Lisa: Tucker
by Jay Boo
Part Two - Tucker

"Once again we have an example of herd mentality," complained Willow.

"Actually, a herd groups together for safety. This is a pack," corrected Xander. "The pack groups together to pick off the weak or slow of the herd."

Willow, Xander and Buffy were standing across from the gym doors. About ten or twelve large, athletic types were in front of the gym, threatening freshmen or whistling at girls.

"Jocks," said Buffy, as if the word had a bad taste. "Who are they trying to impress?"

"Themselves, of course," answered Xander. "Actually, I believe it involves establishing a pecking order within the pack."

"I'd like to have a say in that pecking order," said Buffy.

"And blow your secret identity? You're only supposed to be a girly-girl, remember?," stated Willow.

"Sure, spoil my fun," replied Buffy sarcastically.

Just then a boy walked by. One of the jocks jumped out and knocked his books onto the floor, drawing laughter from his buddies. The boy was tall but still was several inches shorter than his antagonizer and quite a few pounds lighter. He did not even look at his books, but turned and stared at the jock.

"Pick them up," he said, calmly.

"Excuse me? What did you say?," asked the jock, surprised. No one had ever talked back to him before.

"Are you deaf as well as stupid? I'm only going to say this one more time. Pick them up."

The jock looked at his buddies for support, but only received low moans and a few taunts.

"You going to take that, Kevin?," yelled one out at him.

His face getting red, Kevin took two steps towards the boy, extending his hands to grab him. The boy met him with a left jab to the stomach, winding him. As Kevin's head fell forward, the boy drove his right elbow into his nose, drawing blood. Then, with his right heel, the boy kicked down hard on Kevin's right foot and finished with a chop to the back of his neck. Kevin fell to the floor.

The pack grew silent. This had never happened before.

"One last time. Pick them up. Now."

Kevin rose to his feet and, like a bull charging, came at the boy.

"You're going to..."

Kevin never finished his sentence. Just as he crashed into the boy, his opponent fell backwards and, using both legs, used the jock's own momentum to hurl Kevin over him and into the wall behind them. The boy sprung to his feet. Kevin did not get up. The boy glanced at the other jocks and they stepped away from him.

"Okay," said the boy, "I'll get them this time. I hope there won't be a next time."

Kevin only moaned as the boy picked up his books and calmly walked away.

"Whoa! Buffy, are you sure there aren't any male slayers?," asked Xander. "I mean, that was pretty quick."

"And efficient. But no, last time I checked, and rules are rules, only us womenfolk are slayers," answered Buffy.

"He was wearing a cross around his neck," continued Xander.

"That only means he's not Jewish, Xander," said Willow.

"But who is he?," asked Buffy.

"His name is Tucker. Tucker Jenkins. I have him in fifth period English," said Willow. "He's a transfer student from L.A. Up until now I thought of him as the quiet, shy, keep to himself type."

"Well, good for him. Maybe the pack will be a little gun-shy next time," said Buffy. "So, what did you find out last night? Willow?"

Willow handed Buffy a sheet of paper that she had kept hidden in a book.

"Actually, I feel guilty. It only took about ten minutes searching after I looked outside of Sunnydale. The photo on that missing persons report matches Lisa. Only her name's not Lisa, it's Julie. Julie Weber."

"I'm not Lisa, my name is Julie? Flashback to a really bad country song. And when I mean bad, I don't mean bad in the good sense," said Xander.

"Xander, you and your country music!," teased Buffy.

"Hey, don't be knocking the music of pain. It serves a purpose. I know," countered Xander.

"It says here that her high school in L.A. reported her missing three weeks ago," continued Buffy. "Why would her school report her missing?"

"Oh, if you read on you'll see that she didn't have any parents," said Willow. "Lived alone. Her dad divorced years ago and is out of the picture completely and her mom..."

