan's place."  He grinned.  "I always feel better when I'm there.  I know an emotion sucking demon runs it.  I'm guessing he takes some of the worry and stress away to feed on it."  He shrugged.  "It's a great place."

"Cool."  He smiled as they got back to the school.  "Where are we staying?"

"You can have my couch if you don't have a room," Xander promised.  He parked and got them inside, taking him up to his suite.  It had girl clothes in it.  He looked around, then went to find Giles.  "You gave my room away too?"

"You weren't going to need it.  The embassy suite is open.  That's where I put the others in your group, Xander."

"I put McGee on the third floor."

"Yes, Mara nagged."  He shrugged and they went up there.  Tim was crashed.  There were two open beds.  They hit them and it was a good night, even if they did have nightmares.

***

McGee stopped Dean the next morning when he came in.  "Why do Sam and Xander have nightmares?"

"Sam?  Because his girlfriend died in front of him thanks to a demon," he said quietly.  "Xander won't share."

"Oh."

"Where are we stuffed?"

"Embassy suite."  He led him up there.  Xander was still in bed. "Sam's in the kitchen."

"It happens."  He went to shower and change, coming out to spank Xander, making him yelp and attack.  He knocked him down, staring down at him.  "Morning.  Food?"

"Fuck off," he muttered.  He climbed back into bed and pulled the cover over his head.

"Xander, you want to talk about the nightmares?" he asked loudly.

"I don't ask you about yours," he shot back.

"You could but I don't have many.  You could still talk to us.  Sam has his too."

"Yay us."

"Fine.  Be up soon or I'm letting the girls pounce."  He walked out with McGee.  This place was huge and he'd get lost soon.  "Some mornings are like that.  You learn to let him go back to sleep for an hour if possible.  Or point him at the thing attacking if not."  They walked into the kitchen.  "There's my baby sister Sammy."

"Shut up," he complained, handing him a cup of coffee.  "Xander?"

"Still in bed.  I tried," Dean said.

"You both had nightmares all night," Tim said quietly.

Sam nodded.  "Now and then I will."  He went back to his breakfast and reading.  "Giles, are you keeping track of the people who were bitten recently?  There's six in the paper."

Giles took it to look at and sighed.  "Ladies, we apparently missed a place they were hunting last night.  Let's do a patrol tonight, shall we?"

"Morgue patrol is B team by the schedule," Buffy said.  They all groaned but nodded.  "Mara, and the others in the wedding party are excluded of course."  They all nodded, getting back to eating.  "More training today, Giles?  Plenty of us have nail and hair appointments."  All the guys stared at her.  "For the wedding!  Hello, have to look pretty!"

Dawn strolled in.  "Morning, ladies.  Morgue patrol tonight is team C because team B is only one person with the wedding people out.  I'll be heading out as Watcher in charge.  Get over it now!" she announced.  That perked up the one girl but the others groaned.  She got her own coffee and came to sit with Sam and Dean.  "Morning, my bitches."

"Morning," Sam said with a grin.

Dean looked at her.  "Not a bitch, Dawn.  That's Sammy."

"I figured that out, Dean, but you're so cute when you beg me," she said, pinching his cheek.  "Wanna hit patrol tonight?  I know you and Xander haven't."

"Sure, not like we're doing anything but watching the wedding."  She nodded and dug into the buffet.

"Dawn, you're on the research council," Buffy complained.  "Let Xander."

"Xander's going again the day after the wedding," Dean told her.

She glared at him.  "He doesn't have to."

"He said he's going to Sunnydale to tie up some loose ends," McGee told her.  She slumped and stomped off.  "He's still sleeping," he called quietly.

"She should know better but she never learns," Dawn told him, taking his syrup. "Thanks, Timmy."

"Welcome, Dawn.  Has Abby called?"

"A young woman named Abby did call for Willow earlier, why?" Giles asked.

"Because she's our forensic specialist, but she had a clue when I got tapped.  The director told her if she helped me be tapped or told me anything she'd be fired," McGee said.

Giles smirked.  "We'll see what some of the oldliners say about that, shall we?"  He went to make a few calls.

"That's why people hated the old council," Sam told him.

"Yup," Dawn agreed.  "Plus they liked to handle problems the hard way now and then."

"Oh, yeah," Faith agreed.  "Didn't they try to take custody of you, D?"

"Twice.  Mom ripped Travers a new one and the second time Xander broke into his suite to have a 'shotgun to the temple' sort of talk with him.  For some reason he suddenly quit," she quipped.

"Does Xander have MPD?" Tim asked.  A few of them looked at him.  "One minute he's goofy, he's playing, he's happy and joking.  Then the next he's dangerous and deadly and ready to rip your head off."

"He's very, very protective of what's his and I'm his," Dawn told him.  "I'm the only little sister he has and about the only nice girl that's ever liked him.  He promised Mom and Buffy he'd watch out for me and he does.  Even if he does have to go scary sometimes.  As you guys go on you might get included in that.  Depends on how you treat him and if you believe the hype instead of looking deeper."  She looked at Dean, then hit him on the arm.  "For yelling at him after the battle in Utah.  Fred told me.  Jackass."

"I apologized!"

"You better have!  Do not make me break out my own scary side."

"Face masque?" Faith teased.

Dawn looked back at her.  "Want to be a poodle for the wedding?  We can dye you the wedding's colors."

"No thanks.  Maybe a german sheppard, but nothing that fluffy.  I'm not really a fluffy sort.  Ya know?" she teased.

"I think you'd make a wonderful Yorkie," Dawn teased back.  Buffy came stomping back in.  "He still sleeping?"  She went into the backyard, slamming the door.  "Guess that's a yes."  She ate a bite of breakfast.  "What did I say when I first met you?"

"I forgot in the trauma from you suggesting I go service guys at the gay club," he said, giving her a look.  Faith cackled from her corner.

"It doesn't bother me if you are, guys," Tim said, smiling a bit.  "I know plenty of very  nice gay men.  Some even single if you wanted their numbers."

Dean looked at him.  "I like women, Tim.  She's a bit demented."

"Oh.  Well, if you or Sam are, or Xander of course, then I'm fine with it."

"You'd have to ask Xander.  All we know is that he hit on a succubus in Texas and let her drain some of the hellmouth energy off him."  Everyone gave him horrified looks.

"He said it was better for him," Dean told them.

"That sounds about like his ususal dangerous tastes," Dawn agreed.  The others shuddered.

"If he dates another woman, I'll expect a call so I can fix him this time!" Willow called from somewhere.

"Sorry, we don't believe in that," Sam called back.  "We'd hate to have to beat you to death if you turned him into an iguana or something."  One slayer muttered something about 'never doing it again'.  He looked at her.  She slunk off.

"Just think the Powers want Xander to do magic during this prophecy," Dean said happily.  The girls all huffed off.  "Oh, well, more food for me."  He got seconds and went back to eating.

Sam looked down at her.  "Weren't you supposed to not warp him last night?" he asked quietly.

She cackled.  "I didn't do anything different."

"Wasn't too bad," Dean agreed.  He grinned at her.  "Less nibbling though, Dawn.  I thought you had been turned for a few minutes."  She punched him on the arm again.  "Otherwise, very good."  He kissed her on the cheek.  "Call again when you need stress relief."

She grinned.  "I'll remember that."  She heard stomping.  "Get Xander a soda, Tim?"  He did that, handing it to Xander when he stomped in.  "Morning," she said cheerfully.

Xander looked at her.  "Blow it out his ass, Dawn."  She cackled at that and he grabbed toast, heading outside.  Then he came back in and got more toast, heading in the other direction.  "Do not bother me!" he shouted as he walked.

"Someone needed laid last night," Faith joked.

Dean nodded.  "Yeah, but I didn't see anything that dangerous in the club.  Except for you."

She smiled and came over to hug him around the neck and kiss him on the cheek.  "That's the nicest compliment I've gotten recently."  She took the rest of her breakfast off.  "Last one puts up the leftovers," she called as she walked off.

Dean looked.  "There's going to be leftovers?"  He got more and dug in again.  He also added more to Sam's plate.  "To make up for the sleep you lost last night."

"Gee, thanks.  Make me have to buy all new clothes, Dean."  He dug in anyway.  That was as close as Dean got to a mother hen routine.

"I can help if you need that stuff," Dawn promised.  "I am a queen of finding sales.  I won't even let you buy the slutty pants Buffy would suggest."

Dean looked at her.  "He can have one slutty outfit.  You're the most fun he's had in over a year."  She gave him another hug then finished up and put her dishes in the dishwasher.  Dean found his phone and texted Xander to come get food if he wanted any, then waited five minutes.  Xander showed up and made a huge plate, plus a bowl, then left again.  Dean finished up the last few pieces of sausage and the last piece of toast, giving Sammy the last bite of eggs.  All the dishes went into the dishwasher and he was nice enough to turn it on.  Then they went to snoop around.  They found Xander eating in the armory.  "Dawn threatened to take Sammy shopping," he said.

"That's her stress relief, maybe she needs some."

"Told him she wouldn't even get him any slutty clothes.  I told her to go ahead, he needed more fun."

Xander smirked at him.  "Pimping out your brother is wrong, Dean.  Even if there are some women who'd pay a whole lot for his big eyes and hair."  Dean laughed, coming in to help him.  "I'm doing the inventory.  Apparently only the agents who show up now and then know what anything is."

"They don't play with the weapons?"

"Nope.  When I came back to outfit the twins after Texas, the agents had to fire the blessed rocket at the big demon.  Faith didn't know how.  Usually I hand it to them in the proper way with the sight up.  It's easier than explaining rockets, LANS, and other things to them.  Not too many of the girls are interested beyond crossbows."

"Not many girls like guns either," he pointed out.  Sam and Tim joined them.  "When are you and Dawn going shopping?"

"Later.  We're taking Tim to make sure he has the right sort of clothes.  He brought some work clothes with him."

"We have suits too, they come in handy when we're pretending to be agents," he quipped.

"Let me handle that," McGee said.  "Having you two in Gitmo would really screw with things."

"They usually believe we are," Sam offered.

Xander snickered.  "They usually think I'm a supervisor."  He grinned.  "Fornell's boss did when we had that talk."

"You're third in charge around here, of course they did," McGee agreed.  An alarm started to go off overhead.  "What's that?"

"That's we're being raided."  Xander concentrated and muttered, bringing a book.  "Damn it, not the right one."  He did it again but the door was closing.  It thumped the outside.  He sighed, looking in that book.  The other one was thumping outside but they could hear people.  He looked around, nodding McGee away from the doorway in case they were trying to listen.

"No, the book's a strange thing," Willow said, making it stop.  "Who said we had those things?"

"The Director of NCIS," the agent said patiently.  "What's in here?"

"Organizational records."  She led them off.  "We don't have artillery, guys.  I'm sorry you were misled.  The Watchers' Council are very responsible people.  If we need it for a major problem then we get it right before then.  We'd never hurt normal people; we're here to protect you guys from things you don't want to admit exist."

Fred faded in.  "John's being a stupid idiot," she said in greeting.  "I can take out the problems this weekend, don't bother the others," she mimicked.  "He's got a buttload of gang members who're demons who want Gunn out there.  Can you please have someone call?  Like Xander?  Xander knows some of them."

"If I can find Xander."  She texted that to Xander, who was probably calling quietly wherever he was.  "How's that?"

She beamed.  "Thank you."

"What are you?" the agent demanded.

She stared at him then giggled.  "Cute panties.  I'm the Messenger for the Powers That Be.  I'm the fax service of the Gods in verbal form when they have needs."  He went pale.  "Why are you bothering our people?"

"They kidnaped an agent from a federal agency."

"No, he got poked with the pointy sword of destiny due to a prophecy set of battles to keep humanity alive.  He's doing that right now.  Some of their people and some of another group of hunters are helping him.  He has to or you'll die with everyone else on this planet."

"They have artillery."

"Well, duh, how do you take out a ten foot demon?" Buffy said as she walked in with their usual agent of annoyance.  "Tell him he's stupid.  Hi, Fred."

"Buffy, he was given bad knowledge by someone," Fred chastised.  "In this case a woofing woman of a director who tried to stop Timmy from being called.  She even tried to stop people from telling Tim that he might be called."

"Which is why we're getting an Abby for the research council," Willow said cheerfully.

"Good, then it's not just Dawn," Buffy agreed.  She looked at their usual agent.  "Don't we buy weapons only when it's necessary?"

He looked at him.  "I have the feeling that the warrior who got chosen from here took it with him.  He's got two years on the road fighting bad things and only one eye.  It'd be simpler.  We're paying close enough attention to it."

"Which agency are you?" the first agent demanded.

He pulled his ID.  "Homeland Security."  That got a groan.  "We don't like the old Council, we don't like the new Council, we especially hate Harris and the Winchester brothers having to work together because they're all trouble magnets, but we'd rather live than have to deal with them.  Your director's in trouble."

"Her orders came from the president and so did ours."

Willow coughed.  "Someone really should go exorcize the demons in the white house soon and unpossess the VP as well."  Both agents gave her a horrified look.  She smiled sweetly.  "The old council used to send someone every few months.  We've been busy and he hates the neopagans among us.  Since it's us neopagans or no one else at the moment...."

The Homeland agent shuddered.  "We'll have someone check on that."   Willow dug out a card and handed it over.  "He can?"

"He knows.  I don't know if he can or not.  You'd have to ask him."

He nodded. "We'll check then.  Thank you, Miss Rosenburg."  He looked around.  "Where's Harris?  I know he and the annoying ones came up for the wedding tomorrow."

"Hiding so he doesn't hit you," Willow said with a gentle smile.  "You guys seem to think Xander's so helpless and he's not.  He kicked most of the slayers' butts yesterday during practice."

"You need better trainers anyway.  It's clear Summers isn't doing it and Harris was doing all right but leaving too much up to the girls," the Homeland agent said.

"I'd like to see someone like Gibbs do it," Fred said with a wicked grin.  "He and Tony can both work here if their director gets vindictive.  Right, Giles?"  He groaned, shaking his head.

"That was the pain in the wallet groan," Buffy told her.  She'd heard it many times.

"Gibbs would make the girls quit shopping so often and quit wearing the slutty clothes totally," Fred offered happily.  "He yelled at Meredith the last time he saw her in them."

"That alone may be worth the cost of the two new employees," Giles told her.  "Thank you, Winifred."

"Welcome."  She waved before fading out.

"Do tender that offer for us if their director is still being intentionally cruel," Giles said.  "Now, anything else you need to see or can our usual method of annoyance help you with whatever else you need to know?"

"I guess he can.  Thank you, Sir."  He walked out with the other agent, talking quietly.  A few things made him shudder, including some of the girls doing their pedicures.  These teenage girls were going to save the world?  They were doomed!

Giles looked around.  "It's safe!" he called.  The armory door opened and Xander came out to get the spell book, walking it back in there and closing the door again.  "Perhaps not."

"I think Buffy gave him a grumpy mood when she went to wake him up," Willow said.

"As she has both of us in the past," Giles said, walking out again.  "It's all right, ladies, back to work."  They groaned but went back to what they had been doing.  Still mostly goofing off.

Willow beamed.  "I'm off to make something so the boys can get their father to talk to them now and then."  She went to her practice and lab space, going to create something that would zap him whenever the boys needed him.  Connor had said that he needed to relax more often and his sons could surely help with that.

"You can tell Xander's back, people are going insane," Buffy complained, but went to work out.  She had gained a few pounds and didn't look as good in her fat clothes as her regular ones.

***

Dean finished putting in the compartment Xander had suggested for McGee's car while Xander was getting him outfitted with a rolling hunting pack.  Sam was helping so he'd have their version of supplies too.  Those two worked pretty well together.  He checked it to make sure then looked back.  "Okay, it's in."  He came over to look at the gear. "Carrying bag," he suggested.  Xander held it up.  "EMF..."  Xander tossed him one.  "We've got one.  I made it."  He handed it to McGee.  "Sammy showed you how to do EVP from a recording?"

"I already knew, Abby showed me," McGee offered.  "I've also given him some new software that could help."  Xander looked at him.  "You said you didn't want any."

"If there's electronic voices from ghosts, they can talk to me themselves.  We just have to make sure they climb out of me again."  He looked at the rest of the box.  "Okay.  He's got ten boxes of shells, packed by our local shell guy.  Dean, I tossed two more into your trunk too.  I've got another three to go home with me.  You have silver, a trial of the new wooden ones with teflon," he said, tapping that box.  "Plus a few ordinary things, like stakes, crossbow, bolts, those things."  Tim nodded.  "Anything in here you aren't sure how to use at this moment?"

"Crossbow."  Xander took it out to show him how to load it and aim.  "Okay, I can do that."  He put it back into it's foam spot.  "What's that?" he asked, pointing at a small box.

"Capturing box for spirits," Sam said.  "It can come in handy now and then.  Xander picked us all up some.  I added it to our kit, Dean."

"Sure.  I'm all for it as long as they work."

"They do," Xander promised.  "I crafted the boxes long ago and Willow did the capturing spells."  He looked in there.  "Anything else?"  McGee pointed.  "Potions and magic kit.  A backup in case I run out or lose mine."  He looked at him.  "You're not interested in that stuff, right?"  He shook his head quickly.  "Me either but the Powers said I had to so we've all got some and I've got a major kit of it in the car."

"Is that what you've been doing all those times you disappear?" Sam asked.

"Mostly," Xander agreed.  "Now and then some stress relief on the vamps."  He handed the first layer to Dean.  "That's the bottom."  He went to put it in there.  He handed Tim the second one.  "Here's the second layer."  He went to help Dean install them.  He looked at Sam.  "Do we need to get you guys anything while we're here?"

"No, we're pretty good.  Do we have extra magic stuff for you?"

"Um, not that I'm aware of."  He led him upstairs to get him a kit as well, plus a traveling book he sent with the slayers on a few very handy potions.  "Here.  Use it well."  He got another copy for Tim, going back down there.  "Here, use it well.  Sometimes it is necessary."

Dean took theirs to look through.  "That's different than our banishing potion."

"That'll work on more than one thing," Xander told him.  "It's the one we use most often around here.  There's another two in the back for reference along with what they handle."  He looked then nodded.  Theirs was in there.  "Healing potions are the blue tab, Tim.  Those come in handy as well.  Don't make us visit you in the ICU, okay?"  He nodded.  "Good boy."  He patted him on the head.  "Dean, anything need refilled?"

"We don't use much artillery," he said dryly.

Xander grinned.  "We do now and then.  Anything lower class?"

"Could use a few new stakes but I can do those some night when I'm bored."  Xander grabbed some from the barrel of them, getting a nod of thanks.  "Holy water refills?"

"The fountain where the wedding was held.  It's fully blessed every month when the priest comes in to do the armory."  They went to refill those stores with Tim carrying a few clean jugs up there.  Xander went to load his super soakers and other stuff as well.  Including a few extra mason jars.  He had to peel the 'turpentine' label off one but that was fine.

"Don't take the whole fountain," Buffy complained.

"We're heading in the morning," Dean told her.

"Damn it."  She pouted at Xander.  "What about the stuff you needed to bring back?"

"I can put it in a box in the Impala and they can hand it over in a few weeks when we meet up again."  Dean nodded that was fine.  She pouted.  "Sorry, Buffy.  I'll go make sure the old hellmouth is staying closed and stuff."  He headed back down to the car, making sure his super soakers weren't going to leak on the flight.  The hard-sided suitcase was good for that and had holders for them and most of the other things.  Not like he had more than a carry-on of clothes at the moment.  He finished packing and looked around, then thought about sneaking off.  Unfortunately Dean came into the suite.  "I'm ready to hit the airport."

"You don't fly out until seven."  He patted him on the arm.  "Want to talk?"

"No.  Being here is like misery sometimes."

Dean nodded.  "I can see that.  You hid most of the time you were here."  He looked at him.  "They do count on you."

"They don't appreciate me," Xander countered.  "You can count on a slave.  You appreciate a coworker."

"True," he admitted.  "Sneaking off?"

"I was thinking about it.  I know there's a two am flight to LA."  That got a nod so he got his gear down to the rental.  He said bye to those few he needed to then headed out.

McGee came in, looking around.  "He sneak off?"

"He needed to get away before they found more things they needed him to do," Dean said.

"I noticed that.  Is it always like that?"  Dean nodded.  "Why?"

"He's the normal guy among them," Dean said.  Sam came in.  "Like sometimes I think he's the mascot for the same reason."

Tim nodded. "I guess I get that spot now?"

"Not with us training you," Dean promised. "You'll be pulling your own weight, Timmy."

"Thanks, Dean."  He grinned.  "I should sleep if we're leaving at six."  That got a nod.  "Night, all."  He went to his bed.

Sam looked at Dean.  "Six?"

"Six.  Before the girls get up to mob us and keep you.  McGee, write your bosses a letter so they have information when they get in."

"Already did."

"Good."  He looked at his brother again.  "You okay?"

"I'm fine.  The girls are a bit creepy now and then.  A few have been flexing their muscles and things."

"They're hitting on you, Sam.  Just don't make baby slayers or else I'll have to tell Dad."   He went to his own bed, stripping down before climbing in.  "Set the alarm?"

"Yeah."  He did that and climbed in his own bed, staring at the ceiling.  "I thought we'd know more about Xander from this stop."

"We do," Dean said.  "It's out of order but we do.  We know why he has to be able to prove himself.  We know why he's so defensive about his eye.  We learned a lot."

"I guess.  You think he'll be okay in Sunnydale?"

"No but I think we'll be there in three weeks," Dean said.  "Even if we have to hunt him down and drag him out of there."

"Sure.  We'll teach Tim how to track."

Dean grinned.  "Now you're talking.  What's up for us?"

"Um, Lady in White in Missouri."

"Oh yeah."  He yawned.  "Night."

"Night."  He flipped onto his side, getting comfortable so he could sleep.

Dean smiled at the first snore.  At least his little brother was tired enough to sleep tonight.  He worried about him and his nightmares.  He let himself drift off, having some very good dreams.

***

Xander walked into the garage where his car was parked, finding John sitting blatantly on the trunk.  "Move for a sec please?  Did you get the cameras?"

"Yeah, almost an hour ago."

"Sorry, delay to get off the ground.  The air hostess was freaking out.  Her first flight."  He opened his trunk once his alarm was off, loading the things where they needed to go. "Your boys are fine, John.  They're headed out tomorrow to deal with a Lady in White."

"Where?"

"Lower Missouri."  He looked over at him then went back to loading in holy water filled things.  "The slayers were good to them.  The older girls hit on them.  Dean helped prove why it used to be one slayer, one watcher - so the girls couldn't slack off in practice.  Tim showed up and we got him kitted out and some beginning practice in.  He'll go with the boys to see how they handle their things since I'm off to Sunnydale."  He finished up and locked down the hidden compartments, then closed the trunk to look at him.  "They're fine.  We even got a night off."

"The new guy be all right?"

"He's a former agent and his boss was a marine with high standards.  He'll be fine.  He's got a bit of baby fat but that'll be taken care of soon.  He had some mild hand-to-hand training."  That got a snort.  "He used to be a computer geek, John.  Give the guy a break."  That got a stare.  "Sam even got Buffy to admit Dawn should train with the slayers.  We'll be meeting up in a few weeks.  I'll show them my lovely hole in the ground."

John stared at him.  "You're worried about something."

"Did you read the whole prophecy, John?"  He nodded.  "I'm the one that's supposedly going to flash out in powers.  Magic goes screwy around me and I've messed up so many prophecies just by being there it's not funny.  Hell, there were two slayers for a few years because I knew CPR.  It's not supposed to be that way.  I got picked for this because the Powers *loathe* me for doing things like that.  And the last act of it, that cleaning up loose ends?  That's entirely possibly my death.  So now I'm going to go wrap up some loose ends.  Because after this next fight, things speed up and I won't have time to later."  He leaned on his trunk.  "Anything else concerning you?"

"You're burned out."

"I was burned out back in tenth grade.  By the time Glory got there I was fried crispy and now I'm burned to a cinder," he said honestly.  "This isn't the first time they've sent me off hoping to let me die somewhere obscure.  They sent me to fix a slayer that was going rogue and trying to take over a country last year.  One of the ones I had trained and worked with before the last hellmouth battle.  One I babied the injuries on after the battle, all the way to Cleveland.  So they sent *me* to take her down."

"You know how she fought."

"She was like my kid sister, John.  The same as Dawn is."  That got a sympathetic look at least.  "I don't want to rant at you.  I know very well what they're trying to do.  The old Council tried it too.  They hated it when people jumped in to help their girls."  He found his keys.  "Anything else?  Dean said you could call if you weren't that stubborn."

"You shouldn't be alone."

Xander snorted.  "I've always been alone, John.  The only guy in the group.  The only normal one.  And now I get to be the only one with the super powers that're strong enough to end the world.  Go me."  He waved a hand around like it had a pom-pom.  "Anything else?"

"No.  You sure you want to head up there?  Connor said there's been some activity."

"I can fight the demons if I have to, John.  I can fight the spirits if I have to.  We'll see what I have to do.  I might not stay the full three weeks.  I don't know."  He walked around and got into his car.  "Tim's driving by himself so call the boys.  They wanted to make sure some gang lowlife didn't get you yet."

"Thanks for that," he said blandly.

Xander just grinned. "It's the guy I am, John.  Always have been."  He slid in and closed the door, turning over his engine and heading off into the early daylight.

John shook his head.  The boy was in bad shape.  He called his sons.  "Do you know how fried to a crisp that boy's soul is?" he asked in greeting.

***

"Nice to hear from you too, dad.  We're fine.  Sam didn't get in trouble at the wedding."  Sam snickered.  "But yes, we do realize that Xander's burnt out.  We knew that back in Texas.  The same as I knew he was burnt out before the last hellmouth battle."  Behind him lights came on.  "Hold on, Dad."  He pulled over and parked, shutting off the engine.  "Trust me, Dad, we do know."  The officer stomped up to the window.  He rolled it down.  "Anything else, Dad?  Because the cop who just stopped us isn't looking happy."

"We have a hands-free set law in this state, boys," he said firmly.

"Officer, we're just passing through, going home from a wedding," Sam told him.  "Our dad's a worrywart though and had to call to make sure we didn't join in too hard and pick up daughter-in-laws for him.  I promise we won't answer it again while we're driving."

The officer glared.  "Think you're cute?"

"No, he knows I'm the cute one," Dean told him.  He held out the phone.  "You yell at my dad for bad timing.  If I hadn't answered it, he'd be here later tonight with a lot of guns."

The officer snatched the phone.  "Sir, we do not allow people to talk without hands-free sets in our state.  I can fine them heavily for that.  They are a danger to the other drivers on the road."  He heard the father spluttering and hung up on him.  He tossed the phone back.  "There's sixty miles to the other side of the state.  Get there within an hour, boys."  He stomped back to his car.  They drove off, doing as ordered, even at the speed limit.

***

Later that night, Tim stepped into the boys' motel room, handing out something.  "Your father asked that I find you an appropriate one and he'll pay me back."  He grinned. "One hooks into the radio so you can hear it anywhere in the car.  The other's like headphones with a mic."  He grinned at Sam.  "What was he complaining about?"

"Xander."

"Why?  Xander's a nice guy," Tim told him.

"Dad thinks Xander's, like, twelve and doesn't have a clue," Sam told him.  "He also doesn't like the Council.  The old council was not easy to like."

"Putting it mildly," Dean complained.  He looked at both of them, claiming the radio one for himself.  "Will this work with a cassette player?"

"There's an adaptor," Tim assured him.  He nodded, grinning at that.  "Put the mic somewhere near your mouth.  Not on the floor or the seat."  He sat down.  "Did he yell about other things?"

"He thinks we should stop Xander from hitting Sunnydale," Dean said, looking over at him.  "His bad shit radar went off again.  Then again he was sitting on Xander's hood when he got into the airport."  He shrugged.  "Who knows.  We don't understand Dad most of the time."

"Okay.  Let me go get a room.  Dinner?"

"Figure it out and let us know," Sam said.  We'll eat nearly anything most of the time."  That got a nod and McGee went to do that while Sam made sure his new set worked with his phone.  "Good."

Dean looked at him then went to the car to make sure it worked.  He smiled when his father choked while answering.  "How's the sound quality?"

"Put the mic closer to your head, son."

He moved it.  "How's that?"

"Better.  Where is it?"

"Visor."  He leaned back.  "So, anything else good come of the talk in the airport?"

"What were the kid's parents like?"

"Dad, he's the same age I am," Dean complained.

"Fine.  How were they?"

"Drunk.  That's all he's said."

"Oh.  That explains some things then."   You could hear him eating.  "Any other problems?"

"No.  Not yet.  We're barely in Missouri.  We've stopped for the night.  Tim's figuring out dinner.  Sam's coming."  Sam slid into the car.  "Say hi, Sammy."

"It's Sam, Deanny."  Dean snickered.  "Hi, Dad."

"Good to know you're still fighting, son."

"You're the one who made him annoying," Sam told him.  "Anything tragic happen in LA?"

"Do you know how many ghosts they have here?"

"Yup," Dean agreed.  "That's why they've got a paranormal studies program near the city somewhere."

"Oh."  You could almost hear the grimace before he ate something.  "Anything else I should know?"

"Well, Xander is a medium.  So don't let him suck in too many," Sam told him.

"He's going to a town that had a high death rate and then exploded.  Do we think this might be a problem?" John asked dryly.

"No," the boys said together.

"It's Xander, he can handle it," Dean explained.

"If not, we can do an exorcism.  Giles told us which one worked best."  He smirked at Dean.  "Oh, Dad.  Dawn said hi and she thinks Dean's very snuggly, her words."  John choked again.

"You broke her in, I'm guessing she was looking for a better lay," Dean said smugly.  He was really choking now.  "Night, Dad."  He hung up and smirked at him.  "That was mean."

"He deserved it for trying to talk down to Xander."  He glanced at Tim.  Dean started the car to follow him.  "Do we think the warnings not to let Xander go too far away were a good thing?"

"I don't know," Dean said.  "He's facing this like a terminal cancer patient.  Making amends, doing the little details so no one else has to.  It's creeping me out.  You?"

"I'm still trying to decide if he's right or not."

"I'm not taking him out, Sam.  I don't care.  I don't do that."

"Neither of us do," Sam agreed.  "But what if he loses control and does what Willow did?"

"Then we'll tie him up and talk to him."

"Even after this is over with?"

Dean looked at him.  "It's not often we make friends.  It's not often people understand us at all.  Why we do things, any of that.  In this case, Xander does.  I'm really starting to consider him an annoying friend.  One who gets into trouble now and then like you do."

"Me?"

"You," he agreed.  They pulled into a diner and he leaned out the window.  "Tim, no.  Just no, dude.  No, not in the least.  Go up the street to the Star Burger."  Tim nodded, getting back into his car and heading up there.  "No way am I going to sit in a place with the Klan," he muttered.

"Maybe Tim thought you needed a brawl for stress relief," Sam teased.

"The boy's naive.  We'll have to broaden him sometime soon."

"Don't look at me.  You're the slut."

Dean punched him on the arm.  "Shut up, bitch."

"No, Jerk, make me."

Fred appeared in the back seat.  "Boys, if you wanted to put Tim or Xander between you that would be fine according to the Powers.  They said so. There's special rules for special people who do the special things."

"We've been seeing what they did to Xander," Dean said.  "Is he right?"

Fred sighed and slumped.  "I don't know.  I can't see that far ahead and they won't tell me.  I asked and they walked off."

"Which means he could be right?" Sam asked.  She nodded.  "Any way around that?"

She beamed.  "If there's a way around a prophecy, Xander can do it.  That's one of his many skills.  Also, yes, John has a right to worry about all the spirits in Sunnydale.  They started off with the 'you let us die' as soon as he passed the boundary of the crater."  They both groaned.

"We'll do an exorcism," Sam said.

"We'll have to find him first, huh?" Dean asked.

She nodded.  "Yup.  I've let Dawnie know you'll need the maps of what remains in Sunnydale, which Xander himself did.  There's still some of the underground stuff.  You'll have a lot of fun hunting him but do watch out for the vampires.  Swords in a small tunnel aren't good."  She leaned forward to ruffle Dean's hair.  "Rebless the weapons, dumb butt."  She disappeared.

"We can do that too," Sam agreed.  Dean snickered.  "Tonight?"

"Can we find a good place?"

"Yeah, not a problem. There's woods.  Or a state park tomorrow.  Either way."

"Sure."  They parked and got out, heading inside once the car was locked.  He swatted Tim on the head.  "I'm not eating somewhere the Klan is."

"They were Klan members?"

"You didn't see the bumper stickers?"

"No, I didn't.  I'll start paying attention to that."  They sat down at a table with menus.  "Now what?"

"Small detour tomorrow," Sam said.  "We need to hit the state park."

"Why?" he asked cautiously.

"To do the same thing we did in Texas," Dean told him.  That got a slow nod.  "Didn't you get to read it?"

"The pages that dealt with DC."

"We'll show you everything later," Sam promised with a small grin.  The waitress gave them an odd look as she walked over.  "We're RP-ing with some friends on our road trip.  He's new to the game."

"Oh, okay then."  She took their orders and went to make them come into being.  She came back.  "Want those to go, boys?"

Dean smiled.  "I'm just driving.  Tim here was MIT and Sammy was Stanford."

She smiled.  "Gotta love the geeks.  What do you do?"

"I live to serve the geek kings."

She walked off laughing, leaving them their drinks.

"You know, I could use some stuff ironed," Sam quipped with a mean smirk.

Dean looked at him.  "Irons are for sissies, but I'm sure you already knew that, Sammy."  He looked at Tim, who was giggling.  "So, state park, then heading on.  After that we get to go rescue Xander from his town, where everyone's apparently nagging him.  Then onto the next problem."

"You guys do this all the time?" Tim asked.  They nodded.  "How?"

"Determination," Sam said.

"What he said," Dean agreed.  "We have a reason to.  You do too for the next few years. Then you can go home with all sorts of stories to pick up women, Tim."  He clapped him on the back.  "Because you could use one.  You're more uptight than Sammy is."

"I don't pick up easy women that way.  I have standards that include dating and sex after the fourth date."

"Then you're going to be having a lot of fun with your hand for the next two years," Dean told him.  Tim blushed.  "Don't feel bad, so does Sam."  He shrugged.  "It's hard but I got all the charm in this family."  Sam kicked him under the table.  "Hey!  Not my fault."

"Yeah, so much charm that the women usually giggle when you hit on them.  Grow up, Dean."  He rolled his eyes.

"I've been grown up, Sam.  You've got to learn what fun is sometime.  At least Xander gets that."

The waitress came back.  "Xander?  Guy that drives a green caddy?"  They all nodded slowly.  "How do you know Xander?"

Dean grinned.  "He's part of the RP group. He's back at home for a few weeks then we're going to pick him up again."

She gave them looks, then leaned down to get into his face.  "Will we have problems with you like we did him?"

"Depends on what he did."

"He decided to take offense that a few of the local boys were picking on a teenager and stepped in.  Then he walked off humming."

"That sounds like Xander," Sam agreed.  "No, we won't step in unless the kid can't defend himself.  After all, bullies are bad," he told her simply, staring at her.  "All geeks think that."

"He clearly thought he was Superman."

"Nah, he said he wanted to be Batman when he was younger."  She walked off shaking her head again.  "Huh."

