ASTA Episode 1.09 "That Thing We Do" Act 3 & 4
ACT 3
~BAR NONE~
Tabitha followed David out of the office and into the restaurant/bar area. The whole place was in darkness.
DAVID: What’s going on?
The waitress that Tabitha was talking to earlier came up to them.
WAITRESS: The power went out.
DAVID: What happened?
WAITRESS: It’s the storm. It knocked the power out everywhere. The whole street is in darkness.
David shook his head in frustration.
DAVID: I don’t have time for this. (to the waitress) Get me a flashlight - I’ll take a look at the fuse box.
The waitress nodded and went away.
TABITHA: Do you want me to help you with anything?
DAVID: Can you get the lights back on?
TABITHA: Erm…no but I’m good at holding a flashlight. I can do that while you mess around with the fuse box.
David chuckled, which made Tabitha smile.
DAVID: Yeah sure. You can hold the flashlight.
TABITHA: Great!
David turned and was about to walked away when Tabitha touched his arm. He looked at her quizzically.
TABITHA: It’s nice to see you laughing again, David.
DAVID: Yeah, it’s been awhile…I missed laughing.
He turned and strode away from her. Tabitha watched him sadly.
TABITHA: (softly) I missed it too.
~ELEVATOR~
PIKE: Andrew! Wake up.
Pike slapped Andrew across the face again and this time he got a response. Andrew jolted upright as his arms flew everywhere.
ANDREW: Stop hitting me, Tucker!
Pike slapped him again to calm him down.
PIKE: Andrew! Get a grip.
Andrew’s eyes fluttered open and blinked at Pike.
ANDREW: You’re not Tucker.
Pike rolled his eyes as he stood up.
PIKE: Get your cell phone and try calling for help.
Andrew pushed himself up against one of the walls of the elevator, took out his cell phone and started dialing. Pike was at the other end of the elevator where the buttons were. He was studying the pad, looking for something that could make the elevator start moving again.
ANDREW: Nothing. Still no signal.
PIKE: Keep trying.
Pike ran his fingers around the pad. When he did not find anything, he moved up. His fingers brushed against a panel. Using his fingernails, Pike pried the panel open. However, he could not. After a few tries of failing to open the panel, Pike gave up. He looked over at Andrew.
PIKE: Do you have something flat? Like a penknife or a card?
ANDREW: I got my driver’s license.
PIKE: That will do. Hand it to me.
Andrew reached into the back pocket of his pants and pulled out his wallet. He flipped it open and slipped out his driver’s license. He handed it to Pike.
Pike took Andrew’s driver’s license and jammed it into the edge of the panel. He jiggled the card and at the same time pushed it even further inside. Once the card was nearly half way inside, Pike pulled on the card - using it as leverage to force the panel open.
ANDREW: Don’t break it!
PIKE: I’ll try not to…
Pike gave one last tug and the panel pried open. Inside was a phone.
PIKE: Now we are talking.
~CEMETERY~
XANDER: Asta!
Xander ran to the hand and dropped to his knees. He grabbed the lifeless hand and felt for a pulse. He started to panic when he did not feel one. He dropped the flashlight to the ground and started to push away the mud with his fingers. Little by little, more of the hand was seen. Then the arm, the shoulder and then the top of Asta’s head.
Digging frantically, Xander finally managed to clear away enough mud and stone to uncover Asta’s torso. Xander slipped his hands under Asta’s arms and started to pull her out of the rubble with all his might. Inch by inch, he pulled Asta out until her whole body was free.
Xander laid Asta flat on the ground and searched for her pulse one more time. This time he found it and he let out a breath, feeling relieved. He lightly tapped her cheek.
XANDER: Asta? Asta?
Asta started to stir. A moment later, her eyes fluttered opened
ASTA: Xander?
XANDER: The one and only. Are you hurt?
Asta groaned in reply.
XANDER: I take that as a yes?
ASTA: No…no, I’m fine. I just have this splitting headache.