"Was found dead in an alley six months ago," interrupted Buffy. "Because of the location of the body the coroner determined cause of death to be from loss of blood due to an attack from a wild dog. She had bite marks on her neck. I think we all know Julie's mom didn't die from a wild dog. And what was she doing in an alley in the first place?"

"She was an alcoholic and probably passed out there," answered Willow.

"All that is in a missing persons report?," asked Xander.

"No, I combined the police reports into this," said Willow.

"Good job, Willow," complimented Buffy.

"Thanks," smiled Willow.

"But if Julie has been missing for three weeks, where was she? She only turned into a vampire four nights ago," said Buffy.

"Maybe she was a runaway. Doesn't sound like she had much to stay in L.A. for," said Xander.

"And she ran away to Sunnydale? Don't most people run away from this town? Oh, forget I said that," said Buffy, referring to the time she had run away. "Willow, how about school records? Did Julie..."

Willow handed Buffy another sheet of paper.

"She was smart, but her grades were slipping lately. Which is understandable, of course."

"But why did that vampire she met call her Lisa?," asked Xander.

"Good question. Did you and Giles find out anything?"

"Well, most of the night was spent on the question of whether Angel's offspring would retain their soul. There's very little to go on and when we got into the philosophical aspects of it, I nodded off. Bottom line is that we just don't know. Tonight we're going to tackle that German accent thing. See if any well known vamps talk like Count Dracula."

"And the hypnosis angle. You're going to research that too, aren't you?," asked Buffy.

"Buffy, Giles didn't consider that as being a likely explanation. I promise I'll do some reading on it, but you may have to admit to yourself that, even if it was against his will, Angel may be responsible for Lisa. Or do we call her Julie?," said Xander.

"I know. But I can tell Angel is really wigged about this. I was just hoping that it wasn't true," said Buffy, sadly.

* * *

On her way to the library Buffy passed the gym. It was quiet. Too quiet. Even though school was over there was always something going on in there. Buffy remembered that Cordelia and the rest of the cheerleaders should be practicing now. She pushed the door open and entered the gym.

The cheerleaders were there, over by the locker room door. But they were just standing around, talking and watching a boy using the rings on the other side of the floor. It was Tucker. He was holding himself very still in a sitting position. Slowly he moved into a standing position and then he smoothly lowered himself until his arms were extended out from his sides at a ninety degree angle. And held the position.

Cordelia saw Buffy and surprisingly walked over to her.

"Impressive, huh?," said Cordellia.

"Yeah, he's good," answered Buffy.

"And he's been at it for a while now. The same routine, over and over. Watch what he does next."

As she spoke, Tucker dismounted, rolled on his back, jumped up and kicked a large, hanging punching bag. Then, alternating his attacks by using his hands, legs, feet or elbows, he pummeled the bag for over a full minute. Finally he stopped, took a step back and bowed to the bag as if it were a human opponent. His shirt stuck to him with sweat. Tucker reached down and wiped his forehead with a towel, draped the towel over his neck and drank deeply from a water bottle.

"Isn't he cute?," asked Cordelia, but not expecting Buffy to answer. "Do you know his name? I'd like to be introduced."

"No, I don't," lied Buffy. "But I'm going to find out," she said, walking away from a surprised Cordelia.

"Hi," said Buffy.

"Hi," answered Tucker, looking up.

"That's some workout you put yourself through."

"Yeah, I like to stay in shape."

"Aren't you tired yet?," asked Buffy, trying to think of things to talk about.

"Yeah, but I take pride in how long I can last. I mean...let me rephrase that," stuttered Tucker.

"That's okay, I know what you meant," laughed Buffy.

"Let's start over. Hi, I'm Tucker Jenkins."

"Hi, Tucker. I'm Buffy Summers," said Buffy, extending her hand. Tucker quickly wiped his sweaty palm in the towel and then they shook hands.

"Actually, I think we have a mutual friend. Willow Rosenberg? The redhead in your fifth period English class?"

"Oh, sure. Willow. Nice person. Cute, too."