"Wonder how many more of those we'll have," Tim said.

"We should stop through that one town," Dean said.

"Not a chance, Dean."  Tim gave them a clueless look.  "The first town on the list.  They had a similar Xander experience there."

"Oh.  No, let's not.  I don't want to get my butt kicked this week."

"Fine," Dean complained.  "We'd help you learn how to defend it."

"Which is great but I'll still get hurt until then."

"Pain is a matter of reference," Dean told him.  "You don't have to pay attention to how it's shelved."  Their food came and he dug in.  So did the check so Xander must've made an impression on someone.  He looked toward the kitchen and saw the chef had on a sling.  That's probably who he had made the impression with.

***

Two weeks later Dean and Sam pulled up to the edge of the Sunnydale crater.  Dean stared.  "I didn't think it was this bad," he said quietly.  Sam just stared.  "Are you getting visions?"

"No," he said weakly.  "They said they got most everyone out of town."  Tim pulled up beside their car.  He looked over after Tim had rolled down the window.  "The center of that was the old high school where Xander went."

Tim whistled.  "That's a huge crater."  He took pictures and sent them to Gibbs.  He had been sending virtual post cards to them.  He got one back saying to be careful, they had heard bad things about that area.  "Tony said that they're still hearing bad things about here."

Dean leaned over to talk to him.  "Ya think?  On a hellmouth?"  He leaned on the steering wheel to stare at the damage.  "Where do we start looking for him?  Fred?"  No messenger appeared.  "Huh."

"We could hunt.  If he's in pain he's hiding."  Sam got out and took pictures, sending them to his father.  Connor sent back a suggestion.  "Connor said he'd be hiding by Joyce's grave and she was buried in Golden Slumbers.  Which was ..."  He pointed after checking the sun and the map.  "That way."

Dean got out, locking the car.  "Come on, Tim.  We've got to track Xander down."  He heard an insane sounding giggle.  "Xander, it's the guys, come on," he called.  Another insane giggle trailing off into the underground.  "Crap," he muttered, heading for the only open spot he could see.  He looked then slid down feet first, heading up the sewer conduit.  The walls were cracked.  The sewer's water was stank and moldy.  "I'm making him clean my shoes for this," he muttered.  He heard a splash.  "Tim, make sure Sam has what we need to exorcize him."

"I do," Sam agreed.  "He's watching the cars.  He's a bit claustrophobic apparently."  They headed back up the sewer, finding a few branches.  The EMF meter was useless.  It was off the charts everywhere.  They kept going away from the blast's center.  After about an hour Sam nudged Dean and handed over a granola bar.  "Xander, I have chocolate," he called.  He heard a sniff and they paused, looking around.  The sniffing thing came out and Dean shot it.  It wasn't Xander; it was a demon that looked like a round ball of hair.  They kept going, running into a few demons.  Dean's sword was nearly no use but they had other means.  Dean could still change it into a machete, which was more useful.  They found an inhabited area but it didn't smell like Xander.  It smelled like wet dog.  So they kept going.  Dean looked back a few times.  "I know, we're being followed."  Something giggled.  "Xander?" he called.

"The Knight can't save you," a female voice called from out of the dark.

"Yes he can," another male voice said.

"No, he can't," a female voice said sharply.  "Now shut up, I'm trying to think."

Dean headed that way, finding it was Xander.  A very possessed Xander by the look on his face.  "Hey," he said calmly.  "Come on, let's go topside.  Please?"  Xander broke free and took off running.  They chased, finding him trying to climb further down.  Dean pounced so they both fell through the manhole cover that led down.  Xander got free from under Dean's groaning body, limping slightly as he moved off.

Sam hopped down the last few feet, checking Dean over.  "You okay?"

"Peachy, get him.  He's limping."  Sam ran after him and Dean got himself up, groaning a bit. "Ow."  He rubbed his shoulder.  "Xander's stronger than most people think."  He followed too.  Sam would need help.  A lot of help.

Sam followed the limping sounds, catching sight of some lights off to the side.  "Will'o wisp down here?" he said, shaking his head.  He heard Xander speed up and caught up to him, pinning him against the wall.  "Xander, it's Sam," he said when he struggled.  "You know me, Xander.  Come on, I need to talk to the boy."  He smacked his head into the wall when he continued to struggle.  "Come on, Xander!"

Dean came up to help hold him, trapping him between them.  "Where does this lead?"

"I don't know," Sam admitted.  "Let's find out.  We'll find somewhere more defensible than the middle of a tunnel."  They kept going, finding Xander's lair.  He had made a nest out of the weapons and had pillows in the center of it.  They took off their shoes since they were dirty and nasty, getting Xander down into his nest.  Dean held him down while Sam started the exorcism.

"No!  We'll be lost!" the female voice shouted.  "No one will remember us!"

"We will," Dean said.  "Quit struggling!"  He slugged Xander on the chin, making him growl.  "Not good.  Sammy!"

"I'm trying."  He got the holy water open and the waterproof card he had made up with the exorcism chant.  Xander was still struggling so he helped by leaning on the boy's sore shoulder.  It had to be sore, it had a hole in it.  Xander yelped but kept trying.  Sam started on the Latin and Xander was still struggling.  Dean was nearly being thrown off his hips.  Sam pressed a communion wafer to his head, making him scream in pain.  A few wisps of spirit came out wailing.  "We'll remember," Sam assured her.  "We'll make a memorial or something!"  He got back into it, making Xander slowly calm down.  At least to the point of only growling and not struggling.  He was not a happy hyena by any means.  Then he lunged up to bite him but Dean smacked his head back down, hitting it on a weapon's case on the way.  Xander went limp.  Sam went back to doing the exorcism.  A few more wisps.  "How many do you have in there?" he demanded.

"Probably dozens," Dean said, checking his pulse.  "He's calm."

"If we stay, he'll keep sucking more in," Sam said, looking at him.

Dean considered it.  "Not if we can shield him."

"He had shields."

"He has guilt too," McGee said as he came in.  "I managed it."  He handed over more holy water.  "Thought you might be running low by now.  Dawn said he's a super sucker vacuum for spirits.  We have to make sure none stay."  He knelt over Xander's feet.  "Go ahead again, Sam.  She said it was going to take hours.  Also she slipped you something the last time she popped in that could help?"

Sam patted his pockets down, finding a pendant in one jacket pocket.  He held it up.  "Okay."  He put it on Xander's neck.  It was a small teddybear pendant with a green stone in the center.

"Kinda girly," Dean said.

"Dawn picked it out.  It's got to have some emotional tie," Sam told him.  He took a deep breath and went back to the exorcism ritual.  More and more wisps of spirit came out wailing.

"Figure out a good memorial," Dean said, looking back at Tim.

"Um, plaque with names?  Or a monument?"

"Both?" Dean suggested.  Another spirit came out and he frowned.  "I've seen his picture."

"He was one of the trio of geeks that Willow was after for killing Tara."  Sam got back into it.  Finally, Xander started to snore.  Sam went limp, collapsing next to him.  "I'm tired."

"Me too," Dean agreed.  He laid down on Xander's other side, mostly because Xander had managed to wiggle and trap his feet under his legs.  "Fine, I'll cuddle.  Tim?"

"I'll sit watch since I'm not tired."  That got a nod and they both cuddled in.  Tim looked around.  "He didn't have this much stuff in the car."

"I'm learning to never underestimate Xander's resourcefulness," Dean said.  He yawned and looked at the shoulder next to him.  "What's wrong with that one?" he asked Sam.

"Hole."

"From?"

"No clue.  It's got a small bandage on it."  He shrugged and yawned, drifting off right there.  Dean did the same.

Tim watched over them, crossbow in hand, sword in the other.  A few spirits came in but were repelled by the necklace and the holy water that had been splashed around them.  He found some paper and doodled a few ideas for a memorial.  One of the ghosts came over to point at something so he made it bigger, getting a smile for it.  He grinned back and got back to work with their input.  It was a great design, even if he did say so himself.

***

Dean finished hiking the last of the weapons to the car.  They had found another exit hatch and used it instead.  He leaned against his car's side, looking at Tim.  "I'm all for a shower."

"There's no motel within sixty miles of here," he told him.  Dean whimpered.

Sam looked over. "Isn't there a mall in the next town?  We passed right by it and a Day's Inn."

"I checked the websites, they said there's not any."  He shrugged.  "I don't know."

"Fine, we go there, we make sure Xander will wake up since he hasn't yet, and then we make sure he's only got himself and whoever he had before Texas in there.  Then we'll come back and scrounge more stuff tomorrow," Dean decided.  That got a nod and Sam climbed out to drive Xander's car.  Dean checked on Xander, then shrugged and got in to drive the Impala.  There was indeed a Day's Inn in the next town.  It was run by a shaggy demon who gave Xander a horrified look as he backed off.  "We just brought him out of there.  We're on a prophecy thing.  He's not gonna bother you.  We're in letting the spirits go."

The demon rented them an efficiency at a reduced rate, that slept three, and let them figure out the rest.  He'd call his boss later to warn him.  Tim made a photocopy of something and handed it to him.  "What's this?"

"The spirits that were nagging Xander wanted a memorial.  They helped me design it."

The demon nodded.  The large tree in the middle of a circle of plaques of names that wold eventually grow into the tree.  "It's fitting.  It shows how life goes on after all the deaths."  He looked at him.  "I'll send it on."

"Thank you."

"Who are you?"

"Tim McGee.  NCIS."

The demon stared at him.  "The third warrior."  Tim nodded.  "Then some advice.  It's not safe for him to be this close.  No matter what helps protect him some of the spirits can still come. As he feels them they can come for him.  He must be gotten away from here."

"We're planning on it."  That got a nod and the demon let him go.  "I sent it to Cleveland."

"Thank you."  He watched him go, sending that to his boss as well.  He would be amused at this turn of events.  At least there wasn't a slayer nearby.  He saw a female appear and go running up the stairs, shaking his head.  A Watcher but not a slayer.

Dean opened the door at the pounding.  "Easy, Dawn."  She pushed past him.  "What?  We didn't do it enough?"

"No, you did.  Some of them can still get him."

"That's what the demon said," Tim told her.  Dawn smiled at him.  "Oh, memorial?"

"We like it.  Willow does especially."  She knelt beside Xander, doing something to his body with magic.  She was making him glow.  "He's awakened his powers, Dean."

"And....."

"He's got the world's worst headache."

"So does Sammy."  He grinned.  "We miss any?"

"Yup.  He's still got ten, twelve more in there."  She smiled.  "One's Dru."

"Oh, no!" Sam said as he came out of the bathroom.  "I'm not letting him keep the insane vampiress in his head.  Tim, go get ...."  Dawn handed him something.  "What's this?"

"Xander tends to keep something of the spirits in him even when you banish them."

"Nanny Grimsley said some mediums were like train stations, some were like toilets, and Xander was like a backed up toilet," Dean said.

"Oooh, yeah," she said, nodding, grinning at him. "One that just sucked up part of the sewer into his head.  He was under a former graveyard."  They groaned.  "Then again, who knows what else he found."  She stood up with Sam's help.  "Thank you, dear."  She kissed him on the cheek, then Dean.  "That should summon the spirits out instead of just banishing most of them.  It should leave him cleaner."

"Okay," Dean agreed. "Did he ask for this?"

She looked at him then slowly shook her head.  "He never does.  They started out guilt tripping him and went on from there to the point where he was shouting at them to stop it.  Before he could leave one figured out they could take him over. Or they did it when the magic opened and he passed out.  Something like that."  She gave his arm a hug.  "I don't know, Dean.  All I know is that Xander's in a lot of pain.  They were blaming him for all that.  For staking the vamps.  For not getting everyone out of town, only most of them.  For not digging up the graves later on to bring the people with them.  We should go clean it out."

"That's a lot of bodies to salt and burn," he said gently.

She looked at him.  "Then we'll do a general dissipation.  There's a few for haunted areas.  A witch came up with it after Chernobyl."  He nodded, understanding why.  "Please?"

"Not a problem with us," Dean said with a grin.  "You're helping?"

"Of course!"  She swatted him on the arm.  "I'm not trusting Xander and magic yet, Dean.  He might turn Willow into a chihuahua or something.  Or worse, me; then you'd have to travel with me."  Sam laughed, giving her a hug.  "Sam, I love the view, but you're very tempting and I'm still a weak woman without a lot of impulse control."  He went to finish his shower.

"Want me to run around in just my briefs too?" Dean teased.

She pinched him on the tit.  "If you want.  I'll learn impulse control if you both do it.  Especially if it's you two and Xander."  She beamed at Tim.  "No offense but I'm going for bad boys this year."

"None taken, Dawn.  I'm too old for you."  She snorted and patted him on the head.  "What now?"

"Shower, sleep, repeat this tomorrow without Xander helping."  That got a nod and Tim took the second shower.  Dean looked down at her.  "You don't want to crawl between us, right?" he teased.

She leaned closer.  "While it's a wet fantasy, Dean, the reality might suck so I'll never go there."  He laughed, giving her a squeeze.  "Thanks.  Now if you offered both of you and Xander...."

"Uh-huh."  He smirked at her.  "Naughty.  You're turning into a slut.  What would your sister say?"

"There'd better be a ring or I'm being adopted by you?"

"Possibly," Sam said as he came out doing his hair.  "Dean, can you get more towels?"  He nodded, going to do that.  He looked at her.  "All three of us?  Greedy brat."

She beamed.  "Hey, you were good enough to spoil me."  He laughed at that, looking at the bed situation.  "He'll wander if someone's not with him."

"Crap."  Two double beds and a couch.  Dean came back with towels for himself.  "So, how are we doing this?  She thinks he'll get up if we're not there."

Dean shrugged.  "I've had to sleep with you in the past, Sammy.  I'll take Xander or you.  Tim might cuddle."

"Xander will cuddle," Dawn told him.  "Which will be so *cute*!  I'll have to scry."  She pinched him on the butt, making him yelp and rub the spot.  She gave him an innocent look.  "What?"

"I'm getting you back for that sometime."

"Just don't sic your father on me again.  The asshole called to nag me about not having kids for you two earlier."

Sam shook his head.  "Ignore him."

"I did.  I giggled and pointed out that me having children would mean we'd have to do some major magical intervention."

"Yup," Dean agreed.  "Especially since I'm snipped."  He went into the bathroom once Tim was done.  "I'm not holding him up in the shower."

Dawn snuggled into Xander's side, stroking his chest until he grunted.  "You need to take a shower.  You stink like demons were drooling on you again."  He grunted in displeasure.  "Let Dean get out and then go take a shower for me?"  He nodded, getting up to stumble in there.  He yawned as he walked into the water, making Dean yelp.  He gave him a confused look then shrugged and grabbed the shampoo from his hand.  "There you go, Dean," she called.  She disappeared to scry them in the shower.  It was incredibly hot.  Even if Xander was half asleep.

Dean looked up.  "Do not even think about it, Dawn Summers.  I will call your sister and tell her if you're scrying."

"Buffy would perv too.  She only likes dangerous guys," Xander said dryly.  He took over the shower's stream to finish up then got out and went back to bed once he was mostly dry.  Sam handed him some pajama pants and he grunted in thanks, sliding into them and then into the bed.

Tim patted the couch.  "I'll be here."

"Thanks," Sam said with a grin.  "It's bad enough when Dean cuddles."  He climbed into his own bed.  The lights went off and they could let Dean come out when he was ready.

Dean came out and looked at the sleeping arrangements.  He shook his head, sliding in next to Xander.  He got pounced.  "Need to breathe, Xander," he said quietly.  He poked him when he didn't move.  He got hurt sounding pouty noises.  "Xander, not a girl," he said bluntly.  Xander nibbled on his throat.  "Hey!"

Sam woke up.  "Huh?"

"Nibbling."  He shoved Xander off, getting more hurt pouty noises.  "Xander!"  He blinked at him, looking confused.  "I'm not a girl.  No trying to suck up to me for sex."

"But the stars say the pretty kitties will hiss at each other while they play," he told him.

Sam groaned, getting up to get the spell and the holy water so they could get back to unpossessing him.  There was no way they'd let him keep Dru in his head for any longer.  It'd drive them nuts.   Or in Xander's case even more nuts.

***

Dean woke up warm and cuddled the next morning.  "You creeped," he muttered.  He felt the warm nose burrow into his neck and blinked at the dark hair.  "You're nearly as shaggy as Sam is," he said.  Xander shh'd him.  "Sure."  He closed his eyes again and went back to sleep.  The next time he woke up it was at the insistent poke to his side.  He blinked at Tim.  "Huh?"

"Xander," he said, nodding at him.

Dean looked down at Xander, who was sucking on his arm.  He reached up to pet him instead of smacking him on the head.  He had learned not to suddenly wake Xander.  He got a purr.  He grinned.  "Nice hyena kitty," he said quietly.  "Don't draw blood."  Xander let go of his arm and shifted over to cuddle up to his right side, one leg thrown over his.  He looked at him.  "Are you going on the Dawn plan?" he asked quietly.  Xander barked.  "No, you're not a puppy to her will."  Tim left the cup of coffee and left the room so they'd have some privacy.  He looked around then flipped onto his side suddenly, cuddling Xander back.  Xander slowly woke up, giving him a confused look.  "You suck in your sleep."

"You're not Anya," he said, sounding miserable.  "She's going to kill me."

Dean shook his head.  "No she won't, Xander."

He nodded.  "She'll get her powers back and kill me."

"No she won't.  She's not going to get her powers back."  Xander gave him another confused look.  He stroked over his hair, seeing the small hiss when he hit the sore spot.  "Xander, what year is it?"

"1999."

"Nope, it's 2007, Xander."  Xander shook his head slowly.  Dean nodded.  "It is.  You hunt with me and my brother Sam."

"No.  Buffy would get mad.  Xander's aren't allowed to hunt.  They trip and fall."

"You're better than Buffy ever thought.  Even if I do sound like a chick at the moment, you are."

Xander smiled.  "You think so?"

"I know so.  Now, why are you cuddling me?"

"You're warm.  Warm is nice."

"Did you sleep next to a bunch of cold things?"  Xander shuddered.  "Never mind."  He patted him.  "You have to get up and do your eye wash, Xander."

"Why?  Did it get hurt?"

"Yup, a while back."  Sam came in.  "He thinks he's a senior and Anya's going to get her powers back to kill him."

"Nope, won't happen."  He leaned down to kiss him on the head.  "It's all right, Xander.  You can rest here today while we go do some stuff with the ghosts of Sunnydale."

Xander sat up.  "Why would we?  Are they attacking?  Is that why he thinks it's really far in the future and we're all old?"

"Twenty-six isn't old," Dean told him.  "You're twenty-six too."  He patted him.  "Come on, go do your eye wash."

Sam looked at him.  "I don't think he knows how, Dean."  He helped Xander up, taking him into the bathroom, making him look in the mirror.  He saw the flinch at the scars.  "You earned those protecting others."

"Not all of them."

"Then the others you learned from."  He stroked his back.  "Look at your face, Xander.  Remember the time you're supposed to be in."

"Is this a spell?  Was it Ethan or Willow having an oops?"  He turned to look at Sam.  "She has those you know."

For some reason he wasn't sure if he was feeling sad or angry.  Or maybe both.  Sad at the lost look on Xander's face and angry at Willow for having 'oops' moments that made him let out that quiet pronouncement.  "I know."  He patted him again.  "It's not a spell."  He brought him out to turn on CNN.  They had the date in the corner.  Xander whimpered and sat down.  "It's all right.  It's probably where we had to pull half the ghosts of Sunnydale out of you last night."

He looked at him.  "The soldier?"

"Still in there," Dean promised.  "Go shower, Xander."  He nodded, going to do that.  He looked at him, shrugging a bit.  "What do I know?"

"I don't know either."  He texted Dawn, who sent back a solution.  "She thinks it's a head injury."

"I did have to struggle and he did hit his head," Dean admitted.

"Almost eight years worth?"

Tim walked back inside. "The owner is *very* nice.  He gave us a night for free since apparently we kept others up chanting to get the souls out of him."

"He thinks he's a senior in high school," Dean said.

"Huh.  Magical cure or ER?  Those are the only ones I know and I'm only learning about the first one now."

Xander came out to look at him.  "Do I know you?"

"You do know me.  I'm Tim.  You and Dean are training me to help you with a prophecy, Xander."

"Ooh, them."  He nodded, looking dejected.  "Okay."  He went back to his shower.  "Are we sure Anya can't come back and kill me?"

"You didn't do anything," Dean told him.

"That doesn't really matter to her.  She was going to kill me because I was looking at a catalog with fat women in bathing suits.  She's like that."

Dean got up and got dressed, taking Xander once he was out of the shower.  "Dress."  Xander got dressed for him.  He brought him down to the car, driving back to Sunnydale, watching his confused look get worse and worse because he recognized the sights around them.  He parked by the crater and got out, walking around to pull Xander out.  He made him face the crater.  "That's the high school and the hellmouth, Xander.  Anya was there fighting the battle."

"She left for graduation," he said quietly.  He looked at Dean.  "Are you a demon?"

He pointed at his arm and the bruise. "Look like demon blood?"  Xander slumped, shaking his head.  "I'm Dean.  The one with the hair was Sam.  The other guy was Tim."  Fred appeared with a vial.  "To help him?"

"Pulling them out that way made him suppress the bad memories.  There were a lot of bad memories," she said quietly.  Xander glared at her.  "Take it anyway, Xander."  He pouted but took the potion, too used to Willow to do anything but that.  He shuddered, had a small seizure that made Dean hold him down again.  Then he blinked at him after a few minutes.  "Do you remember him now?" Fred asked.

"Yeah.  What happened and why am I being held down?"

"You thought it was before the graduation battle," Dean said, getting off him and pulling him up.  He pointed.  "Remember that?"

"Unfortunately."  He flinched away from Fred.  "Shit, Fred!"

"Sorry, Xander.  They had to pull about half of Sunnydale out of you last night.  It made you regress."

"Aw, fuck.  Sorry, Dean."

"Not an issue.  Neither was you sucking on my arm in your sleep.  As long as it's not my throat, Xander."  He looked at him.  The kid looked wary.  "We're going to take care of the ghosts today.  Let them pass on."

"They blame us.  Me."

"They're not being reasonable, Xander.  You're not to blame."

"I could've put it on the radio."

"Xander, that's the government's job.  You can't do that too," Dean said firmly.  "You've got to let it go."

Xander looked at him.  "I could've done more."

"You were days out of the hospital!  You saved all that you could.  The others could've called their friends too, but they didn't."

"Sunnydale's not like that!" he said impatiently.  "Why would they break the silence of denial!"

"For a full-town evacuation?  Yeah, they would.  Even that town next to Paul's would."  Xander slumped but nodded.  "It wasn't your fault.  You told the people who could get everyone out.  They didn't do all their job.   You had to rest sometime.  You're still only human."

Xander looked at him.  "I could've taken the pain killers and kept going.  I didn't.  I took a nap instead."

"So!  You're *human*, Xander.  Not even demons can do that!" he said, his voice going up.  "This is as stupid as Sammy blaming himself for Jess dying!"

Xander leaned against the hood of the car.  "We'll have to agree to disagree on this point, Dean.  I could have done more.  I could have gotten it onto the radio or the tv.  I didn't."

"That wasn't your job."

"My job was to get people out of there.  In some cases I failed."

"Why didn't they leave when they saw their friends going?" Dean demanded.  "They could have."

Xander looked at him.  "You don't know how clueless Sunnydale was, Dean.  They could see it happen in front of them and wave at the demon killing their child.  I've seen people do that.  Then they invited them in for tea like they were the new neighbors so they died too!"  He stood up again.  "I could have done more.  Maybe that's why they keep picking me.  I have to atone for all them."

"Xander, there were only fifty humans in Sunnydale when it went," Fred said, coming closer.  "Thirty of them had refused, told you no about leaving the town.  You couldn't have gotten them on a bus at gun point.  The other twenty were at the college and thought they'd be safe enough that far away."  He looked at her.  "Beyond that, the demons don't blame you guys.  They left!  They hauled tail as soon as they knew what was going on.  Angel was *way* pissed about that but it had to happen.  You did the best you could.  You are a human being and that's all you can be.  No matter how much the girls depend on you to be multi-armed and multi-talented outside your fields, you're not!  You're not a God or a Power, Xander.  You did what you could.  We almost lost *you* that day too.  Spike gave up his life to make sure Dawn survived.  You blaming yourself makes that less than pleasant.  Even if we did get him back.  You did what you could.  You should've still been in the hospital.  Not at the battle.  Not helping the evacuation.  In the hospital.  You came out because Buffy needed you and you did just as much as she did with those girls.  Do *not* put yourself down again!"  She stomped a foot.  "I won't have it, Xander.  Do you hear me?"

"Yes, Fred," he said weakly.

"Then believe it!  Even if you can't now!  Do Dean and Sam need you be super human?"

"Yes," he said.

"No," Dean said, shaking his head.  "I'm not.  You're not.  I don't expect you to be anything other than human and able to pull your own weight, Xander.  You do that just fine."  Sam and Tim drove up in Tim's car.  "Sam, you don't expect Xander to know and do everything, right?"

"No.  I don't expect any of us to do more than humanly possible.  Even if Xander does bust his ass to do everything we don't know how to yet."  He shrugged.  "We're all learning new tricks."

"See," Dean demanded, pointing at him.  "He doesn't expect it of you either.  Giles and them have a very high set of expectations of you.  You run the place, train the girls, help around the place, and still have to have time to be yourself.  No, we don't expect that."  Xander looked at him.  "All right?  Can I quit being mushy now?  Before I get a rash or something?"  Xander nodded, giving him a hug.  "Thanks.  Get off."  Xander laughed, pulling back.  "Even better.  Tim, take him back to the hotel then come back.  We've got some work to do and I want Xander to rest today."  Xander frowned.  "We pulled over a hundred spirits out of you yesterday, including Druscilla.  Go rest."  Xander sighed but let himself be driven back.  He looked at Fred.  "It's not just us, right?" he asked once they were gone.

"No, everyone else expects him to be a mule's love child.  Usually it makes him live up to the stubborn reputation first."  She shrugged then looked around.  "Good luck with that.  No one's been doing spirits here for centuries."  She faded out.

"This is going to be a mess," Sam told his big brother.

"I know.  How do we burn them?"

"Fire spell?"

Dean looked at him.  "You can't do that."

"Xander can later.  We'll do what we can and then deal with it."  That got a nod.  "It'll make him feel better.  Hopefully.  He really blamed himself?"

"He was almost frantic in blaming himself for not getting more people out of here."

Sam sighed, shaking his head.  "No, he did what he could and more than I could.  More than you could."

"I'd still have been taking pain killers," Dean agreed.  "The only point he had was he could've put it onto the tv or radio, but that was the government's job, not his."  He looked out there.  It was still a depressing sight.  Evil had nearly won that time.  "Now what, college boy?"

"Now we do the one we got left, see how much it helps."  Tim came back.  "Hey."

"Hey.  I got the stuff from Xander's car for the magic stuff.  What will we need?"

Sam pulled out the spell to look at.  "Sage.  Rosemary.  Lots and lots of sage and rosemary since we have to ring the town or the area we want cleared."  Dean groaned, taking one of the large bags from the kit.  Tim took another one.  Sam took a third and they each started off.  Sam took the far side of town, out by the college.  Surprisingly enough, some of it was still standing, including the library.  He ran into a spirit out there, staring at her for a minute.  "Tara?" he asked quietly.  She smiled and nodded.  "Um...."

"Those who want to stay are at the college, Sam."  She floated closer. "You kick my girl in the hind end for me?  Please?" she asked, staring at him.

"For what?"

"Being a boob.  She'll understand."  She smiled at him. "Then cuddle my Xander-shaped friend.  He could use more cuddles.  No one's cuddled him since Anya got left."  She floated backward.  "Put it at the edge of the green area, Sam.  Please?"  He nodded, going to spread it there.  She went to help Dean, smiling at him.  "Hi."

He flinched, staring at her.  "Do I know you?"

"I'm Tara, Dean."

"Hi."  He grinned.  "You didn't get to go on?"

"Nope.  Not yet.  It's not time yet."  She smiled gently.  "Those of us who want to stay are at the college.  All but Joyce.  I can't find Joyce."  She pointed.  "She's somewhere down there.  She's sulking."

"If I run into her I'll let her know."  She nodded and beamed.  "No messages to pass on?"

"I gave it to the cute one."  She beamed at him, making him grin back.  "Though could I ask you to cuddle the Xander too?  He needs them.  He hasn't had any since he left Anya."

He nodded.  "I did last night."

She beamed.  "Thank you, Dean."  She floated closer, planting a kiss on his forehead.  Then she floated back to stare into his eyes.  "Xander knows there's a way around making you deal with him.  He can do that now.  One of the spirits had an idea."  She beamed and floated off again.

Dean shook his head.  "Good.  I like that."  He looked around.  "Joyce, if you can hear me, Tara needs you near the college to keep you safe," he called.  A few more spirits manifested.  "Joyce, we're keeping Xander safe for you.  Please go see Tara at the college?  Don't make Dawn worry more, okay?"

A spirit faded in across the street from him.  "I would go see them but I don't want to complain about her leading you boys on that way."

He grinned.  "It's all fun with us, Joyce.  We're not expecting her to propose.  We might run if she did."

She smiled.  "That's fine.  A young woman's job is to have fun and make her life secure."  She floated closer.  "What are you doing?"

"Letting the spirits move on," he said quietly.  "Tara's gathered some of you at the college and wants you there."

She nodded.  "I should.  Thank you, son-in-law."  He gave her a horrified look.  "Well, I did all but adopt Xander."  She floated off, heading up to the college.

"I'm getting nearly as many votes for the 'Dean does Xander' club as I am for the 'Dean does Sam' club."  He went back to spreading the herb mix at the prescribed distance apart.  He finally met up with Sam's part and they went to make sure Tim's met up with his.  "We're good," he announced.  "Let's do this."

Sam read the spell calmly, keeping in mind the feeling that the spirits should move on and find an afterlife.  They felt the flash and Dawn came over to read it with him.  They finished the third verse together then Dean lit the herbs on fire.  Whatever had been sprinkled on them made it keep going around the extra-large circle.  They watched as it came back and they did the last verse together, watching as the spirits floated off into the late afternoon sunlight.  "It's pretty," Sam said finally.

"They're at peace now," Tim agreed.

"They're not haunting Xander and we won't have to pull them out of him," Dawn said.

"Your mother's up at the college; she said it's not fair that you're leading us on," Dean told her.  She groaned.  "I told her it was all fun. She said I should have Xander instead.  Her and Tara both."

"Oh, yeah, Tara said to tell Willow she's being a boob, she'll know why.  Said to kick her butt."

"I can do that," Dawn said, looking around.  "We do realize there's still a lot of demons here, right?"  All three men nodded.  "Come back tomorrow?"

"It's underground, will it matter?" Dean asked.

"Yeah, because some of the tunnels are going to collapse."  She grinned.  "Especially around the mayor's emergency vault."  She winked and disappeared, leaving that hole open.

They walked over to look, whistling at what was in there.  "Well," Dean said.  "We should move that stuff."

Sam nodded, looking at the pile of precious metal bars and cash.  "We should."

"Xander did pray to the Powers that they pay for the trip," McGee said dryly.

The brothers laughed and went to handle that.  Some of it they'd put toward the Sunnydale monument but the rest was theirs to fund the good fight.

***

Dean walked into the room last, watching Xander nap.  "He still going?"

"He went out at least once.  Dominos was here," Sam said, handing him a paper plate.  That got a grin and they sat around to watch tv.  They relaxed, Dean letting Xander cuddle his side for now.  Sam grinned.  "Tara asked you too?"

Dean nodded.  "Yup.  Apparently you don't give good enough ones."

"I do so!"

"She said she asked you first, Sammy."

"It's Sam, Deannie."

He smirked.  "Only Dawn gets to call me that.  Unless you want to go on your back?  Everyone already thinks I've got  you and Xander as my harem."

Xander blinked up at him.  "Did you hurt your head or suck in spirits?"

"No.  Not today."  He grinned.  "Pizza?"

"I ordered in my sleep?"

"Apparently."  He ate a bite.  "Want to get some?"

"No.  I'll have any leftovers for breakfast.  Why am I cuddling?"

Tara's ghost said you needed to," Sam told him.  Xander gave him an odd look.  "Joyce's too apparently."

"Um, we're pretty sure Tara moved on, Sam.  We saw the halo and everything."  Dean moaned.  "But okay, if she came back to say I need cuddles, I'll trust that."  He snuggled in again, letting Dean keep eating around him.  He glared at Tim for grinning.   "I haven't had a girlfriend since I dumped Anya."

"Did she curse you to need drugs?" Sam teased.

"She must've been part succubus," Xander complained.  "The woman wanted ten or more orgasms a day and that's how she talked about it.  I was sore!"

"So that's why you go down on women," Dean said.  Tim choked.  "Oh, get over it.  It's stress relief and fun for us."  He looked down at Xander, who nodded.  "Did she rub you raw?" he teased.

"Every time.  She hated condoms and she wasn't that lubey.  Had to get the wifey lube as Leno put it."  He put his head back down.  "Anything else happen?"

"We found the mayor's emergency stash," Sam said.

"It's leprechaun gold."

"Dawn said it was changed," Dean said.  "We can check tomorrow.  What about the cash?"

"Not a clue."  He snuggled in better. "You make a good teddy bear, Dean."

"I'll take that compliment.  I'll even let you tell the next girl I flirt with that so I can tell her you've been tragically hurt and I had to cuddle you to make you feel better.  It'll make me seem more sensitive and I'll get more girls."  Xander snickered and nodded.  "I will."

"You're one of a kind, Dean," Sam said, shaking his head.

"And I'm staying that way unless you clone me for your future kids."

"Who said I'm having kids?"

"Someone's got to carry on the family name," Dean complained.

Xander looked at him.  "If you say that around Willow, she'll make one of you pregnant," he offered.  "She's threatened to do that to me in the past.  That was her idea on how to get me to never date, that way I wouldn't need to, I'd already have my family."

"If you do that while you're with us, we'll beat you," Tim told him.

"I'd beat me.  I don't want kids," Xander said.

"Turn gay, Xander," Tim said dryly, smirking at him.

"Even then I might be tempted to adopt and warp them.  Then we'd have little Xanders going around wanting to blow things up and stake vampires."

"Or be Batman," Sam teased.

"I am Batman.  I just don't have the suit here."  Xander grinned at him.  "Wanna see the belt?"

"No thanks.  You might use it as a cheesy pick up line," Dean told him.  "Picking him up means being mushy like a girl since he is."

"I am not!" Sam defended.  "You're the one who wants me to talk about things!"

Dawn appeared, taking a slice of pizza.  "Don't make me dose the pizza with something like rophy's.  I'll have a lot of fun but you guys will be totally embarrassed in the morning."

"It doesn't work right on me either," Xander said.  "It makes me nap.  Sorry, you'd have to use E."

Dawn gaped.  "How do we know this?"

"No.  Comment."

"Ah, one of those dating things where you picked up the women who wants to kill people.  Good to know."  She disappeared again.

"They don't have Dominos in Cleveland?" Sam asked.

"I'm thinking she's surrounded by the Stuffy Patrol," Xander said, looking back at him.  "You really talked to Tara?"  He nodded.  "Anyone else?"

