Buffy and Giles entered the cave where the battle with the Parob took place. They shone their flashlights around to find anything that might help them.
“Looks the same to me Giles,” Buffy commented, “Don’t think much has changed since we were last here.”
“Lets keep searching. The demon obviously had time during the struggle to trade bodies with our mystery corpse so there has to be evidence.”
Buffy shone her torch around until the light landed onto the ground.
“Giles!” she called out as Buffy leant down next to a set of drag marks in the dirt.
Giles moved in next to here and took a closer look.
“These tracks lead deeper into the cave.” He commented, “Come on.”
The track leads them to another entrance to the cave. Giles frowned when they walked outside.
“Looks like the tracks stop here.” He said disappointed.
He looked around for any other sign of where the body could have been taken but he couldn’t see any.
“It must have been some kind of teleportation or maybe a portal. I’ll go back to the library and research this.”
“Good idea Giles,” Buffy commented lifting some fallen branches, “or maybe we find out where these tire tracks lead to.”
“Well, yes, that is also a strong lead.” Giles replied disappointed
Buffy folded her arms in amusement.
“You upset because I found this before you huh?”
“No, no,” Giles lied “I’m just glad that you were paying attention.”
Buffy rolled her eyes. She turned and started to follow the tire tracks. Giles began to follow but just before he left the cave front he noticed a scrap of paper lying near the tire marks. He picked it up and put it in his pocket.
The next morning Xander walked angrily across the school grounds of Sunnydale High. Gone were his usual clothes he was now dressed in a sharp looking Italian suit. As he passed students they all turned to look at him curiously . . .
* POP! *
“Alex?” Beth yelled trying to keep up with is pace
Xander stopped and turned to look at her. His scowl forced her to stop a few meters away from him. She stood awkwardly and fidgeted with her hands.
“I thought I told you to leave me alone back in Italy!” he yelled at her
“I just wanted to know what I did,” she replied anxiously, “I though we were having fun.”
Xander folded his arms and glared at her.
“I know your definition of fun Beth and I’m not going to chewed up and spat out, by you, like some kind of dog toy!”
“What are you talking about?”
“You can cut the act as well. You didn’t thing that little bikini stunt in Scotland was going to sway me did you?”
On any other person the look Beth was giving Xander would have been interpreted as Concern and shock. But with her he could never be completely sure.
“Why are you being so mean?” she asked softly
“Why am I being so mean?” Xander exclaimed, “I’m not going to be the next Newbe your gonna ride.”
“I wasn’t going . . . I-I mean I didn’t . . . it’s not like that.” She stammered
“Okay if you are relay serious then answers this. How long were you watching me for?”
Beth rubbed her left arm anxiously. She started to look in any other direction other then Xanders.
“That’s what I thought.” he replied and turned to head into the building
Beth looked horrified at Xander sudden move.
“Alex wait!”
“It’s a simple question Beth why are you dodging it?”
“I-I. . . “
Beth bit her lip. Xander shook his head angrily and started to walk again.
“Where you going?” she asked innocently
Xander turned back to her.
“Back to my real friends. The one who don’t think I’m some kind of big joke.”
“But you’re going to come back and see me right?”
“Oh I seriously hope not,” he said before entering the building.
Beth stood silently as she watched him enter the building. Slowly a tear began to roll down her cheek
Willow finished typing in some more commands on the computer. She leaned back in frustration.
“Sorry guys I got nothing from the morgue.” She said, “all bodies present and identified.”
Giles leaned back from the computer. Buffy leaned heavily on the table.
“Great,” she commented, “Were still lost in dead end city.”
“But you said you found tire tracks.”
“Unfortunately the trail went cold one they reached the road.” Giles commented, “I did find this in the mud but I haven’t been able to clean it up enough to decipher what it is.”
Giles placed the scrap of paper on the table. It had writing on it but the mud was obscuring too much of it to identify what it is. Willow picked it up and examined it.
“If I scan this into the computer I might be able to fix it digitally.” She remarked
“Lets hear it for the computer age.” Buffy said happily
Their attention was drawn to the sound of the library door closing. Xander stood quietly in the center of the room.
“Hey.” He said to the Scooby gang.
The group examined him with a stunned expression.
“Wow Xander. You look amazing.” Buffy commented
“Thanks. I learnt a few new tricks since I’ve been away.”
Willow looked at her friend anxiously. They had been together so long that she could read him like a book. Willow stood up and moved quickly next to her friend.
“Are you okay now Xander?” she asked cautiously, “I know the funeral was rough.”
Xander smiled at Willow. To her extreme surprise he gave her a warm hug, which totally mystified her.
“I’m cool Will,” he replied, “thanks for being there for me.”
Willow smiled and enjoyed the hug.
“What are living friends for.” She replied.
Xander looked over to Giles.
“So did I miss anything while I was gone?”
“Well, Xander, we think that a second individual stole your body during the struggle with the demon.” Giles replied
Xander paused for a moment.
“You always knew how to brighten my day Giles.” he replied
Xander walked over to the table and sat down in frustration.
“Believe it or not this might prove to be good news?”
“Somehow my ghost self finds that hard to believe.”
“I’ve been doing further study on the demon that killed you and there is a definite possibility that you are still alive.”
Xander looked up in curiosity.
“What? How?”
“I’m still looking into that. But I think the demon that was attacking these teenagers didn’t want them dead, well, not in that traditional sense.”
“So what are you saying? I could come back to life?”
“If we find you body, yes.”
“Then why are we just standing around here?”
“We don’t know where it is.”
“Oh. That’s a good reason.”
“Somebody drove it away,” Buffy commented, “We’re guessing some kind of van. I’m going to head out again tonight after patrolling and see if I can find out anything else.”
“I’ll come with you.” Xander announced
Buffy looked at him hesitantly
“I don’t thing this is a good idea Xander this thing is very dangerous you might get . . . “
“ . . . Killed? Think that part is already done.” He finished
“I still think there will be to many questions asked if someone sees you on the street. Giles I’ll check in with you later.”
Buffy turned to leave. She jumped back in shock when she sees Xander standing behind her.
“I can be very speedy now buff.” He commented
Buffy looked from where Xander was to where he is now. She shook her head in amusement.
“Alright you can come just don’t get yourself into trouble.”
Xander nodded. They both began to walk out the library.
“So Xander is that offer of using you as bait still open.”
“You’re still pissed about that 3AM thing aren’t you?”
“Oh yeah!”
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