XANDER: I think it’s because of the all that dirt falling on your head.
Asta struggled to sit up. Xander held her shoulder’s and helped her upright.
ASTA: Where are we?
XANDER: I don’t know. Some sort of a cave I think.
ASTA: A cave? Tabitha said there weren’t any caves in Hades Valley.
XANDER: Not one that she could see anyway. This was under Murdock’s grave.
Asta looked around her surroundings.
ASTA: Is there a way out of here? Or are we trapped?
XANDER: I don’t know. I haven’t taken a closer look at this place. I was looking for you.
Asta slowly got to her feet.
ASTA: How did we get here anyway?
XANDER: My guess is that we dug too far. The rain made the soil even looser and it couldn’t take our weight and we fell in. And that caused a mini landslide, burying us in here.
ASTA: I was holding my shovel when I went in. We could use it to dig our way out.
XANDER: I don’t think that’s wise - not now anyway. We need to wait till the rain stops before we can dig or we will be experiencing another landslide.
ASTA: We can’t wait that long. I mean, we could run out of air and…and what about food? We could starve to death here.
XANDER: I don’t think it will take that long. You hear that sound of dripping water? Once that stops we will know that the rain has stopped.
ASTA: Ok, so what now?
XANDER: We wait I guess.
ASTA: And the talisman?
XANDER: No sign of it yet.
ASTA: Let’s find that and then find a way to get out of here.
Asta nodded to the end of the cave.
ASTA: Let’s see what’s at the end of this cave.
~BAR NONE~
Tabitha was bored. She had been standing beside David at the fuse box - which was downstairs where the alcohol cage was - holding a flashlight while he looked to see whether he could mend the whole blackout problem. It has been nearly an hour now and David had not come close to fixing the glitch.
David moved away from the box, setting aside the screwdriver. Tabitha looked at him, hopeful.
DAVID: There’s nothing wrong with the fuse box. Everything looks normal in here. It’s the main power line that’s the problem.
TABITHA: Can you fix it?
David raised an eyebrow at Tabitha.
DAVID: The main power line? Sure. Just get me access to the town’s power and I’m sure I can do something to fix it.
Tabitha smiled, embarrassed, her face growing hot.
TABITHA: Oh.
DAVID: There’s nothing we can do now. We just have to wait for the storm to stop and hope that the town’s officials are able to get the power back up. In the meantime, we’ll stay here.
TABITHA: Stay here?
DAVID: Yeah. Did you see how heavy the rain is outside? There’s no way you can go home. No one is leaving this place until the storm has stopped.
Tabitha put the flashlight away and followed David back to his office.
TABITHA: You know this gives us the perfect time to talk.
David looked at her, chuckling.
DAVID: You are not going to give up that easily are you?
TABITHA: Not a chance in hell.
David moved behind his desk and sat down. Tabitha sat down across from him.
DAVID: Ok, fine. Let’s talk. Let’s get this over and done with.
David sat back in his chair and folded his arms across his chest. Tabitha placed her hand on the desk and laced her fingers together.
TABITHA: Ok…I think I should explain with more details about what happened a week ago.
DAVID: Wait. Let me start first.
TABITHA: Ok. Sure…
David avoided her gaze and cleared his throat.
DAVID: I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately and I realized that we can’t keep secrets from each other in order for this relationship to work. We have to be honest and not run when presented with the truth. We have to accept it and move on. If we love each other, we should accept each other as we are - secrets and all.
David stopped and took in a deep breath.
DAVID: That’s all I have to say.
Tabitha smirked.
TABITHA: Are you trying to convince me or yourself?
DAVID: (smiled) Largely myself.
Tabitha looked down at her hands. She took in a deep breath and let it out.
TABITHA: So you want to know my secret huh?
DAVID: Yes. No. I mean…I don’t want to know it because I want to know it. I want to know because I think we should be honest with each other.
Tabitha stood up and started pacing the length of the office. She ran her hand through her short hair.
TABITHA: I really don’t know how to start, David.