"Joyce thought Dean was bending you over too," Sam told him.

"Apparently I'm a universal stud," Dean said smugly.

"Don't start," Sam warned.  "Or else we can ask Dawn to compare."

"Moot point, guys.  Not totally gay," Xander pointed out.  "Besides the last hunter I crushed on went bad.  The one before then was Buffy.  There's no telling what would happen to you two."

"You really tapped Faith?" Dean asked.

"And got choked for it.  She climbed on top.  She was my first.  It was over with *really* fast then she kicked me out to go handle the zombie thing.  It's a good thing I got laid before we nearly died."

Sam gaped at him.  "That's just wrong, Xander."

Xander looked at him.  "I have a simple set of desires, Sam.  We came damn close to dying that night and it was good I didn't die a virgin.  With my luck I would've been sent back as a guardian angel or something."

Dean gave him an odd look.  "Not with what you used to do."

"Save people?  Yeah, I could've.  A priest told me that.  He was in the business too."  He grinned.  "Now they have to ask, they can't just assign me."

Dean shook his head.  "We need to sleep around more.  Especially you, Sammy.  You know they say you can be considered a virgin again if it's been seven years."

"It's only been four months since I had any," Sam shot back.

"Maybe if he does die Xander will get that Fred girl's job," McGee offered.

Xander shook his head.  "The Powers hate me, Tim.  I messed up things by being born.  That's why they send me on these sort of things.  Some other power may name me to the position to annoy them.  Then Fred and I can play poker for eternity."

Fred appeared, giving him a look.  "We'd get in trouble for the strip poker games, Xander."  Tim gaped but Dean and Sam both giggled.  "If you do die during this thing, you're either going to be a helpful spirit to another hunter, or they're going to make sure you have a son and you can guard him and then teach him how to hunt when he's old enough."

"Um, Fred, no working seed thanks to Anya."

"These are the Powers, Xander."

"Spell, Fred.  Spell."  She grimaced and looked up then moaned.  He grinned at her.  "Anya asked Willow for a birth control spell.  They decided it'd be easier to do on me.  Hasn't worn out yet.  I still shoot like a guy who's been snipped.  Since they did it before the prom...."

Fred gave him a horrified look.  "You let them!"

"Who said I *let* them?" he countered dryly, giving her a look.  "Anya went to Willow.  Not me.  I was perfectly happy having her on the pill.  Oh, might want to warn Oz she did it to him too.  If his ever works we can gauge it by how much faster the werewolf healing made it come back."

She left with a whimper, going to scream at Willow for the Powers.

Dawn appeared a few minutes later.  "Whatever you did to piss off Fred, Giles said stop it," she ordered, glaring at Xander.  "Fred just told Willow she's got to have a child and let you raise it."

"I don't want kids.  Which is pretty good since Willow made me infertile at Anya's command."

"Excuse me?" she asked.

Xander sat up, beaming at her.  "Anya went to Willow because she decided the pill and the patch were both too inconvenient for her new life.  She had her do a birth control spell. They decided doing my balls was for the best.  It'd take effect before the prom.  I still don't make sperm."

She shrieked and left, going to scream at Willow herself.  And Giles for not stopping Willow and Anya.

"How much energy does that popping around take?" Sam asked.

Xander looked at him.  "A lot but Dawn's energy comes from a higher power -  snarking at her sister."  He laid back down, looking at Dean.  "Can I still cuddle/"

"I don't care as long as no one tries to make me have kids."  Xander snuggled back in.  Willow showed up and opened her mouth.  He pulled a knife.  "How dare you injure him that way without his consent," he snarled.  She 'eeped' and disappeared.  "Hey, not blocking the tv anymore," Dean said, putting the knife back under the pillow.

Sam chuckled.  "That's mean, Dean."

"Yay me.  She didn't ask his permission."

Xander looked up at him.  "When has she?"

Dean looked down.  "That makes her a bad witch."

"I know.  But handy.  Gotta give her the handy points."

"Doesn't make her any more good.  Tara was a good girl from what we heard."

"Tara was so sweet and innocent," he sighed.  "She was a good girl.  She stuttered because she was nervous around people, but she got onto Willow all the time about that stuff.  She's the one who made her give up magic when she was addicted."

"Sounds like we would've liked her," Sam said happily.  "Maybe she'll come back more often since we didn't release her."  Xander gave him a hug then laid back down.  "Thanks, Xander.  You hug nice."

"Sorry, I'm in a mushy mood.  It happens after I get possessed."

Tim looked at him.  "Then you're in mush overdrive because it took them six hours to pull all the spirits out of you this time?"

"Six hours?"

"The last three were summoning them instead of banishing them," Dean agreed, still staring at the tv.  "Dawn suggested it would mean less little pieces of them left behind."

"Shields, Xander?" Sam asked.

"I've been working on them for years," he defended.

"Did Willow teach you that?"

Xander sat up to look at Dean.  "Why would she or Giles teach me shielding after I'd been possessed twice?"

Sam made outraged, squeaky noises.  "They didn't?"

Xander shook his head.  "No.  I found the book on shielding and asked if I could borrow it.  Giles said it might be a good idea, yes, then went back to the problem he was researching.  We didn't have a whole lot of time for fun research."

"Yet, Buffy got to date Angel?" Dean asked.  "Did they expect you to be God then too?"

"No, they expected me to go away," Xander admitted.  "I was the normal guy.  Could be viewpoint bias, Willow said so, but that's what I got."

Dean sighed, shaking his head.  "Stakes, definitely burning at the stake."

"That's how Amy became a rat.  Fortunately Willow undid it for her eventually so Amy could lead her to her magic dealer."

Sam leaned forward, holding his head.  "Sunnydale was so screwed up," he said into his hands.

"Ya think?" Xander asked.  "It was the hellmouth.  Of course it was."

Dean pulled him back down.  "I helped raise Sam and cuddling him made him emo, but almost normal.  I can do the same for you, Xander."

"That would play into Dawn's fantasies," he said dryly, looking up at him.

"Not like I mind being the cause for wet dreams," he teased back.

"Can't you turn into an incubus doing that?" Tim asked.  "That was in one of the books.  You cause so many wet dreams and you slowly turn into an incubus?"

All three of the hunters stared at him then shook their heads.

"No, then I'd already be one from all the slayers having them," Xander said dryly.  Dean smacked him on the head.  "OW!  What did you do while I was possessed?"

Dean smirked.  "I'd tell you but the tape might get out and then we'd be in trouble from Dad."

Xander shrugged.  "As long as it's not a permanent injury, it doesn't end up on the internet, and I know sometime," he decided, laying back down.

Sam looked at him.  "Dude, you know we'd never do that."

Xander grinned at him.  "Which is why I trust you guys not to put it on the 'net."

"How many times did Anya do that?" Dean asked while he watched tv.

"Ten, twelve.  Something like that.  I only remember four."  He shrugged.  "She was a bit cranked.  Demons are more kinky apparently."

"That's something I'd assume too," Tim admitted.

"They are," Sam said.  "It's still wrong and she was a former demon at the time."

"I always thought you could only get more kinky, not less," Xander said.  "So I ignore her when she does things like that.  I just took back the credit cards."

Dean shook his head.  "That's my definition of a screwed up, non-violent, relationship.  I've finally found it."

"I wasn't like that with Jess," Sam told him.  "If she had done something like that I'd have dumped her, gotten a restraining order, and made her life a living hell with her friends until she had to leave the town and possibly the state."

"She wasn't a former demon.  Anya wasn't really up to date on human things.  Hell, I had to show her what indoor plumbing was a few times.  She forgot.  And hey, bunny phobia."

Sam shook his head.  "It's a good thing she's dead.  Otherwise we'd be yelling for you, Xander."  By the look on Dean's face he'd be beating the crap out of her, girl or not, for it.  Sam would help or cheer him on, whichever was needed.

Xander shrugged.  "It was enough for me.  I came within minutes of marrying her."

"Let us pick you up women from now on, Xander.  It might help that serial killer draw you have too."

"Okay.  I accept hookups.  Gunn did once.  She was really nice and sweet.  Their gang's gear person.  We talked guns all night, even in bed.  I felt like a Tackleberry.  Damn I miss that woman."

"Gone?" Sam asked.

"Eeeh, no.  She's a vamp now.  She called about six months ago.  She's the one I slept with to get the fixing spells on the car."

Dean shook his head quickly.  "She was deadly so she fit your type, but she was a vampire, Xander."

Xander looked at him.  "Buffy did too.  Angel and Spike.  Willow may've slept with the vamp her before we got her back to her own time when she showed up in town."

"Vamp her?" Tim asked.  "I saw her in sunlight."

"Cordelia got mad at me for calling her by Buffy's name," Xander told him.  "She made a wish to Anya that Buffy had never come to town.  Which meant the Harvest was never stopped.  I made one scary damn vampire.  I was torturing Angel night and day and having fun.  I turned Willow.  She was scary and gay.  It was almost like a preview of her college years.  She went gay, got scary....."  Dean patted him on the head.  "Tara joked about that when she heard about it.  She wore a leather catsuit and everything.  The vamp me had on leather pants and the overshirt, wifebeater look.  Then we stepped on Anya's power center, making her human, so I got a prom date and lessons in torturing men."

Dean looked at him.  "Shut up, Xander."  Xander nodded, going back to watching tv.  He and Sam shared a look.   Xander was not going back to Cleveland if they could help it.  He looked down at him.  "You never did your eye wash this morning."

"Oops.  Thought it felt scungy."  He got up and took out his glass eye on the way into the bathroom.

Tim was green by then.  "Eww."

"Very but it happens when dirty fingernails are applied to it," Xander called from in there.  "It took me six months to be able to remove it."

Sam shuddered.  "I'll fall back to researching if I ever get that injured."

"Yes, you will," Dean agreed.  "So will I.  Dad can bitch."  He turned up the sound a bit since there was a news special from LA.  Xander came back to the door.  "Is that our thing?"

"No, that's Connor's thing.  See, there he is.  John's behind him.  Gunn too."  He went back to washing out his eye.  "They've got it handled, guys.  Call to see if they need long distance backup or something?"

"Yeah," he said, calling his father.  "Need us?  We're still by Sunnydale.  It's on the news, Dad, and so are you."  He nodded and hung up.  "Dad said to stay here and monitor it.  The military's stepping in."

"I thought we ended them," Xander said thoughtfully.  He came back out, frowning at the screen.

"Xander, eye?" Tim asked.

Xander looked at him.  "Get used to it, Tim."  He went back to watching.  "Ah, it is Riley and his band of torturing freaks."  He went back to get it out of the solution, drying it off before sliding it back into the spot.  He adjusted it so it was straight then came back out.  "Better?"

"Much.  Thank you."  He went back to watching it.  "Who's Riley?"

"Buffy's ex, one of the Initiative team leaders.  They tried to recruit her and had Spike seed chaos between us."

Sam gave him a look.  "They were military?"

"Yeah, they wanted demons to do the work of the military.  They were making a super warrior too.  We called on the first slayer to get rid of him." He sat on the same bed Dean was on again, watching.  "They've got it."  He looked up.  "Fred, take the maroon case from the undercarriage compartment and take it to Gunn?" he called.  "Only that one."

"The maroon long case or the short one?" she asked as she appeared.

"Long one."

She nodded, disappearing.  It summoned easily enough.  It was still in there.  She brought it to LA, handing it to Gunn.  "From Xander's car."

He got down to open it.  "YES!  John, weapons!" he called.  He came running back with one of Riley's guys.  He glared at him.  "Back off, Junior."  He let John take it and get into position to blow the demon up.  The specially prepared head of the small rocket impacted and fractured, spreading the sulphur, holy water, and flame solution on the demon.  It screamed and beat at itself to try to put it out.  The fire slowly ate through its chest until there was a giant hole then it fell down with a ground-shaking thump.  Gunn grinned.  "I love Xander."

"I can definitely appreciate the boy," John said, putting the launcher back in the case.  Fred took it away.

Connor came jogging back.  "Where did we get that?"

"Xander sent it with Fred," Gunn told him.

Connor beamed.  "I love Xander.  If Willow hadn't made him sterile back in high school for Anya, I'd offer to bear babies for the guy."

Gunn coughed.  "Maybe you should have a talk with someone since you're a guy and can't do that?" he suggested.  John gave him a look.  "He was stolen and raised by a zealot on a demon plane, John.  He doesn't know what to do with a girl but grunt, point, and let her do it."

"Faith tried," he offered. "I didn't understand."  He shrugged and walked off.  "We've got to clean that sucker up."

"If the military wants it, let them have it," John said.  "They can dispose of it somewhere."

The guys from Riley's unit moved in to lock down the area, sending the press off, and did indeed confiscate the demon's body.  The report later to Riley himself was a bit amusing.

"How did the weapon get here?"  John gave him a dirty look.  "If you'd had it earlier you would've used it before we got here."

"Fred's the new messenger for the Powers, like Cordy was," Gunn said.  "Xander sent it through her."

"Where did Xander get it?" Riley's second asked.

"Out of his ass?" Connor suggested.  "No one knows where Xander gets *anything*.  Did you guys back in Sunnydale?  Or figure out where he was storing his weapons?"

Riley shook his head.  "No.  Then again, Harris freaked us out many times."  He walked off shaking his head.  "Harris got the weapon," he announced.  They all groaned but shrugged.  That was a dead end.  Xander never talked and would only annoy them if they pulled him in to talk to him again.  Last time he had nearly caused a stroke.

John looked at Gunn.  "They knew Xander?"

"Riley, the guy who was in charge, used to date Buffy."  He gave him a look.  "He was probably annoyed by Xander many times."

Riley looked back at him.  "You have no idea.  We even tried to separate the group to get her.  Harris is like a fierce dog about what's his.  You can kick him and it'll only make him meaner when you come back.  The guy's obviously cursed."  He lead his team off again.

"No silver bullet?" John yelled.

"We have a whole case," Connor reminded him.

John looked at him.  "We'll get you into the Lone Ranger too, Connor."  He walked him off.  "Come on, we're going to have a guy talk before you blurt out something like you want to have a guy's babies again."

"You're going to tell me what to do with a girl?"

"Yes, I am.  I had to tell Dean and Sam, I can tell you."  He was mentally shaking his head.  The kid needed adopted.  His parents were gone.  They had been vampires so he clearly needed the help.  Behind him he could hear Gunn trying not to giggle but oh well.  He grinned at him.  "It'll be like I adopted you, kid.  You even do PT without complaining.  Much better than Sammy ever did."  Connor smiled at that praise.  He had high standards for his sons.  Being that good was good for him.

Gunn waited until they were far, far away to burst out cackling.  He texted the message to Sam and Dean.  They had to know they had a new brother.

***

Sam looked at the phone.  "Dad adopted Connor.  He's having the talk with him.  Connor said he'd bear Xander's babies."

"Still sterile," Xander said absently.

Dean snatched the phone and texted something back.  Then he smirked and put the phone away.  "That's fine.  Connor's not a bad kid.  We can use a little brother to pick on."

"Yeah, I'll finally get payback," Sam said happily.

Tim looked over from his typing.  "Set Xander up before you set Connor up.  That way there's a girl who appreciates Xander."  He went back to his next novel.  He was getting a lot of fodder for it.

"Succuba are better.  Much easier and don't require presents," Xander said.

"Presents?" Dean asked.

"It is common to give your girlfriend presents and do mushy things now and then.  It makes girls happy," Sam told him.  "Dinners out, flowers, stuffed animals, those sort of things."

"Every payday," Xander agreed.  "Dating guys is cheaper.  Hot wings and a pay-per-view wrestling match is always cheaper."

"Every payday?" Sam asked.

"Anya said so.  She was reading Cosmo.  Buffy and Willow agreed.  Tara said her expectations were too high since she didn't get it that often."  He shrugged. "Cosmo knows all.  Still cheaper to date a guy or succubuses."

"Anya wasn't a ho, right?" Dean asked.  Xander stared up at him.  "She wanted constant payments and sex, Xander.  What else could she be?"

"A rich guy's mistress?"  He shrugged.  "She wasn't used to being human.  She let Cosmo and Buffy tell her how to be a girl."

"I'm never dating Buffy," Dean said, putting his head back down.  He pulled out his phone and texted Dawn, who backed up that story.  He shook his head, putting the phone away.

"No fair pissing Dawn off.  She's got PMS this week," Xander told him.  "You'll get us yelled at by Giles and Buffy."

"You kept a calendar?" Sam asked.  He was nearly ready to laugh.

"Wouldn't you?  Or didn't you?"

"Jess only cried during hers.  It got me cuddles."  He shrugged.

"Calendar?" Dean asked.

"Of their cycles, Dean."

He shuddered.  "It was probably self defense in Xander's case."  Xander nodded.  "See?"

Xander answered his phone.  "He's sorry he asked Dawn if Anya was a ho, Giles.  No, he didn't understand Anya."

"We're fixing you up with real women," Dean told him.

"Dean and Sam swear they're fixing me up with real women, Giles."  He handed over the phone.  "Yours."

Dean took it.  "What?  You're interrupting CSI."  He listened, blinking a few times at the polite ass chewing he was getting.  "Giles, you let him date that?"  Giles spluttered  "Stick up for the boy!  My dad would've beaten her then me if I had brought home someone like that."  He smirked at the assurance he didn't understand.  "I'm sure I do.  So what if she wasn't human for eleven hundred years or so?  Not like that was acceptable girl behavior back then either."  He moaned.  "And to let the girls egg her on...."  He smirked.  "Exactly.  So we'll be setting Xander up with *real* women."  He laughed at the assurance he couldn't.  "Why not?  No, his next one won't end the world if we set him up.  We only go for *normal* chicks, Giles.  Unless you want Dawn to date all three of us together?  She did suggest that."  He hung on him yelling for Dawn.  "There.  A bit of yelling is good for a guy.  Gets his blood moving again."  He handed Xander back his phone once it was off.

"Wouldn't one of you have to be a girl as well?" Tim asked.  "Since you and Sam both claim you're straight?"

"Don't tempt Willow," Xander said, looking perfectly serious.  Tim giggled. "Not joking."

"He's not," Sam said.  "She threatened to at the wedding but Buffy walked her off snapping about ruining Mara's show by changing the guy walking her down the aisle.  They wouldn't have time to get Xander a suitable dress if she did it then.  So she had to wait until after the prophecy stuff was done.  Otherwise they'd need her or Faith to take his place with the special sword and neither one looked that hot with them."

Tim gave him a horrified look.  "Xander, don't go back to Cleveland.  Let Gibbs head smack them into better behavior first.  Please?  He'll be starting with them next month."

Xander looked at him.  "They're not that shallow."

"He managed to make me less of a geek and make Tony quit playing.  He can make them behave and straighten Willow out."  He went back to his typing, sending an email to Gibbs and Abby about that.  Someone needed to turn Willow over their knee and paddle her ass until their arm was sore.  Then hand her off to someone else to start over again.  Gibbs and Tony were good at that, they worked very well together.

Xander shook his head.  They were nice guys but they'd never understand the Sunnydale crew.  They were too uptight.

***

It wasn't too much longer before they found themselves back in Texas to handle the next problem.  Xander walked up onto the porch and pounded.  "Howdy."

"You're cutting it too close, boy."

"Sorry!  The Feds hated us in Kansas!" he defended, walking inside.  "They're behind me.  We had to call in help.  The director for the third guy is still trying to stop us."  He kissed her on the cheek.  "I know it's in three days, Nanny Grimsley.   Can we still use the barn?"

"Go ahead," she sighed, swatting him on the arm.  He hissed and winced.  "What happened?"

"The Fed who decided we were lying about our real names thanks to her having removed us from most of the systems worldwide got a bit rough.  He wrenched my shoulder."  He rubbed it.  "I'll be fine."  He frowned as Tim pulled in, leaning out the door.  "Where's the bobsy twins?" he called.

"Behind me getting gas.  They were on fumes.  Plus you some soda, Xander."  He came up the stairs.  "Ma'am.  Tim McGee."

She looked at him.  "Not what we expected."  She patted him on the cheek.  "At least you're a polite boy."

"Yes, ma'am, Dean said you'd eat my liver without the beans and then make me a zombie if I wasn't."

She laughed.  "Making zombies is too hard for most normal annoyances, boy."  She smirked at Xander. "You?"

"Dean."  He smirked.  "They even removed most of the spirits from Sunnydale."  She stared at him. "I went back to make amends and things.  I ended up very possessed."

"Six hours of pulling spirits out of him," Tim agreed.  She shuddered.  "Anyway, motel, Xander?"

"Barn," he said, pointing.  Tim nodded, going to hike his bag back there.  "He's doing okay."  He smirked at her.  "She really had a hacker take us out of most of the federal systems so she could stop us."

"She a demon?"

"Half succubus.  I'm making a side trip on the way to Connecticut for the next one to banish her ass."  He went to grab his bag and hiked out back.  He waved when he heard the Impala, letting the boys park and follow them around.  "Word of advice, McGee, put some loose hay on top of a bale.  Sam's back hurt the last time he didn't."  The boys hiked in.  "Okay, we've got three days.  We know the demon is hitting the grove.  Then I'm hitting DC to banish the bitch, then we'll hit Connecticut."

"Can we?" Dean asked.  "By the way, who was the guy that showed up?"

Xander smirked.  "Former Watcher's Council.  He loathed us and Giles.  Buffy should've been his slayer but Travers decided to get Giles killed for being too smart."  He chuckled a little evilly.  "He hates Giles.  He hates me because of how I warped the old order.  We have a mutual dislike but respect pact.  He showed up on behalf of the Council since he's their guy locally.  He spilled just enough so they knew the director chick was in serious pain of problems.  Oh, and get this, I found out the Council used to go take demons from the White House.  We haven't been since the First Evil stuff."  Sam whimpered, giving him a horrified look.  "The President is not happy with the imps and the VP being possessed.  He's going to be even less happy when it doesn't get solved because he had us attacked by acting through her."  He gave them his best mean kitty smirk.  "So we'll see how DC ends up on a side trip."

"I need to check in with Gibbs and Tony too; Tony said so when he showed up to get us out of there," McGee said.  "I'll point out the director to you then leave.  I can't act against my own director, I'll end up in jail," he explained at the giggling.  "Even Gibbs said so."

"It'll be fine," Xander promised.  He looked at Dean.  "How do we want to play this one?"

"Tim guards you, you do the spell, I kill anything else, Sam helps with that."

"Works for me."  He got out of their way so they could come up into the hayloft.  "Did you change your plates?"

"Yeah," Dean admitted, nodding.  "Waste of the old ones."

Xander leaned closer.  "I've got a contact, Dean."  Dean stared at him.  He shrugged.  "I make strange friends.  After all, you're strange and a friend."  Dean smacked at him but he ducked and laughed.  Sam handed him a soda.  "Love you, Sam."

"Then next time you curl up watching tv, you curl up on him," Dean told him.  "We have everything for the spell, right?"

"Yeah, no herbs needed," Xander promised.  He waved the paper he pulled from his pocket.  "See?"  He put it back and they settled in to check their swords and guns.  This was not going to be an easy fight.  Xander was scared and so was Dean but they knew what they had to do.

***

Xander cast the spell, watching it go out to pulverize the demon, going through Dean's sword.  "That was not supposed to happen," he called.  "I know I didn't goof."

"I don't care!" Dean shouted, stabbing the demon with the loaded blade.  It squealed and puddled down to goo.  The other demons started to run but McGee and Sam mopped them up from behind while Xander and Dean got the front edges.  They met over the last few.  Dean looked over.  "What happened!" he shouted.

Xander shrugged.  "I don't know!" he shouted back.  "I read it off the paper!"  He threw up his hands.  "How do I know why magic still goes screwy around me!"

"Whatever," Tim said calmly.  "For now, let's clean up the mess!"  They nodded, pulling things together to burn the demons' bodies.  Sam lit it on fire and it was cheery, kind of.

Xander stiffened and turned around, looking at the spirit that floated out.  "Lady Gretchen."

"Xander.  You threatened and attacked a being of the grove?" she asked calmly.

"No," he said slowly, pointing at the demons.  "Only them."

"One of them had eaten of the unicorn, Xander.  You attacked one of us."

"If they ate the little thing that's not our fault and it was dead," Dean complained.  "It's not his fault it was eaten.  No one told us it had been eaten."

"You wanted us to leave the demon living?" Xander asked.

She grimaced.  "You know we didn't, Xander.  The grove must not fall but it also must not be attacked, even by those such as you."

"What did you want me to do then!" he shouted.

"Spirits aren't often reasonable," Sam said calmly.  "Lady Gretchen, he had no choice if the grove was to be saved.  We're sorry the demon ate the unicorn, but we had to destroy the demon, even with it in there.  Or else the grove wouldn't be protected and we'd still be at fault.  Like back in the Greek myths."

She nodded.  "While that may be true, Xander did know of the proscription against hurting those of the grove.  We will have to punish him for that."

"Bring it on," Xander said coolly, staring at her.  "I'm not scared of the grove."  He stepped closer.  "I have never been scared of the grove.  No matter how many times I get called in there to do things for you, even though you injure me each time."

"The price paid for innocence is the blood of those who are not."

"I know I'm not.  Next time, get someone else to protect you."

"You will have to take his place, Xander."

"No, I don't.  I'll come running if the grove needs protected, but I am not leaving part of me here to protect it.  I'm not that sort of witch."  He walked off, casting a protection charm at the same time.  His magic skills were coming along very well recently.  Since Sunnydale had blasted him open.

Dean stopped him, staring at the ghost.  "He still has to do what else the prophecy demands, Lady Gretchen.  He can't stay to help you guard them.  If you need more guards, call up witches, not him.  He's busy this year."

She stared at him.  "You brave much for your family, Dean."

"Yeah, and?  I don't find that a fault."

"Would you take his place?"

He held up the sword.  "Kinda can't this year.  Ask next year.  By then we may all be dead.  Or, better yet, get one of the other witches to have a daughter since it's under female protection."  She glared at him.  "He's not."

"He should take the one he harm's place."

"He didn't hurt him, the demon ate him!" Dean shouted back.

"Dean, calm down.  You're arguing with a ghost," Xander said calmly.  He looked at her.  "Even if you should try that, by drawing me in that way you'd destroy the sacrifice that led to the creation of the grove.  You'd destroy everything to have me do something?"  She shook her head.  "Then we're at a stalemate.  Maybe if I die this year, but otherwise no. Thanks anyway."  He walked off.

"One will have to take his place."

He stopped to look at her. "Then call back the unicorn's spirit.  It's not dead," Xander said, pointing off to the side.  "It's right there.  It'll do just as well as you do."

"There is no debate."

Xander glared at her.  "I'm not in the grove, Lady Gretchen."  He shrugged. "I'll never  enter here again, even if it does mean the world will end."  She sneered.  He went back to walking off.  "Nanny, heading to DC," he yelled as he walked onto the farm.

She came out onto the porch.  "She has a point and it could save part of you, Xander."

Xander snorted.  "No it won't!  Think about my usual skills, Nanny Grimsley.  I'd rip the grove apart by being male and being a medium."  She went pale.  "Do you really want the grove to be gone permanently?  That blood spilled to be in vain?  It will be.  It's not like I had a choice.  The demon ate the unicorn.  It was already gone.  I didn't threaten the unicorn's spirit.  I helped kill the demon."  He tossed down the sword. "They want it back, take it."

She shook her head.  "No, we cannot.  Not until it's done."

"Who in the hell said I want to do this for you guys?" he demanded.

"Calm down," Dean called, walking up behind him.  "We do it because it's right, not because the people thank us for it, Xander."  He made the other guy look at him.  "No one thanks us for our work and most people hate us for doing it.  We can't quit just because someone got unreasonable about it."

Xander nodded.  "I know that.  I've never expected thanks or anything.  I do expect them not to knowingly fuck me over on purpose for doing what they couldn't.  They called, I didn't volunteer.  We both know I didn't want to be doing this.  I had more than enough on my plate getting slayers ready to head out."

"I know," he agreed calmly.  "It sucks."  He looked at her.  "You know what?  She targeted the wrong one.  The spell warped and went through my sword. I killed the demon."  She gasped.  "So whatever plan this is, stop it."  He handed Xander back his sword.  "Come on, we'll head.  We could all use a good shower tonight.  It's only four hours back to Deb and Steve's place if we take the new interstate instead of the back roads."  Xander nodded, going to get his stuff.  Dean looked at her.  "For some reason spells still go wrong around him.  We have no idea why it warped and went through me instead of into the demon.  So you two can blow it out your asses."  He walked off, heading to grab their stuff.  He called ahead, just in case they were short on rooms.  "Deb, Dean.  We're coming, all three of us and Sammy.  Thanks.  Showers.  No, issues."  He hung up and took Xander's keys since he was still fuming.  "Sammy can drive yours, Xander.  You're too pissed to drive."  He tossed them to Sam when he walked in, not looking away from Xander.  "Come on, I'll let you pick the cassette since you appreciate my music."  Xander nodded, packing up and heading with him.  "We're hitting Deb's.  Give Tim directions."  He headed off.

Sam took a deep breath.  "Okay.  They're both pissed."  He looked at Tim.  "Deborah and her husband run a motel but they're former hunters.  They might even feed us dinner."  They packed up their few things and headed out to the cars.  Sam did like the caddy.  It was a comfortable ride.  It had a great satellite stereo system so he could listen to whatever he wanted.  Today he decided on the dirty comedy station.  He needed a laugh.  Tim followed him out onto the road.  He'd make sure he could keep up.  His Toyota wasn't nearly as powerful as the Caddy's engine.

***

Dean parked somewhere out of the way, looking at Xander.  "You better?"

"No," he said weakly.  "I'm so tired."

"I know."  He shifted some to look at him.  "It could be a lot worse, Xander.  They can't force you to destroy the grove and take over its job."

Xander looked at him.  "As Nanny said, it'd make sure some of me lived on, Dean."  He got glared at.  "I'm figuring that out.  I don't know!"  He slumped down.  "I'm thinking about how to deal with that last spell.  We'll figure it out."

"How did the magic get blasted open?"

"One of the spirits froze me and made me walk to the center of the crater, directly over the seal that was buried inside the hellmouth.  It opened me to it."  He sniffled then looked at him.  "Ethan hates me too.  He was Giles' former snuggly before they parted ways because of Ethan's chaos magic stuff."  He looked out the front window again.  "He had an idea.  I'm still trying to get it to come to the surface.  I don't think we got him totally out.  Though I did get to give Giles a message from him and make him freak out."  He grinned slightly.  "We didn't know he had been in town to cause more chaos and soak up what was being poured off the hellmouth."

"Will it work?"

Xander shrugged.  "I don't know.  He's the guy behind Halloween that got me the soldier."  He looked at him again.  "I'll be fine.  I know the burnout is getting worse and my temper's getting shorter the closer we get to that deadline but it'll be fine."

"You sure?"  He shifted slightly.  "Your hands were gathering magic back there to go off on her."

Xander nodded.  "That's why I walked away."  He grinned.  "I'd never blast Sammy, Dean.  How else am I supposed to figure out what normal guys do?"

"Point."  He smiled.  "You're going to retire after this?"

"If I survive?  I'll fall back to spell work and research.  Not in Cleveland."

"It's good you're not going back there.  It was bad for you," he said.

"You guys worked very hard to show me that."

"We did," Dean agreed, grinning at him.

Xander looked at him after the awkward pause.  "Do you get the feeling Dawn's going 'kiss him' over and over somewhere?"

"Hearing her?"

"Kinda."  He looked up.  "Stop it.  Pervert."  He looked at him, making him laugh.  "I should just to give her happiness for the week."

Dean kissed him hard and fast.  "There, now she's happy.  I'm going to hustle pool tonight."

"At least you're not hustling other things."

"That thought occurred to me once but I'm too fantastic to pay," Dean said smugly.  "You on the other hand..."

"I'll get one of the psycho broads to pay me," Xander said dryly.  "Or the truck drivers who keep trying to pick me up for some reason."  He shuddered.  "Not my style."

"Sure."  He shifted so he could restart the engine and they could head off.  By the time they got to the motel Xander had taken a quick nap, he was in a better mood, and so was Dean.  Sam and Tim were already there.  He got out, looking at them.  "How're we doing rooms?"

"Tim and I are going to talk about college stuff.  You two get your own," Sam called from the doorway.  "Deb wants to see you."

"Sure."  He let Xander catch the room key, getting a look at it before he went into the office.  "Yes, beautiful one who cooks?" he asked with a grin.

"What happened!"

"The spell warped a bit.  They had a plan to capture part of Xander to live in the grove forever.  He threw a fit, a good one for a good reason, and now we're here.  When's dinner?"

She scowled at him.  "The spell *warped*?"

"Instead of hitting the demon it hit my sword and I killed the demon.  It let him defeat the plan they had to suck some of him in to protect the grove by destroying it."

"He..."

"He's a powerful medium, Deb.  When we rescued him from Sunnydale we spent six hours pulling spirits out of him."

She groaned.  "Damn.  Poor kid."

He nodded.  "Kind of.  So he's had a temper, a nap since then, and we talked.  Those two wanted to have 'normal life' drinking?"

"Yup."  She leaned on the counter.  "Is he all right?"  Dean nodded.  "Still dangerous?"

"He's not been dangerous, Deb.  He won't be dangerous.  Not to us or to anyone else."

"That much power...."

He snorted.  "And Dawn doesn't?"

"Well...."

"Or Rosenburg?  She tried to destroy the world in her grief!  Xander's the only reason she was stopped!  She's still living."

"The world can only handle so much power, Dean."

"Then maybe he'll be able to dump some back into the Goddess and she'll be able to fix shit," he said bluntly.  "Want us to go?"

"No."  She swatted him on the side of the head.  "Shut up, Dean.  I'm worried about what this is doing to his already burned out soul."

He glanced around then looked at her.  "Xander's been looking at this like a terminal cancer patient.  Making plans and things.  Ever since he translated that part.  He's trying to figure out how not to make us do it to him."  She gaped.  "That's the last chore by the prophecy.  Sam and he agreed about that.  So did Dawn.  None of us like that idea.  We're looking at ways."

"If he's too powerful he could warp others," she said calmly.

"So maybe he'll dump it into an area that's had a lot of drought problems and they'll suddenly get crops and rain.  Dawn said they made Willow bleed all her excess magic when they fixed her after she tried to end the world."

"That could help," she admitted.  "Fine.  I worry about you goofballs.  You know you and Sam are the babies of the circle."

He snorted.  "Some day Sam'll have kids when he tries for normal again."  He walked off.  "Dinner?"

"I'll call.  Go clean up."

"Yes, ma'am."  He walked into his room, shaking his head.  "What about dumping some of the power somewhere to help?"

"I do that nearly daily, Dean," Xander said, looking up from his playboy.  "Not like I want to horde it.  You might turn into a bunny rabbit or something equally cute and cuddly that makes girls coo."

"That would be bad, yeah.  Never being laid, only getting to the petting stage."  He went to take a shower.  "You showered?"

"Nope.  You can have the first one.  I'll deal with mine later.  You got more sweaty."

"You were dripping with it," Dean complained, coming out of the bathroom.  "I nearly didn't let you in the car you were so wet."

Xander looked at him.  "I dried, you're still sweaty, quit complaining.  I'm being nice and you complain?  You're starting to sound like Anya, Dean."

