This is a lot later than I thought it would be because of problems beyond the realm of fan fiction- writers block, computer viruses, actual viruses and Easter amongst the chief of them and then exams (which are still ongoing so I may have to focus a little on that). I needed a break, but now I'm back and vigorously getting myself into an author's mindset. I'll have plenty more time over the summer in which I intend to carry on writing. Thank you to everyone reading for being patient with me and I hope you guys like the next chapter.
Special and grateful thanks to Bumpkin for BETA reading this chapter, it really helped. Let me know what you think of the improved version.
Disclaimer: I guess I am supposed to make some derogatory comment on the complete lack of necessity of the disclaimer because there is a more realistic chance of me owning the characters than there is of me being sued by the people who own the characters as I highly doubt they'd spend time reading this and I'm a student with no money currently listening to Bob Dylan. Anyway at long last… back to the story.
The hospital room was cold and quiet as the evening drew on. Dawn was sitting close to Buffy who was asleep uncomfortably in her chair. Dry eyed but with tear tracks still staining her cheeks, Dawn stared at where Xander lay. She'd already lost her mother- and her sister more than once- she couldn't lose him too. She didn't think she could take anymore. Seeing him pale faced and lifeless, completely lifeless, despite what the Doctors said. It made her feel helpless. She had watched in horror as it had taken everything all of Tara's compassion and understanding to calm Willow as she raged, having watched her oldest friend fall. As far as the Summers girl knew they were both at the Magic box researching everything and anything that might help. She didn't think they wanted to wait around for the worst to happen. So what was she doing here?
A quiet tapping interrupted her thoughts. Dawn glanced up in surprise and relief as she saw Spike standing outside the room, peering through the shutters and jerking his head in a signal to meet outside. With slightly more cheerfulness Dawn crept around her sister and bounded up to meet the vampire.
'Spike!' She breathed out in relief as she shut the door behind her, wincing as she saw Buffy stir slightly.
'You ok, Nibblet?' He asked; a serious expression in his eyes.
Dawn squirmed slightly under Spike's knowing gaze. 'Yeah, but it's just I don't know what to do…' She breathed in again deeply, her brow furrowing as the last few hours came back to her. 'Willow nearly lost it and Buffy hasn't eaten or drunk anything for hours, I mean, she seems completely numb to anything and I want- I want Xander back.'
'C'mon bit, let's go sit down,' Spike took her by the shoulders and led Dawn away to the waiting area and sighed as he dropped into one of the stiff plastic seats. He drew out a cigarette before raising an eyebrow as a member of the nursing staff who was staring at him. The nurse then glared pointedly at the no smoking sign two feet away from him in disbelief. Jabbing him in the ribs the younger Summers sister gave him a threatening glare, before she turned back smugly as he pocketed his lighter. Grumbling, he pulled at the collar of his leather jacket. 'I don't see the bloody point, it's not like there's anyone else around here who isn't already un-dead or dying,' Then at seeing the look on Dawn's face he relented. 'Oh, I didn't mean the Tosser- Xander. He'll be fine.' Spike suddenly seemed to grow bitter. 'He'll be fine and dandy and up about in no time telling me what a waste of space I am.'
'I don't think you're a waste of space,' Dawn spoke with an earnest smile. 'You let me ride on your bike last week.'
'If you ever tell your sister about that-' Spike warned in what Dawn recognised as his tough guy act.
'I know. I can keep a secret.' She answered, throwing her hands up mock defensively before slumping further into her seat again.
There was a pause before Spike stole a sly glance at Dawn. 'Look, I'm only here because Buffy's worried and you are too. Xander can rot for all I care- never made any secret of it, but if you need to talk about it…' He shrugged and looked away, slightly embarrassed. He was the big bad! He shouldn't mope and get all touchy feely just because Buffy was all depressed and Nibblet was too, ah damn it. She looks like she might cry again…
'It's just… he was always there, no matter what, I mean, through all the bad stuff he was always there. It's not fair,' she stamped her foot in frustration and stared down the corridor, chin resting limply on her hand.
Tentatively Spike reached an arm around her shoulders, rubbing them consolingly, in a manner that was clearly uncomfortable for him. 'Look, bit, this was a Demon who did this- and Buffy and red aren't half bad at catching these guys and all that cracking curses business. Besides, this isn't the first time the wank-, er, Xander has been cursed he'll bounce back like the annoying bundle of bad jokes he is.'
'You think so?' She looked up hopefully.