DAVID: Funny. Seeing how you were so adamant in having this talk.
TABITHA: I guess I didn’t think it was going to be this hard.
DAVID: Just tell me, Tabby. I won’t run.
Tabitha paused her pacing and looked at David intently.
TABITHA: You won’t?
DAVID: I won’t. I want to be with you.
TABITHA: Then why does it matter if you know my secret or not?
DAVID: Because…because I want all of you - your secrets, your fears, your strengths, your weakness. I want every piece of you just like you have every inch of me. I don’t think I can be satisfied if I don’t have that from you.
TABITHA: Why? I’m not this perfect girl, you know. I’m not this person who makes your world ok or makes you happy every second of the day. I lie, I cheat, I betray. I will make you sad. And having all of me would make you see what an imperfect girl I am.
DAVID: Maybe it’s time for me to have a reality check. Maybe I need to see that you’re not this perfect girl so that I can love you even more.
Tabitha turned away from David, facing her back towards him.
TABITHA: No. It doesn’t work that way.
David cocked his head at Tabitha.
DAVID: You were never going to tell me what happened, were you? You came here to feed me another lie.
TABITHA: I…
She looked over her shoulder.
TABITHA: Don’t you trust me?
DAVID: I don’t know, Tabby. I really don’t know.
Tabitha nodded.
TABITHA: Then I think we really have a problem.
~ELEVATOR~
Pike slammed the phone against the keypad in frustration.
ANDREW: It’s not working?
PIKE: It’s dead. I think the power went out in the whole building.
Pike kicked the door of the elevator.
PIKE: Stupid, stupid building.
ANDREW: Why don’t we just wait till the elevator starts working again? The guard is still up at the seventh level so I’m sure he’ll notice that the elevator isn’t working. Besides, we got the talisman so it’s not like we are in the hurry to be anywhere.
PIKE: Sha is still out there.
ANDREW: But we are in here. If he’s targeting us, we can’t be in safer place than in a stuck elevator.
Pike flopped down onto the floor beside Andrew.
PIKE: You’re right.
The two men grew silent. Andrew started fiddling with this cell phone.
PIKE: You were pretty smart back there.
ANDREW: What?
PIKE: How you tricked the guard? That was pretty smart.
Andrew shrugged, looking not a least bit modest.
ANDREW: I try.
PIKE: You know I never really…apologized for saying that you’re a bad Watcher.
ANDREW: No, you didn’t.
PIKE: Well, I’m sorry - I shouldn’t have said that. I don’t know you that well so it wasn’t my place to say whether you’re bad at your job or not.
Andrew smiled at Pike.
ANDREW: Thanks.
PIKE: And I’m sorry again.
ANDREW: For what?
PIKE: For being such a jerk just now. I know you’re trying to help…and you did - I’m not saying that you didn’t. I just shouldn’t have snapped at you every time you said something.
ANDREW: It’s ok. I’m used to it.
PIKE: It’s not that I don’t like you - I do. It just that sometimes -
ANDREW: You wished you had someone more capable than me with you.
Pike laughed softly.
PIKE: Yeah…Ever since the whole kidnapping thing, I just don’t know whether you will be safe when we do these kinds of things. I would feel so much better if you just stayed in the house, you know - cause you’re safe there.
ANDREW: So what you’re trying to say is that you not wanting me to come get the talisman with you is your way of saying that you are concerned about me.
Pike blinked, realizing that was exactly it.
PIKE: I guess you’re right. (pause) Huh. I didn’t know I was that complex.
Andrew set his cell phone aside.
ANDREW: Why do you do this?
PIKE: Do what?
ANDREW: This thing that you do with Tabitha - the killing of vampires, demons. Why do you do it?
PIKE: It was Buffy’s fault. She got me sucked into this when she burned down the school gym.
ANDREW: But why continue to do this when you could have turned your back and pretended that it never happened?
PIKE: I guess I was far too curious for my own good. I was always searching for answers, the truth. I guess me fighting vampires is my way of searching for truth.