He walked in there shaking his head, slamming the bathroom door.   He came out when he was done and Xander went in there to shower, leaving him the playboy.  He laid back on his bed to look through it.  Not his thing this month but some were cute enough.  He'd do most of them.  Sam tapped so he got up to let them in.  "What?"

"Xander?"  He pointed at the bathroom.  "We were going to order pay-per-view tonight since there's a good concert listed then crash."

"Have fun doing the 'normal guy' drinking."

Sam grinned.  "You sure you don't want to join us?"

"Listening to you two complain you miss writing papers?  No thanks."  Sam nodded, heading off.  He went back to the magazine.  Xander came out in a towel.  "They're going to have one of those 'normal guy' drinking nights to a pay-per-view concert."

"Eeeh, not into college.  Even the thought gives me hives."  He sat down on his bed, looking at the magazine.  "You didn't like the redhead?"

"I like pretty, I'm not into a hair color.  Her nose was huge."  He looked at him.  "Besides, she had small breasts.  You?"

Xander shrugged.  "I gave up on being picky.  Sex good.  Stress relief great.  It's my present motto."

"Then go pounce Sammy.  He could use some stress relief."

"I tried that the last time I was tipsy, he nearly decked me."

"Forgot about that," Dean admitted.  He shrugged it off.  "I know you won't tie him up and hurt him or anything.  There's almost no clubs locally but one gay place."

"You were going to hustle pool at a gay place?"

"They have more free money because most of them don't have kids.  Newsweek said so."  He smirked before going back to reading.  He tipped the magazine to get a better look at a picture.  Xander looked over.  "She's pretty."

"Yeah but that's a sore," Xander said, pointing at something.

"Never mind."  He looked at him.  "Ever catch anything?"

"Outside of the ghosts at Halloween?"  Dean nodded.  "Did you?"

"Twice.  Fortunately nothing too bad.  Both before I turned nineteen."

Xander snickered.  "Once.  While I was stripping.  Girl?"  Dean shook his head.  "Me either.  Sam know?"

"Hell no.  He'd still be trying to hold it over my head."

"That's why I didn't tell the girls I got laid during my trip."

Dean smirked. "How much did you pay?"

"That guy?  Twenty bucks.  Most of the time nothing."

"Uh-huh.  Maybe we should let you hustle in the gay bar?"

Xander smirked.  "I'm a top, Dean.  The only one who gets my ass was Anya's teeth."  Dean cackled at that.  "She did.  She bit me all the time."

"You could give cheap blows."

"I don't do it that well.  I can't deep throat and most guys like that."

"I do too.  I'm really fond of the girls who can."  He went back to the magazine.  "At least you'd get some stress relief.  Not that I want them here but you'd get some stress relief."  They had gotten a lot more used to a relaxed Xander.  Once he had finally relaxed around them he curled up next to them to watch tv and steal their snacks.  He teased them a lot more often.  Sam had remembered he could blush a few times.  "So, anything kinky you've done?"

Xander smirked.  "I asked Sam that and he blushed.  How dark do you go?"

"I don't blush."

"Really?"  He got up, looking down at him.  "Let me guess, some mild tying down in your past?"  Dean nodded, he'd admit to that.  "Maybe some anal sex?"  Dean nodded, he'd admitted to that too.  "Then I've so got you beat."  He smirked.  "One of the other strippers wanted to be fisted for his birthday and I got to help."  Dean blushed at that.  "It's an intense feeling.  Very personal.  Much more close than sex."

"I don't need to know," Dean moaned.

"And you said you don't blush," he teased, patting him on the head.  "Poor baby."

"Is that the worst?"

"No but I'm not telling you the worst ones, Dean.  I don't want Dawn to hear them.  She's scrying again."

"If she was, you'd have lost your towel."  Xander showed him the pin, making him laugh.  "Anticipated it?"

"Yup.  Sure did."  He beamed.  "I had a wild four months in Oxnard.  I don't regret doing it."

"That's good."  He sat up.  "Get dressed.  We'll hit the gay bar so you get sucked and I get to play some pool."  Xander nodded, going into the bathroom to change.  He came out in some pants Dean had never seen on him.  "Leather's a bit too high brow for around here, Xander.  This isn't New York, it's lower Oklahoma.  They'll be in jeans."  He sighed and went to change into some very snug jeans with his brown button up shirt that made his eyes seem large and sparkling.  Dean changed into something better too.  Not that he liked going to the gay bars but they did make it so much easier to hustle pool.  Especially when they were watching Xander's ass.

***

Dean looked across the bar, not finding Xander.  He wasn't worried, the guy could handle it if something happened.  He went back to planning his next shot, not minding when someone decided to stroke his ass.  "Not free," he said.  The guy made a 'damn' noise with his tongue.  Dean grinned back at him.  "Sorry, but I'm a top."

"You and that boy you brought in both.  You put people between you?"

"We're friends so not yet."  He smirked and got back to his shot, sinking it and moving to the eight ball.  The guys at the table moaned, tossing down money before going to get a beer and then go onto the floor.  Dean pocketed the money and looked at his admirer.  "Where is he anyway?  I can't find him."

"He's upstairs.  The drag queens kidnaped him.  One wanted to have some help with a corset."

"Ah."  He nodded.  "I'll get him back when he's done."  The man laughed.  "I'm his ride."

"Uh-huh.  He said he's a top."

Dean smirked.  "He is, so it's not that sort of ride.  Unless he really wanted to switch."  He leaned against the table.  "Want to play me?"

"Oooh, baby, I'd love to play with you.  Do you charge?"

"Not for fun.  I still don't go farther than touching in the clubs.  If I do people try to join in."

"Pity."  He leaned over to sniff his neck.  "You do smell good."

Xander slunk back down the stairs, coming over to where Dean was, taking his beer to drink.  He looked at the guy hitting on Dean.  "He only likes them on their knees and begging, Incubus."  That got a moan.  "Or did you want me instead?"  The incubus came over to sniff him and let Xander walk him off.

Dean shrugged.  "Okay then."  He gave them ten minutes, every guy deserved an uninterrupted blow job now and then.  Then he followed.  The incubus was still working on him.  "That doesn't work either?"

"It's my third for the night," Xander complained. "Give him a few more, Dean."

"Fine."   He let the demon finish him off then tossed the banishing potion on him.  He looked at Xander.  "I'd fix that before someone thinks it's an offer."  Xander tucked himself back into his pants and they headed for the Impala.  It was late and they didn't want to go back in there.  "Drag queens?"

"Yeah, who wanted to tease and play with me.  A whole group of them who wanted to tease me, play with me, turn me into a girl so they could be lesbians, all that good stuff."

"You okay?" Dean asked, smiling in the dark of the car.  Only Xander got the psycho women.

"I...."

Dean looked at him.  "Could use a cuddle?"

"Yeah, I could use a cuddle."  He nodded.  "And another beer.  It's been a long day."

"It has."  He drove them back to the motel with a stop at a drive-thu liquor store for beer.  They settled in on the beds to watch some late-night tv on the smut channel and drink their six pack.  Xander got his cuddle and Dean stroked through his hair.  It was comfortable.  Hell, this is what he thought 'normal' people did when the sex died in their marriages.  That thought made him realize he should probably let Xander fall asleep in his own bed.  He looked down.  Too late.  Xander was snoring into his stomach, one leg thrown over his ankle.  He tried to move but Xander pinned him down.  "Okay," he agreed, finishing that beer.  The all-smut channel changed to a smuttier movie since it was now after midnight.  He loved Cinemax.  This was one of those 'not rated' ones that had sex but you only ever saw the naked women.  Which was fine with him.  It was more than good enough for him.  He tried to shift when he got hard but Xander wasn't letting him do it.  "Xander, gotta use the can," he said quietly.  Xander sniffled and shifted so he was more on top of his lap.  "No, get off."  Xander moaned.  "Not that way," he said with a goofy grin.  "We're both way too drunk for that."  Xander nuzzled his stomach but that was fine.  He went back to stroking over his head to calm him back down from whatever dream he was having.  He heard the mewling noise and sighed, finding the exorcism spell Sam had copied for him.  Xander still picked up random spirits now and then.  Apparently the incubus hadn't really gone away.

Only Xander.

***

Xander walked into the bar in DC, smiling at the bartender, who gave him a horrified look.  "Someone paid for me to meet her here," he said quietly, taking the beer.  He sipped it on the way back to the back room, finding her back there with someone.  He sat down across from her in the booth, taking a drink of his very good beer.  "You do realize how very *stupid* it was to have a hacker break the law for you?  Especially against hackers?  There's hackers all over the world who're now pissed at you," he said with a fond smile.  "Pity."  He took another drink, looking at the guy beside him.  "Agent Fornell.  Long time no see, love."  He blew a kiss then looked at her again, staring at her.  "I know what you are."

"I'm....."

"Half succubus?  Yeah, I know," Xander said smugly.  Fornell coughed.  Xander concentrated and they both saw the flash around her as the necklace she wore broke.  He gave her a smug little look.  "Run to your masters, let them see how tainted you really are, *Director*."  He finished his beer then stood up to kiss her, making her whimper as her powers come out full force.  "A hunter is almost always ready for one of you.  Your kind are stress relief and then banished."  He grinned at Fornell again.  "Tim said hi."  He walked out, strolling really.  One woman gave him a long stare so he smirked at her, blowing a kiss.  She waved him over so he went to let her buy him a drink and talk to her.  He could pretend to be a rent boy for it a while.  It was a thrilling old game he had teased the demons with in the clubs.  The director stomped off.  "That poor woman.  She's delusional."  He looked at her again.  "Thinks that I'm a demon."

She blinked.  "Well, maybe in bed," she said smugly.

"You think I'm an incubus?" he teased back.

"We can see."

"We can, but I only play very cleanly, ma'am," he said gently.  "Very, very cleanly.  No dirtiness tonight."

She moaned.  "I can play by those rules.  You do...please your women?"

"Of course.  Every day."  He kissed the back of her hand, massaging the pressure point in it.  She moaned and shifted.  He gave her a smug look.  "I'm very good at it."

She whimpered and left with him, having him in the back of the limo on the way to her house.  Then she tied him down to the bed and rode him until she begged for mercy.  He magically untied the ropes and flipped her over, diving in to make her beg for real.  She was so pretty when she begged. By the time he was ready to come, she was limp, sated, and smiling.  He came and looked down at her.  "You're worth more than whatever you fee is, young man."

He smirked.  "Usually I'm fairly inexpensive.  I was using that to go annoy the redhead."  He blew a kiss when she gave him a horrified look.  She was the sort who'd pay for it but bar pickups and the average man was beneath her.  Pros gave her the dirty feeling she needed to feel like she was breaking some important rules and the rush it gave her was what got her off.  "She's been plaguing her people.  I'm one of the ones that got sent to...talk with her."

"You're an assassin?"

"No, I'm an annoyance.  I make some people so very annoyed that they go turn themselves in."  She swallowed, pulling him down to kiss him.  "Though I have had to hunt in the past."  She found the energy for another round and he still left with five grand and a bottle of wine.  He went back to the cheap motel, handing Sam the wine.  "Not my style."

"Did you rob a store?" Dean asked.  Xander just grinned.  "What did you do?"

"I went to make sure her heritage came out in front of others."  He blew a kiss.  "And got picked up in the bar.  She sent the wine."

Dean moaned.  "Was she good?"

"She was excellent.  For some reason she decided I was an assassin and it turned her on."  He shrugged, sitting down to take off his boots.  He looked at the gaping brothers and grinned.  "What?"

"Damn," Sam said, heading to find some glasses.  The wine looked good.

Dean made sure he was gone.  "Hustled?" he asked quietly.

"I didn't even suggest.  She still paid me."  He smirked.  "I can get a new pair of leather pants."

Dean moaned, shaking his head.  "Define good."

"Dean, her limo just dropped me off at the bar.  When did I leave and head to the bar?"

Dean looked at the clock.  "Five.  It's nearly eleven."  He laughed.  "So that good, huh?"  Xander smirked and nodded.  "Decent.  You get dinner."

"You didn't eat?"

"No.  You?"

Xander considered it.  "No.  I can't consider her nutritious."  Sam came in blushing at that statement.  "Did you eat?"

"Nope.  Tim's eating with Tony and Gibbs."

"Let me get change and we'll get wings or something," Xander said, going to do that at the nearest bar once he had his boots back on.  He strolled back with lipstick marks on his neck and a full bag of dinner.  He handed it to Dean.

Sam looked at his throat.  "Vamp?"

"Human vamp.   She thought I'd be tasty."  He grinned.  "Apparently she smarmed me with her scent when her little shield broke."  He sat down with his order of wings and flipped to the pay-per-view channel.  "Hmm.  Mud wrestling or porn, Dean?"

"We're all in the same room, Xander," Sam complained.

"Mud wrestling then," Dean decided, clicking on it.  Since Xander was being so generous at the moment.  Sam shook his head but Dean got his extra-large plate and Sam got his.  He leaned closer.  "How much?"  Xander let him count the remains.  He moaned.  "Rich?"

"Very.  The limo was very smooth."  He put it back into his pocket without Sam having noticed.  Sam could be a bit prudish now and then.  He dug in, eating his next wing.  Bikini mud wrestling was his sort of sport.  He and Dean ended up next to each other, watching the girls grope and slide in the slimy environment.  "I'm wondering if you could do that with slime," Xander said.

"Gross," Sam complained.

"Not regular slime, like Nickelodeon slime.   Maybe with some succubus blood mixed in but regular slime."

"I'd pay fifty bucks to see that," Dean agreed.  "Protoplasm wrestling?"

Sam looked at them.  "You two are so sick."  They just grinned back.  He groaned.  "I'm going to get Tim and I a room to ourselves.  Before you two turn my mind to mush."

"Awww, do you want me too, Sammy?" Xander teased.

Sam glared at him.  "Only he gets away with that, Xander."

"And Dawn," Dean reminded him.

"And her but she's a cute girl.  He's not."

Xander snickered.  "No but I'm much better than most girls according to the lady earlier."

Sam gave him a look.  "I'd still have to be on top and you'd hate that."  He left, going to get him and Tim a room.  Even if Tim would be staying on Tony's couch tonight.  Xander was in a strange, sick, and twisted mood.  He'd be picked on all night.

Dean looked at him.  "You sure you want Sammy?"

"Dawn said he was a lot more forceful than he seemed," he teased.

"Did you get drugged?"

"Not that I know of."  He grinned and nibbled on another fry.  "I'm trying to stay at the level of playful, Dean.  She kinda reminded me of Anya earlier.  Tied me down and climbed on top.  It was a good flashback."

Dean looked at him.  "I'd offer but you said you don't bottom."

Xander shrugged.  "It was a bit of panic on my road trip.  Never got there."  He ate another fry.  "I can introduce you to that waitress if you want."

"Nah.  Too much work tonight."  He got comfortable.  "So, did the succubus set you off?"

"Quite possibly.  Either that or I'm in a naughty mood."  He grinned at him.  "Either way I'm a happy Xander boy."

Dean patted him on the thigh.  "We like you happy, Xander."  Xander moved his wings and moved closer.  "I'd still be on top."

"We can keep it at rubbing.  That means no worries about being on top."  He stared at him.

"Fine."  Xander kissed him and it was good.  Very good.  "Are you sure you can't turn into an incubus?"

"Very."  He moved down to tease and play with him.  Dean was very agreeable to being blown and they could tease each other.  Dean tried to tickle him so they ended up rolling around together on the bed.  Finally Dean ended up on top, stroking down against Xander's cock.  He was panting and groaning, it felt so good, but he had to know that Xander wasn't going to get strange.  "No needing flowers, right?"

"Flowers suck," Xander promised with a grin.  He pulled him down to kiss him, letting them go back to rubbing against each other.  Dean moaned, panting harder.  Xander kept going until he was begging for it.  Then Xander let himself fully let go for a while.  It was nearly perfect between them.  Dean was needy and begging.  He was at the begging stage himself.  He gulped air and kissed him again.  "Finish it, Dean.  Please?"

Dean moaned and finished them both off with a few firm strokes.  He went limp, letting Xander hold him for now.  He didn't have to worry about breaking him or keeping him from breathing.  "If Anya taught you that, remind me to buy her grave flowers," he said quietly.

Xander laughed.  "The other strippers did, she refined it."  He stroked through his hair.  "That was good."

"It was," Dean agreed.  He looked up.  "You're better than a waitress any day."

"You too."  Dean laughed.  It'd be fine.  "We should clean up before the biological glue sets."  He got up with a groan, going to get a wash cloth.  He came back to clean them off then snuggled in again.  "This okay?"

"This is good, Xander.  I haven't complained about you snoring into my armpit or chest yet."  Xander nodded, relaxing against him, slowly falling asleep.  Dean grinned.  He'd have to date a nympho sometime if it gave you that sort of stamina.  He went back to the pay-per-view, finding it over.  He looked at Xander, turning it to lesbian porn.  He wouldn't mind and it was only three bucks if he did.  Xander woke up a while later to watch with him when he groaned, lending a helping bit of anatomy to help him sleep.

***

Sam unlocked the other room's door.  "Morning, sunshines," he called loudly.

Xander lifted his head.  "Was your hand good?" he asked, putting his head back down on Dean's stomach.  He looked at the bed, frowning.  "Weren't we on the other bed?"

"Wet spot," Dean mumbled.  He shifted onto his side.  Xander shrugged and curled up against his back.  "Thanks, wife."

"Welcome, bitch."

"Guys!" Sam called.  "This is your morning wake up!"

"Bite me," Xander called.

"We have to hit Connecticut in four days, guys."

"Two day trip," Dean complained.  "'Bout thirty hours."

Xander grunted and nodded.  "Or one on the train."

"Not leaving the car, Xander."

"Fine."  He blinked at the stunned looking Sam.  "Anything good in the news?"

"The President was caught groping the director of NCIS but he's denying it.  Even though it was caught on camera from the media room."  He turned on the tv, letting them see the fallout.  She was already resigning due to her bad form the night before for being supposedly too drunk.  She was going to confine herself somewhere due to her problems.

Xander smiled.  "I do good work, huh, girlfriend?"

Dean looked back at him.  "I'm still on top, Xander."

"You guys...." Sam asked, trailing off.

Dean shook his head.  "Not that.  He does have good hands though."  He watched the news feed.  "Good on us.  Hope Gibbs enjoys that too."  He closed his eyes.  "Give us another hour, Sammy.  Then we'll get up and shower like good boys."

"Fine."  He left the coffees before fleeing back to his own room.  He found Tim finally back.  "They're cuddled together comfortably.  They said to give them another hour."

"That's fine.  Gibbs already called and said he wants to spank whichever one of them it was."

"Xander.  Then he got picked up in the bar by some rich lady who paid him because she thought he was an assassin.  We had wings and mud wrestling last night."

Tim laughed.  "Sounds like it was nearly as good as my Pasta Florentine, garlic bread, and Tony's movie collection."  Sam nodded, smiling a bit.  Someone in the next room yelped.  "Which one was that?"

"Dean.  I think.  Sometimes those two are scarily like twins."  He sat down.  "Dean was joking about Xander being his wife."

Tim snickered.  "Probably not for real.  Xander said he doesn't bottom."

"I don't think it mattered last night."  They both looked at the shared wall when someone over there moaned, a deep, primal sound that made them both hard.  It grew, getting louder and more frequent, turning them both on as they listened to whoever's breath start to hitch during the moans.  Then they came with a groan and someone else chuckled evilly.  Sam shivered.  "Maybe we should do another exorcism on Xander."

"It'd be the third one this month," Tim pointed out quietly.  Someone yelped then whimpered loudly, then groaned and let go.  "No evil giggle this time."

"The evil chuckle was probably in his ear.  The first giggle had to be from Xander."

"You've probably heard Dean make those noises before."

"You have *no* idea," Sam said dryly, cracking his buddy up.  "We were teenagers sharing a motel room with Dad.  He used to walk off and leave us alone for hours on end on purpose.  When I complained about Dean he told me some day my dick would run my life too but we'd both learn control within a year.  Mine never ran me that way.  Maybe that's why I'm not so gun-ho as those two and Dad."

"You wanted a higher calling, Sam.  It wasn't your fault," Tim told him.  "Even though you knew it was important you knew it's not going to be your life.  You didn't have the same reason they did.  They remember the old days and you don't."

"I know."  He slumped when the groan came back.  "No way.  Unless Xander really did turn into an incubus."  He got up but Tim shook his head, pushing him back down.  "We still have to drive hard, Tim."

He grinned.  "If you can get Dean on a plane, we can ship the cars up with us.  Military transport."

"Oh, thank God."   He called the cellphone.  "We've got military transport to Connecticut.  Hurry up.  You're loud and embarrassing me."  He hung up.

"Go to hell, Sammy!" Dean yelled through the wall.  His voice got quiet but it was still apparently soothing because he did make that same 'coming' groan a few minutes later.  Ten minutes later he stomped over.  "What were you thinking?"

"It's been forty minutes and we've got to drive all day?" Sam suggested.  "You'd already had wake up sex?"

Dean growled.  "It wasn't like that!"

"Bull," Tim told him dryly.  "The noises were pretty clear and Xander's giggle made it even more clear."

Dean walked off shaking his head.  "Where are we meeting it?"

"Let me call to make sure," Tim offered, calling his former boss.  "Hey, boss.  Yeah, Sam said it was Xander.   Yup, let out her half-succubus heritage.  Can we get that ride?  No, Dean and Xander got a bit...celebratory last night.  Yeah, hangover.  Oh, you did hear about him being picked up.  Mud wrestling and wings after that with the wine, boss."  Sam pointed at the rest of the bottle, letting him sniff it and get a glass.  It was excellent wine.  "We can do that.  Thanks, boss."  He hung up.  "Five, Dean!  We leave at five-thirty!"

Xander stuck his head in the door after picking the lock.  "Sure, we can do that."  He grinned. "If you're that jealous, Sam, call Dawn."  He closed the door and went back to make sure they had packed everything.  The rest of the wings made a decent breakfast and it was good with them.  It was like one of the old days with Anya.  He had that comfortably tired glow.  He was happy.  He was content and sated.  It was a good day.  They headed out, Xander driving off to get soda, Dean and Sam to do some sightseeing with Tim.  Xander went to check with Meredith, who was crying.  "What?" he asked as he walked in.  She lunged over to hug him.  "What happened?" he asked, sitting down to cuddle her.

"Men are all asshats!" she sobbed.

"I know we are.  What did yours do?"

"He broke up with me because I wouldn't let him tie me down and have my ass!"

He stroked her on the back.  "You needed a better one anyway.  He was manipulative.  The next one will be better or you'll pull a Willow and find a girlfriend."  She gave him a  dirty look.  "You will.  I doubt you're going to give up dating, Meredith."

"No," she pouted, curling up against his chest again.  "Why are you in town?"

"Payback for a bitch taking our IDs out of the systems around the world.   I did not want to deal with the older watcher in Kansas or Homeland Security's people."

"Oh."  She looked at him.  "What was she?"

"Halfie."

"Oh."  She nodded, teasing his stomach.  "Not all guys are like that?"

"No they're not and you're still too young for me.  I see you like a daughter, Meredith."

"Poo."

He looked down.  "Go find me some rosemary oil, oleander, and ginseng."  She went to do that while he got the candle and the mirror.  Something was seriously going on.  He found the spell on himself and had to cancel it, calling Dean.  "I'm very sorry if Willow's spell made you do things you weren't planning on doing last night with me.  Or this morning.  We'll beat her on our way back through Cleveland if you want."   He listened to him complain.  "Yup.  I'm with Meredith.  Already canceled it.  Sorry.  No, I don't regret it, but I wanted to let you know that's what caused it.  No, she made me a temporary incubus, Dean."  Meredith gasped then burst out giggling.  "You hush, girl."  He went back to listening to him, unraveling another spell that was starting.  "We have got to beat that witch.  She's trying again, Dean.  Yeah, that's why we didn't stop this morning."  He nodded.  "Not that I minded.  I'm in the same content and sated state that I was when I was dating my nympho."  He grinned a sappy grin.  "Thanks.  Sure."  He hung up and looked up then went to get some other supplies, sending the spell back at Willow.  Her girlfriend was not going to be amused but oh well!  Someone would yell.

***

Dean hung up.  "All those who're tired of Willow raise their hands," he said.  His went up.  The other two raised one.  "Motion carried.  Anyone got a preferred method?"

"Stakes are nice," Sam offered cautiously.  "Why?"

"Xander just called to apologize for last night and this morning if I didn't really want to do that with him because she had a spell on him to turn him into a temporary incubus.  So yes, stakes are very nice. Fire pretty, especially when they're roasting stakes."

"Steaks are nice but you can never get better than a good Rollo con Pollo with a good wine," a male voice said from behind Dean.

"Your stomach thinks higher than mine does," Dean joked back, turning to look at Tony.  "You heard?"

"Oh yeah.  By the way, Meredith called Gibbs to warn him."  He smirked.  "I'm fleeing the temper."

"Usually a good idea," McGee agreed.  "How's the director?"

"He's the temp director but they know they're not keeping him there.  He's retiring once someone's found."  Tony gave Dean a look.  "He did get *very* amused by his date last night as well."

"Yeah, me too.  It was a great dinner and mud wrestling afterward."

Tony laughed.  "I suggested the match to Gibbs and got my head smacked again."  He punched him on the arm.  "When are you guys going back to Cleveland?"

"Not for another few weeks," Sam said.  "We've got Connecticut, then Maine, then the short trip to visit someone in Canada for Xander, then down there."

"That'll give us time to correct her."  He grinned at Dean again.  "You might want to call Dawn.  For some reason she's been crying?"

"Not my fault," he muttered, texting her.  He got back a 'it's nothing'.  He called.  "Dawn?  Hi, Buffy.  Checking on Dawn.  Because we have another spell coming up and the last one warped on us in the middle of it.  We wanted her to go over it with Xander to make sure it'll be okay."  He listened to her complain that Dawn had duties.  "And saving the world isn't?  She was named in the prophecy, Buffy.  Get her on the phone or we're coming up there."  She hung up.  He called Xander.  "Dawn's in trouble."  He hung up when the phone went dead.   "He's not happy."

"I'm not happy.  Gibbs isn't happy.  It's a not-happy day.  Even though it probably started off good for some people."  Tony grinned again.  "It'll be fine."

Dawn appeared, hugging Sam.  "She wants to sacrifice me," she said quietly.

"Who?" Dean demanded.

"Willow.  She said there's too many powerful witches.  There should only be one.  That's why the Powers are killing Xander at the end of this."

"No we're not," Dean told her.  She looked over.  "C'mere."  She came over to hug him too, letting him give her some comfort.  "You're safe with us.  We'll figure it out."

"Gibbs said she can stay locally and we'll watch out for her," Tony promised.  "He tried to call her and couldn't get past the Willow wall."   They looked over as a well-known green cadillac pulled in and Xander got out, turning on the alarm before coming over.  "It's pretty safe here."

"Not with what's in my car."  He made Dawn look at him.  "We'll be doing something tonight while we're on pause."  She swallowed, shaking her head.  He nodded. "Yeah, we are.  I've had enough.  She tried to turn me into an incubus last night."

"She's going over again, Xander."

"Then let Tara come gather her if she wants her back," he said dryly.

"We were thinking roasting stakes were good," Dean said.

Xander smiled sweetly.  "Don't tempt me."  He looked at Dawn again.  "You're my sister.  I don't know why the Powers sent you to Buffy.  She's damn near useless and I told her that on the way over.  She was complaining you had gotten away."  He smirked.  "So I called one of the other Watchers in residence and had him pass on a message to Giles.  Then I asked Fred to go too."  She shuddered.  "Fred's still screaming.  I'm getting a live feed of it."  He smirked.  "Giles is still screaming and ranting, Dawnie.  You're mine now.  Got it?"  She nodded, hugging him instead.  "That's my little sister.  She touches you again and the Council can rebuild again."  Someone coughed so he looked over.  "Yes, Agent...."

"Perkins, sir.  Deputy Director Fornell sent me to find you?"

"For?"

"Last night, sir.  He wanted to know what happened."

"I told him last night.  Oh, let him know there's a bit of trouble in Cleveland but we're fixing Willow.  Don't send the Homeland guys up for a while.  It's going to be messy but in- house."  He nodded at that.  "Then remind him what I called her last night at the table."  The agent nodded and walked off, calling to tell him that.  He stiffened halfway there. "We've got it."  He called someone.  "Faith, me.  Willow's gone rogue.  She's trying to sacrifice Dawn so there's no other powerful witches."  He nodded.  "No, she knows the prophecy says that they could take me out at the end.  Yeah, taking out anyone of her power level.  I don't care if you send her to see Tara in person, sweetie.  Hey, knock her out permanently.  Let her float around.  That'll work.  I'll manage it by four."  He hung up, looking at her.  "We've got to hit the specialists shops.  Come on."  He looked over at Sam.  "We'll be there in time.  Which air field?"

"Call me, Xander.  I'll make sure you get there," Tony promised.  He nodded at that.  He waited until those two were gone.  "He's going to do what?"

"Knock her into a magical coma or out of her body," Sam said quietly.  He looked at Dean.  "Less problems."

"A lot less problems.  Tim, you got any dissent?"

"No," he said, shaking his head.  "I've went over the journals for the last few years with Dawn's help so I could get used to Xander.  She deserved it back when she tried to end the world."

Dean nodded, clapping his hands.  "Good.  Then let's see more pretty things."  They nodded, heading to do that, Tim riding with Tony.

***

Buffy was arguing with Willow when she suddenly collapsed.  "Damn it!  Giles!  She's down!"

He came rushing in to look her over.  She was fine medically, simply unconscious.  He lit up a spell to look her over for curses, frowning at what he saw.  He sighed, looking at her.  "Dawn got a bit upset about her plan to kill her, Buffy."  Buffy gaped.  "She went to Xander.  They've knocked her out so she can't kill either of them."

The phone rang and Buffy grabbed it.  "What did you think you were doing!"  She listened.  Then she slammed down the phone.  "Fred!"

"I'm not your personal slave," Fred said as she appeared.  She looked down at Willow.  "That's nicer than the Powers were going to do to her."  She looked at Buffy again.  "You'd think you'd want your sister to live, Buffy.  What's wrong with you?"  Giles gasped and moved to check her over.  "For those who wonder, Willow's fine.  She'll be Sleeping Beauty until someone wakes her up.  She's a ghost now."  She pointed.  "She's over there swearing."  Tara faded in; she could see it.  Then she saw her haul off and slap Willow like someone should've done years ago.  "Way to go, Tara!" she cheered.

Tara faded into view with a small smile.  "Willow's fine.  We're going to have a long discussion."  She looked at Buffy.  "Your mother is very upset if this isn't a spell."

"But Willow said it was dangerous, that's why the prophecy got pulled out, because there was too much power."

"No," Fred said, shaking her head.  "Not in the least.  It's one of those that's determined by star pattern and time.  It was going to happen.  They sped it up so it happened now since in ten years there's going to be a lot fewer slayers on active duty.  Right now you guys can handle the ripples the First Evil caused.  This is one of those."  Buffy gave her a pathetic look.  "That would've happened within a few years too, Buffy," she assured her.  "Willow sped it up.  Not your fault."  She smiled.  "Willow was right about one thing, her being so powerful pulled a lot of prophecies off the shelf to activate them.  If she hadn't tried to end the world, if she hadn't brought you back, Xander wouldn't be out on a quest with a magical sword with two hotty guys that both lust after his butt.  Dawn never would've been sent to you.  You were losing power before Glory.  The first slayer spell added back to it.  That was Willow.  Xander screws up all the prophecies she makes come into being but she did it.  Now, she's taking a long nap until she's better.  She'll automatically wake up if she's needed or if she learns what a stupid poop she is."  She looked at Giles.  "You too."  She looked at Buffy again.  "I will tell you that you've lost Dawn for good.  Xander said she's *his* little sister now.  You know what that means."

"They're going to do the incest thingy that Dean and Sam are?" Buffy asked.

Fred gave her a stunned look.  "Oh, God, Buffy, you just solved it."  She hugged her and disappeared.  She appeared only to Sam this time.  "Sammy?"  He gave her a dirty look.  "There's a cure for Xander dying.  Buffy gave me the hit I needed in the butt.  She was talking about you four being a quad.  I can't give you too many hints or they'll hear, but there's a book in Colorado...."  She faded out.  "Quads, Sam.  Quads.  Soul bondings can share."

Sam blinked, nodding.  "Okay," he called.   Dean and Tim both gave him an odd look.  "Fred.  I need to hit a research topic."  He looked up those keywords online, finding a very ancient prophecy.   It was odd but he had seen a part of it before.  Now though....  It might lead to something.

***

Xander pulled up to the gate Tony had told him to go to, pulling out his ID.  "DiNozzo and Gibbs sent us?"

"Yes, sir.  Do you have anything that would explode due to an atmosphere or pressure change?"  He had been warned to ask it this way instead of asking if he had anything dangerous because the guy would only give him a stupid look, like the other one had.

Xander considered it then nodded.  "Yes, two things, but I need them."

"Are they shielded?"

"Not really."  He got out and wiggled under the car, coming out with something in a small box.  "It's got a mercury switch."

"Is it going to explode?"  Xander nodded.  "Can you disarm it so it won't?"  Xander looked at it then nodded, disarming the switch so it couldn't go off.  He got into the trunk and held up the glass jars of nitroglycerine.  "Can those be packed differently?"

"They can explode due to pressure changes anyway," Dawn said. "Can you give this to Gibbs and make sure we get it back?"

"He said I could, ma'am.  Do you need the other thing?"

"Not for a few weeks," Xander said, handing it over with the small foam case of jars.  He checked to make sure the doorway was locked underneath then they headed up into the cargo plane, letting the handlers tie her down next to the Impala.  He waved at the gate guy, getting a nod back.  He walked them up to the front when one pointed.  "Howdy, neighbors."

Sam smiled.  "Fred said hi."

"Cool.  I'm sure she went to chew Buffy a new one again."  He sat down and showed Dawn how to buckle up.  The boys already were and so was Tim.  "Willow's in a full magic coma.  She's Sleeping Beauty.  She's out of her body and watching the others.  I left an out in case we needed her heft or something.  Or if she decides to go back to being good."

Dean nodded.  "I like that idea.  Still like stakes better but she'll learn."

Dawn smiled.  "I summoned Tara.  Her first act was to slap the shit out of her ex."

"Even better," Dean said happily.  "We saw you stop."

"Had to unload something with a mercury switch and the nitro.  Gibbs will make sure we get it back."

"What do you have in the car!" Dean demanded.

Xander grinned.  "The stuff we found in Sunnydale that I didn't put into hiding?"

"Uh-uh.  When we're in the air, we're going to go over your heap and see *everything*, Xander."

"But then I can't pull out weapons and see that look of glee you get when you see the new things."

Dean snickered.  "I'll still be happy to see them when they appear.  Most of your stuff is very sweet."  He gave his head a swat.  "Anything else I should know?"

"Nothing else happened.  What did Fred want, Sam?"

"To look up a book in Colorado."

Dawn frowned.  "There's a mystical library in Colorado?"

Xander frowned then nodded.  "Yeah, in Bixby.  There's a pretty powerful old witch there.  Named....  Um, I think Helm something or other.  Helmsley or something.  She's one of the oldest witches there are."  Dawn gave him an odd look.  "When I was in Sunnydale I sucked up Ethan and Dru.  She remembered her."