Buffy smiled, thinking that Willow was going to love to hear the compliment Tucker just gave her.

"What exactly are you practicing? It's not karate, it's not quite judo."

"No, actually it's a combination of Tae Kwando, Judo, Hapkido, kick boxing and a few other disciplines thrown in for good measure. Sorta made it up or blended them together on my own."

"I have a confession to make," said Buffy, coyly.

"Oh?," said Tucker, interested.

"I'm pretty good at the martial arts myself. But I've learned all I can from my instructor and my workouts just aren't challenging enough anymore."

"I know exactly what you mean! My old instructor didn't like that I was combining several disciplines and techniques into one style. He wanted me to concentrate on just one and master that, but I found it too boring."

"That's odd. I was encouraged to embrace as many different techniques as possible. Maybe we could spar sometime?," asked Buffy.

"Wow, that would be great! It's more fun to work out with someone else. That bag isn't much for conversation. How about tomorrow after school?. I'll even clear it with the gym teacher."

"Sounds great! Tomorrow after school then," agreed Buffy, who really was glad to have someone to work out with. Tucker took the towel from around his neck and threw it on the floor. Buffy saw the cross she had noticed before. Tucker also wore a longer chain that disappeared down into his shirt. But what caught Buffy's attention was an ugly scar on the left side of Tucker's neck.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to stare," said Buffy, noticing Tucker looking at her. "It's just that...I mean, that scar. How did you..."

"Oh, that," interrupted Tucker quickly. "My father was a carpenter. One day I was helping him remove siding off a house. I tried to pry a board free and it snapped. The end with two nails in it hit me in the neck."

"Ouch. That must've hurt."

"Actually, it wasn't as bad as it looks."

"You said your father was a carpenter. What does he do now?" Even as Buffy finished her question she regretted having said it. Tucker's expression became serious.

"No. I meant that he passed away. He died in a car accident with my mother two years ago."

Buffy closed her eyes for a second.

"Tucker, I'm so sorry. I'm not usually this rude. That was awful of me to ask something like that."

"Hey, it's okay. I'm dealing with it and you had no idea."

"Still, I'm going to go now, before I put my other foot in my mouth. And that would mean that I'd fall on my...I'm going. See ya tomorrow."

"Bye, Buffy," laughed Tucker.

Buffy walked towards the door and was intercepted by Cordelia.

"Well, weren't you little Miss Chatty. So what's his name?"

"You know, I forgot to ask! Gotta run," said Buffy, not giving Cordelia any time to react. Cordelia stood there with her hands on her hips, speechless.

Outside the gym Buffy almost literally ran into Willow.

"Buffy! What were you doing in there? I thought we were meeting at the library."

"Yes, we are, so let's keep walking. I saw Tucker working out with a punching bag and I stopped in to say hi. Well, now he knows my name and now he knows that I can be as tactless as Cordelia."

"Oh no! What did you say? You didn't ask about his blue shoelaces that, while they don't match anything that he's wearing, they do match the blue of his eyes nicely and you have no idea what I'm talking about so it's your turn. What did you say?"

"I noticed a strange scar on his neck," said Buffy, giving Willow an equally strange look. "When I asked him about it he said that his father was a carpenter and when he was prying free a nailed board it snapped and hit him in the neck. It's a lame excuse and one he's obviously used more than once. I don't know, he just came out with it too fast. It was too rehearsed."

"So you think he was attacked by a vampire?"

"I'm sure of it. Anyway, I didn't pick up on the past tense. You know, his father was a carpenter. So I asked him what his father did for a living now."

"Uh-oh."

"Yeah. His parents were killed in a car accident two years ago."

"Oh, Buffy. You couldn't have known."

"Still, I'll apologize again to him tomorrow."

"Tomorrow? You have a date type thing tomorrow?"

"No, of course not! We're just going to work out together. Do a little sparring. He looks like he's pretty good. And another thing. He thinks your cute."