'Would I lie?' The former member of the scourge of Europe said, grinning knowingly.
'Do I have to answer that?' She gave her own wide smile in return, feeling a weight slide off her chest as she continued to banter with the master vampire.
He'd thought it was worse the second time, when he landed back in his new body. He knew what he was coming back to. The wacky reality of his mind had provided some freedom, rather than the restricted sensations he had in the robot suit. Suddenly it seemed all the more appealing to retreat into a shell; to ignore reality. But when, sitting in the JLA craft they'd broken the sound barrier on their way into space he was slightly bemused that his life had suddenly found its way into being even more surreal.
He briefly thought over the last hour. Gotten a lot of funny stares as he channelled Willow babble, check; nearly set off the self destruct on the jet as they prepared to take off, check (In his defence he thought it was a CD player or something and he was fidgety). Then he'd spent the last twenty minutes again thinking about what he was going to say to the rest of the Scooby Gang and what they'd think. And Anya. Especially Anya. Stop thinking about Anya. She'd probably be happy he was cursed, considering her previous job. He'd deserve it, too. He yelled at himself silently, Stop thinking about Anya!
'We have arrived at the watchtower,' J'onn stirred him from his thoughts and he began to follow the League out of the ship and into the place only a few people in the world ever had the privilege to enter, unless of course you were one of those surprisingly numerous megalomaniacs that wanted to blow it up, Xander thought dryly. He winced as the Martian gave a hint of a smirk that showed he had overheard that particular sentiment before they stopped at a set of double doors.
'Wow,' Xander muttered quietly as he walked into the observation deck of the watchtower, a couple of League members Xander hadn't met were coming to greet their team mates as they returned from, or more accurately with, the assignment. Was that Aquaman? Huh. And it was fairly obviously Hawkgirl swinging the mace absent-mindedly in her fist as she followed the Atlantean King into the chamber. Black Canary and Green arrow were already flirting as they headed towards a doorway across the large platform, admittedly one side more adamantly than the other- although Xander seriously doubted either minded. Superman and Batman having already disappeared- Superman with his heightened speed and Batman in the creepy ninja way only he could although Xander was getting scarily reminded of one certain en-souled vampire at this point. He blinked in surprise, or rather, stared wishing he could blink, as J'onn took the easiest route- through a wall. He nodded his head wryly in acceptance as the Martian imitated him in a reassuring acknowledgement.
Turning back and ignoring most of the buzz surrounding him, his nervousness was now momentarily forgotten as Xander stared down at the planet which he had helped to save so many times now. He'd never appreciated how tiny it was though, nor had he thought of how serene and beautiful it was just hanging in space. It was… peaceful. It was also an almost monumental achievement considering the last six years of his life on the hellmouth.
'Yeah, the first time you see it up here's always the best. You soon get used to it,' Flash darted to beside him, smiling. 'Looks pretty small doesn't it?'
'Yeah,' Xander replied still a little stunned by the sight; he glanced at Flash and scratched the back of his head sheepishly. 'And I'd always figured it would be kind of stronger looking not so fragile- if you know what I mean?'
Flash nodded and was about to reply before he noticed Wonder Woman approach with a small smile gracing her face. 'The League are going to convene in the meeting room to discuss today's revelations, you are welcome to wait here until we call you- there are some issues that need to be addressed.'
'I'm good,' Xander said, eager to smile, but he could only make a small hand gesture of complacence, which Diana seemed to accept with a nod.
'J'onn said you performed exceptionally when fighting the curse, his praise is not to be taken lightly.' Diana spoke seriously and smiled again. 'You made quite a first impression.'
'Ahh and you have yet to hear of my fantastic exploits as the donut gatherer of the Scooby gang' Xander tilted his head and shrugged as the others merely shook their heads at him.
There has been advancement at last; beginnings are always hardest to write. Now I just have to keep going. Xander's body is in hospital, and his brain is on the watchtower. I love writing Spike. He won't feature too much into the story (he may pop up occasionally if I can manage to squeeze in any more plot bunnies) but I wanted to throw in some anti-Xander feeling. He isn't a perfect guy- far from it. He's an average person, that's the appeal. I've seen a common problem with Xander fics online here, especially crossovers. They make him a too perfect and knowledgeable good guy, not prone to any personality faults at all. Even though I love his character, he does do things wrong and he has to make amends- although you can go the other way and make everything he does a mistake. I hope I can balance it out. Let me know what you think. This was a little shorter as I know without a doubt the next one will have to be much longer. Or at least in theory.