"Oh.  Cool I guess.  You're not talking to the stars, right?"

"No, nor do I have dolls," he said dryly, giving her a look.  "We'll figure out where you're staying for a few weeks until we're done by the time we're on our way back down."

"That's fine."  She snuggled into his side.  "Hey, Dean?"  He made an inquisitive noise, going back to sharpening his knife.  "Fred told Buffy that I was now Xander's little sister, that Buffy knew what that meant.  She said 'you mean they'll be doing the incest thingy that Sam and Dean are'."

Dean looked down at her.  "Cute.  Really."

"I was scrying.  Honestly."

Xander nodded, smirking at him.  "She did.  Then Fred....   She went off on having an idea."

"And came here to tell me to look up a book in Colorado," Sam agreed.  He looked at him.  That gave him an idea on what.  "She got recalled."

"We'll handle it," Xander promised.  "We have without her."

Dean nodded.  "We can do that."  Someone came on to close the cargo gate, sealing them in.  "All the cars fine?" he asked as the guy walked past him.

"Yes, sir, all secure."  He went up to fly the plane.

Xander looked over as they taxi'd down the runway, letting Dean grab his wrist.  "Breathe," he said quietly.  Dean nodded, keeping hold of his arm while he hummed Metallica.

"He did this last time too.  Then we nearly crashed."

"Then he's got a right to be nervous," Dawn told him, moving.  "Shift down seats, guys.  It'll be easier if he's surrounded."  Xander got them shifted down and she sat in Dean's former spot, letting him grip her wrist too.  "Here you are, Dean."  She stroked his arm.  "Concentrate.  You know there's no demons on this plane unless you count Tim and one of his online personalities."  Dean laughed at that.  They started the speeding up to taking off and Xander whispered in his ear until he relaxed enough to not be rigid.  Once they got in the air, Xander distracted him by taking him back to look at all the modifications to his car.  Dean was a car guy, it'd take his mind off things.  Dawn smiled at Sam.  "Don't worry about me cuddling at night.  Even if we're in a shared double room I'll be fine.  I've been camping before."

"That's fine," he agreed, taking Dean's knife to sharpen.  "What else happened?"  Tim handed him the headphones and microphone.  "Recorded?"  Tim shook his head.  She put on hers too.  "What happened with them?" he asked over it.

"The usual.  I was taking Xander's place as Giles assistant and senior researcher.  When I was scrying up there Giles checked Buffy for spells and found some."  She looked at the laptop he was looking at beside him.  She frowned.  "That wouldn't....  Oh, damn, I do know what she was talking about."  She took it to type into it and find another page.  Their satellite system had been cleared before the flight she hoped.  She handed it to him.  He looked at it then gave her a blinding smile and a nod.  "The mutation."

"Figure out why Xander's aim is off with his magic.  Last time nearly fried Dean."

"It's Xander and all magic goes screwy around him," she called.  "It's the hellmouth taint."

He grinned again.  "I'm going to like having you around more often, Dawn.  Just don't take food from Dean.  He'll spank."  She cackled and nodded.  "Good girl."

"Well, I try really hard," she said with a grin.

He laughed.  "You do more than try.  Did you hear our Dad decided to adopt Connor?"

"Hey, a little brother."

"Yeah, a really strong little brother," he agreed.  "One who loves PT and whatever Dad wants to teach him."

"He did kinda miss out on the dad stuff with Holden and Angel."

"Holden?"

"The insane guy who hated Angel enough to make a demonic deal to get his son and then took him to a demon realm to raise.  He went from six months old to seventeen in a few days of earth time."

"Damn," Sam said.  She nodded.  "So he was raised there?"

"Yeah.  He has no clue about normal things.  Fred said he still doesn't understand a lot of normal things.  But hey, his mom was Darla and not Dru.  That's something at least."  Sam chuckled and nodded.  "Read up, make sure it's something we won't need stuff for."

He went back to reading.  The witch in Colorado had put a lot of her books online at a wiccan website.  This one was fairly obscure and in Latin.  Sam copied it and translated it in another window.  Thirty pages later he let her see it.  She beamed at him then shrugged.  "You sure?"

"I'm good with it.  It'd be one of my fondest dreams, Sam."

"We'll talk to Dean about it."

"Not...."

"No.  Not him."  She nodded, understanding why he wasn't going to tell Xander yet.  They looked at Tim.

"I'm not getting involved in that part.  That's a later part of the prophecy where I'm basically absent.  I'm good with what I've got to do."

Sam smiled.  "Thanks, Tim.  So, are you going to work with Giles when you get done?  Since that's where Tony and Gibbs are going?"

"Probably.  Gibbs said the girls desperately need some sense.  Tony said something about booty shorts and heels then groaned because he had given himself a headache."

"Some of the younger girls do sex bait by looking like a ho.  Buffy taught that class because she hunted in the clubs," she told him.

"I don't care.  It's not a good idea.  You don't have good backup."

"Still, it works surprisingly well.  Xander does it too to get succuba to hunt and play with."

"You should've heard them last night," Sam told her.  Tim blushed. "And this morning."

"That wasn't the spell.  Anya trained Xander very well.  Then she told the rest of us how good or bad it was.  After the first three or four bad rants of hers, he got a lot better and gave her a lot more of the orgasms she wanted.  She was kinda blunt."

"He called her a nympho," Tim said.

She giggled.  "Anya called it orgasms instead of sex and it was all day every day even in public.  She wasn't satisfied unless she was stuffed full of sperm."  Sam blushed and looked down, shaking his head.  "I mean, I'm pushy and demanding but she wanted at least six a night and then at least two more during the day.  At minimum.  Then she cheated and jumped Spike on top of it."

"I would've punted her off the fire escape," Sam told her.

"Ah, but if he had she would've gotten her powers back, even if it was her fault they broke up."  She held up a finger.  "Then she could get Xander."

"Damned if he does or if he doesn't," Tim said.  "Like the grove thing."

Sam looked at him and nodded.  "He's had that a few times," Dawn agreed.  She looked back through the doorway but couldn't see them.  She looked at Sam again.  "At least she didn't try to kill him.  That made her better than Faith, Ampata, the science sub who turned out to be a praying mantis woman, and Cordy in some ways.  Cordy tried to cut him down then they groped and snogged in closets.  Hers was emotional death.  Faith literally tried to kill him by choking him.  Anya only complained if he wasn't spending money on her or he was too tired to get sex.  Like that Thanksgiving with the native curses.  She didn't rant he could die, she ranted it meant she couldn't have sex."

"Dean's not shallow; he's going to be surprising Xander with depth."

"No, not even.  Xander's a lot deeper than most people see.  A lot of it's pain but he's a deep well.  He's been injured more than a few times helping around there, taking them for us.  He nearly went to hell when I was acting out and activated a demon summoning coin accidentally on purpose."  Sam gave her an arch look.  "I was fourteen!" she defended.  "My mother had just died, Buffy was wrapped up in herself.  I didn't have anyone.  So yeah, I activated the medallion so they'd pay attention to me.  The same reason I shoplifted."  She grimaced.  "After over a day of show tunes and dancing like it was a Broadway musical all over town we finally found the demon.  Xander took the blame for me and Buffy screaming at me.  But he did give me this look that said he knew it had been me.  We had a long talk about everything that night.  Then Anya decided to try to separate us so things got worse.  We eventually worked it out.  We're tighter than Buffy and I were anyway."

He smiled.  "Now you're family.  Watch out, Dean gets a bit overprotective."

"I can hear someone taking my name in vain," Dean said as he came back.  He was a bit rumpled but calmer looking.

"Dude, tell me you did not jump Xander in the cargo hold!" Sam complained.

"No!"  He sat down.  Xander had jumped him but he wasn't going to share that.  It had been part apology and part tension breaking.  "We were crawling around his car."

Sam shook his head.  He knew the lie when he saw it from his brother.  Xander came back but he was perfectly straightened out.  "Everything resealed?"

"I need to replace one of the locks.  It won't stay locked.  I had to empty that stuff into another compartment.  Fortunately it won't drag when I'm driving."  Dawn looked at him.  "What?"

She gave his arm a hug.  "I love you."

He grinned.  "Don't you dare summon Sweet again, Dawnie."

"I didn't!  Did you hear?"

"No, but you only hug me when you think about that."  He patted her on the head.  "No way was I going to let you be a queen of hell."

"The tiara would look better on him," Dean teased.  Xander pinched him.  "Hey!  No touching like that unless you mean it."

Xander looked at him.  "Don't make me pounce you."

Dean smirked.  "Do you think you have that sort of stamina?"

Dawn nodded.  "Anya was almost switched over to the succuba patrol because of her desires.  Yes, he can."  Dean cackled.  "Really.  I don't know how she lived through eight or nine orgasms a night since I sleep after the third one, but she did and wanted more."

Xander nodded.  "She did," he agreed happily at Dean's look.  "Why do you think I only need two hours of sleep a night?  She'd jump me at bedtime, I'd nap finally, do it again before work, go work construction, come back, eat, go slay, and then repeat it again."

"So, this morning wasn't that unusual?" Sam teased.

Xander shook his head.  "No.  Not really.  I've got mad skills in the bedroom.  I could teach incubi a lot."

"Buffy, Giles, and I all heard a succuba he was seeing beg for mercy a few nights in a row," Dawn told them.  Dean gave them a horrified look.  "That's when Willow turned him into a kitty the second time.  I spent weeks petting his orange and gray tabby body while they tried to banish her."

"It was the most sleep I've ever gotten," Xander agreed.

"What happens if the girl's on top?" Sam asked.

"They can do it all they want.  Eventually I'll turn them over and give them what I want after they've satisfied themselves."

"As Anya and the succubus called it 'that little tongue thing that wears me out'," Dawn finished dryly.   She looked at Xander.  "Do you do that to guys?"

"I don't suck that well.  I still have a gag reflex, Dawn.  How did you get past yours?"

"Practice.  That and Sam helped."

"Maybe he should jump Sam to see if he could help him too," Dean teased with a grin.

Xander looked at him.  "That might make him as strange as you're becoming.  Then he'd never get to go over normal guy things with Tim."  Tim cackled at that, shaking his head.  "Besides, I can make seers go insane when I'm sleeping with them.  I tried it with Cordy after she got her visions and she had one nearly as soon as I touched her.  I let her back off, she came back and had another one."  Sam snickered at that.

Dawn nodded.  "She did.  Angel called up complaining that Xander was the harbinger of work."

Dean hung his head, shaking it.  "We'll see what happens if you get to be on the bottom taking it, Xander."

Xander blew a kiss.  "Only if it's special, Dean."  Dean looked at him.  Xander stared back at him.  Dean nodded that was fine with him.  "Sorry."

"Not a problem.  I still get the tv cuddles, right?"

"Sure.  All you want."  He leered.  "You know, we won't have a motel near where we're going."

"Aw, damn.  Sleeping in the car," Dean sighed.  He hated sleeping in the car.

"I call the Caddy," Sam said.  "Tim and I take it and it's comfy, plush seats.  You two get the Impala.  Dawn can have Tim's car."

Dean nodded.  "That'll work for us.  Xander?"

"Sure.  You have bench seats too."

"Okay.  Showers?"

"Pond on the lands we're going to," Tim told him, pulling out the map he had printed up.  "This is the area of the coordinates.  I pulled it up off the NCIS server.  We'll land about sixty miles from it, just past dark.  We'll drive in and there's a park here or there's woods here," he said.  "If we use the park they'll want us in tents. I sent an email and they said no sleeping in the cars.  But we'd have showers for a mere fifteen dollars per car."

"Will the person who owns the woods mind?" Dawn asked.

He shook his head.  "No one's living there unless they're homeless.  It's listed as abandoned and condemned.  Which means we can park near the pond and camp there.  I talked to the cops up there, told them I was driving up to Maine and that was about where I'd have to stop for the day.  The officer who answered said there's no motels within three hours.  That one was questionable and had about seven murders in the last four years.  Serial killer, normal one.  I asked about camping areas.  He suggested the pond.  Said they don't check it because kids don't go there to make out.  It's haunted.  She doesn't like teenagers."

"Will she bother us?"  Dawn asked.

"Shouldn't.  The body's on the lands in a small cemetery if she does."

Dean nodded.  "That works for me.  Xander?"  He shrugged but nodded.  "Sammy?"

"That's fine," he agreed.  "We can swim and bathe in the pond.  Dawn can hike a bit away so we don't look."

She pinched him.  "Everyone but Tim has seen me naked, Sam.  I'm not that shy."  Tim blushed.  "Sorry.  You don't have to look."

"You've seen her naked?" Dean asked Xander.

"She had a huge fever and her sister was off on a patrol.  I had to get her into a shower."

"If she doesn't mind I don't."  He looked at her.  "That nasty female stuff?"

"Not an issue I'm really familiar with.  I only have one every four months, Dean.  Since no one's there to nag me to have one I can keep going with the patches to keep it gone."

"Good enough for me," Dean decided.  "You have some?"

"I stole half of Meredith's.  I've got enough for five more months."

"Okay," he agreed happily.  He rubbed his hands together.  "How long before we land?"

"Three hours," Tim said.

Dean grimaced.  "I should nap then."

Xander reached over to knock him out then looked at Dawn.  "You can ride with me or Tim, either one."  She nodded, snuggling against his side to fall asleep.  He grinned at Sam.  "Solitaire?"

"No, research."  He grinned.  "Later magical stuff."  He nodded, letting it go there, letting himself drift off as well.  Sam smiled.  The three of them did look cute curled together.  He grinned at Tim, who was asleep too.  It was good.  He finished his translation and made sure he had it saved multiple places, including sending it to some people he knew to save for him in case he lost a copy.  Then he shut down his computer and took his own nap.  He wouldn't put anything past the Powers right now.

***

Later that night, Xander looked out at the moon.  "It looks so innocent," he told himself.

Sam sat down next to him.  "It is.  It's not the moon's fault it's used to enforce things or create change."  He nudged him with his shoulder.  "You're not playing with Dean, right?"

"Nope.  We agreed on the plane we're keeping it as friends with bennies."  He looked at him.  "I'll only hurt him during sparring matches, Sam."

"Good."  He gave his head a nudge.  "We'll figure everything else out.  What about the spell?"

"I've got it.  I still don't know why my aim went wide."

"Not like you can practice it," Sam agreed.  "Sometimes it's a back of the mind thought."

"I was paying attention to how they were doing, the same as I was you."

"Then the swords probably drew it."

"That could be a benefit later on.  I could aim to hit the sword and let whoever was closest get it."

"It could, if it wouldn't fry the holder."

"Good point."  He leaned back on his forearms.  "Tim snoring?"

"Yeah, he's having an allergy attack.  Apparently the guy offloading the cars earlier had a cat."  He watched the pond, smiling at the sight of Dean and Dawn splashing each other.  "You should be out there.  After all, you like water."

"Dawn warned me not to."

"Ah."  He gave him a nudge.  "Go for it, Xander."  He looked at him.  "If it was just Dean, would you?"

"If he had asked for some private time?  Yeah."

"Huh."  He grinned.  "Good."  He stood up and stripped off.  "Fortunately she didn't ask me so I can get her to help me gang up on Dean."  He waded down into the water and swam out to grab Dean by the ankle and pull him under, coming up laughing. Dawn laughed, splashing him for it.  "I get to get him, he's mine."  He looked around.  "I know you can swim...."  He shut his mouth when he felt the hand pulling him down.

Dean came up.  "Don't pick on your big brother.  I used to change you," he said when Sam came up spluttering.

She giggled.  "Did you have to watch the little Sam willy?"

"Yeah but I hoped he'd grow some.  Talk about tiny.  Even when he tried to pee on me he never made it."

"It's not now," Sam assured him.  Dean looked at Dawn.  "Don't even pull her into this."

"I'm not saying a word.  You each have your own style and way of doing things.  I'm not saying a word."  She swam off but Dean pounced her, dragging her under to tickle her until she could break for air and then pulled her down again.

"Don't make me do CPR; we might get two Keys," Xander called.  Dean burst out laughing, Dawn too.

"Get your tail out here, Xander."

"You said not to!"  He stripped and came down, then dove under the water, coming up behind Sam to dunk him again.  Then he dunked Dean.  He grinned.  "Siblings unite?"

"Deal," she agreed, shaking his hand.  Then they started the water war with the two brothers.  Dean got in a grope so she kneed him gently, the water easing the impact of her knee to his stomach.  Dean laughed and dunked her so Xander pushed Sam down after her, letting them swim off together.  They both came up a few feet away.  "Ha-ha!" she crowed.  "And Timmy fell asleep in his own car too!"  She stuck her tongue out.

"You leave biological stuff on my seats and that tongue is going to be licking it clean," Xander called without having to look.  He laughed at Dean's head shake.  "It appears they've got plans tonight."

"It does look that way.  No sperm in the water, Sammy.  We don't need to be coated too."

"Oh, shut up, Dean, and it's Sam!"

Dawn dunked him, grinning when he came up spluttering.  "I like Sammy.  Makes you seem cuter and less deadly.  Sam is for fighting and roughhousing and that stuff that makes you sweaty."

"You're a bit strange, Dawn."

"Well, yeah but I used to have a crush on Xander.  That and Sunnydale mean I've got to be."  She swam off, letting him chase her.  He caught her and ran a hand up her leg when she flipped over.  "Hi."

"Hi.  Shaved?" he asked when he reached high enough up her leg.

"Had to for a protection spell.  It called for it."  She shrugged. "I'll itch later."  He smiled, nodding.  "Fine."  She nodded at the cars.  "Want to play nearer to the bank?"

He looked over at where Dean and Xander were splashing each other.  "Let's hit the caddy."

She nodded, swimming off so he had to look at her butt.  He reached over to spank it on her, earning a look.  "Promises promises, Sammy."  He growled and she ran out of the water, heading for the car.  She'd dry on the way.

Dean shook his head, but he was grinning.  "She's so good at annoying him.  Nearly as good as me."

"I told the one lady that I wasn't an assassin, my business was annoyance."

Dean looked at him.  "I can see how that might be."  He pulled him closer, kissing him.  "We should see how much stamina you have."

"I wore you out last time," Xander said with a cheeky grin.

"You did," Dean agreed.  He kissed him again.  "I was drunk then and I'm not now."

"True, we're not."  He moved closer, grinning at him.  "Poor baby, are you tired?"

"Hell no."

"Then your car has seats that won't get ruined if we're wet, right?"  Dean laughed, swimming for the bank.  Xander followed, pulling Dean back into the water when he started to walk out, grinning at him.  "Last one there gets to be on the bottom."  He ran out of the water for the Impala.

"That's cheating," Dean called, chasing after him.  He pinned Xander against the car.  "I'm not letting you fuck me, Xander," he said in his ear.  "Not unless it's reciprocated."

"Oooh, big words," Xander teased.

Dean kicked his feet apart, shifting closer.  "What was that?"

"Big words?" Xander teased, grinning back at him.  "Are we doing this out here so they have to watch?"

Dean opened the back door.  "In."  Xander slid in and over to the far door.  Dean slid in and closed the door.  "It's been a while since I made out in here, but I think I remember how it goes."  He pulled him over to kiss him.  Xander moaned.  "Sore?"

"No.  Not yet."

Dean pulled back to look at him.  "We'll see when we get a good few weeks off somewhere with a shower."  He kissed him again.  Xander shifted into his lap, leaning down to kiss him better.  He pulled the hips closer, letting them start to rub each other.  Xander let out a soft moan at that.  "Gonna give up now?"

"I never surrender."  He started to lean down then moved.  "You get on top.  I want to nibble and it's too far down."

"No hickeys, Xander."

"Sure, I won't give you a hickey where your brother can see."  He grinned.  "Anywhere else is fair game?"

He considered it for a second then shrugged.  "I guess."  He climbed on top, still thrusting down.  Xander was nibbling his way down his chest while he held on.  "That mouth of yours should be listed in the books as a enemy to goodness," he moaned when it hit a nipple.  Xander chuckled against it, one hand stroking up Dean's back to pull him closer.  He groaned at the thrusting and rubbing going on.  The sucking was a benefit he was liking a lot too.  The hand on his back came down to pull his hips closer with a good shove to his butt, making him spread his knees a bit.  He shivered when Xander's finger scratched over his perineum while they were doing the other things.  It was an odd sensation but good.  Very good.  It was sending small shocks up his back, making him thrust harder.  "Xander."

Xander checked his clearance then shifted so he was on his back.  "There, better?"

"Much," he agreed, leaning down to kiss him again, giving himself free access to explore.  Xander was well muscled.  The fighting they'd been doing only improved that.  He tongued a few scars, earning a hiss of pleasure from one.  He moved over to tease him the same way.  Xander yelped when he bit, panting harder now.  "Good?"  He did it again and the yelp was quieter.  His head got held down so he let himself play for a few minutes before moving to the other side.  He shifted backward, looking at the hard cock. "I guess taller guys are longer."

Xander grinned.  "Use stretched it out.  Anya talked about applying weights."

Dean shook his head.  "No, that's freaky stuff, Xander."  He lapped the head and Xander tensed up with a hiss of pleasure, trying to grab his head.  He held down his wrists and went back to teasing him.  "I'm not going beyond teasing tonight."

"That's fine.  Just let me come soon."

"Sure.  When I get to it," he quipped, moving back up.  "You know, you don't do bad at sucking.  Not as bad as you think."  Xander flipped them over, making him wiggle back fully onto the seat.  "Easy."

"No I'm not.  Usually."  He went down to suck on him.  "All you had to do was ask."

Dean moaned, arching up into the warm heat.  "Do it in the morning when we wake up?" he asked.  He thumped his head on the seat.  "Please?"

"If there's time."

Dean grinned.  Yes!  Morning sex too!  Score!  "Paybacks?"

"You'd better get me off or I'm using mine to write claim markings on your chest," he teased, smirking up at him.

"Do that and I'm piercing you so you look like my wife to those in the freaky circles you used to run in."

"Most of them had a regular ring and I don't like rings.  I look stupid.  I cannot pull off the bling look."

"There's always nipple rings," Dean quipped.  Xander bit him on the thigh, making him hiss and grab his hair.  "No biting, Xander."

"Fine.  Take my fun."

"That fun, yes.  You might damage things.  Bite later, when we're on break."  Xander grinned so he pushed his head back down.  "Suck.  Please?"  Xander slurped him back down and it was nice again.  The finger was coming back to scratch in that same area, making him jerk and twist some.  It was damn good.  He felt it slide back further.  "I don't care if you do that," he admitted.  It went in search of his prostate, and it was excellent from then on.  He groaned, shifting his hips up to give him more room.  Xander followed, making him a happy boy.  He groaned as he came, going limp.  "Go ahead and shoot me."

Xander came up to kiss him.  "Naughty you."

"Get you back in the morning?" he offered with a grin.

"Nope."  He stroked himself.

"That I'm not too tired to do."  He stroked him, flipping them onto their side.  He was nearly hanging off the seat again but that was fine.  Xander was moaning into his mouth, arching into his hand.  It was definitely good for him.  Xander shot off and went limp, pulling him closer to kiss him and hold him.  "Cuddles are good when the seat's so small."

Xander smiled.  "I'm still not letting you pierce me."

"Think Sammy would?  I should put a GPS monitor or something on him."

"Ask Dawn to do it for you."

"Good point."  He grinned.  "Do you mind..."  Xander shook his head.  "Why didn't you hit on Sam?"

"He's straight."

"He's clueless.  He's never thought."  He kissed him again.  "Sleep so you can get me in the morning."

Xander laughed.  "Arrogant bastard."

"Love you too."

***

Sam pinned Dawn to the backseat, kissing her.  "Hi."

"Hi."  She played with his wet hair.  "You look good all messed up."  He smiled, leaning down to tease her.  She wasn't going to let him have all the fun, she was teasing and tickling his sides, groping him gently.  He pinned her down, going back to playing, at the first true tickle.  "Are we teaching me bondage?" she teased.

"No, that's Dean and Xander.  They've both admitted to it."  She shivered.  He smirked.  "I know, Dawn.  Who wouldn't want them."

"All of you, duffus."  She pushed him up then onto his back, getting on top so she could tease him.  "If I had to make a decision I'd be really miserable."  He hummed, letting her nip him hard.  "Too hard?" she teased.

"Yes.  Gentle."  She licked over it and moved further down, getting a very interested boy under her.  She could feel it against her thigh.  He stroked up her side, playing with a breast, making her hiss and moan, plus tighten her thighs around his hips.  He smiled, puling her up to kiss her and tease them more.  "The car's still too small to roll around with you."

She laughed.  "We make do with what we have, Sam."

"True."  He leaned down to play with her breasts, making her hiss and arch into his mouth.  "Sensitive?"

"Chilly."  He shifted closer, covering her better so he could keep her warm but he was having fun.  She made it fun for him.  She squealed so he grinned and added a groping hand lower down.  Her shaved mound was very nice.  He found a few stray hairs but that was fine with him.  He wasn't looking for perfection.  He even found the softer, small hairs around her inner lips intact.  He moved backward, letting her shift up so he could go down on her.  She was making such pretty noises.  All high pitched squeals and begging noises intertwined.  He finally got her to the point of begging and planted himself, thrusting gently.  "Hi."

She pulled him down to kiss him.  "Already said that."  She wrapped her free leg around his waist.  "More, Sam.  I'm not fragile."

"You are too."

"Not now I'm not."  She smiled.  "Please?"  He smiled and worked harder.  She was still happy with him.  "Let it go," she ordered, staring into his eyes.  "Just let me have it.  I can take it and I want it, Sam."  He groaned, shaking his head.  "Yes, I can."  She used her foot to push him closer, pulling him back down to kiss him.  "Let it go, Sammy.  You don't have to hold back.  I'll enjoy it."

"Dawn, I...."

"Sam, remember, I do hunt sometimes.  I know how it winds you up.  The tension afterward.  The need to rut sometimes.  If that's what you need, I'm there."  She smiled.  "Not that I don't want the gentle stuff."

He groaned, kissing her.  "Jess never would've understood."

"I'm not her, Sam.  I'm Dawn and I do understand.  I've seen it from both sides."  He nodded, letting all his control go.  It was a lot harder, a lot heavier, and she was making such pretty noises.  He paused, making her pant and claw up his back.  "Sam!"

"Shh.  Taking the chance to breathe, Dawn."  He kissed her again.  "You sure?"  She nodded.  "Absolutely certain?"  She wiggled off him and flipped over, spreading out under him.  He growled, taking her again, holding her down with his body's bigger mass.  It was good, so good, to let it go.  All the tension that had been going on around them for months.  She was squealing into the seat.  He pulled her head back.  "Let me hear it," he said in her ear.  She pulled his hand around to bite into while she screamed.  He smiled.  "Good girl."  He shifted his position and went back to it.  She was ready to come.  He used his other hand to slip under her, teasing her clit with hard strokes in time with his.  She came and he could feel it.  It drew his and he groaned, letting it go.   He went limp.  Dawn kissed the bite mark. "You okay?"

"Sam, I want more."

He laughed.  "You know I need some time, Dawn."  He flipped them onto their sides, his back against the back of the seat.  It gave his hands free reign.  One to tease her nipples.  One to tease her clit where he was still buried in her.  She was shaking, moaning, begging for more within seconds and all he had to do was twitch right *there* to make her scream again.  He did it again while she was still twitching in aftershocks, making her hiccup but keep going.  He tried to thrust but he was still soft.  She mewled so he slid out and used the hand on her breasts to tease her hole with his fingers while the other one stroked her clit.  It was good.  She was fully letting everything go.  She finally came and went limp, then sniffled.  "Shh.  I've got you."  He let her cry on him.  She needed it as much as he did.  She had a horrible week with Willow and Buffy.  He soothed her into napping and let her curl up on his chest.  It was comforting.  Very comforting.  He licked his fingers clean, smiling down at her hair.  He was nearly asleep when she woke up with a start.  "Nightmares?"

She nodded, sinking down again.  "They'll go away in a few days."

"Like visions?"

"No.  Not visions.  Mom's death," she mumbled.

He stroked her back.  "I was too young to remember it."

She looked at him.  "Can we trade places?"

He nodded.  "If I could I would have, Dawn."  She nodded, letting him stroke her cheek.  "Feel better?"

"I'm good."  She snuggled in again, smiling against his throat, he could feel it.  "Gee, Sam, are we happy?"

"Very," he teased.  She moved down to please him this time, making him groan and hold onto the seat for dear life.  "Oh, damn, I taught you too well," he moaned.  She laughed, getting down into it.  Sam came a few minutes later, going limp.  She climbed up to snuggle in again.  "Thank you."

"Payback for the extra I had earlier."

He grinned.  "You're a very special girl."

"I know."  He poked her on the side, turning it into a tickling, thrashing moment but it was fun.  Very fun.  He needed to laugh.  He finally pinned her, using her chest as his pillow.  "Comfy?" she teased, stroking over his hair.

"Very.  You're very soft."  He smiled as she let herself drift off, still petting him.  He let himself go too, it was nice.  Very nice.

***

Tim got up first the next morning, climbing out of the car to stretch and look around.  The caddy had steamed windows but it was quiet.  The Impala looked like it was going to flip over with the way it was rocking.  He shook his head.  He didn't want to know.  He grabbed things to take a bath in the pond, going down to it.  He had to look back at the groan of springs.  The caddy was moving slightly too.  With that heavy of a frame, it shouldn't move even if Sam had thighs of steel.  He turned back around, going back to his bath.  Dean and Xander got done first and came down to join him.  "No going back to sleep?" he teased.

"Nope, I'm super stamina man.  I'll nap later," Xander teased back.  He looked at his car.  "Do not make me replace the shocks, Sammy!"

Dean laughed.  "I doubt he could."

"You might want to check yours," Tim teased him.

Dean smirked.  "If it's good it's good, Tim. You should have some of that."

"I'll find someone nice after we're done."  He finished up his bath and let them have the pond to themselves.  Dawn and Sam got down, walking down to the water naked.  He didn't look and did blush but she patted him on the arm.

"Morning, campers," Sam said happily.

"She's better than caffeine?" Xander teased with a grin.

"Yes I am," Dawn said smugly.  "Was Dean?"

"Yup," Dean agreed happily.  He yawned.  "Where are we heading after this?"

"I vote next time we do this we get an RV," Dawn said, shivering.  "The water's freezing."  She slid in anyway, going to take a bath.

"If we get another prophecy like this one, we'll wave at whoever gets poked," Dean teased.  "That way I don't feel like a Partridge Family reject and have to tow my car."

"You'd look sucky in disco polyester," Xander promised, patting him on the arm.  "Though some RV's are very nice.  Real kitchens and everything.  Sucky gas mileage but real bathrooms, real showers and tubs, real bedrooms or we can do bunks like they do on tour busses.  Those are usually full sized beds two high."  He looked at him.  "With privacy curtains.  Plus a full kitchen and sitting area.  Nice, comfy seats for the driver and built in map machines?"

"Expensive," Dean said.  "Well out of our price range, Xander."

Xander grinned.  "I think I can talk Giles into it for emergency road trips."

Dawn looked back at him.  "He'd freak."

"Not necessarily."  He winked.  "No paying for motel rooms.  We can camp anywhere as long as we plug it in every few days or keep the generator filled with gas too."

"Some of those are as much as a million dollars, Xander," Sam told him.  "High hopes."

Xander smirked.  "I know someone who owes me *majorly*.  Like saved his ass from becoming a flaming ball of pitch saved.  Would bear me babies if I wasn't fixed saved."  Sam smirked at that.  "I think he could find us one and custom it."

"In LA?" Dean asked.

"No.  In Oxnard."  He smirked.  "The owner of one of the customizing companies out of LA visited the club.  He nearly got eaten.  They found out some...things about him that made the vamps and demons pant in eagerness.  I had to deal with helping him."

"Hmm.  He could probably write it off or give it to us cheap," Dean said.  "Even if we had to paint inside.  We'd still have to tow the Impala."

"Not for everything but for the long ass road trips that never seem to end," Dawn told him.  "You know, like this one. We could even hide the weapons inside."

Dean smiled.  "That might be nice."  Steady beds and meals?  He'd love that.  "Maybe the next one."

Sam looked at him.  "What happened to waving at them as they take off?"

"We will, then we'll head in the other direction on vacation," Dean told him dryly, giving him a nudge.  Tim slammed his car's door. "Air out ours please?" he called.  Tim opened doors to roll down windows for them.  "Thanks, Tim."  He finished up, heading back to get dressed.  He needed to make sure his seat wasn't too ruined.  Only a bit of sweat so it was good.  He wiped it down with his towel and it was perfect again.  Sam came back to grab clothes.  "Where from here?"

"Town?"

"Town's good.  Breakfast?"

"Even better," Xander agreed.  "I'm starved."

"Gee, I wonder why?" Tim said dryly, giving them a look.

Xander grinned.  "Because I'm still a growing boy."

"If you are you've got a freakish body, Xander," Sam told him.

Dawn looked at him.  "He used to be *worse*.  We couldn't take him to buffets."  The brothers laughed.  "Okay, Xander, I'm bumming clothes."

"Sure.  Need a belt?"

"Nope."  She went to find something to wear among his stuff, smiling at the long t-shirt and jeans.  They were snug on Xander, they were his clubbing pants. Which meant they were loose on her.  Good enough with her shoes from yesterday.  Xander grabbed his own clothes and put them on while she tried hard not to look.  Dean was doing the same thing.  "Are we coming back here tonight?"

"If possible," Dean agreed.  That got a nod and they headed off to town.  The townspeople weren't that friendly but Xander was soon charming the waitress with him about their 'roadtrip vacation with friends'.  It was a good excuse.  They were done and had paid, with cash even, when the police came in.  Dean kicked Tim under the table.  "Look, it's your people."

"It's not like we're a separate breed, Dean," he said patiently.  "We're just like you when we're born."

Dean looked at him.  "I know some people who'd disagree, including our dad."

"Probably," Sam agreed.  "Officer, morning."

"Morning."  He stopped to look at them.  "Why are you boys in town?"

Dawn coughed.  "And girl, please.  I hate being left out."

He looked at her.  "Girlfriend?"

"Sister," she said, pointing at Xander.

"Oh.  So why are you boys, and girl,  here?"

"Roadtrip for vacation," Xander said with a grin.  "Why?"

He leaned down.  "Because we checked the plates, boy."

Xander smirked and Tim pulled out his ID.  The officer groaned.  "We're on a road trip," Xander told him.

"There's none like you'd want up here."

Xander shrugged.  "There's contacts all over.  If you want to talk about it, we'd gladly go do that."

"Yeah, we should."  They left a nice tip, finished coffees, then headed off.  Xander closed his trunk on a guy's hand.  "I'm pretty sure we can do that."

"Not without a warrant you can't," Xander told him.  "Did you present me with one?"  The officer glared at him.

"That is the law," Dawn agreed.

"Oooh, college kids," one officer said.

"Agent," Tim said, waving his badge.  "Searching out people in a long chain of weapons dealers.  Xander has the credentials to get us introduced to the right people."

Xander grinned.  "Technically I'm a gear guy for an international group."

"Terrorists?" one sneered, moving closer.

"No, the Watcher's Council.  They're an international research and training organization.  It's my job to teach the kids self-defense and weapons work if necessary.  Like it was for me when I was in Africa for ten months."  They all glared at him.  He shrugged.  "I got sent to retrieve a few of our students.  My sister works with me as one of the research geeks.  Dean and Sam are helping us help Tim.  These other sorts pissed us off."