ANDREW: Truth to what?
PIKE: Good and evil, forces of darkness, what goes bump in the night and what bumps back. The world of monsters and vampires and hellmouths is a world I had never been in and I just wanted to know more about it.
Andrew looked thoughtful.
ANDREW: Wow. That’s deep. You are complex.
Pike grinned.
PIKE: I try.
~CAVE~
XANDER: Have I ever told you that I don’t like caves?
ASTA: No, you haven’t.
XANDER: Well, I never told anyone either because I just realized how much I don’t like caves. They are all dark and wet and…evil.
ASTA: No one likes an evil cave. But not all caves are evil. There are some that…aren’t.
XANDER: Yeah? Name me one cave you been to that isn’t evil.
ASTA: Well, there’s this cave back in New York where it’s filled with pillows.
Xander looked at Asta, his eyebrows raised skeptically.
XANDER: Pillows?
ASTA: Ok, I think I dreamt that one.
Xander did not reply. He grabbed Asta’s arm and stopped her from moving forward. He shone his torch at the wall before them. The wall prevented them from continuing forward. They had come to the end of the cave.
Asta frowned at the wall. There were carvings on it.
XANDER: Doesn’t it look familiar?
ASTA: It does.
Xander took out the piece of paper from earlier and handed it to Asta.
XANDER: Same markings as the talisman.
ASTA: The talisman must be here then.
She handed the paper back to Xander and took his flashlight. She went forward, using the light from the torch to study the wall and the drawings.
ASTA: I don’t see a place where the talisman could be.
Xander joined her and examined the wall. He spotted something suspicious.
XANDER: This square. It looks like it can be moved. See the edges?
ASTA: Yeah.
She handed the flashlight to Xander and placed both her hands in the middle of the square. She gave a push and the whole section moved inward. She gave another push but it wouldn’t budge any more.
ASTA: It’s stuck.
Xander came up to her and placed his own hands on the square.
XANDER: On three.
ASTA: Three!
The two of them pushed that section of the wall with all their strength. The section slid inward. Then the whole cave started to tremble, throwing Asta and Xander to the ground.
As quickly as the tremble had begun, it stopped a second later.
Asta and Xander exchanged quick glances before climbing to their feet.
XANDER: See anything round and shiny?
Asta went to the wall, her eyes fixed on something.
There was a hidden compartment underneath the square section of the wall. Pushing that section back exposed the compartment. In the compartment was a round metallic object. A square was craved in it and in the square was familiar foreign markings that Asta had seen on the paper that they had.
ASTA: I think I found it.
ACT 4
~BAR NONE~
Tabitha and David were sitting on the floor, side by side, leaning against the door of David’s office. They held a bottle of beer in their hands. David took a sip of his beer.
DAVID: How did we get here?
TABITHA: I’m going to say the blackout and our sudden urge for alcohol.
DAVID: That’s not what I meant.
TABITHA: I know.
DAVID: During the whole time we were going out, I never thought we would reach this place. I thought we would be together forever - as corny as it sounds.
TABITHA: It doesn’t sound corny…
DAVID: But it’s stupid to think that way. It’s naive.
TABITHA: You’re not the only one.
Tabitha took a swig from her bottle. She made a face as the alcohol burned her throat.
TABITHA: But you were right. What you said about secrets? You were right. We can’t do this if we have secrets.
DAVID: But?
TABITHA: But the reason why I’m not telling you the truth about what happened is not because I don’t want to. It’s because I can’t. I want us to be right again and I will tell you my fears and my feelings but not what happened last week.
Tabitha looked down at the bottle in her hands.
TABITHA: I will tell you one day but not now. Now until I’m sure about what I’m doing. Not until I’m ready. You just have to be patient.
Tabitha looked at David intently.
TABITHA: Can you handle that? Can you wait for me to be ready?
David tilted his head so that he was looking into her eyes. His forehead furrowed a little as he thought over her request.
