Reunited

Chapter 9: Coping

Xander woke slowly, moaning at the soft sheet under his cheek and the cool weight against his chest. He opened his eyes slowly and found himself looking into Dru's eyes. There was something wrong, he knew it, but he couldn't quite figure out just what it was. "Dru?" he asked softly.

"Hello, Kitten, are you feeling better?" Xander looked at her in confusion for several minutes until images began to flow through his mind. Xander shuddered as he remembered the agony he had suffered. He remembered his body shifting and the pain it had caused. He remembered the horror of feeling his body being torn open by surgical instruments, and feeling every single thing that was done to him. He remembered the cool, clipped tones of the woman in charge of his torment as she gave the orders to change him.

"Shh...Little Kitten, Mommy's here and no one will hurt you ever again," Dru crooned to him. Xander held her and cried out his grief and pain over what had been done to him. He knew without a doubt that he wanted out of Sunnydale as soon as possible.

As his tears abated, Xander sat up carefully. He still hurt, but not as badly as before. Looking over at Dru he was struck by how different she looked to him. He could see a soft, silver glow around her and there was something wrong in what he was seeing. Reaching out, he watched in fascination as his hand slipped into the place where the wrongness was in her. When he pulled his hand back he found he was holding a small microchip. Looking at Dru he realized that he had just de-chipped her.

Dru smiled gently at him and caressed his cheek. "Don't worry, lovely, I won't bite the babies. Mommie and Spikey are good now."

Xander released the breath that he had been holding. He hugged Dru and then together they got out of bed and walked into the living room. Xander was still holding the microchip in his hand when they entered the living room. Xander froze at the sight that greeted him.  All around his living room his friends and several others sat side by side. The Fang Gang was in his living room and Spike was actually having a civil conversation with Graham. Xander felt his heart clench at the sight of his ex-lover. Just as quickly rage filled him. With a snarl of rage he stormed across the room.

Graham looked at him in stunned silence as Xander pushed him into the chair behind him. "Did you tell her about me?" Xander screamed into his face.

"No, I swear. I would never have done anything to you," Graham reassured him.

Xander sobbed and sank to his knees. Graham grabbed him and pulled him into his arms, holding him tightly. After a few moments Xander put his arms around him and clung tightly. "I love you. I'm so sorry, Xander. I don't know how or why she chose you, but I promise I will help take the bitch down," Graham swore.

Xander just shook his head. "I'm leaving the hellmouth. I have friends in Oxnard and I'm going to go to them. I need their help, then I'm coming back and I'm taking out the Initiative," Xander said as he straightened away. His friends and family saw the fierce determination in his eyes.

He then turned to face Dru, who smiled gently at him and nodded. He walked over to Spike and looked into the fieice eyes of his friend. Taking a deep breath he shifted and reached out. The others watched in awe as Xander reached in and removed the chip embedded in Spike's brain.  When Xander had finished he stepped back. Buffy had jumped to her feet and there was a look of fear on her face. She didn't want to have to stake Spike, but she would if he was a threat.

"Well, that was unnerving. When we goin', pet?" the blond asked. Xander laughed, and hugged the vampire tightly.

"Soon. I need some weapons and we're gonna need some help." The vampire nodded and went back to his Princess. She smiled at him and allowed him to hold her. Their boy was safe and so were they. Maggie Walsh was dead and she didn't even know it.