The cops stared at each other.  "I want a better explanation," one of the officer said.

"We're not here for you," Sam told him. "We're here to meet a contact out in Morgan's Field in about twenty-six hours."

Dawn checked her watch.  "Twenty-nine I thought."

"It's all GMT, Dawn," Sam told her.  "Your watch is slow too."

"Oh."  She checked his then Xander's to set hers.  "That makes sense.  Must need a new battery."  She shrugged and put her hands back in her pockets.  "We won't need local backup."  She saw someone watching them and nodded at her, getting back a smug look.  She pulled out her necklace to play with it.  The other woman stomped over to swat her.  "Don't even start.  The Watchers sent us with Timmy.  We're going to Morgan's Field to handle a contact tomorrow."

The other woman stared at her.  "You're a Watcher?"

Xander glared at her, clearing his throat.  "So am I, lady."  She backed off at that.  "Yes, we had to reform after someone so kindly blew up the main building and pissed us off.  That's why those of us from Sunnydale had to step in to reform it.  It's why we're helping Tim with his problems and quest.  They pissed us off."

She backed up and nodded politely.  "I should've known."

"We both wear shields," Dawn said quietly.

"You know them, Helen?"

"Of their group.  Not them personally.  Of their town, which was full of evil."

Dawn snorted.  "I'm Buffy's little sister.  I think I knew that."  The woman crossed herself.  "Exactly."  She looked at the officers then at Xander.  Then back at them when he nodded.  "Technically I can do what she does.  That's why Xander helps guard me."

The officer looked at 'Helen', who nodded.  "She is, I can feel her."

"Sorry, I thought I had containment up."  She checked, then nodded.  "I do.  Must be one of the cars."

"I had ours cleaned," Xander said quietly.  "I cleaned the other two recently."

"Tim got hit in that freak storm since then," Sam reminded him.

"Oh, that reason."  He went to spell clean the car, strolling back once he was done.  The officers all backed off.  "Anything else?"

"That *contact*," one officer said.

"Tim has to see if it's able to be questioned.  If it's our sort of issue then we handle it."

Helen swallowed. "That book.  You're the ...."

"Three," Dean agreed, leaning against his trunk.  "Me, Xander, Tim.  Our research geeks are with us."

She swallowed.  "Where is the new Council?"

"Cleveland with the open one," Dawn said quietly.  "We mean no menace here.  We're not going to cause trouble."

Helen nodded, looking at them. "Leave them be as long as they leave immediately afterward."

"That's fair," Dean agreed.  "Xander?"

"I'm wondering why she's worried.  We only go after those who hurt others," Xander assured her.  She slumped.  "I don't care what you're doing, lady.  I haven't in recent memory.  You're not going to get our attention normally.  Unless something attacks us before then, we're more than happy to let it go."

She stiffened up, nodding.  "As long as you leave immediately afterward."

"If we can," Xander agreed.  "There's been a few injuries."

"Fine.  Where are you boys, and girl, staying?" the officer from inside asked.

"I called up and someone told me about a pond," Tim said.  He put his badge back.  "By the way, the plate thing was my director, who just retired in disgrace.  She didn't like this plan and tried to fire the whole agency over it."

"I heard you guys had a slut for a director."

"Succubus sort of slut," Xander said dryly, shrugging a bit when the witch gave him an odd look.  "She was."

She shuddered.  "No wonder."  She crossed herself and walked off.  "The field's out by that pond you all smell like."

"Can we get a better map than ours?" Sam asked.  The officer looked at the map he pulled out of the car, marking it for him.  "Thank you.  We hope it won't be a huge problem."

"See that it doesn't," that cop told him.

Xander coughed.  "He's not the problem here.  That comes in twenty-six hours."  He walked around to get in and drive.  Dawn climbed in with him.  Tim got his car.  Dean and Sam headed after them, stopping to get some supplies.  Then they settled in to make sure the swords were still sharp and ready for use in the morning.  Someone came stomping their way and Xander looked over.  He said something in a guttural language.  Dawn backed it up.  The creature ran.

"What they didn't want us to know?" Dean asked quietly.

"I have the feeling this is pack territory," Xander said, looking at him.  "Not that it's marked but the waitress was worried about outsiders as well.  A large pack could keep a town this size alive."

Dean nodded.  "Full moon's tomorrow night."

"Yup," Xander agreed.  "We'll deal with it, Dean."  He gave him a shoulder nudge, handing him the whetstone.  "After this is where?  It's starting to blur."

"Maine, Canada, Cleveland."

"Maine's a definite problem," Sam called over.  "It is marked on the site Dawn's looking on."

"I'm writing ahead," Dawn announced.  "They can't handle it without us."  She got back an answer telling her to stay away.  She sighed and called on Xander's cellphone.  "This is Dawn Summers, Watcher's Council.  I need to speak to the pack leader.  I don't care.  You guys have a major demon coming up and it's a prophecy situation that I'm supposed to help deal with."

Xander took the phone.  "Now," he ordered.  "I am a pack alpha of my own.  Right the hell now, beta."  The phone was turned over.  "Harris, Watcher's Council.  In two days you have a major raising demon in ...."

"Campersville," she told him.

"Campersville," Xander told him.  "We have a whole book of prophecy.  It's been right for the last year and a half," he said bluntly.  "Three chosen warriors....  Yeah, the grove in Texas was one of ours."  He grimaced.  "The demon ate the unicorn, we killed the demon.  It put them out of joint.  You guys have one coming up.  We need to come up to deal with it.  We're being nice enough to ask ahead of time.  We don't ask for any favors.  I don't care as long as there's not one going rogue who tries to kill us," he told him.  "My only concern is stopping this demon and then moving on.  I know that's the last night of the full moon.  We worked with a were as a comrade back in Sunnydale.  Oz."  He grinned.  "He's in Tibet.  Yeah, there.  Unless there's more than one?"  He grinned.  "All we knew was a temple."  He laughed.  "That's all we want.  No, no one locally is going to summon them.  Someone local might be changed and possessed then killed," he admitted.

"It says it's going to possess someone and then take their body once the spirit is killed.  If you can find it before then and contain it, we might be able to get it out of them.  I can't promise.  I won't promise," he said honestly.  "I don't know that it won't hurt them.  If I can do it without it, I will."  He nodded.  "Exactly.  It's a dangerous thing and it could go to another host.  That's what we need, yes.  There's five of us.  The three of us, our two research geeks, three cars."  He smiled. "That would work, yes.  Thank you.  Two days.  We're in Connecticut.  Yeah, that town," he said dryly.  "They tried that earlier.  They panicked.  I told them that, they still panicked.  I'm to the point where I don't care unless I see it attacking someone or they're attacking one of us.  I'm too damn tired to care. After you guys is a short stop in Canada then to Cleveland for a battle with the slayers at our backs, then onto LA again.  We just need beds, showers, and food.  Thank you.  That would be acceptable.  I look forward to meeting you.  I know you will.  If we had any idea this was pack lands, we would've introduced ourselves properly!" Xander yelled loudly.  "Sorry, someone listening.  We'll see you then.  I'm in a green caddy.  Dean and Sam are in a black Impala.  The other's a tan Toyota.  Thank you."  He hung up and put his phone up.  "We're good."

Someone came out of the woods, one of the officers.  "You worked with a werewolf?"

"Willow dated him," Dawn agreed.  "His two-year-old nephew bit him."  That got a small shudder.  "He's in Tibet as far as we know."

"Good."  He looked at Xander.  "You honestly don't care?"

"I could care less.  We've been on the road pretty much straight for the last year and a half, dude.  Unless they attack us or I see them physically attacking someone, I don't care.  If you guys had put out warning markers we would've come into town last night and found the leader and introduced ourselves."

"That's fine.  I told him that.  He's still paranoid."

"The Council got reformed after the First Evil had it blown up," she said quietly, looking at him.  "The Sunnydale crew had to take over and rebuild it.  There's less than twenty of the old ones around."

He nodded.  "That's fine.  We have a slayer here.  She's active?"

"During the First Slayer battle Rosenburg activated all the slayers to defeat it," Xander said honestly.  He stood up, putting his sword down.  "It was the only way to stop it.  The group's in Cleveland now.  We're heading that way but not for a few weeks.  After Camperville we're heading to Canada for a few days.  I'm supposed to meet with a shaman."

That got a nod.  "Okay.  Can you guys stay here?"

"We picked up dinner," Sam promised.  "We're good."

"Good.  What about the ghost?"

"We haven't been bothered yet," Dawn admitted.  "If we do, Dean and Sam are both experienced hunters and deal with a lot of them.  They can help her pass on."

He nodded.  "Thank you, boys."

"Not a problem," Dean said.  "Restless spirits cause problems."  He looked at him.  "We're not the enemy, Officer.  Like Xander said, we're tired."

"Xander?" he said, looking at him.  "Buffy's Xander?"  Xander nodded.  "You got sent to Africa?"

"To pick up a few of the girls," he admitted.  "Plus help a few of their villages with the civil wars going on.  Want Dawn to go talk to the girl?"

"If she wouldn't mind."

"I'll drive her," Sam promised.  "I'm the other research person.  I'll go unarmed."

"Thank you."  He handed over an address.  "You two can follow if you would."  They nodded, heading out to Xander's caddy since he tossed Sam the keys.  He grinned.  "Don't trust her?"

"I taught her to drive, Sam likes to drive.  He's got that 'guy' thing going on with her."

The cop laughed all the way back to his car.  He called in what was going on and let them follow him back to the house.  He walked up the front stairs smiling.  "Beth."  She came to the door, staring behind him.  "They're Watchers, who're over slayers."

Dawn smiled.  "I'm the little sister of one and on the research council."  She held out a hand.  "Dawn Summers."

"I've dreamed of a Buffy."

"My big sister, the brat."  The girl shook her hand.  "This is Sam Winchester.  He's my fellow book geek but he won't let me drive.  He's got a guy thing going."   Beth laughed.  "Let's go talk."  She nodded, letting them inside.  They sat down to talk about the training she'd been doing and what the group could give her, plus that she'd be allowed come back home or nearly home if the pack wouldn't let her back into the town.  She outlined all the training they were doing, including schoolwork, and who was there.  The girl's mother was sent home so Dawn told her as well, letting Sam help explain some things that they didn't know about.  At the end she called Giles to tell him she had found one with unusual circumstances, that she was in the middle of a pack town.  He agreed she could do a lot of the training locally and he could send up some information.  Plus that a girl was in Boston so she could train with her when she needed to.  They arranged it for her then went back to the pond to find Tim and Dean taking a nap while Xander read on his hood.  She curled up beside him, letting Sam take a nap.  He grinned and went back to reading.  It was a comfy family they had built.

***

John perked up when he heard the door shut a three and a half weeks later.  Connor was in the kitchen trying to glare the microwave into making him something edible this time.  Gunn was sleeping.  That meant it had to be his errant sons and their...friends.  He almost felt disappointed when it was Dawn. "Here to tell me they'll be late?"

"Dean's babying a ding he got in the highway from a kicked rock.  Sam's trying to convince Tim that Connor won't really eat him, and Xander's decided he needs a nap so he's asleep already."  She smiled when Connor came out of the kitchen with a pile of charcoal.  "Way too long, Connor.  You have a freakish microwave that only takes a quarter of the time."

"This was."

She sighed, walking him into the kitchen to cook.

John smiled, going out to say hi to his sons.  He looked at the ding.  "It gives it character."

"Not hardly, Dad," Dean complained.  "It's too small to do more than bang out."

"We can do that tomorrow, Dean," Sam reminded him.  He waved.  "Hi, Dad."

"Sammy."

"Sam," he sighed, giving him a hug anyway.  "Dad, this is Tim.  I'm not sure if you got to meet him or not yet.  Tim, this is our father."  He looked at the cadillac then at his father.  "He's had a bad trip this leg.  Something that we think was bigfoot decided his car was a punching bag.  Even the autobody spells aren't working at the moment."

Dean straightened up.  "Fortunately we're here for six weeks for your series of running battles and invasions so I have time to teach Xander how to fix it himself instead of relying on someone else's magic."  He gave his father a brief hug.  "How's the city been?"

"Interesting.  I'm still trying to figure out what Lorne is.  Plus what half the other demons in the city are.  There's a lot that don't do more than grunt, point, and shed."

Dawn nodded as she joined them again.  "Basically."  She smirked.  "You know we *do* have a classification manual.  I have no idea why you guys don't have one.  I know Angel did."

"It got buried," Connor said.

"That's fine.  I can call and get you guys another one.  It'd even have Lorne in there."  She found her cellphone and dialed, hopping up onto the Impala's hood.  Dean glared at her. "Not like I'm scratching your paint, Dean.  Hi, Giles."  She smiled, putting him on speaker.  "We made it to LA even with the yeti or bigfoot or whatever that wanted to do the ogre mating thing with Xander's car."

"Is he all right?" the tiny, tinny voice said from the speaker.

"He's fine.  He's napping in his car. It was a long, awful trip from Cleveland for him.  Six different succuba tried to snatch him to keep him this time.  Plus one donut waitress."  Giles laughed.  "We're at Connor's and just found out they don't have a manual.  Can you send one?"

"I can do that," he agreed.  "Just classification or the whole set?"

"The whole set if you can, Mr. Giles," Connor said.  "Please."

"Of course, Connor.  How are things?"

"We're doing fine.  Even if Lorne does like teasing John we're doing fine."  Giles laughed again.  "She's right, Xander's car looks a lot less new."

"That's fine.  Will he need one of the spare ones out here?  I know at least one is customized like his is."

"No, we'll be here for six weeks.  More than enough time, even though we will have to find a spot to park it for a few weeks since Connor's got a warehouse and no rooms.  Anything I should pass on?"

"Well, there is a bit of a problem in St. Louis."

"Did her sister get out again?"

"No, she's not the problem.  We sent Mara after she delivered, I'm not sure if I told you that or not, but we sent her to back up Margaret.  The present problem out there is unfortunately her husband.  He had no trouble with her slaying duties before but in the last few months he's gotten a bit...unstable about it.  She called to ask Buffy to send Faith to beat him I'm afraid."

"Damn," Dawn said.  "Hold on, wasn't he a refugee from W&H, Giles?"

"I believe he was," he agreed.

"Do we think he's got something to do with the demon we've got that way in about six months?  Or possibly six days after we're done here.  The time code is screwy there."

"I don't want to assume.  I was hoping you would have enough time to come pick up some of your things since the boys hustled you out of Cleveland the last time you were here."

"That was a mutual decision, Giles.  I don't want to run into Buffy."

"I can understand that, Dawn, but you don't have hardly any clothes."

"Not totally true.  Xander took me shopping and insisted I keep to the slayer dress code."  Dean nodded at that.  "Helped by Dean, who's an awesome big brother.  I've never been nagged so much in my life.  Though, could you please send me some of my patches?  I'm about out."

"The doctor did say it was unhealthy for you to go totally without a cycle, Dawn," Giles chided.

"Giles, we haven't had time for me to set up a containment area for that.  We've barely had the energy to collapse in motel rooms most nights.  Hell, I haven't even gotten nookie recently.  So please send them for me?"

"I shall," he sighed.  "Plus a bag of practical clothes."

"I'll email you a list," she promised.  "Anything else you want to nag about?"  She smiled at Sam.  "If not, we've got to find a liveable two bedroom place for six weeks with a working, decent bathroom.  Oh, that's another thing.  Xander's corporate card *still* doesn't work and now mine doesn't either, Giles.  Got any ideas on that?"

He cleared his throat.  "The accountant is a pain in the arse, Dawn," he said bluntly.  "I'll lay down the law so Xander can get his car fixed by someone decent."

"Thanks, Giles.  Don't want to sell the excess heavy stuff, ya know?"  She gave the phone a look.  "Anything else?  If not, I've got to feed Connor since he was grunting at his pile of charcoal from the microwave and someone has to wake up Xander."

"Has he found anyone nicer than those who want to keep him?"

"Yeah," Dean assured him.  "He's good on that level, Giles.  She should go.  You're running up the phone bill."  Dawn blew kisses then hung up.  "He nags worse than you, Dad."

He gave him a look.  "I'm thankful we never gave you sisters, Dean."

Dawn stuck her tongue out.  "I'd do something that would disgust you but your sons would mind."  Sam grinned and kissed her anyway, letting her wrap herself around him.  "Mm.  That's a nice dinner."  She grinned.

"More things I don't understand," Connor muttered.  "Dawn, when is it done?"

"Dig a piece out with a fork and taste it.  If it's done you'll be able to eat it."  She kissed Sam gently again then smiled.  "Way to introduce the topic."

"Like I care."  He helped her off the hood so she wouldn't scratch the paint and make Dean spank her, again.  He walked her inside, past his staring father.

Dean grinned.  "Don't look at me.  Xander and I go for the same sort of stress relief, Dad."  He grinned brighter and tapped on Xander's window, getting a homicidal look.  "Couch inside.  A lot easier."  Xander grunted but got out and locked his car, heading inside.  Dean followed, giving him a nudge onto the soft surface.  Xander curled up with his head on Sam's thigh so he went to help Dawn.  She could barely cook.  He did better.  He searched the cabinets and found more to add to the food, digging in to finish it up.  Connor came back with a held out plate.  "Ten minutes, Connor."  He nodded, standing there with the held-out plate until Dawn put food on it.  Then he grinned and walked off eating real food.  "He's not hard to please."  He finished putting food on the table.  "Food!" he yelled.  Gunn came in and blinked at them.  "Yes, I cook.  Someone had to feed Sammy."

"Make me something," Sam called.  "I'm kind of trapped."

"Sure," Dawn agreed, making him a plate with hers, carrying it out with a fork.  Connor grunted at her.  "Go get more before Dean can claim the rest."  He went to do that, coming back to sit in his chair.  "How have things been otherwise, John?"

"Fine.  Is Sammy usually a pillow?"

"He makes a very good one," Dawn assured him, eating a bite, getting a nudge from Sam's foot.  She handed back his plate with a grin.  Xander's hand started to swat around until Sam handed him a bite of food.  He ate it and went back to snoring.  Dean came out to sit under Xander's feet, getting a happy purr of noise.  "Many bigger demons?"

"Mostly small, annoying ones," Gunn said.  "A few extra vampires."  He brought Connor some water and sat down beside him.  "What's up with Xander?  He's usually a ball of energy."

"We ran into a bigfoot who decided green caddies are lust objects so they must beat it until it wants to have sex with him."  Gunn moaned.  "It needs some *serious* bodywork, Gunn."

"I have a boy.  They mod'd it the first time."  He dug in.  "Thanks, guys.  Connor can't cook."

"I saw the pile of charcoal."  She ate a bite, looking at John since he was staring.  "Didn't I break you of that bad habit back in St. Louis?"

"I'm wondering what's been going on while you four have been traveling."

"We have Tim chaperone," she said smartly.  "Timmy!"  He came out of the bathroom.  "Sneaky bastard.  Food?"

"I drove through somewhere," he said, holding up the bag.  "I heard Connor was miserable in the kitchen."  He sat down beside Dean's feet.  "Hi, I'm Tim McGee.  They picked me up in DC."  He waved.

"Connor, Gunn, John," Gunn introduced.  "John's the boy's daddy."

"They're great guys.  Even Gibbs likes them."  He dug into his burger and fries.  Xander sniffed.  "Don't even think about it," he ordered.  Xander pouted but fell back asleep.  "I swear he and Dean have food sensing radar.  Their stomachs will wake them up if you bring food near them."

"I left him enough to have something," Dean promised.  "If he'd wake up."

"No, then something else will want to have me and keep me."  Xander squinted down at him.  "Besides, you made stuffy food."  He closed his eyes again, going back to sleep.  "Thanks, Sam," he mumbled before he started to snore.

"Not the first time," he said, patting him gently on the head.  "So, any idea where we should stay cheaply?" he asked Gunn.  "It's my week to be in charge of that since Dawn likes places that have pools."

"I like to swim.  Xander taught me."  Xander reached over to swat at her.  "Fine, I'll be more quiet."  She ate another bite.  "We don't care if we *have* to share a single room as long as there's at least two beds and a couch for Tim.  He gets embarrassed easily and Xander talks in his sleep recently.  Mostly about sex."

Dean nodded.  "It's been very enlightening."

"Tell me you two aren't dating on the road," John ordered.  They both shrugged. "Sam!"

"Dad, shut up," he said bluntly.  "It's not taking me away from the duties, it's giving me a reason to keep going on with the duties.  Since we're all tired, we needed it."  He looked at Dean, who shrugged at his silent question.  "Besides, Dean's got the same deal going."

"We've managed to not visit Vegas so far, many times," Dawn said sarcastically.  "I'm sure we can keep doing that.  Then again, both boys are fantastic in bed.  Sam broke me in and Dean showed me what being slammed against the wall was for when it's in fun and sex."  She ate another bite while Connor looked confusedly at her.  "It's for sex, Connor.  Instead of on the bed."

"Girls like that?  It'd get rougher," he said.

"Some girls do.  Some don't," she told him.

He beamed.  "The next one I'll see if she wants to."

"Don't ask, sweetie, just do it.  If she doesn't like it, she'll let you know," Dawn promised.  He nodded, digging in again.  "Tim, can I borrow your laptop?  I have to write Giles a list of what I want packed beyond my birth control patches."

"Sure.  It's in the car."  She went to get it, coming in dragging someone.  "Who're they?"

"Trying to break into Xander's car."  She shoved him down, pulling the gun on her back to point at him.  "I'm from Sunnydale, bitch.  I out bitch all the gang members in this city and I'll have fun doing it because that's how I was taught.  Now, speak your tiny dicked mind's last thoughts for touching my boy's car."

"Don't, please don't!" he begged, scooting backward, hands up.  "ATF, please!"

Dawn uncocked the gun.  "Then why are you trying to break into *our* cars?"

"The President...."

"Is a fucking moron.  And?  We're the ones who're doing the stupid shit that he doesn't want to admit exists.  I'm a Watcher."  He gave her a horrified look. "The owner of that car is our gear person and part-time trainer, plus a field Watcher."

"Oh, damn."

"Yeah, oh, damn," she agreed, putting her gun back.  "Anything else you want to confess to?"

"We need Harris to figure something out.  Someone sent us a weapon and we're not sure what it is.  Our people said something like that came up from the Council before and they said to ask him.  That he's the only weapons guy."  She pointed at Xander's sleeping form.  "Okay.  Can I get up?"

"For now," she agreed dryly, staring at him as he slowly got up.  "We'll be here for six weeks handling issues.  Plus getting his car fixed."

He nodded, swallowing.  "Okay.  We can handle that.  Tomorrow?"

"We're finding a decent enough place to stay."

"Um, I know one."  He took the paper John handed him and wrote it down.  "Here, go there.  Tell them we sent you.  You're witnesses."  She nodded.  "Can we see him tomorrow evening?"

"Sure.  He's got to unload his car so it can be fixed anyway."  He nodded.  "Go.  Shoo.  Don't touch our shit, especially not the Impala.  Dean's meaner than I am.  He'll bite you to death."  He nodded again and fled to report in.  She smiled.  "I feel better now."  She sat down, handing Sam the address.  "For you, all seeing one."

"Thanks, you lock picking thief," he teased back.

"If I was in practice I'd have that cute dress but Dean told me no."

"The store's detectives were following you around," Dean told her.  She pouted.  "You can buy another one or get one from home."  She nodded, going retrieve the laptop from where she had left it.  She came back in to type out that email.  Then she handed the laptop to Tim.  "So, bored without us?" he teased Gunn.

Gunn gave him a look.  "Now and then.  Not always. Those stupid demonic moles keep coming back.  Last time during a football game.  The fans nearly ripped down the stadium."

Dawn yanked the laptop back, getting into a site to find something.  She showed it to him.  "Use that next time."  He looked then grinned and nodded.  "Poisonous but oh well."  She handed it back to Tim.  "Sorry."

"Not an issue.  I'm only checking my email."  He went back to it and his burger.  Xander groaned and shifted.  Dean swatted a foot that was trying to move his plate.  He looked back, handing Dean his extra burger with a sigh.  Dean handed it over.  Xander curled around it, cuddling it like it was a teddy bear. "Knew I got an extra one for later for a reason."

"He's so cute," Dawn said, using her phone to take a picture.  Xander swatted at the flash but she dodged.  "It's fine, just me, Xander."

"Fucking hell, woman," he muttered.  "Pictures don't work on us."

She frowned.  "Tell me you didn't suck in Spike's ghost!" she demanded.  Connor choked and Gunn saved his plate from falling.

Sam and Dean both sighed, playing rock/paper/scissors for who got it this time.

"At least it's not Dru and Ethan again," Tim offered with a shiteating grin for Dawn.  "This would be the fourth time?"

"Yeah, fourth time since they found him in Sunnydale.  They're damn scary together," she told the local team.  "Especially since they both think Xander's all that and should be out peddling his ass for money.  Then again, so did Willow."  Dean swatted her. "Watch the hair, carboy!"

"Just for that, you get to do the exorcism this time," Dean told her.

"Fine," she muttered, taking the card to do that.  She did it quietly but the spirit did float out, giving her a pitiful look.  "Go haunt Buffy with Willow and Tara, Spike.  Don't take over Xander.  We need Xander."  His spirit smirked and went to do that.  "Cleveland," she called.  She turned back around, getting comfortable.  Xander was still hugging his burger.  She took another picture and he swatted at it again. "Suck it up."

"Not Dean," he muttered.

"No, I'm not Dean."  She shook her head, getting out of the way to sit next to Connor.  "I've finally inherited Buffy's insanity.  Though if Angel was half as good as the boys, I can see why she risked him losing his soul and kept stalking him to get his butt back."

"Eww.  I don't want to hear about him having sex with your sister."

"Neither did I but she called up drunk the other night to sob about missing him."

"Fortunately he passed on," Gunn told her.

"I know, that's why she was sobbing.  She couldn't stalk him around or make his soul leave again with sex."

"Your sister slept with his dad?" John asked.

"Angel was her first love and he ended up losing his soul for her birthday one year by slipping it to her the first time."  John shook his head quickly.  "He went bad for a while, she ended up sending him to hell, he came back and they went non-gropey for a while then he decided it was too hard not to do it again so he came to LA."  She looked at Gunn.  "Has anyone checked Sunnydale recently?"

"Someone did a few months back.  Still fairly quiet.  The two geeks did a math thing to figure out how long it'd take for all the radiation to go away.  We took them up there at night then let them watch as the sun came up and fried a vamp we had captured. We told them what happened, got Giles to tell him all the pertinent stuff he wanted to know, then six days later we find out it'll take two millennia for it to be totally down but the half-life is only eight hundred years."

"Coolness," she said, nodding.  "As long as it doesn't open again."

"We don't think it will.  With the way it's buried it's unlikely," Gunn told her.

She shook her head.  "Not really.  There's one in Canada that was starting to open and we had to close it.  That's why he got called to Canada to talk to that shaman."  Gunn moaned.  "Yeah.  So it's closed too.  We're all working on a spell to let us know when it starts to open again.  I don't have a clue."

"We'll figure it out," Sam reminded her.

"Why are you guys traveling together all the time?" Connor asked.  "Last time I knew, Dawn was blipping around the US from Cleveland."

"Willow decided she had to be the only powerful witch in the world.  That the Powers having it in for Xander meant that."  She looked at him.  "She had convinced Buffy they had to sacrifice me.  I had been trapped but Giles accidentally let me free so I hopped to them in DC and they protect me.  Willow's out of her body in a magical coma being Sleeping Beauty until she reforms or we need her."

"That sucks," Connor said.  Then he went to get more food since Xander wouldn't need it.

Dawn smiled at her boys.  "At least he's not having problems."

"No, not in the least," Dean agreed.  He stroked over Xander's foot.  "Want that burger?"  Xander growled.

Sam petted through his hair.  "You bite me again and I'm so going to tie you naked to the roof of the Impala and drive you to a known prostitution area, then dump you there."

"He might scratch it," Dean complained.  "He can bite you instead."  Sam hit him on the arm.  "What?"

Dawn gave him a look.  "That would be boyfriend abuse and Xander would end up in jail after he killed someone.  He's a bit possessive of what touches his ass in case you hadn't noticed.  Unless you want him to adopt another pack member?"

"No, I'm good with the ones we already have."

"Maybe it'd be a nice girl for Tim?" she teased.

"Abby said I'm getting a coming home party," Tim told her.  He grinned back.  "We used to date.  I'm sure I'll come out as tired as Sam does some mornings."  He handed over the address and picture.  "That's the place he suggested.  It doesn't look too bad."

Sam nodded. "Then let's hit there tonight.  We'll unload the cars so Gunn's friend can look Xander's over for damage, do a tune up on yours, and Dean can hammer out the small ding."

"Hate to eat and run but we'll drop the number and address by tomorrow," Dawn said, getting up to kiss and hug Connor and Gunn.  "Then we'll come hunt and hang with you guys."  They headed out, leaving Xander there.  "Guys, we're forgetting growling boy."

"Xander!  We're hitting the motel!" Dean called from outside.  "Let's go!  Now!"  Xander got up and wobbled out, sniffing the burger and nibbling it on the way to the Impala.  Sam got his keys from him and it was good for him.  He curled up there so he could nap in the car.  Dean grinned.  He was cute when he napped.  Like a little kid.  They got there and dug out the funds they had.  Dawn got into Xander's trunk, finding his money stash.  Tim whistled.  "He started out with it too," Dean told him.  "Okay, how much?" he asked when Sam came out.

"They have a small three bedroom.  Grand a month.  Six weeks was sixteen hundred including deposit."  They pooled it together, mostly out of Xander's stash, so he went to do that.  They closed up the cars and Tim went to get groceries.  By the time the office closed they were bored but they had to be careful who saw them carrying the weapons cases.   Fortunately they were on the back side, away from the street.  The spare room became Tim's and the weapon's.  Sam and Dawn got one.  Dean and Xander got the other one.  Dean got to crawl all over Xander's car to find all the hidden spots and empty them.  Dawn took the food to make dinner for them since they had only nibbled at Connor's place. Tim came in to rearrange the weapons so he had more room.  Dawn dusted.  Sam checked the bathroom, it worked.  They collapsed with food on the rented furniture.

***

Dean leaned on the walkway railing the next morning.  It was barely dawn.  He had real coffee and he was happy.  It was looking like a good day.  His father stomped up to him.  "Hey."

"Morning.  Have a good night?"

"Xander slept through it.  Sam and Dawn fought each other's nightmares.  Tim typed most of the night.  This new book is going to be kick ass."  He took a sip.  "Not bad overall."  He looked at him.  "Why?  Are you disappointed with me and Xander or those two?"

"I'd rather you weren't losing your focus."

"I'm not.  Remember, Xander and Dawn hunt with us, Dad.  I do nag her about the birth control stuff because we don't want baby Sammy's but other than that it's good so far."

"What about when he wants kids?"

"Willow took away his ability to produce sperm back in high school, Dad.  He hasn't shot any since his senior year."  John gaped.  He nodded.  "Xander's girlfriend, Anya, went to her about a better form of birth control.  He hasn't since the ladies decided to inflict it on him."  He took another drink, putting his cup down at his feet.  Then he grinned at him again.  "We'll both be uncles to Sam's kids.  She's normal enough for him but she knows and he can talk to her about what's bothering him."  That got a nod and his father leaned on the same railing.  "How's the little brother?"

"Do you mind if I help him?"

"Nah.  It's good for Connor.  He got the same sort of sucky deal Xander did from those Powers.  We'd all like to smack them around."  He frowned at the van pulling in beside Tim's car.  "He's not up yet," he called when he saw the agent from the floor last night.

"Can we get you to look at it too?"

"I can try," Dean promised.  "Any idea what it is?"

"Other than it's launchable and it's meant to be blessed or something?  No clue."  He carried the case up the stairs, leaving it inside when Dean opened the door.  He handed over a card.  "Within two days?"  Dean nodded.  "Can we ask about those swords you guys use?"

"The mystical ever-changing weapons of doom?" he asked dryly.  He pulled his out in gun form, letting him look at it, then he expanded it over the railing.

He took out a meter to run over it.  "It's not silver."

"No, it's not.  We're not sure what it is.  It's handy."  He shrank it and put it back.  "Anything else?"

"No.  Thank you, Mr. Winchester.  We hate going to the Council.  Even the new one."

"Giles is a book nerd," he said dryly.  "The same as Dawn is.  Ask the people who do the practical things if you want that sort of help."

"We asked Miss Summers first.  She sent three different agents and one from Homeland to the psych ward," he said dryly.

"Yeah, from what I remember at the wedding, that's a possibility," he agreed with a small smirk.  "Ask for Faith next time.  She's the other senior slayer and a street kid from up north."

"I know she's a former con."

"She staked someone during a fight," Dean said quietly.  "Then the bad guys convinced her to stay with him."

"She's been staying good," John assured him.  "She's working hard to stay good."

The agent nodded.  "I'll keep that in mind.  Can we come to him?"

"If we all survive this prophecy BS," Dean agreed.  "There's a chance he might not."

"Sure.  I get that.  Thanks, sir.  Two days."  He walked off, going back to the van and driving off again.

"That didn't surprise you about Buffy?  I've only heard stories."

Dean looked at him.  "During the lead-up to the wedding, Willow got pissed at Xander.  Threatened to turn him into a girl.  Buffy's argument was it was too late to find him a dress."  John shuddered.  "Buffy's died a few times and she's got the same sort of soul weariness that Xander has.  Half the time she went along with Willow so she didn't have to deal with things.  Xander was everyone's assistant.  The whole first night we got there he was doing Giles' paperwork that he didn't want to do.  It's a good thing he's not going back."

"Is he going to continue hunting?"  The boy could use a long vacation and a priest from what he had seen of him the few times they'd met.

"He said he'd fall back to spell and research work.  If Sam and Dawn can figure out how to make him survive."  He shifted his stance.  "Dad, the Powers want us to take him out at the end of this," he said quietly.  "They've used him a lot and made him do things I wouldn't do.  They sent him after one of the slayers he trained and helped heal after the hellmouth battle when she went rogue.  Made him take her out," he said, looking at him.  "They're the ones who had him sent to Africa to gather girls in the middle of a civil war.  I figured he was probably the only one who could've done that one.  The other one would've been kinder if it had been someone else."

"They didn't want to talk her down?"  Dean shook his head.  "Then this."

"Then this and he did the initial translation so he knew.  Has known.  I'm not going to.  I don't want to."

"Will he be dangerous?"

"No more so than Dawn is.  He's got good focus, just bad aim sometimes."  John gave him a look.  "Now and then his spells hit one of the swords instead of the demon itself.  Twice now out of six times.  He's a tactical thinker so it could be that he's watching us while he's casting, making sure we're all right.  We need him to do that."

"Will it hurt you?"

"If it hits us instead of the demon?  Yup.  It always channels into the swords though and I don't know why."  Xander came stumbling out, giving John a dirty look.  "Any idea why the swords are channeling your magic?"

"They didn't take part of me," he said grimly.  "If they had, I'd be part of the same being that crafted and protects the swords.  Since I'm not, it's drawing it.  The last time I felt it sucking in the spell.  I don't know why it would.  It could also be the protection blessing that Dawn put on it has changed it some."

