. . . Xander stood and thought. He was in a four way stalemate with no way out. This was the hardest decision he had ever had to make. Leyland folded his arms and looked down at his watch.
“Oh come on Mr. Harris it’s a very simple choice,” he said, “You’re body, your ghost girlfriend or your best friend. Which is it going to be?”
“How about all three?” Buffy asked from the doorway, “Is that an option?”
Leyland looked around shocked. Buffy entered the main warehouse flanked by Angel, Giles and Spike. Leyland gave the group a confused look.
“Just want to make something clear,” Spike announced, “nobody was eaten so there’s no need to beat up old spike.”
Xander smiled at the group then looked back over to Leyland.
“So what was your plan?” he asked smugly
“Okay somebody cheated here,” Leyland said confused, “and I know it wasn’t me.”
“’Spose we better tell him then?” Spike asked Xander
Xander shrugged.
“Don’t see the harm.” He replied
~ The basement – ten minutes ago ~
Leyland walked back down the stairs.
“Okay people the client will pick up the Slayer in five minutes,” Leyland said happily, “So I want you all dead by then. If you’re not dead in five I’ll come and do it myself.”
Just then Xanders body walked down the stairs.
“Master you wanted me to tell you when the ghost arrived.” He said
Leyland nodded and Xanders body disappeared up the stairs. Just then two Parob joined the necromancer.
“Looks like it’s your lucky day,” Leyland explained, “I don’t need you dead for fifteen minutes now so you can all relax until then.”
Leyland turned to head back up the stairs but remembered something.
“Oh, and I’m going to need her and her.” Leyland continued pointing to Willow and Beth.
The Parob nodded, releasing Willow and Beth and dragging them up the stairs. Angel and Giles looked at each other.
“I guess this is it then.” Angel commented
“Guess so,” Giles replied
Just then Spike crawled in through one of the small windows. He jumped up onto his feet and smiled at the both of them.
“Spike?” Angel asked, “What are you doing here?”
Spike dropped his hands annoyed
“What do you mean what am I doing here? I’m the bloody cavalry! Sorry I don’t have a hoarse or trumpet or anything but, you know, short notice and all.”
Spike rushes over and unties Giles. Spike then gestures Angel to follow.
“Come on Gel Boy we got people to save.”
“I can’t move spike,” Angel replied, “Leyland did this to me.”
Spike smirked at Angel.
“What? You serious?”
Angel rolled his eyes.
“Yes.”
“Not even if I do this?”
Spike begins to poke Angel. Angel looks very irritated.
“Stop it spike!”
“What and ruin my fun?”
While this was going on Giles examined Buffy. Her soul was almost completely extracted. Well past the point of no return. He was about to give up when he noticed something in the corner of the room. It was a statue place behind and old book. Giles carefully picked up the statue and examined it.
“Yes! Of course!” he exclaimed
In one swift motion he smashed the statue. Angel flinched then, without wasting a moment, punched Spike across the jaw. Spike looked up in surprise.
“What the bloody hell was that for?” he asked
“Do I even have to answer that?” Angel replied
Both vampires rushed over to Buffy. Giles was flicking through the book until he found the correct page. Angel looked over to him.
“What do we need to do?”
“Well, according to this,” Giles replied scanning, “‘the vestal must shatter for the soul to return.’ I think that means break the knife.”
Angel gripped the hilt of the small dagger. He pulled it out of Buffy’s stomach and held it lightly. Gripping it in both ends in his hand he bent the blade sharply snapping it in two. The energy streamed out and re-entered her body. Buffy woke up sharply and breathed heavily. Giles moved to Buffy’s side and helped her down from the table.
“It’s okay you’re all right now.” Giles said
Buffy looked around.
“Where’s everybody else?” she asked
“Leyland dragged Willow and that ghost up stairs,” Angel explained, “they had Xanders body with them.”
Buffy looked at the doorway seriously.
“Then there’s not much time.” She said
“Damn it!” Leyland yelled, “I knew I shouldn’t have left those things around!”
“I think you should let our friends go now.” Buffy said seriously
Beth looked over to Angel
“How can that vampire move again?” she asked
“The statue I destroyed was of Tzez-Nilleb, Mayan god of the dead,” Giles explained, “it’s been told who ever claimed the statue shall be able to grant life to the lifeless or revoke life from the living.”
“So he’s, like, powerless now?” Beth asked
“Essentially.”
“Good.”
* POP! *
The Parob holding Beth looked around confused after she disappeared. He felt a tap on his shoulder and turned to see the ghost smiling at him sweetly. Beth swung out with a left hook. The Parob flew across the room and slammed hard against the back wall. Xander moved quickly, punching the Parob holding Willow in the face, then freeing the scared girl.
The group looked up to see Leyland fleeing the building. The others followed as Beth and Xander looked at each other.
“Shall we?” she asked
“Ladies first.” Xander replied
Leyland rushed down the road as fast as he could. As soon as he was convinced he lost them the former necromancer stopped to take a breath.
* POP! *
Leyland looked up to see two very angry ghosts staring at him.