TABITHA: I don’t want us to end and I know you don’t either.
DAVID: No…no, I don’t.
TABITHA: So?
He gave her a small smile. He reached out and took her hand into his. David gave her hand a squeeze.
DAVID: I’ll be waiting.
Tabitha let out a breath of relief. She leaned forward and gave David a quick kiss on the lips.
TABITHA: Thank you.
David lifted his bottle and Tabitha clinked her bottle against his. They both took a swig of their drink.
TABITHA: And as part of the new and improved me, I’ll tell you all the things that you don’t know.
DAVID: (chuckled) Ok. Let’s hear it.
TABITHA: Ok. Let’s see. I actually didn’t finish college. I dropped out because I couldn’t support myself and Pike so I took a job at a pet store. Everyone didn’t know. They thought that I worked part time while I studied.
DAVID: Why didn’t you tell anyone?
Tabitha shrugged.
TABITHA: Maybe I didn’t want them to know that I was struggling. I was Oliver’s elder sister. The elder sibling shouldn’t be the one struggling. It’s always the youngest. Oliver should be the one dropping out of school and doing drugs and going to jail while I nagged about how he’s wasting his life and tell him that he could be as successful as me if he tried hard enough. And also, my parents were waiting for me to fail so that they could swoop in and take over.
DAVID: You have never told me much about your parents.
TABITHA: Cause there’s nothing you should know. They are evil. They came by a couple of weeks ago. And you know why I didn’t tell you or invite you to meet them over dinner? Because you and Oliver are the only good things in my life and I don’t want them to come near it.
DAVID: Why not?
TABITHA: Because they are evil! They are like Midas but…but instead of turning everything they touch into gold, they turn every good thing into bad, evil things…and they turn those things against me.
DAVID: (smiled) Glad I didn’t meet them then. I don’t want to go against you.
TABITHA: (grinned) Neither do I.
Tabitha fell silent as she took a few more sips of her beer. David leaned sideways and nudged shoulders with hers.
DAVID: Well, don’t stop there - carry on.
Tabitha scowled at him.
TABITHA: You’re enjoying this are you?
DAVID: Yes. But this is good for you. It’s good to let it all out instead of keeping it all in.
TABITHA: Ok…let’s see. Oh! Remember the first time we met?
DAVID: How can I forget? I got into a fight with your brother.
TABITHA: That’s right, you did. Your usual, run of the mill bar fight.
DAVID: Yup. And you came in to stop it. You took my side.
TABITHA: Well, it wasn’t your fault. Oliver was being, well, Oliver and you were the innocent bystander, who was clueless as to what was going on.
DAVID: Good times.
TABITHA: So, anyway, I broke up the fight and I took you over to the bar to look at the cut that you got on your forehead.
DAVID: That’s right.
TABITHA: And the whole time I was patching you up, I keeping thinking how bright your blood was.
David looked at her incredulously.
DAVID: What?
TABITHA: Yes! I started thinking about what makes blood red and why do some people have brighter blood than others.
DAVID: And here I thought you were thinking about how good looking I was and hoping that I would ask you out.
TABITHA: That’s why I was surprised when you did ask me out.
DAVID: It was kinda obvious. I could see the horrified expression on your face when I asked you to dinner in return for patching me up. You know, I still have that scar from that fight.
TABITHA: A scar? You got a scar from that?
David nodded.
DAVID: Right here.
He pushed back his hair and Tabitha could see a small, light pink scar just below the hairline. She reached out and touched it.
TABITHA: Why didn’t you tell me?
DAVID: It’s just a scar - no big deal.
TABITHA: Still. You should have told me.
Tabitha took her hand away from his temple.
DAVID: You know what? I think we’ve had enough talk.
TABITHA: What do you have in mind instead?
David grinned. Tabitha returned his smile and leaned forward for a kiss. They dropped their bottles to the floor and did not care as they rolled away.