"What?," said Willow, who had to stop walking. "What were you guys talking about?"

"Nothing! I just said that we had a mutual friend in his English class. He said that you were a nice person. And that you were cute."

"Oh my! That's good, right? I mean, it's a compliment and everything, but I like Oz. And...and...yeah, I guess that is a good thing."

Buffy smiled at her friend who, although she was happy, still looked a little confused.

* * *

It had not only been a slow night but a waste of time. Buffy hadn't even seen a vampire, let alone staked one. What bothered her the most, though, was that she had not found Lisa. To cover a larger area of Sunnydale Angel had patrolled on his own. Hoping that he had been luckier, Buffy admitted to herself that it was time to call it a night.

She decided against going to the Bronze. Instead, she'd stop by the library, hoping that Giles had discovered anything that might help in one of his books. Taking the longer way back would mean passing by the cemetery, a place Buffy could usually count on for producing a vampire or two. It would be her third visit there tonight.

"Third time's a charm," said Buffy out loud.

Buffy had reached the corner wall of the cemetery when she heard someone whistling ahead of her. She took a few steps back and peered around the wall. A boy, about her age, was walking towards her with a very noticeable limp. He had brown hair, was wearing a leather jacket and...it was Tucker! Buffy wondered if he had hurt himself in the gym and what he was doing out here now.

Just as she was going to step out from around the corner, a vampire jumped down from the cemetery wall and landed behind Tucker. He turned to see what the noise was and ducked as the creature reached out to grab him. Tucker squatted and spun, using his legs to knock the vampire off his feet. Using his momentum, he jumped onto the fallen vampire. It turned to dust beneath him. Buffy hadn't even seen Tucker produce the stake, but there it was now in his right hand.

Buffy slipped back around the corner, not believing what she had seen. Not only had Tucker killed a vampire, he had lured it out of hiding, provoking it with a fake limp! Buffy looked around the corner again. The street was empty. Tucker was gone!

* * *

"Hi, I saw the light on. I was hoping someone would still be here."

"Buffy! You're back early. Slow night?," asked Giles.

Oz looked up from reading a book and nodded. Seated next to him at a computer, Willow waved without looking up. Buffy smiled in return.

"Slow makes it sound more exciting than it was. Not a hint of Lisa. Guess she's really spooked. Only saw one vampire all night and I didn't kill him."

Xander entered the library, carrying four cans of soda.

"You mean he got away?," asked Giles, surprised.

"No. Tucker killed him."

With this announcement Willow and Oz stopped what they were doing and looked up at Buffy.

"Tucker?," said Willow. "He did what?"

"Tucker. Is he the boy that Willow told me you were going to spar with tomorrow?," asked Giles.

"Yes, that's him. I was walking past the cemetery when I heard someone whistling. Hey, whistling past the graveyard! Why didn't I think of that before? Oh, so anyway, I look around the corner and here comes Tucker. And he was limping. I almost called out to him, thinking he had hurt himself working out in the gym. Just then a vampire jumped down behind him from the cemetery wall. I didn't even have time to warn him. Didn't matter. He had that vampire staked and dusted in under four seconds."

"Did Tucker see you?," asked Giles.

"No, I don't think so. I jumped back behind the wall and when I looked again, he was gone."

"I said it before and I'll say it again; we might be bending the rules, but I think we have a male slayer in town. Diet, Buffy? I got an extra thinking you might stop in," said Xander.

"Thanks," said Buffy, accepting the soda.

"There are no male slayers, Xander. But it is obvious Tucker was trying to lure a vampire to him with the fake limp and whistling," said Giles.

"Sounds like a new search is in order," added Willow, turning back to her computer monitor. "Why don't we start with his school records?"

"Good idea, Will," said Buffy.

"Giles, I think I've found something," said Oz.

"You mean a vampire with a German accent?," replied Giles, walking over to look at the book Oz was studying. "I'm sure there's more than one."