“Hi,” he said weakly, “I’m guessing you’re not really in a merciful mood.”
Xander grabbed Leyland by the collar and dragged him close to his face.
“No really,” Xander replied, “see I’ve been having a really bad couple of months I think it started when somebody stole my body!”
Leyland smiled.
“Speaking of your body, “Leyland replied, “Didn’t you forget something?”
Xanders face dropped. He looked at Beth panicked.
“My body!” he exclaimed
“I’ll hold him you go back for it.” Beth said seriously
Xander handed over Leyland.
* POP! *
Beth Glared at Leyland.
“Hey there Missy,” Leyland said weakly, “did anybody tell you how pretty you look?”
“Sorry,” Beth replied, “you not my type. I only go for the dead.”
Just then the others arrived. Beth looked over at the vampires.
“Hey spike!” She yelled
“Yeah?” Spike replied
“You hungry?”
Spikes eyes lit up. Beth threw Leyland over to spike who vamped out. As spike fed the others went over to Beth.
“Where’s Xander?” Buffy asked
“Went back for his body.” Beth replied
* POP! *
Xander arrived back at the warehouse. The demons possessing Xanders body opened the furnace.
“Give that back!” Xander yelled
“You have to catch me first.” the body yelled back
Before Xander could move his body plunged into the furnace and the door slammed behind him.
“NO!” Xander yelled as he charged at the furnace.
He tried to walk through the wall but there must have been talismans on the inside. Xander walked backwards in shock as his body was cremated. He dropped to his knees just as the others arrived back.
“Oh god!” Buffy exclaimed
Everybody arrived back at the library tired bruised.
“So I guess no more life stealing then.” Buffy commented
“Absolutely,” Giles replied, “once I destroyed the statue Leyland’s hold over the bodies was released and all we needed to do was to break the vestals holding their essences.”
“Everything’s okay then?” Willow asked
Buffy turned and looked at Willow. She frowned slightly after she noticed Willows current mode of dress.
“Ah, Will . . ? “
“I don’t want to talk about it!” Willow snapped back
Angel walked over to the table. He picked up the knife use on Xander and looked at it curiously. It didn’t glow like the others.
“Do you think this would have worked if Xander still had his body?” he asked
“Honestly?” Giles replied, “I’m not sure that it would have. The essence needed to be inside the blade Xander on the other hand.”
Angel nodded.
“I just hope he finds some kind of peace.”
Outside Xander and Beth sat at one of the tables. Beth kissed Xander lightly and smiled at him.
“What was that for?” he asked
“For being my hero.” She replied smiling
She kissed him again.
“And that one?” he asked
“Because you’re so cute.”
Beth kissed Xander for a third time.
“And that?”
Beth pouted
“What? I have to explain everything that I do?”
Xander laughed. They kissed each other more passionately.
“These last few weeks have been perfect,” Beth explained, “I love you so much.”
“I love you to.” Xander replied
The two ghosts hugged. Over Xanders shoulders Beth saw something.
“Oh my god.” She exclaimed
“What?” Xander asked
“It’s beautiful.” Beth said standing slowly
“What’s beautiful?”
Xander looked over to where Beth was looking but couldn’t see anything.
“It’s like a big tunnel of light,” Beth exclaimed walking slowly forward, “There’s something at the end.”
Xander watched confused as Beth absent mindedly walked towards nothing. A moment later she covered her mouth in shock.
“Grandma?” she exclaimed
Suddenly it became clear to Xander what was happening. He got to his feet and watched as Beth slowly disappeared. Xander put his hands in his pockets.
“Hey,” Buffy called out as she walked over to him
Buffy looked around.
“Where’s Beth?”
“She just crossed over.” Xander replied
Buffy looked at her ghost friend stunned
“Oh,” she said sadly, “I’m sorry. You alright?”
“I probably should be upset but I’m not. Beth finally resolved her issue keeping her here I’m happy for her.” Xander replied
“What was it?”
Xander smiled sweetly.
“She just wanted someone to love who would love her back.” He replied
For a short moment there was silence. Then Buffy walked up and handed him the Parob blade.
“What’s this?” he asked
“It’s the knife thing Leyland used on you,” Buffy explained, “I figured you might want to have it.”
“Thanks.” Xander replied
“So what’s your plan now?
“I figure I stay here and make sure you guys stay out of trouble.”
Xander looked over to see Buffy’s curious expression.
“What?”
“You’re not serious are you?”
“Yeah. Something wrong with that?”
“Xander you can go anywhere in the world. My advice, do some traveling.”
Xander frowned.
“We’ll still be here if you want to visit.” Buffy explained as she started to walk back inside
The ghost sighed. He picked up the blade and examined it. Buffy was right he should stretch his incorporeal legs and go see the world. Gripping the blade he snapped it in two. Buffy got to the door. She turned back to Xander
“So do you want to come in and say . . . goodbye?”
Xander had vanished. On the ground lay two halves of the knife. Buffy smiled to herself.
“Good luck Xander,” she said softly, “well miss you.”
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