~ELEVATOR~
Pike and Andrew were now sitting across from each other having a game of thumb war. After a few more seconds of wrestling, Andrew pinned Pike’s thumb and he grinned triumphantly.
ANDREW: That’s three games in a row, Pike. Admit it - you suck at this.
Pike rolled his eyes instead of responding. He shifted so that he was propped up against the wall of the elevator. Andrew stood up and started to stretch.
PIKE: Can I ask you something?
ANDREW: Shoot.
PIKE: Why did you become a Watcher?
Andrew blinked at Pike, looking surprised. He did not expect Pike’s question.
ADNREW: Because it was the right thing to do.
PIKE: What do you mean ‘the right thing to do?
ANDREW: Before I met Xander and Buffy, I wasn’t exactly the model citizen of Sunnydale.
PIKE: I wasn’t the model citizen of Hades Valley either.
ANDREW: Were you part of an evil group that tried to kill Buffy at every chance you got?
PIKE: No…
ANDREW: Did you kill your best friend?
PIKE: No!
ANDREW: Then I win.
PIKE: So, you becoming a Watcher…
Andrew nodded solemnly.
ANDREW: Is me atoning for my sins.
PIKE: But why a Watcher? You could always be like me - killing demons on your own time.
ANDREW: I could but I’m not good at the whole fighting thing. I’m good with books, research and demonology. Fighting is not my thing so I couldn’t do what you do.
PIKE: Do you enjoy it?
ANDREW: I do. It makes me feel happier about myself. Before this, I hated all the things I did - I hated myself for it. But not anymore.
Pike nodded, looking thoughtful.
ANDREW: Why all these questions anyway?
PIKE: I’m just curious…and getting to know you a bit better. I don’t think we would have this conversation if we were back home.
Andrew sat back down beside Pike.
ANDREW: That’s true. It’s nice to know more about the people you’re fighting the good fight with.
PIKE: So does being a Watcher make what you did more…forgivable?
Andrew looked thoughtful.
ANDREW: No. Nothing will ever make what I did forgivable. But…it’s good to know that I tried.
Pike leaned his head against the wall of the elevator. He chuckled softly.
PIKE: Never would I have thought I’d be stuck in an elevator with you.
Andrew grinned.
ANDREW: Neither did I.
PIKE: But for what it’s worth, I don’t think I would have brought Tabitha along if I knew we were going to be here.
ANDREW: Why not?
PIKE: Cause Tabitha’s my sister and I only can stand her for a few hours.
Andrew laughed.
ANDREW: I have a brother so I know what you mean.
PIKE: You have a brother? Was he…
ANDREW: Evil? Yeah. He let loose a bunch of hellhounds during his high school prom. I think it’s because of him I went down the path of darkness. (pause) I hate him.
PIKE: Well, at least you’ve changed. Got to give you credit for that. This thing I do is now something you do.
ANDREW: (smiled) Imagine that.
The two went silent. A minute later, Andrew started humming.
PIKE: What are you humming?
ANDREW: “That thing you do.” What you said reminded me of that song.
Andrew started singing.
ANDREW: You, doin' that thing you do. Breaking my heart into a million pieces, like you always do.
Pike joined in.
PIKE: And you, don't mean to be cruel. You never even knew about the heartache. I've been goin' through.
ANDREW & PIKE: Well, I try and try to forget you girl but it's just so hard to do. Every time you do that thing you do!
~CAVE~
Asta reached into the compartment which was carved out from the wall and took out the talisman that was in it.
ASTA: Wow.
XANDER: It is really shiny.
Asta flipped the talisman around and studied it.
ASTA: Do you know how this works?
XANDER: What do you mean?
ASTA: How do we put Sha back into this?
XANDER: No, I don’t. We didn’t really read into that.
ASTA: Ok. So whatever we do, we try not to chant any spells or say anything magick like.
XANDER: Gotcha. Good thing I’m bad at those.
ASTA: Let’s go and see whether the rain has stopped.
The two of them walked back to the place where they started from. When they got back, Xander went to the place they dropped from - which was covered with dirt and rock - and glanced up. Water kept dripping from a small hole.