Dean nodded.  "Could be.  I forgot about that."  He gave him a hug, getting a sniff and a smile into his neck.  "Morning."

"Daylight evil.  I hiss at daylight," he complained, hissing at it.  "Bed?"

"Later."  He gave him a swat.  "Go back to bed.  We've got two days to look at the stuff the ATF agent left."

Xander walked inside and opened the case, then snorted.  "It's the same thing we used on the demon right after we got the swords.  Blessed iron and thermite."  He wrote out the specs and taped it to the top.  Then he went to the bathroom and back to bed, collapsing on his stomach.  He was asleep within minutes.

Dean smiled.  "He's had someone do a few modifications now and then."

John smirked.  "He's an interesting boy, son."

"Yeah, he is.   He's also not pushy.  We agreed to keep it casual and we have."

"Good.  Then what?"

"We're hoping we can negate the last chore of the prophecy.  There's no reason to take him out."

"No, there's probably not.  The Powers sound like hardasses."

"Both of them said that they're playing a giant multi-level chess game, Dad," Sam said as he came out, closing the door.  "Xander's snoring louder than Tim and Dawn combined."

"That's fine.  He's sleeping.  He needs it."  He looked at him.  "Anything?"

"If I'm right, yes.  Dangerous."

"Magical?"

Sam nodded.  "Yeah, but it'd stop him being such an open sewer for spirits too."

"He might like that."  He grinned.  "He hissed at the sunlight."

"As he does most mornings," Sam reminded him.  "Xander keeps vampires hours.  Morning is strange to him.  He hasn't reveled in the sunlight since he was doing construction in Sunnydale.  How are Gibbs and Tony doing in Cleveland, Dad?"

"I talked to Gibbs and Giles the other day about a prophecy out here, that turned out to be yours.  Gibbs smacked one of the girls into submission.   She was complaining."

"He did the same thing to McGee," Dean agreed.  "Tim does it to Dawn now and then when she gets a wild hair up her ass."

Sam laughed.  "Her?  Nah, not her, Dean," he said dryly.

"You've got a spitfire, son.  Your mom was a lot like her, only less mouthy."  John smirked.  "She'll make you happy?"

"I think so.  We're still keeping it casual, Dad."  He sipped his coffee. "Thanks, Dean."

"Welcome."  He looked out at the parking lot again.  An official looking SUV was pulling in.  "Any idea which branch, Dad?"

"FBI.  That's the egghead's brother.  He was gone when we were talking with him."  He waved and the guy stomped up there.  "Problems?"

"You took my brother into a threatening situation?"

"We protected both him and Larry.  They were perfectly safe but they had to understand the problem.  Did he say he was in danger?"

"He said you took him to Sunnydale after dark!"

Dean looked at him.  "We're hunters, Agent..."

"Epps.  I know he is.  I looked him up."  He looked at John again.  "Why did you need him?"

"Because the energy in Sunnydale is still radiating and drawing things to LA and the surrounding areas," Sam said.  "We needed to know when it'll end, how far it would spread before it receded, and if there was anything we could do to see if it was going to open again."  He took another drink.  "We have some coffee on if you want."

"You're not scared of me, are you?" he asked with a smug look.

"I've seen worse that was two foot tall and wanted to eat me from the inside out," Sam said honestly.  "You're a worried brother.  I'm used to those.  Mine nags."

"He was safe?" he asked John.

"As safe as we three could make it.  We also captured specimens to let them look it over. They watched the sun come up and flame the last vamp in the open then listened to the rest of the story before coming back to figuring things out.  When they went to set up stuff for  more readings we went with them then too."

"Did they figure out something to see if it's staying closed?" Sam asked.

"Not yet.  I did ask if they knew of something."

"What's the half-life?" Agent Epps asked.

"Eight hundred years.  A full removal in two thousand.  The furthest it'll go is San Diego in a few years.  Then it'll start to recede once it hits that small island with the seals down there.  It should only hit that far down for a few weeks he said."

"That's something at least.  How long before it leaves LA alone?"

"Ask him," John said.  "We didn't ask."

"Fine, I can do that.  Next time you check with me first.  There's a lot of agencies that would come beat the crap out of you if he's harmed."

Dean nodded inside.  "We just saw the ATF guys."

"Why?" he asked.

"They wanted Harris to look at something."

"Oh."  He let Sam show him.  He looked at the specs on top.  "Who modified that?"

"Someone did one for Xander once.  It was used almost two years ago now," Sam told him.

The agent groaned, picking it up to carry it off.  "I'll hand it back.  Thank you, Mr. Winchester.  Do not come to our attention while you're here."  The case went into the back of his SUV and he got in to drive off.  He called the office.  "I need to speak to Thomas.  I know it was him that dropped something off with Harris.  I have it and the specs," he told the agent answering.  "The office.  Because they asked my brother to figure something out," he said grimly.  "Harris is from Sunnydale."  He grimaced.  "I don't know.  I didn't look for any.  I'm sure he probably does.  Then again, the Watchers are bad about that.  Or sharing.  Thanks.  Meet you there."  He grumbled as he drove back to the parking garage.  The agent came down to meet him.  "That what you needed?"

He looked then nodded.  "Yeah, it is.  It's too shielded to x-ray and if we take it apart it could blow up.  We didn't want to risk it since someone knew.  Thanks."

"Welcome.  Was that a seizure?"

"No.  Someone died and it was on his workbench with the Council's address on top."  He gave him a look.  "Have you met Summers?"

"No. I don't want to either.  If I ever get transferred to Cleveland, I'd better be protecting a vampire little brother."  He slammed his SUV's door, heading for the elevator.  "Have you guys had to deal with Winchester and his sons?"

"Once.   Connor Angel excused his manners and snarling as him being possessed for a few minutes."  They shared a look.  "Vacation?"

"I'm liking Miami.  Charlie would like Miami.  Lots of pretty women there too.  Dad would have people his own age who were going toward second careers too."  They got onto the elevator and pushed the proper buttons.  "Or maybe New York."

"Don't, man.  I was there.  It's nearly as bad as LA is for strange stuff."

"Never mind.  At least we're not NCIS with their problems."

"Yeah, I heard Harris had something to do with that.  Talked with one of your guys, Fornell?"

Don looked at him over his sunglasses.  "Fornell eats people.  He talked to Harris?"  The other guy nodded.  "Must've been bad.  Maybe I'll make his week and send a memo saying he's out here."  He smirked.  It was good to make the higher ups swear now and then.  It kept him from taking over the office someday so he wouldn't be struck dead by the paperwork.  He got off on his floor to send that email memo.  He got one back commanding him to find out where else they were going to show up and to try to keep them out there for at least a month.  The VP and the imps were conspiring again.  "I don't want to know," he muttered.  He did print it out for them.  He'd drop it by later.  That way he could make someone else's day.

***

Xander sat down on the opposite end of the couch from Dean, then leaned over until his head was on his thigh.  "Why are we watching Cops?"

"To make sure they're not coming here.  Too many Feds in this city."

"They don't follow Feds and we're on the good side of the Feds at the moment."  Dean handed over the note that had been slipped under the door.   "Wonder if Giles knows he's possessed."  He put it down and got comfortable. "Thanks for letting me sleep it out of my system."

"You needed it.  Your focus was slipping and we all need to be in top shape, Xander."  He patted him on the head.  Xander looked up at him.  "What?" he teased.

"You're the one who told me I'm a puppy, not a kitty, no matter how often Willow changed me."

"You flopped down like one too," he said.  He did pet him.  He knew Xander loved tactile contact.  It made him happy and kept him from getting too bouncy or odd.  Xander sighed in pleasure and relaxed.  He smirked down at him when he started to snore a few minutes later.  Dean went back to watching drunks get caught.  Xander flipped over to face his stomach, bunching up the leg of his jeans. "Hey," he complained. He shifted to smooth it out.  Xander shifted again and it drug them down.  "All you had to do was ask," he complained.  "Too bad you're asleep.  I could use a good blow."

Sam came out of the kitchen area, smirking at him.  "Want me to ask Dawn for you?"

"No thanks.  Figured you've got that pretty busy."

"She's chatting with the slayers in St. Louis on my laptop."  He came over to sit down under Xander's feet, getting a happy noise for it.  "Sleep, Xander."  Xander nuzzled the thigh under his cheek then put an arm up over them.  "So, how's it going with the casual thing?"

"We're doing okay.  Xander doesn't do clingy outside of sleep.  He doesn't want me to be mushy.  I don't want him to be mushy.  He did give me a new tape to celebrate our first year together doing this crap."  He looked at the screen. "Isn't that this place?"

Sam looked. "The one up the street, on the street side.  Besides, it's not live."  He sipped his cocoa, patting the socked feet in his lap.  "I've finished all the research."  Dean looked over.  Xander shifted to face his chest again and Dean only gave him a fond look.  "He's going to have you naked the next time he does that."

"Then maybe he'll suck in his sleep.  Unless you want to?"

"You should read the spell and stuff, Dean," Sam said.

"Why?  Will it make you do that for me?"

"It's a different theory on mediums than what I've seen before.  This one seems a lot more logical in his case.  It's also got something to help with the power bleed off afterward."  Dean nodded slowly.  He went to finish printing things out, bringing it back.  "Here."

Dean settled in to read it, only smacking Xander on the hand when it came up to play with his belly fur.  "I'm not that furry, Xander."  Xander pouted but moved closer, kissing the same fur.  He looked down.  "I should tape this."  He went back to reading the theory part.  Sam laid it out as theory, then the idea behind the rite, then the rite itself.  He looked over after the first section.  "Are we sure it'd work in his case?"

Sam shifted, then nodded.  "Yeah, I am.  It fits with him.  You've heard him talk about Jesse.  It's possible that he wasn't a medium until his death, and then Xander having to stake him opened him to it.  Even on the hellmouth he hadn't manifested during puberty, like most of them do.  The energy there would've made sure of it.  If his death left holes for the spirits to get into by ripping some of his soul out it makes a lot more sense."

"I guess that makes sense.  So they were meant to be like twins or something?"

"I think they were that close but the only one who would know is Willow."

"We can't do more than do a seance with her," he agreed.  He went back to what the rite was supposed to accomplish.  "This is complicated.  What about our hunting?"

"They'll still be in our lives, Dean.  Even if we both stay casual, I might end up settling down with her some year."

"You know this is her favorite wet dream?"

"I figure there's got to be something to it.  She's very smart and we like the same things."

"Do we?" Dean asked, giving him a look.  Sam shrugged.  "Are you putting in your vote for the 'we're doing it' club?"

"We were both raised to never trust someone outside the life and even then we're to be wary, Dean.  Who did he expect us to settle down with?  It's always been us, and only us, together.  We were raised away from making friends, forming attachments to outsiders, all that.  We call some of the other hunters friends and we'd die for them but none of them are people we'd do more than miss if they died.  Dad knew what love was or else he wouldn't have carried on this long."

"It's still incest."

"Yeah but think about it, Dean.  Could you *ever* truly settle down with anyone?"  He pointed at Xander.  "Who would do this for you.  It'd make him better and we'd never have to do it again.  We'd be like two very close families."

Dean went back to reading, thinking about what he had said.  Really their father had warned them from ever settling down with anyone.  He hadn't hinted that Sam and he should get together but it was a conclusion he could easily draw.  He could see that they were so messed up that only they could really, truly ever understand the other one.  They were as close as some twins and some of them did put someone between them now and then.  Hell, he had shared Dawn with his brother.  He hadn't even thought about that but even now Dawn would still get cuddly with him if Sam was having a bad day or suggested he could use a cuddle.  He frowned at a section of the rite.  "That would make us..."

"Receptacles.  He could bleed it through us.  It wouldn't hurt us and Dawn's already powerful.  She'd bleed it into the ground for him," he said quietly.  "We wouldn't be any different but it would let us do protection spells on each other that night."

Dean went back to reading.  "How certain is this?"

"There's been three other mediums of this type that've done the spell.  It's stopped them up nearly completely."

"So no more exorcisms."  Xander flipped back over and his jeans fully came off his hips.  "Xander, if you're going to do that, suck damn it."  Xander made mewling noises so Dean put his hand over his cock.  Xander squeezed then smiled and stroked.  "Thank you!"  Sam smirked at him.  "What?  It feels good.  Goes well with the trailer trash people on tv."  He handed it back.  "When?"

"The day after the last one?"

"Would that qualify for the chore?"

Sam smirked.  "We've already warped it, Dean."  Dean gave him a look.  "We have.  Repeatedly.  Or else you'd have done that sex magic thing last week.  It'll be fine.  It would also mean we'd get to keep him.  We could help them set up somewhere and then visit.  By then Tim will be on the way home."

"We can do that on our own?"

"Dawn can do the magic," he assured him.  "It's the idea Fred gave me."

"No side effects?"

"No.  Just the ones mentioned.  No mentions of him turning into Dru."  Dean considered it.  "Think about it?"

"I am.  Go jump her."  He grinned and went to do that.  He looked back at McGee's room but he was writing again.  He looked down at Xander, giving his hand a nudge.  Xander flipped back over, looking at him. "How long have you been awake?"

"You woke me up, you evil, mean, sex slave driver you."

Dean smirked.  "Since you offered and pulled my pants off me I thought I'd take advantage of it."

"I guess being a sex slave isn't so bad.  At least I'm not passed around."

"No, you're not."  He stroked over his hair.  "Xander, Sam may have found a spell to help you but it'd mean sleeping with him," he said quietly.

"Sam's straight."

"Maybe not fully," he admitted.  "Even if he said he was."  Xander slumped.  "We're looking it over.  It's for after the last battle."

"You'd have to share me?"

"We'd have to share you," he agreed.  "It would be like a virtual adoption into the Winchester family too.  We'd be like two very close families."

Xander blushed.  "I'm not against it but he turned me down."

"That's what I wanted to know."  He went back to stroking him.  "Since you're down there," he teased with a grin.

Xander let out a mock sigh but moved his head so he could play with him.  Dean would get him back later.

***

Gunn walked up to the apartment's door, tapping before walking in.  "Hey, guys, I need Xander.  My boy's here."  Xander waved him into the kitchen.  "Think you'd be willing to pay in specs or a few of the explosive things?  It's that or cash."

"What do they need weapons for?"

"Our arsenal."

Xander shrugged.  "What do you guys need?"

"We could use a few of the flame throwers or something like that.  Nothing too dangerous.  I know very well someone offered you a working proton pack a few years ago."

"I thought that was part of the BS you gave that cop!" Sam shouted.  He came out of the bedroom.  "You really got offered a proton pack?"

"The last of the trio of Sunnydale's geek society of evil overlords.  He was only going to charge me the cost of materials to make it for me."  Sam gave him a horrified look.  Gunn laughed.  He grinned. "I told him to ask Giles, that I wasn't sure we were going to need one, but I did let him geek out some of our other things.  He's the one who did the blessed thermite tipped crossbows and those things."  Sam walked off shaking his head, letting out a low moan.  Xander grinned at Gunn.  "He thought I was just fun-loving."

"We know you better than that, man.  Angel said you had a way of finding things."

"Yup, including a lot of stuff leftover in Sunnydale that we had to put in storage."  He dug out the keys, handing one over.  "That's to the storage place in Crescendo, by the mall."  Gunn beamed at him.  "All sorts of nastiness in there."

"Thanks, man.  We adore you.  Finish your eggs and let's go look at the car."  Xander finished making his egg sandwich, following him down to look at the car.  "What happened anyway?"

"There was an ogre or a bigfoot, something like that, that came out and decided to beat my car into being its girlfriend in the middle of a back road."  He ate a bite.  "Also, the upright blue door's compartment needs a new lock.  I haven't had the time or energy to fix it."  That got a nod from Gunn's boys.  "We found a lot of stuff in Sunnydale.  We can share."

They all smirked at him.  "We love you guys, Xander.  In a friendship way of course."

Xander smirked.  "I've got more than I can handle right now anyway, guys.  It'll be a while before I take applications for my next bitch."  He ate a bite while they laughed.  "Think we can fix her?  Even the bodywork spell and the spell to fix the engine aren't helping totally.  I limped into LA."

"It'll take a while," one of the boys said.

"We're here for six weeks," Xander said grimly.  "We've got a running set of battles."

That got a nod and they hooked the wrecker up to it, taking it off.  Xander waved at his car as it drove off.  "They'll treat her nicely," Gunn assured him.

"I know.  I'd wave off any of my toys going to surgery."  He looked at Gunn.  "We can head up there tomorrow if you want."

"You don't need to be more possessed, Xander."

Xander grinned.  "Who said I'm going to be?"

"We do."  He patted him on the arm.  "I should get back before Connor sets the house on fire.  Dawn was over teaching him to make pasta last night."  He headed for his truck, going back to the warehouse they were using.  He found an agent sitting there waiting on him.  He got out and walked over.  "Problems?"

"We raided that storehouse, sir.  Someone broke in and panicked that it was terrorists."

"I'll get other stuff from Xander then."

"Where does he get his stuff?"

"Out of his butt for all we know."  He strolled inside.  "Dawn, they said they raided that warehouse the guys set up?"

She smirked.  "Only a third of it.  I had the rest hidden.  We'll go so Xander doesn't have to suck in more things."  She kissed him on the cheek.  "It was kinda amusing seeing Ethan Rayne and Dru both in him at the same time.  They fought over what they wanted the poor guy to do.  Ethan wanted him to get into trouble, Dru wanted him to go sleep around.  Ethan was teaching him some of the finer points of magic and Dru was adding her own stamp to it."  Dean came in to look at her oddly.  She grinned.  "You didn't realize that's why they keep coming back?"

He groaned.  "No wonder his spells' aim is off."

She giggled.  "He said the swords are drawing it."

"I'm sure they are."  He walked off rubbing his head.  He had a headache.

Connor handed him the bottle of advil.  "I get that look from Dawn and Xander sometimes too," he offered gently.  "Sometimes they scare me."

Dean patted him on the arm.  "Sunnydale did it to them, Connor.  It'll be okay."  He nodded, getting back to what he had been doing, learning gun maintenance under Dean and John's watchful attention.

"Have you met any of his contacts?" John asked casually.

"One, a vamp named Phil that runs a hunting store in Iowa."

Connor smirked at him.  "Phil got dusted last year, Dean.  His sire sold off most of his stock to the others in the same business.  I know the guy Patrick locally.  He doesn't like us and he's really expensive.  Like Buffy and Cordelia clothes shopping expensive."

"I'm sure that's a bad amount," John said dryly.  "Any others?"

"We haven't had to, other than Paul's family," Dean said.  "I wonder if he knows Phil got dusted."

"Yes," Dawn called.  "They text messaged him.  I saw it."  She leaned in.  "He knows who took over most of his supplies.  It's a demon that wants Xander badly.  All he has to do is flash them and we might get a discount."  She beamed.  "Giles did suggest it and Xander gave him this look before walking off shaking his head.  That was before you guys got there for the wedding."  She went back to the kitchen.  She was making food ahead of time so no one there would starve.

"Think Sammy would mind if I took his girlfriend the next time I had to buy weapons to see if they'd give her Xander's discount too?" John asked his son.

Dean looked at him.  "Yes, he would.  Besides, they only give them to Xander, not to her.  We tried having her negotiate something.  Xander stomped over there and the price miraculously dropped for the rooms."  He shrugged.  "It's a Xander thing.  Like all his thrift store shirts that're kinda ugly.  Fortunately he ruins many of them so we make him buy regular, nice, plain t-shirts."

"Considering what I saw him in when he introduced me to Connor?  Probably a good idea.  Lorne doesn't wear clothes that loud.  How he manages to sneak up on things wearing them I'm not sure."

"Dean could always rip more things off him, that would let him make Xander shop more often," Connor offered.  Both Winchester men gave him odd looks.  "You don't rip the clothes off them?  One of the girls I play with does."

"There's an idea, son."

Dean snorted.  "He won't let me, Dad.  He bluntly told me no ripping."  He got back to work on the next gun.  "Don't forget to clean the sight too, Connor."  He did that and put that one back together.  "Good."   He looked over.  "We should go get into Xander's stash in Tim's room to clean them."

"Where is Tim?" Connor asked.

Dean shrugged.  "He said he was going to the library to email something to his editor over a different server since his didn't work."  He checked his watch.  "Xander's watching cartoons.  Let's hit our stash."  They nodded, heading out together.  Xander wouldn't mind them cleaning his guns for him.  He let Dean do it whenever he wanted to think.

***

Tim looked around the room he was tied in, frowning at his sword. "Why won't you come to me?" he muttered as he struggled with the ropes.  "Tony never has this much trouble getting free and Xander's flies over for him."  He concentrated, trying to call it to him.  Maybe he had a smidge of magic somewhere?  Apparently not because a few minutes later he was simply frustrated and had chaffed wrists and upper arms.  He took a calming breath for a minute then looked around.  "Okay, what would Gibbs be yelling at me?" he asked himself.  "My extra knife is somewhere I can't reach."  He tried but his wrists were tied away from his pockets.  "I swear I'm going to start putting one on my arm or something.  Not that it'd do me much good this time but maybe next time."  He struggled some more, opening one spot on his wrist.  "Well, lubricant to ease the way," he said grimly.  He was getting it free when he heard a door open.  "Oh, not again," he muttered.  The woman came down to taunt him and tease him.  "I don't like succubuses, you've got the wrong hunter for that, lady.  I'm not Xander."

She stopped taunting him with her striptease.  "You know Xander?"  He nodded.  "You know he is an enemy of us all now, since he forced one of us to do bad things?"

Tim snorted.  "She was evil anyway and trying to kill him and those of us on that prophecy hunt."  She snorted back, hands on her hips.  "She was.  She even had our driver's licenses taken out of the systems.  She fired people who told me what was going on.  She's scared that the demon in her heritage would make her more vulnerable to hunters and she pissed us all off.  Then again, you're not my type."

"I can change," she said, coming closer and changing down to a pale, goth looking girl with pigtails.

Tim snickered.  "Abby would get a kick out of this.  I'll have to tell her."  She glared at him.  "She never makes that face.  Now, let me go before I have to find a way to call Xander."  She walked over to dial the phone for him.  "Xander, a succubus has me tied to a chair.  How do I summon my sword?" he called.

He heard the tired sounding sigh.  "Tim, screw her and banish her, man.  It's what the rest of us do."

"I don't want this skanky ho.  There's no telling who she's done and what she has.  I'd sooner do you."

Xander snickered.  "Good to know.  Fine.  Where are you?"

"Umm...."   He looked at the demon.  "Go ahead and tell him."  She hung up instead with an evil, catty smirk.  "That's fine.  It's still not coming up for you, lady.  Even if you look like Aphrodite, it's not yours.  You don't do it for me."  She stomped off.  He went back to trying to get free or summoning his sword.

Dawn appeared, shaking her head and clicking her tongue.  "Poor baby."  She grabbed his sword, using it to cut his ropes.  "There you go, Tim.  Now go hunt like a big hunter."  She patted him on the cheek, going to tell Xander he was fine.  Then go back to making cookies.

Tim checked himself over, then headed up the stairs to deal with the succubus.  How dare she turn into Abby!  Abby would *never* allow that!  Even if she would giggle.  He was sure she'd have out her goth pom-poms somewhere if she knew about this.  And hey, not even Tony could top this story when he got home.  Six succuba later he changed his sword back to a pocket knife and walked out, leaving that mess there.  He wasn't going to burn the building.  No matter what Dean would want him to do.

***

Xander looked up as their last battle in LA was in the planning process.  He and John were having a serious fight about how to deal with the demon.  "We've done this a few times, John.  Really.  It works."

"It won't work this time.  The alley's too narrow, Xander.  The demon's larger than you think."

Dean came over to push them both out of the way and look.  "No, we need to lead it out of that area anyway."  He looked at Xander.  "He's right it's too narrow but you're right that we've got to surround it to take it down."  He looked at his father.  "We need to have it moved.  What's near there?"

"The small walking and toddler park," Gunn called.  "The city will be *pissed* if it's destroyed.  They just put it up.  It was a donation."

Xander looked back at him.  "What else is up that way?"

"If you can get it running the other way, the waterfront," John offered, looking at the map.  "That's three blocks though.  The park's two."

"Nothing more open closer?  Bigger street even?" Dean asked.  Connor and John both shook their heads.  "Anything blocking us running for the waterfront?"

"Walls," Gunn said, marking them on the map.  "Temporary walls of dumpsters."

"The demon could walk over them at his height," Xander said calmly.

"We can't," Dean reminded him.

"Yeah but he won't be focusing on his feet.  So why not have me on top of somewhere to distract the sucker and lead him off?  A building run?" he suggested, looking at his buddy.

Dean considered it.  "A few large gaps in there, Xander."

"I can be farther away," Xander pointed out.  "I can be next to the waterfront and have him come for me."  He grinned.  "It's not that hard.  He's not going to want to have his nose closed up or anything.  I can do fairly easy spells to do that."

Dean considered it, glancing at his father, who shrugged.  "You sure?"

"If not, I'll run back to wherever we're harassing him."  He looked over at Tim.  "Got any ideas?"

"Will the gooifying spell, as you and Dawn call it, work on this one?"  Everyone shook their heads.  "Anything like it in the books or on that spell website?"

"It's a water demon, it should head toward the water anyway," Sam said as he read up on it.  "It can use water to call its minions."

"Which would suck but the sewer's under that street too," Connor pointed out.

"The more pure the better."

"There's no such thing as pure water in LA unless it's in a bottle," Gunn told him.  "Even the ocean."

"Where's the nearest filtration plant then?" Xander asked.  Connor looked at the map then pointed.  "Seventeen blocks.  Okay, we should be prepared for him to go for it just in case.  As a backup plan."  That got a nod and John moved to take that route just in case.  Xander looked at Dean.  "What do you want us to do?  You're as experienced as I am and I'm stuck."

Dean leaned on the table, looking at the map.  "I don't mind your idea of taunting and making it come for us," he decided.  "I don't like the distance and I don't know how you'd deal with it."

Dawn came in with the laptop, putting it down.  "Instead of irritating it, attract it."  She stared at Xander.  "We can do that."

"You're staying out of the way," Xander reminded her.  John gave him a long look.  "Unfortunately she's too valuable to risk.  The same as we can't get Connor dead, we have to save both of them for the worse things.  Which is looking like our last fight."  He looked at her.  "If it comes down to it..."

"I'll knock your ass out and we'll do another exorcism," she said dryly.  "We still in the same place?"  He nodded.  "Good.  What about doing a filtration spell on the water?  It's not that hard.  It's nature magic, which is my area.  It'd make it want to come there, it's a closer piece of what it needs."

"It needs to eat before making minions," Tim reminded her.  "It can eat anything."

"It can pick up a few of the dumpsters in its way," Xander told him.  He looked at the map.  "We'll have to draw it off to the side.  It turns."

"If we go straight we...  No, that's not a good place," Dean agreed.  It was a fuel dump.  Big, huge explosion that would get them on the news.  Xander nodded.  "If we take him this way it's a shipping area."  He pointed.  "That means making him turn around and walk around a corner, then three blocks."

John looked then pointed at something.  "What's that?"

"Um...  That's a mall," Connor said.  They all groaned.  "The other direction is what?"

"Kiddie park," Xander said.  He looked at the map, pointing at something.  "What's this?"

"That is far enough away for him to pull a Godzilla," Tim complained.

"It's five blocks, Tim."   He looked at the natives.  "What's that way?"

"That's... mostly the hood," Gunn admitted.  "People who work at the docks and things."  He traced the spot.  "That's a lot of abandoned areas, no buildings but some wrecks."  He looked at him.  "Can't you blow it up?"

Xander considered it.  "The spell we need to destabilize it has to be put onto the swords," he said finally.  "Short of us launching one of them?"

"Can we change one into a launcher, put the spell on it and the rocket, then let the rocket do the dirty work for us?" Dean suggested.

Dawn shook her head.  "No.  Has to be on the sword by the prophecy."  She looked over at him.  "I wish, it'd be a lot easier."  She went back to the prophecy, seeing if it had a clue.  "You know what, after this, Dean's supposed to be taken by demons."  He snickered.  "I know, not the first time, studly, but still."  She looked at Connor.  "Any enclaves?"

Gunn and Connor both pointed at one of the blocks.

"I don't even go down there, it's too heavily infested," John admitted.  "I can't tell combatants from non."

Xander looked at it then at them.  "Think they'd help or hinder?"

"Depends on the resident," Gunn admitted.  "Some would cheer, some would help it. It'll eat demons, right?"

"Yeah, it'll eat anything to gain power and grow bigger," Dawn said.  "This is where we need the proton pack, Xander."

He gave her a look.  "I didn't want to pay for it, Dawn, sorry for the lack of forethought.  If I had known we'd have this particular demon I'd have splurged with the Council's money and it'd still be in Cleveland."

She stuck her tongue out at him.  "Fine."

"If it's a water demon, why can't we do like people do to sardines and suck the water out?" Xander asked.

"It won't kill it?" Dean suggested calmly.

"Yeah but it sure as hell would slow it down."  He looked at him.  "Then we could kill it."

Dean nodded.  "How would you do that?"

"Rock salt rockets?" Sam offered, shrugging a bit.

Dawn shook her head.  "No.  Heat.  You can fast dry it with heat."  She looked at Xander.  "A flame spell against a water creature isn't going to work."

"It's a first step, Dawn!"

"It might slow it down," Dean said, thinking about it.  "Where do we have to hit it to kill it, guys?"

"Stomach," Sam and Dawn said together, then stuck their tongues out at each other.

"No pre-apocalypse sex in front of us, please," Connor said grimly.  "I can't participate and it's mean."  He looked at them.  "The stomach's going to be about building height."

"We need the spell on a sword," Xander said thoughtfully, looking at Tim then at Dean.  "But we'll need the other two either herding or getting the hands for the one doing the actual stabbing and killing."

Dean nodded.  "True," he agreed, considering that.  "We'll never get it from the ground."

"Building?" Xander suggested.  He pointed at one.  "That one's about what stomach height should be on it.  The flame spell would draw it to us.  It's got a few clearish streets below us."  They all looked then shrugged.  "That way we're actually at the right height without having to try to get it from a fire escape?"

"News crews?" Dawn asked.

"Have the city evacuate those blocks, say you're working on the gas lines or something," Connor said.  "We have a halfie in the mayor's office.  He said he wants warned.  We warned him this was coming up."  He leaned his elbows on the table to look at the map.  "This one is closer to where he'll come up, Xander."

"Fuel dump," Xander said, tapping it.  "Dangerous for normals too."

"Which would make a good flame off," Dean said, then shook his head.  "Too dangerous."  He studied the buildings.  "Most of them are too high.  We need twelve stories?"

"Elven to twelve stories, depending on how generous they were with ceilings," Xander corrected.  "I know the one Connor suggested is ten."  That got a nod.  "We'll go look and see if one speaks to us, guys."  They nodded, heading to the Impala.  John could work on the backup plan.  They decided on an abandoned building fairly quickly.  It was within a block of where the demon was being called across the realm boundary.  They could get up there without people seeing them.  The demon would be able to move some but not a lot.  It could be drawn to them.  Xander had Tim use a flare to mark the exact spot for the portal as they knew it.  Someone had been exact on the GPS coordinates for some reason.  Dean and Xander both nodded.  There was enough room to run from building to building for the last six.  They could get onto their chosen building if they had to start distracting closer to where it was coming up.

"Flame thrower?" Dean suggested.

Xander looked at him and nodded.  "Would work.  Then we move back here."  That got a nod and they went to take Tim back to the warehouse and make sure they'd have what they needed.

***

Xander looked over at Dean, because the flamethrowers weren't working.  They took it on with their swords, dropping the throwers' weight down.  Xander was mentally praying for help.  This one was a bit too big.  He got swatted into a maintenance shaft on the roof and groaned, getting up holding his side.  He cast the spell at Dean's sword, letting him have it while he ached.  Dean got knocked down.  Xander had to jump back in.  Tim was already down and groaning.  He cast the spell again, this time on his sword.  The demon tried to swat him.  Finally he'd had enough.  He started to cast something at the demon, something Ethan's spirit had shown him.  The demon screamed and howled, holding its head before it split.  Xander stabbed the demon while it shrieked, batting him back into the building.  He blacked out but the thing was shrinking and that meant dying.

"What the hell was that!" Dawn shouted from the alleyway.  Sam was going up to check on the guys while she cast the last spell to make sure the thing was going to die.  It certainly was.  Whatever Xander had cast was destroying its brain.  The demon finished melting and she stared at it, finding the gold coin.  She flipped it at John, who stuffed it into his t- shirt pocket.  Then she went up to check on the guys.  Tim was almost sitting up.  She helped him upright then onto his hands and knees to puke.  Xander was a lost cause for getting up.  Dean was groaning into Sam's stomach.  "What was that spell?" she demanded.  Dean glared at her.  "I know it wasn't you."

"Xander," he said weakly.  "How is he?"

"Knocked out," she admitted, going back to check him again.  He was fully out.  "He's at least got banged up ribs, guys.  He's got a good bruise there."  John came up to help get them down to his truck, letting Xander be spread out in the bed with the others gathered around him.  She got the flame throwers and made sure the other weapons had went with them.  She took the flamethrower to the puddle of goo, making it evaporate until it was a simple stain.  She got into the front of the truck once the last flamethrower was back being used as a pillow for Dean.  She looked at John.  "Three more trials."

"How bad?" he asked, starting the engine.

"Dean's going to be taken but released.  I don't know why that's listed as one.  Xander's going to be possessed again, then they'll have to fight him to get the demon out of him.  The coins have something to do with that.  Then the last battle is back in you guys' country, somewhere in the Midwest.  Dean said he knows where."

"Should you follow them?"

"No, the last two have to be just those three.  Sam and I are heading to the cabin in Iowa.  Xander will head there afterward according to the prophecy.  Tim'll head home.  Dean'll follow Xander. Then we've got that last chore."  She considered it, tapping her fingers on the dashboard.  "I'm going to have to teach Dean the banishing spirits spell."  He nodded at that.  "If I can't be there, and a simple exorcism often leaves Xander with trace of the spirits, we've got to basically summon them out then banish them."

"That's reasonable," John said calmly.  "Can you?"

"We did for the last three hours after they got him out of Sunnydale," she assured him.  "We can this time too."

"This time it's not a simple spirit, Dawn."

"I know that."  She looked at him then back at the guys in the back.  "Where's Sam?"  Sam's head lifted and he waved, then he went back to checking Xander's side.  "Okay.  We've got to figure out how best to banish the demon."  They got out and she went back to her research.  Connor had a touch-healer blessed by the Goddess who had agreed to come see the guys when they got back this time.  Plus she had spent the day before making healing potions to help her.  She knew someone was going to need them.

***

Dean came in giggling from his kidnaping.  "They were hunting demons."  He flopped down on the chair, looking at his brother.  "The kind that hunt rogue demons down for food and profit.  They wanted to talk to me mostly.  A few of the girls hit on me.  The kids asked *tons* of questions.  I almost got adopted by a demon dog."  Sam shook his head quickly.  "I know.  But hey, I talked it out of it.  And the kids from following us around."  He looked around.  "Xander already gone?"

"Late last night," he said, looking at him.  "We know where he's going."

"So we have to get back to Cleveland."  Sam nodded.  "Then what?"