"Yeah, but there's more to it than that. Here, read this," said Oz, handing the book to Giles.

"Hmm. Yes, I see what you mean," said Giles.

"Want to fill us in?,' asked Buffy.

"Oh, yes. Of course. There is mention of a Sven Gustavson, a rather superstitious and confused vampire."

"Okay, superstitious makes sense. What vampire wants to break a mirror for bad luck, right?," asked Xander. "But confused?"

"Sven, which is probably not his real name, was a German who had a strong interest in the Vikings, their way of life and history before he was killed and made into a vampire. And now he thinks he is a Viking."

"Okay, but why do we think he's our boy?," asked Buffy. "Just because of a bad accent?"

"No. There's more. His wife was killed by a vampire before he was. Her name was Lisa. And she had red hair," said Giles.

"Oh. Still, it could be just a coincidence. Right?, asked Buffy.

"Better read the last part to her, Giles," said Oz.

"Yes, I should. Lisa was a vampire as well. She was killed by a slayer. Sven swore to kill the slayer as revenge. It doesn't say whether he succeeded or not. But the book does mention the fact that Sven uses hypnosis to make other vampires follow him, making them believe they are also Viking warriors like himself."

"See, I told you about the hypnosis thing, didn't I? And no one believed me!," said Buffy.

"Yes, but we still need more proof. We don't know if this Sven is even here in Sunnydale or what his motives are," answered Giles.

"If he is here, isn't it obvious why?," asked Xander. "Seems to me like he has some slayer issues to deal with."

"It could explain why he called Julie Lisa. His wife's name, the red hair...maybe he was attracted to her in the first place by her red hair. Oh!," said Willow, touching her own hair. "I hope he doesn't like all redheads. I mean, maybe Julie looked like Lisa too. At least I hope so."

"But why would he hypnotize Julie into thinking her name was Lisa or that she has a soul?," asked Giles.

"To have Lisa, I mean Julie, lead him to the slayer," suggested Willow.

"It's possible," agreed Giles. "And to have her believe she has a soul would make Buffy relate to her more, if not befriend her."

"Unless that was an unintended side affect from feeding on Angel. Maybe he didn't make her believe she has a soul. Maybe she really does. Having Julie bite Angel would just have been another tactic to draw the slayer in," finished Oz. No one answered at first, both because it was a good suggestion and the fact that Oz usually never spoke in such long sentences.

"It could be possible. That she has a soul, I mean," said Buffy.

"Yes, one would have accept that possibility," replied Giles.

"Buffy, I have Tucker's records if you'd like to take a look," said Willow.

Buffy walked over to stand behind Willow. Xander joined her after finally putting the soda cans down on the table.

"Well, we shouldn't be surprised. An honor student, member of the gymnastics team and captain of the cross country team. In fact, he holds the school record for the 5k in cross country," read Buffy.

"Their motto was ‘embrace the pain, become one with it.' Cool," said Willow.

"Yeah, it has a nice ring to it. Honest," said Oz.

"Right after his parents died, though, his grades dropped off and he quit all sports," continued Willow.

"Understandable," said Xander.

"More than that. It explains why he keeps to himself and why he hasn't joined any teams here," said Buffy as Willow began another search. "Probably why he left Los Angeles. Too many bad memories."

"Perhaps," commented Giles. He didn't want to discourage them but he didn't like to draw conclusions without more facts.

"Hey, that's odd," said Willow.

"What?," asked Buffy.

"I pulled up the newspaper on the day after Tucker's parents were killed in the accident. There was a fire and an explosion in the crash. Not much left of the car, but they didn't find any bodies. Giles, there should've been something left, right? I mean, a car fire just isn't that hot, is it?," asked Willow.

"No, not hot enough for a complete cremation," he replied.

"Okay, I was going to get a snack from the vending machine," said Xander. "Could we research something else now?"

"Why don't we call it a night? It is getting late," suggested Giles. No one disagreed.

End of Part Two



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