XANDER: It’s still raining.
ASTA: Guess we are going to be here for awhile.
XANDER: Yeah. Better get comfortable.
Asta looked around at where they were and once she found a safe spot, she flopped down. She patted the spot next to her.
ASTA: Get comfortable.
Xander smiled and took the young Slayer’s offer, sitting down beside her. Asta flipped the talisman in her hand over and over, absentmindedly studying it.
ASTA: What a day huh?
XANDER: It’s what we do.
ASTA: It’s what I do.
Xander winked at her.
XANDER: Doesn’t mean I can’t join in the fun.
Asta faced the other man and looked at him seriously.
ASTA: Can I ask you a question?
XANDER: Does it have anything to do with slaying cause I might not be the best person to ask.
ASTA: No, nothing like that.
XANDER: Ok, shoot.
ASTA: Have you ever thought about…quitting?
XANDER: Quitting this thing that we do?
ASTA: Yeah. I mean, I have thought about quitting nearly everyday. So I’m sure you thought about it some of the time. What about after your eye injury?
XANDER: Well, there were doubts…
ASTA: But?
XANDER: But I never thought about quitting.
ASTA: Even after…
XANDER: Even after.
ASTA: Wow. That’s so decent of you.
XANDER: Well, I try.
ASTA: I don’t think I would be as dedicated as you are.
XANDER: It’s still early, Asta. It’s perfectly alright to have doubts and thoughts about quitting. Buffy was the same. Just give it time and you’ll find out that being a Slayer is your gift to the world. Just like helping a Slayer is my gift to the world.
Asta looked at Xander in admiration.
ASTA: You are amazing, Xander Harris, you know that?
XANDER: You’re not bad yourself.
The two of them shared a smile. A moment later, Xander looked away, clearing his throat uncomfortably. He shifted to get more comfortable but that movement made his shoulder throb in pain. Xander winced; scrunching up his forehead in pain. He touched his shoulder and pulled his hand away. Blood coated his fingers.
Asta frowned.
ASTA: You ok?
XANDER: I’m fine.
Asta caught sight of the blood on his fingers. She sat up straight.
ASTA: Liar! You’re bleeding!
XANDER: It’s nothing.
Asta scrambled to his side and took a look at his wound with her flashlight. She handed him the talisman so she could take a closer look at his injury.
ASTA: It looks quite bad. We need to put pressure on it so you won’t bleed to death.
XANDER: I’m fine - really.
ASTA: You are now but if you leave it unattended, you’ll get infected and then you won’t be fine.
Asta took the hem of Xander’s shirt and tore it.
XANDER: Hey! That’s my good shirt.
ASTA: Really? You don’t look good in it though.
XANDER: I don’t?
Asta smiled at Xander.
ASTA: No. Blue’s more your colour not green.
Asta took the strip of ripped shirt and tied it around Xander’s shoulder.
XANDER: Ow!
ASTA: Sorry.
She tightened it some more.
XANDER: OW!
Asta shot his a cheeky smile.
ASTA: I’m really sorry.
XANDER: So not!
Asta leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. She pulled away a little and cocked her head.
ASTA: Feel better?
Xander swallowed nervously, keenly aware of how close she was.
XANDER: Erm…yeah…much better.
Before Asta could say anything else, Xander turned away from her, a light pulling his attention away. The talisman in his hand was glowing.
XANDER: What the…
Xander dropped the talisman to the ground and the two of them got to their feet.
ASTA: Is it supposed to be doing that?
XANDER: I -
The talisman shot a beam of light straight up, lighting up the whole cave. Then a naked, human man materialized before them.
XANDER: Oook. This is not good.
CUT TO BLACK
END CREDITS
Written by
Irene Issac
Story Editor
Beck Schwarz
Special Thanks To
Everyone and anyone who helped in making this episode a success
A BECK TO SHREDS production. © 2006 Irene Issac
~BAR NONE~
Tabitha followed David out of the office and into the restaurant/bar area. The whole place was in darkness.
