Buffy and Xander walked silently down the darkened street, side by side, swinging their arms
lazily in the cool breeze.
"Isn't it funny?" Xander suddenly asked.
"Isn't *what* funny?"
"How there's nobody out when it gets dark?"
"That's because they're all in bed. Concept!"
"Oh. Oh yeah. Guess I sounded really dumb just then, huh?"
"*I'm* out here." Buffy span around, as she heard the familiar voice from behind. "But then of
course, I *am* a vampire," Drusilla growled. Pulling the hood of her cape down from around her
game-face, she licked her lips greedily. "I've got a present for you," she whispered, pointing her
finger at Buffy.
"Well guess what, I have a gift for you too," Buffy raised her stake triumphantly as she struck a
fighting stance.
"Mine's better," Drusilla murmured.
"Xander! Get out of here!" Buffy ordered, glancing angrily over at him. He gulped and then dived
gratefully behind the nearest dustbin. He wasn't going to abandon Buffy...but he wasn't going to
battle beside her either. He wasn't the heroic type.
Peering out from behind the trash-can, he saw Drusilla raise her hand. Lying in her palm was a
small blue pearl. She kissed the air above it slightly, and then wrapped her fingers back across
the small marble. Releasing them once more, the pearl fell to the ground with a sharp tap.
Suddenly Buffy's hands flew to her ears, as if she was hearing a loud high-pitched sound. Xander
frowned, he couldn't hear anything except for Drusilla giggling. Buffy writhed on the floor, her
eyelids pressed tightly together and her hands balled into fists at her ears.
"BUFFY!" Xander yelled worriedly. He had to do something. If she had ever needed him, it was
now. Leaping to his feet, he ran over to her, crouching by her side, hoping desperately that she
was alright. She had stopped wriggling now, and her body lay still on the tarmac. Her eyes gazed
up into his, welled with tears and pain.
"Xander." She mouthed his name slowly. "It's...it's Angel." Xander frowned in confusion, when
suddenly his T-shirt tightened around his chest and neck. Someone was pulling him up. Xander
squirmed incessantly, hoping to twist his body so that he could catch a glimpse of his assailant. A
hand pressed down upon his head, twirling it around, and Xander looked up into the game-face
of Angel.
"Hi Xander! Bestest bud!" Angel laughed, pulling back his fist and then ploughing it into Xander's
jaw. Xander fell backwards onto the road beside Buffy who had by now fallen unconscious. The
force of his landing sent a judder through his body, knocking his breath out of his lungs. He
gasped hungrily for air as Drusilla and Angel regarded him boredly.
"He's a little meagre looking," Drusilla muttered. "Not enough to share with Spike."
"Who said anything about sharing?" Angel whispered into her ear as he wrapped his arms around
her waist, pulling her tightly against his chest. He began to trace his finger across her stomach,
and Drusilla giggled with delight. Xander felt sick. Averting his eyes, he suddenly noticed
something shining beside him. The pearl! Walking his hand carefully across the tarmac, Xander
imprisoned the jewel between his fingers. As he closed them tightly, the small pearl rolled
smoothly into his palm, and he yanked his arm back hurriedly.
"Lets drink to our new pet," Drusilla suggested, peeling Angel's arms away from her waist.
Bending slowly down, she cooed at Xander, who scowled back.
"Lets not!" He hissed, bending onto his back and lashing out with his legs. Drusilla shrieked as he
hit her in the knees, causing her to topple backwards. Scrambling to his hands and knees,
Xander leapt to his feet and ran. Looking behind, he noticed that the two vampires didn't seem to
care that he'd gone. Angel had caught Drusilla just before she'd fallen, so his hands had been too
full to make chase. Besides, he had what he'd come for. He didn't *need* Xander.
After Angel had propped Drusilla up into a standing position, he slid his hands underneath Buffy,
gently scooping her up and swinging her over his shoulder. Buffy made no response. She was out
cold.