"Then the final one in the center of the battle.  Tim's already headed out, I stayed to pick you up.  We put Xander's car and gear with Gunn for now."  Dean gave him an odd look.  "Remember, Dawn's staying.  If we need something she can bring it to us."  He stood up.  "Plus I used some of his supplies to up ours.  Let's head?"

"Sure, let's head."  They checked the apartment for last things, finding one of Tim's books.  Then they headed out together, Sam driving for now just in case.  Dean glared at him.  "What!"

"You came home giggling. You're obviously not able to drive."   He slid in.  "Get in before I change the radio station."  He sighed but slid into the car and they headed off too.  Sam had to stop to give back the keys, get their security deposit back, and then they hit the road.  It had been a nice layover.   Their father and Xander had actually gotten along for most of it.  They had actually gotten along for most of it with their father too.  It had been a nice change.  He hit the interstate and sped up, heading after Tim.  They knew why the demon in Xander was making a stand in Cleveland.  It wanted to destroy Buffy and the Council too.

***

Dean and Tim walked up to where Xander was hovering, for lack of a better word, about two feet off a floor.  "Hey, Xander?" Tim asked.  The demon turned to look at him.  "Don't hate us, all right?"

"Nah, he'll be happy once it's out of him," Dean assured him, moving to flank him while Sam came in to do the spell to banish the demon.  When Xander started to lift a hand he grabbed it and pulled it back down.  Tim did the same.   Xander cackled and stared at Sam, making him stutter.  "Don't let it get to you, Sammy," Dean called.

"Having a bit of trouble thinking," he admitted, rubbing his head.  Tim popped Xander on the head like Gibbs did to him, getting that same attention applied.  Sam went back to the exorcism, letting the guys keep his attention for now.  He swiped at his nose, seeing the blood coming out of it.  Dean popped Xander this time.  In the sore ribs, that got the demon's attention.  The demon attacked and Sam continued the banishing.  Tim was trying to get Dean away from Xander but it wasn't fully working.  The demon shrugged him off by throwing him halfway across the room.  Dean was still struggling with the demon.  "Dean, we need Xander able to fight next week," he reminded him when another hit went to the same bruised ribs.  He did the spell faster, it wasn't working.  He looked up then did it their way.  Still not working.

The demon knocked Dean out, laughing as he got up and walked over to him.  "What's wrong?  It not go as planned?"

Sam glared at him.  "No, not really.  Thanks for asking though."  He splashed holy water on him, wincing when nothing happened.  "You can take holy water?"

"I can take the taint that makes it holy," the demon said smugly, raising a hand.  "You should not try to thwart me, young boy.  You are not that strong."

"Oh, bet me."

"Sam!" Dean called, sliding over his sword.  Sam picked it up while Dean climbed to his feet and grabbed Xander's sword. They went after the demon, who had a shield of some sort that was preventing them from hurting him.  Tim got back to his feet, holding his head while he jumped back in too.  Xander was still defending fairly well but then Dean moved in closer, intentionally dropping his guard.  Xander gave him a clueless look the second before the gunshot ripped through his upper ankle.  The demon screamed in pain, there was no blood coming out, but the shield was down.  Tim and Sam both managed small, mostly harmless cuts, while Sam panted the exorcism chant again then the banishing spell when that didn't work.  A bit of smoke started to come from Xander's ears but not enough.  Dean took Sam's hand, joining in, holding Xander down on the floor so they could get all of it out.

"He's bleeding," Tim announced.  They did the spell again and again and again until Xander was finally clear and moaning at them for it.  Tim wrapped the injury, then sat down, looking at the brothers.  "That's too close, guys."

"Very," Dean agreed, looking at Xander.  Then at his brother.  "What about the other things?"

"The school wasn't burned.  The witches managed to protect it and deflect it onto a nearby empty building and a Gap store.  The minor earthquake was explained away."  Faith rushed in, Buffy right behind her.  "We got it out of him."

"Huh?" Faith demanded.

Dean smiled and waved. "One of our last ones.  Xander got possessed by the upper demon."

Tim cleared his throat.  "Guys, wasn't there something about the coins in the prophecy?"  They looked at Xander and Sam took off his necklace of the things, putting them onto him.  They heard the demon purr as he petted them.   Tim looked at the demon.  "If you go away and never come back to this plane, never help another demon coming to this plane, and leave no taint in that body we'll let you have those.  I'm sure you can use them to summon whatever the demon who used to own it was for your army.  As long as you never come back to this plane.  Some of those are very high demons."

The demon looked at him.  "Here is fun.  Plus food.  I don't want to leave all the toys."

"Yes, but here will get those taken away again," Dean told him.  He took the necklace.  "Those are the terms, demon.  You leave this plane, you never come back to this plane, you never help another demon coming to this plane, and you leave nothing of yourself in the boy."

"He's already got my knowledge."

"That's fine," Dean agreed.  "Knowledge is fine.  Taint isn't."  He stared at him.  "Are we agreed?"

"Well...."  He stroked them.  "Don't you have any more than this?  You should have more than this."

Dawn appeared with another string of them.  "Sorry, I've been keeping them."  She held them up.  "These?"

"Dawn, you shouldn't be here," Buffy told her.

"Shut up.  I'm part of this prophecy too, Buffy."  She moved closer.  "The deal as they said it.  And we do mean no helping the demons coming here.  Ever."

The demon pouted but counted the ones on that strand.  "You're short two."

Dean rolled his eyes.  "Greedy.  Sorry, one we didn't get the coin out of and the other one our father bent in the wash.  You can still have all these with that deal."

"Then I should get some lessening of the rules on my side."

Sam snickered.  "Not really.  You've got more than enough here to take over some other realm or plane.  You won't really need more and if you do, you can gather them from the ones you recruit."

"To get my princess will take seven more.  I have four."  He looked at Dean.  "Please?"

"Fine," he said, getting up and going to find some lower demons.  He came back a few hours later with a few more, holding them up.  "There's four there.  One had two."  The demon reached for them.  He let them run a hand over them but not take them.  "Are we agreed?"

He nodded.  "My princess will love me and take good care of me.  We'll conquer the demon planes together."  He shoved everyone off, standing up.  "I will not come back to this plane, I will not bother those on this plane, help other demons coming to this plane, and I will not leave bits and pieces of myself in the boy.  Though it is tempting with the way he is."  Dean growled.  The demon smirked.  "How cute."  Sam growled.  He snickered. "Both of you, really?"

Dawn pulled a blessed knife.  "Don't make me join in."

The demon laughed.  "What can you do?"

Dawn moved closer.  "What do you think happens when you get a strong witch and put her on the hellmouth?" she countered, staring at him.  She let her shields drop and the demon moaned.  "Now, get out of Xander and get gone.  I'm not forbidden from stepping in now."  He faded out of Xander and floated out his ears.  "That's an unusual exit."

"Not much up there," Buffy quipped.  Sam turned and punched her.  "Hey!"

"Xander's very intelligent," he growled, glaring at her.  "It may not be book smart but we survived by Dean and Xander's wits these last three years, Buffy."  He turned back around to look at the boy, who was wobbling and trying not to stand on his injured foot.  "Xander?"

The boy looked at him.  "Bloody hell no," he said in a dry, British voice.  "Did you have to shoot me?"

"Yes, we did, Ethan," Dawn said.  "Don't make us banish you again!  And take Dru with you!  Spike's floating around nagging Willow and them."  The other spirit floated off, going to find her Spike kitten.  She looked at Ethan.  "Out!  Now!" she growled.

"I think the demon was right, you are rather cute over him."

"Ethan, do not piss me off.  I will rip your soul to shreds," she vowed.  She got pouted at.  "Get out of Xander and stay out of Xander."

"I prepared the boy as my vessel."

"I don't care!" Dawn shouted.

"Dawn, calm down," Sam ordered, staying calm.  "We can pull him out of there."

Dean looked at him then shrugged and kissed Xander, making Ethan fly out.  "Sorry, had holy water on the way in, just in case."   He smacked Xander on the shoulder.

"Ow," he said weakly, rubbing it.  "I hate you."

"I know you do.  You yourself again?"  Xander nodded slowly.  "Realize where we are?"

"I got possessed again?"  They all smirked and nodded.  "Is it gone?"

"Yup, it took the coins and went to find its own dark princess since you weren't the ideal one," Dawn quipped.  Dean swatted her too.  "Hey!"

"Quit picking on Xander.  He's in a lot of pain.  Let's get you taken care of, Xander."  Xander nodded, letting Dean help him out to the Impala then to the ER to have the bullet wound taken care of.  Those you didn't do at home unless you didn't have a choice.

Dawn picked up Xander's sword.  Tim got his.  Sam got Dean's, then they headed back to their motel room.  They were not staying with the slayers.  Though Sam did help her sneak in and grab a few other things she'd need from the spell closet and her own clothes.  By the time they got back, Xander was crashed on a bed pinning Dean down while he watched tv.  "We good?"

"We're fine.  Buffy called, I told her you were off getting some supplies for the next fight."  He looked at her.  "Thanks."

"Welcome."  She kissed him on the forehead.  "He good?"

"Painkillers," he said with a small grin.   "Fortunately Tim's a good shot and didn't really hurt anything."

"Will he be healed by the next battle?" Sam asked.

"No but the next battle is all magic for him," Dean reminded him.  He shifted and Xander growled.  "I know.  Go back to sleep."  Xander made a huffing noise and shifted to pin him down better then drifted off again.  "He decided I'm not moving."

Sam grinned.  "Well, you are a good pillow."  Tim came out of the bathroom.  "Nice shot."

"Thanks."  He sat down on the couch.  "When do we leave for the next one?"

"Day," Dean said.  That got a nod.  Tim laid down.  Sam and Dawn crashed on the other bed.  Dawn would leave for the other areas tomorrow.  Sam would have to go with her since they were both forbidden to be at the last battle.  It didn't say why but they were.

***

Tim limped in from the front hallway, looking at the curious girls staring at him.  "Can I have Gibbs or Tony please?" he asked politely.  "If they yell, tell them it's Tim."  One of them went running.  He sat down with a wince and a hiss.

"Hey," Tony said as he jogged down the stairs.  "You done?"

"Last battle's done.  Dean and them have something left to do.  Don't grab!" he said when Tony reached for him.  "Or at least give me stuff before you do."

"Broken ribs?" he asked, looking sympathetic.  Tim looked at him and nodded.  "Come on, you can stay on our couch."  He helped him up.  "Someone get the nurse?"  He helped him up the stairs.  "You all right otherwise?"

"I quit bleeding again an hour ago," he offered cheerfully.  "I'm never doing this again.  If someone else gets called, I'll give advice and then I'm hiding.  The rest of them promised to go RV-ing for a while to hide.  I can go with them."  He was put down on a soft surface and winced, grabbing his chest when it moved.  He looked at Tony.  "You didn't want to get hurt, right?  That's why you sent me?"

Tony grinned.  "Yeah, that was it, Probie."  The nurse came rushing in with Giles behind her.  "Broken ribs, sitting funny, limping on his right leg, sore shoulders," he told her.  She nodded, moving him out of the way.  "Hey, boss, Probies back!" he shouted up the hallway.  "And injured!"  He came jogging in to see him.

"Not critical?"

"Broken ribs, can't sit.  Limping, sore shoulders."

"Not half bad for the coverage we had of the last fight."

Tim looked at him.  "It made the news?"

"The clean up effort did.  How big was that demon, McGee?"

"I don't know but it splooshed all over the field and then it turned into living slime that groped and tried to do mean things to you."  He was laid down, wincing all the way.  "Yes, Rupert, he survived.  He disappeared before the slime could grope him too."

Abby came running in.  "Tim!"  She started to pounce but Gibbs caught her.  "Hey!  He needs a hug."

"He's got broken ribs," Tony told her.

"I'll gently pounce."  She shoved the nurse and got a hug around his neck.  "You came back.  I'm so proud."

He grinned.  "Wait until I tell you about the succuba who decided trying to be you  was enough because they made pitiful yous."  She beamed at that.  He looked at the nurse.  "Can I sleep?"

"Sure,  you can rest all you want.  It's probably a good idea for the next few days actually."  He nodded and passed out.  She smiled.  "He learned that trick from Xander.  I've seen it repeatedly from him."  She looked up.  "Tony's right.  I need some tape for his ribs."  Gibbs went to get some and a few ace bandages.  She looked at Abby.  "Get him into a warm bath, dear.  Add just a touch of epsom salts but not too much."  She nodded, going to do that for him.  She and Tony got him undressed, letting her tape his upper ribs before putting him into the water.  Abby stopped the water before it got that high, earning a smile.  "Good girl."  She stepped back.  "All right, wrap the sore spots when he gets out.  For now, let him nap, people."  Abby sat beside the tub so she let Tony walk her out.  "He'll be fine," she told Giles.  "Absolutely fine.  Give him a few days."  She patted him on the cheek and walked off.  "Just because I had an emergency doesn't mean you ladies get out of your physicals," she called as she walked.  There was some groaning and the group that had them today headed for her lair.

Tony looked at Giles.  "I'm sure Xander's fine."

"The last chore of the prophecy may be to take him out," he said quietly.

"You said yourself that Xander messed up so many prophecies the Powers were mad at him.  He'll do it this time too.  I doubt those two boys could take him out.  I'm a good judge of character, Giles.  They weren't killers.  Even if Dean will do what has to be done to protect his little brother, that's not this situation."  He walked off.  He decided to make Abby a snack so she could force it on Tim.  He did look a bit under his usual weight.  Plus tired, very tired.

***

Xander appeared in the cabin in Iowa, looking around.  He looked up.  "I'm not dying here," he said calmly.  "I'll die back in Sunnydale, like I should have long ago.  Thanks anyway."  A flash of light behind him heralded Dawn, who knocked him out.  That was a source of betrayal he hadn't expected.  He came to on the bigger bed, tied down, with her painting on him with a brush.  "What are you doing?" he asked calmly.  "If you wanted to take the powers, just ask."

"I'm not killing you, dumbass, I'm saving you."  She looked at him. "Otherwise we'd be in Sunnydale."  She went back to what she was doing.  "Just relax.  I have a plan and it's as brilliant as most of yours.  Sam even helped me with it," she said when he gave her an odd look.

"We're doing what?" he asked.

"Shut up and relax is your only part," she told him, grinning a bit.  "We get to do all the hard work."  She went back to it.  "Tim said that the slime groped him and he didn't like anal sex."

"It didn't grope me."

"It groped Sam and he didn't like it either."

"Dean?"

"He's fine.  Driving.  Your car will be here from LA eventually."  She painted on another symbol.  It was going to take a good, long time to do this on him.  "Before you can ask, this is an ancient, totally ancient rite.  Like pre-Powers having their name ancient."

"Demonic?"

"No."  She got back to work.  "Very early human or half-demon written."  She dipped the brush and finished that symbol.

"Dean hinted there was one I'd have to sleep with Sammy for."

She giggled.  "More than that, Xander.  Now hush."  She got back to work on the next one, this one lower down on his stomach.  He groaned.  "I know, I don't care.  Firm up whatever tough-guy thing you do so you're only ticklish to the ones you adore, like me."  She finished that one and moved on.  "This is going to take hours.  Which will give the boys time to get here."

"We were over a day away," Xander reminded her.

"Yeah and you've been out now for nearly six hours, Xander.  I didn't want you to worry."  He gave her a look.  "I didn't."  She reached up to stroke over his forehead.  "You're my big brother and I love you.  That's why I'm doing this.  Okay?"  He nodded.  "Quit worrying and let me get on with this.  Or else I'll have two more impatient boys pacing around while I'm trying to draw."  She got back to her painting.   It was a lot of symbols.  "How did they do this on little kids when they adopted them?" she muttered.  "At least you're a big kid so we can do the full rite, make sure it works and you're safe."  She started on a new one, this time on his upper thigh.  That's when he realized he was fully naked.  He made a noise and she glared at him.  "Yes, you have to be naked for me to get all the painting done.  Quit.  Now."  He went limp and let her handle it.  She obviously knew what she was doing.  He might complain later when she had to paint one around his asshole or on his cock, but oh well.

***

Dean walked in after Sam.  "Hey."

"Took you an extra two hours?" she demanded.

"Had to stop to pick up some supplies," Sam said.

She looked at him then the box in Dean's hand.  "Not this time, sweetie."

"I know.  That's for later.  Patch is on, right?"

"My patch is on," she sighed, finishing up the last line on Xander's cock.  She beamed at him.  "You just barely made it.  Give it a few minutes to dry so it won't smudge."  She checked the earlier ones, painting over one that was flaking.  "There we go.  Let me check his back."  She flipped him onto his side, as much as the handcuffs allowed, and looked.  All fine.  She put him back onto his back and looked at the boys.  "Okay, we all know what we're doing, right?"

Dean nodded.  "Yup.  We're plugging some holes in him to stop up some of the runs he has."

Sam snickered.  "What a way with words you have," he teased.

"Shut up," he shot back, shaking his head.  "Aren't we?"  He looked at Xander.  "Is he drugged?"

"No, he's tired.  He's been complaining that he itched for the last half an hour."  She looked at them.  "Are we ready?"  They both nodded.  "Good."  She stripped out of the bathrobe she had been wearing for the last little while.  Sam smiled and kissed her. "Naughty you."

"How are we all doing him at once?" Dean asked.  "I didn't think about the logistics before but it'd be easier on a girl."  They both stared at him.  "Only one hole, guys."

"As long as Sam's connected to me or to him somehow we're good," she said, stroking up his chest.  "We have to be in contact, not inside or around him."  He nodded, taking off his jacket.  "Sam?"  He started to strip too.  She nudged Xander on the hip.  "Hey."

"Hey."  He looked at them then at her.  "Are we having a naked party?  You should have told me, I would've showered."

"Shut up," Dean told him, smirking a bit.  "You're fulfilling a fantasy of hers while we help you.  Got it?"  Xander nodded slowly.  "During it, the magic happens, we save your ass, we're all good."  He leaned down to kiss him.  "If you want to complain, do it now."

"Why?"

"Why complain?  I don't know but sometimes you're like that."  He grabbed some stuff out of the bag, tossing Sam a bottle.  "Got one for each of us."  He nodded, kissing the back of Dawn's neck.  "So, Xander, want me or Sammy this first time?"  Xander gave him a look, earning a smirk back.  "Part of it, Xander.  Take your pick."

He swallowed.  "You?"

"I can do that.  Didn't know if you wanted to go with how Dawn did it or not."  He got another kiss and moved to start preparing him.  He noticed the paint around the poor guy's asshole and looked at her.  "Have fun painting?"

She beamed.  "A lot."  She kissed him then Sam, then Xander.  "Quit worrying.  You know I'd never hurt you.  You know it'll work because I'm doing it.  Just remember it will work, we're doing this of our own free will, and you're very cute under all that paint."  He blushed a little bit.  She grinned and kissed Dean again.  "How do you want me?"

"Begging and pleading for mercy."  She laughed at that.  "Let me settle inside first.  Then you climb on top and if Sammy can, he'll have you.  If not we can do the blowing thing."

She nodded. "I've never done that but oh well.  Up the butt sex sounded fun in the books."  Dean gave her an odd look.  "It did."

"I'm sure it did."  He shook his head quickly.  "You need to read better books."

"So said the guy who got this month's playboy the hour it came out," she teased.

"This is probably the strangest family ever," Sam noted.  He gave Dawn a nudge.  "Tease him while I do this."  He opened his bottle too and got to work preparing her.  "Should we do each other too?"

"Maybe later," Dean told him.  "Not for this."  He finished up and groaned, sliding inside his buddy.  "Damn, should've worked more," he complained.  "Way tight."

"Then we know Angel didn't take advantage of him after Faith," Dawn quipped.  Her boys helped her to get on top of Xander, smiling as she sild down him, facing off to the side.  "Not a little boy by any means," she teased.  Sam shifted up behind her, bending her down slightly to get into her ass.  She shivered the whole slide in.  "Oooh, Sam."

"I bet you hear that often," Dean teased.

"Very," he agreed happily.   He thrust in once to make sure he was fully in.  "Okay, Dawn.  Go for it."  She shifted some, leaning over to brace herself on Dean's shoulder while she worked the spell, slowly and gently working herself on Xander's hard cock.  Xander was making begging noises but letting them do whatever.  Dean shifted, getting into it, letting her do the main line of the spell while he and Sam got the chorus with her.  Xander was mumbling so he nodded at Sam, who leaned down to kiss him and stop him.  Xander whimpered so Dean slammed in hard, making him make begging noises instead.  He felt the cutting part of the spell take hold, wincing as the small bit of his soul was removed for the graft into Xander's.  The other two looked pained as well so he knew it had taken.  Now they needed to make him come so it'd seal itself into his soul and energy.  He got back to work pleasing him, Dawn and Sam pleasing each other and Xander too.  Xander was back to making begging noises, which he liked.  A lot.

He shifted his angle, making Xander yelp.  She smiled but didn't quit chanting.  They were coming up to the healing portion of the spell, that would set the graft so it'd seal.  He found the same spot Xander teased on him and teased it with his first finger, getting a growl of noise.  Xander was pushing back and thrusting up now, he was getting into this.  Dawn was nearly done.  Dean slammed in harder and faster until Xander finally came and then he got to.  Dawn came with a helping finger from Sam, who came when he felt her body sucking at him.  They all groaned as the soft white light floated over Xander's body, healing and sealing the graft.  Ten percent of each of them was now in Xander's body, filling up the hole that had been ripped apart when Jesse had died.  Dean worked his way out slowly, coming up to kiss him.  "Xander?" Xander blinked at him.  "Hey, you in there?"

"Pretty lights."

"Very pretty lights," he agreed happily.

Dawn saw Xander starting to come free of his body and did something to seal  him into it, making him whimper and moan.  "Sorry, but tough."  She made two shallow cuts on his shoulders and packed the herbs she had standing by.  She hadn't been willing to bet the Powers weren't going to try something.  Pulling him out of his body seemed to be the most likely choice.  She sealed each of them with a bit of blood, making him groan.  "You stay in there."

Dean looked at her.  "He was going to slip away?"

"No they were trying to do to him what we did to Willow."

"Oh."  He nodded and left it there, getting a kiss from her.  "We good?"

"Depends."  She opened up a small box and the spirit floated out.  "Okay, can you get inside him, Spike?"

Spike looked then shrugged.  "Little opening, not much of one.  It'll heal I guess."  He looked at her.  "You knew Dru and Ethan were back, right?"

She groaned and Sam moved to do the exorcism chant.  Dean laughed.  "Well, it's not like we don't have it memorized by now."  She nodded at that.  He looked at the spirit.  "He better?"

"He should be."  He hauled Dru out, looking at her.  "Naughty you."

"But the dark kitten is so pure," she pouted.  "He should play with us.  That way we can get his fur all matted and messy.  The stars love him."

"They might but he's ours now," Dean told her.  "Shoo.  Go away."

She looked at him.  "You'll be mine someday too."

"Nope, not unless you kill us all together," Sam said, getting Ethan out of there.  The capturing box got used on him instead of the two former vampires.  "Go away, Spike.  I've got Dawn now to protect her."  He nodded, taking Dru back to Cleveland so they could taunt Willow and have spirit sex in front of her, which made her whimper and blush.

Dean looked down at Xander, who was yawning.  "You rest."  He nodded, trying to flip onto his side.  He couldn't due to the cuffs so he growled and the cuff's links expanded.  "Weren't we going to fix that?"

She nodded, cutting each of their wrists lightly then Xander's, binding them together so they could share in the power he had.  It flowed out of Xander, making him sigh and get off again.  Then she helped the two boys dump it into the ground.  "If we need to, we can draw on him later on."  She kissed each of them.  "We should rest.  He'll freak out later."

Sam smiled, leading her to the other, smaller, bed.  They could cuddle and snuggle and he'd make her squeal in pleasure.

Dean shook his head, laying down behind Xander to hold him.  "Why keep him in cuffs?"

"In case they try again or the hyena comes out," she said, smiling at him.  "It might come out and have to claim us as its pack as well.  If so, you first."  She beamed and Sam spanked her.  "Ow!"  She rubbed the opposite side.  "Meany."  He spanked that side too, shutting her up with a kiss.  "But a nice meany I guess."  He nodded, having her again.

Dean shook his head, cuddling his lover.  He guessed they'd be fine, eventually.

***

Xander woke up and sniffed, then turned carefully to look at Dean, who was still sleeping.  "I should repay that," he mumbled, kissing him.  Dean blinked at him and grinned. "I should flip you over and fuck you until you beg too."

"Hasn't happened often," he admitted. Xander growled and pounced, sliding Dean underneath him.  "Lube?" he asked.  He made a grab for the bottle, getting it on the second try.  He handed it back and Xander went down to play with his ass, making him tense up then hiss and wiggle and dance on the fingers inside him.  "Xander, that's mean."

"Cuffs?"

"Dawn put them on you and I think they're magical."  He looked at one.  No lock that he could see.  "I think they are."

"Dawn, cuffs," Xander demanded.

"In a few," she said tiredly, waving a hand.  "Have fun.  Go like Conan in the movie when they gave him a woman."

Xander grimaced but shrugged it off.  He didn't need his hands this time.  Next time he'd have his hands and drive him insane.  He slid home, giving Dean the same sort of ride he had been given earlier.  Dean was groaning and moaning under him.  "If I had hands, I'd play with you," he offered in his ear.

Dean laughed.  "Next time we'll have hands to play with.  This time, finish claiming."  Xander growled as he sped up, giving him all that he could while chained up.  Dean swallowed his next laugh.  He had no idea how strong and heavy Xander really was.  The guy had been holding back on him before.  "Xander," he groaned.  Xander hit the sweet spot and he came, going limp under him.  Xander nibbled on his throat.  "I should be doing that to you," he teased lightly.  He got bitten for it.  He yelped and Sam came over to help him.  "He's fine."

"I'm sure he is."  He laid down beside Dean, stroking Xander's side.  "If you're going all 'claiming the pack' you have to do me too.  I might as well be here."

"Can't let me enjoy it for a few more seconds?" Dean asked.

"No."  He grinned.  "I shared."

"You do share way too much," Dean agreed.  Xander nibbled on his throat, getting a look back.  "Fine but Sammy's still my brother so my word above yours in his life."  Xander shrugged, letting Dean go.  Sam groaned when he saw Xander hadn't come yet.  So did Dean.  Sam went onto his back and let Dean help Xander prepare him.  "Gently, Xander," he said in his ear.  "He's new to this stuff.  He's only had nice girls before."  Xander kissed him, getting a smirk back.  "Do I taste good?"

"Yup."  He looked down at Sam, tipping his head to the side.  "If I'm yours, then you're mine, right?"

"All of ours," he agreed.  Xander pushed in and he hissed, grabbing Dean's arm and the bed with his other hand.  "Slower."  Xander finished his slide in and paused, for a few heartbeats then he pulled back out and did it again.  Sam whimpered.  "How do guys not do this all the time?"

"If you ruin him for girls, I'm going to bite you," Dawn called from her bed.  Dean gave her a look.  "I will!"  She came over to kiss Sam, making him get happier faster.  Xander slammed in once and he was done for.

"Ah, newbies," Dean teased.  Dawn gave him a dirty look. "He was."

"Mine didn't go that quickly."

"I heard, I was having dinner downstairs."  Both of them groaned.  Sam was let up and Dawn gave Xander a look before wiggling under and taking her turn.  Xander still hadn't come so Dean leaned down to bite him back, payback for the ones he had gotten earlier.  Xander groaned and Dawn got off with his help, so he took his turn again. "You're still my bitch, Xander."

"Females rule hyena packs," Dawn teased.  Sam pounced her to tickle.

Dean and Xander shared a look that said 'siblings, what are you going to do about them' then Xander slid back in, making Dean groan.  He was a bit sore.  "Slower?"  Xander smirked.  "Please?  I don't often ask.  You can pound me later."  Xander did go slower for him, making it better this time.  This time he even came and Dean got a limp Xander on his chest.  "Sure, I like that."  He stroked his back and hips. "Dawn, how is this stuff coming off?"

"Washcloth scrub."  She beamed.  "Or it'll fade in a few days."  She shrugged.  "Not like we're moving at the moment."

"No, not at the moment."  He went back to soothing Xander, letting him rest and heal.  It had been a big spell.  They all needed some healing time.  Especially Xander since he was now a lot less open to spirits coming and going, or leaving bits of themselves in there.  He leaned closer to his ear.  "If you turn into Dru, I'm going to be pissed and have to straighten you out," he said quietly, getting a laugh back.  "Dawn, cuffs?"

"Six more hours, Dean."  She drug Sam back to their bed for some fun, making his ass feel better after it's first use.  She was a nice girlfriend that way.

***

John answered the phone, putting it on speaker since Sam had shown him how to do that and he was cleaning his shotgun.  "What's up?" he asked.

"Hey, Dad.  We're done and we're good," Dean reported.  He hissed as he moved.

"Injuries?"

"Nah, sore from the celebration, Dad."

"Dean, I didn't want to know what you and Sam do with Dawn," he said grimly.

"Xander."

"You managed it?"

"Yeah, we managed it.  Sam's super brain and Dawn's super brain plus magic."  He was smiling.  "Dawn and Xander are outside playing in the snow that's just starting to fall today.  How's things in LA?"

"Decent enough.  Nothing too big recently.  Connor hasn't given himself food poisoning in a week.  Or any of us.  Nothing too burned to eat in the same amount of time."  Dean laughed.  "No serious injuries?"

"Oh, we had plenty but Sam can still stitch pretty neatly and Dawn got Xander's when she found him back here in Iowa."

"I thought you boys were in Kansas."

"We were.  Xander got pulled back to the cabin where we both woke up that first morning.  Then we defeated the evil Powers' plans and it's all good."  He laughed.  "Sam!"

"Hi, Dad!"

"Hi, son."  He smiled but shook his head and put the gun back together again.  "Now what?"

"Now?  Well, we still have our hunt.  Xander and Dawn are going to set up somewhere that's not Cleveland.  It took Gibbs, Tony, and Tim to replace him but it's going well so far out there.  Buffy's still being a bit cranky about losing Dawn but oh well.  She gained two dead vampires in exchange."  Sam laughed again.  "We finally captured Ethan's spirit and sent it back to Giles for him to play with.  Spike has Dru out there and he said he'd keep her from Xander.  Oh, he'll call when he's got a place for the weapons, Dad."

"That's fine."  He smiled at Connor when he walked in with a plate of food that wasn't burned from the microwave.  "I swear someone upped the power on our microwave."

"Fred," he said, nodding.  "She's a physics geek."  He sat down, looking at the phone.  "Hi."

"Hey, Connor," Dean said.  "We're good.  We won, we survived.  All of us."

"We knew Dawn had something up her sleeve.  The Powers should've made her of Xander instead of Buffy."

"She's his little sister now so it doesn't matter," Sam said.  "Anything good going on out there?"

"Not yet," Connor admitted.  "Probably not for a week."

"Need us?" Dean asked.

"No, son.  Though I am tracking down rumors of that one demon.  If it does show up here, I'll call."

"Thanks, Dad," Sam said.  "I'd better make sure Dawn doesn't get frostbite."  He left.

"They're cute together," Connor said.

"Yeah well, they're still staying casual about things.  Me and Xander too," Dean admitted.  He suddenly shrieked.  "Xander!"  He hung up and went to pounce him for shoving snow down his shirt.

John hung up and shook his head.  "They won't be bored for a very long time."

"No, probably not.  Is Xander going to keep hunting?"

"Retiring to spell work and research from what Dean said.  Her too."

"Dawn doesn't like to hunt.  It makes her nerves go funny, or whatever she said."  He dug in again.  "We need to get a new microwave.  I love Fred but I can't figure out how to cut the time down far enough.  Ever since she upped the power so we could fry that spirit in it it's been going wrong."

"We can do that," John agreed.  He finished wiping down the outside of his shotgun and stood up, taking Connor with him so he could introduce him to Sears, a proper man's store.  Gunn trailed behind them shaking his head.  "New microwave."

"Please," Gunn agreed.  "How much more food do we have from Dawn's worry cooking?"

"Enough for the rest of the month," Connor said happily.  He beamed.  "I want to learn to do that."

"We'll work on it, homeboy," Gunn promised, patting him on the back.  "I'm sure John can teach you that as well."

"Probably."  He got the boys into his truck.  "Oh, Xander said he'll call when he finds a spot for his weapons."

"Sure.  Of course, if he needed the funds, he could sell them to some hunters."

"True, that could help him with that plan," John said happily.  He texted that to Dean's phone and drove them off.  "Sears?"

"Good, manly place to get electronics," Gunn agreed dryly.  Connor beamed at that.  He loved being mentored by John.  He had decided John was better than sliced cheese, a saying he clearly got off Dawn or Xander, and better than food he could eat.  So it was good for him to do these things.

***

Xander looked at the ringing phone.  "Text message."  Dean reached over to answer it, giving it to him. He shrugged.  "Why?  I have the more impressive stuff in a warehouse in Cleveland."  He grinned and put his head back down.  Sam was napping against his back, worn out by Dawn.  Dean was offering himself up as a joint pillow and it was nice.  "Where am I going to move to?"

"Kansas is nice," Dean said casually.  "You could live near Missouri so we could visit both of you at once.  Or you three actually."  Xander grinned at that.  "We'll look in the paper and online, Xander.  That way we can make sure you're near a hunter."  He nodded, yawning.  "Rest.  We'll figure that out later."  Xander nodded.  "Can I be put into your circle of contacts?"

"Sure.  Quite a few are hunting demons though."

"As long as they're not hunting us."

"No, they trade jelly beans for some things."  Dean poked him so he looked up and grinned.  "They *really* like jelly beans.  They help in the recent conception problem."

"I saw a bunch of kids when they took me."

"I know.  I traded seventy pounds of jelly beans for one of the rockets recently.  Those were probably the first kids this generation."

Dean grinned because that was silly to think about.  Demons exchanging weapons for jelly beans.  Only Xander.  He looked over where their swords were. The sharp, pointy things of destiny had brought him some good at least.  Even if he was still sore and Xander was a hoover for attention and sex.  He couldn't figure out why Anya had wanted more sex.  He was sore!  He looked at Xander.  "Dawn, come make sure no one turned Xander into an incubus again?"

"Checked this morning, no one has," she called from the kitchen.  "This is the freaky Anya stamina and training.  We'll break him of it sometime, even if I do have to put back on the cuffs and keep him chained down for a few weeks."  She brought out sandwiches, handing Dean two and sitting by his feet to eat hers.  "Now what, big hunter man?"  She ate a bite.

"Now, we go back to our hunting after we're all healed up and you two are settled.  Dad said he had a line into the demon we're hunting.  We'll take up our slack again and it'll be good."  He ate some.  "Want woods or city?"

"City's nice but I'm not that picky.  As long as I can borrow the Caddy or something."

Dean smirked.  "It still has to come from LA."  His phone rang with a text again so he looked at it, snickering.  "Connor's asking permission to keep our dad for a bit longer."  He texted back a 'sure, just don't handcuff him, he'll pout' then hung up and finished his lunch.  "We'll look later."  She nodded, finishing hers so she could curl up against his stomach. "Tired of Sam already?" he teased.

"Sore.  Very sore.  Too much sex for anyone but Xander."

Dean laughed, giving her a one-armed hug.  "Yeah, me too."  They shared a grin and decided a nap was in order.  They'd have to get up and play again later.

The End.