DAVID: What’s going on?
The waitress that Tabitha was talking to earlier came up to them.
WAITRESS: The power went out.
DAVID: What happened?
WAITRESS: It’s the storm. It knocked the power out everywhere. The whole street is in darkness.
David shook his head in frustration.
DAVID: I don’t have time for this. (to the waitress) Get me a flashlight - I’ll take a look at the fuse box.
The waitress nodded and went away.
TABITHA: Do you want me to help you with anything?
DAVID: Can you get the lights back on?
TABITHA: Erm…no but I’m good at holding a flashlight. I can do that while you mess around with the fuse box.
David chuckled, which made Tabitha smile.
DAVID: Yeah sure. You can hold the flashlight.
TABITHA: Great!
David turned and was about to walked away when Tabitha touched his arm. He looked at her quizzically.
TABITHA: It’s nice to see you laughing again, David.
DAVID: Yeah, it’s been awhile…I missed laughing.
He turned and strode away from her. Tabitha watched him sadly.
TABITHA: (softly) I missed it too.
~ELEVATOR~
PIKE: Andrew! Wake up.
Pike slapped Andrew across the face again and this time he got a response. Andrew jolted upright as his arms flew everywhere.
ANDREW: Stop hitting me, Tucker!
Pike slapped him again to calm him down.
PIKE: Andrew! Get a grip.
Andrew’s eyes fluttered open and blinked at Pike.
ANDREW: You’re not Tucker.
Pike rolled his eyes as he stood up.
PIKE: Get your cell phone and try calling for help.
Andrew pushed himself up against one of the walls of the elevator, took out his cell phone and started dialing. Pike was at the other end of the elevator where the buttons were. He was studying the pad, looking for something that could make the elevator start moving again.
ANDREW: Nothing. Still no signal.
PIKE: Keep trying.
Pike ran his fingers around the pad. When he did not find anything, he moved up. His fingers brushed against a panel. Using his fingernails, Pike pried the panel open. However, he could not. After a few tries of failing to open the panel, Pike gave up. He looked over at Andrew.
PIKE: Do you have something flat? Like a penknife or a card?
ANDREW: I got my driver’s license.
PIKE: That will do. Hand it to me.
Andrew reached into the back pocket of his pants and pulled out his wallet. He flipped it open and slipped out his driver’s license. He handed it to Pike.
Pike took Andrew’s driver’s license and jammed it into the edge of the panel. He jiggled the card and at the same time pushed it even further inside. Once the card was nearly half way inside, Pike pulled on the card - using it as leverage to force the panel open.
ANDREW: Don’t break it!
PIKE: I’ll try not to…
Pike gave one last tug and the panel pried open. Inside was a phone.
PIKE: Now we are talking.
~CEMETERY~
XANDER: Asta!
Xander ran to the hand and dropped to his knees. He grabbed the lifeless hand and felt for a pulse. He started to panic when he did not feel one. He dropped the flashlight to the ground and started to push away the mud with his fingers. Little by little, more of the hand was seen. Then the arm, the shoulder and then the top of Asta’s head.
Digging frantically, Xander finally managed to clear away enough mud and stone to uncover Asta’s torso. Xander slipped his hands under Asta’s arms and started to pull her out of the rubble with all his might. Inch by inch, he pulled Asta out until her whole body was free.
Xander laid Asta flat on the ground and searched for her pulse one more time. This time he found it and he let out a breath, feeling relieved. He lightly tapped her cheek.
XANDER: Asta? Asta?
Asta started to stir. A moment later, her eyes fluttered opened
ASTA: Xander?
XANDER: The one and only. Are you hurt?
Asta groaned in reply.
XANDER: I take that as a yes?
ASTA: No…no, I’m fine. I just have this splitting headache.
XANDER: I think it’s because of the all that dirt falling on your head.
Asta struggled to sit up. Xander held her shoulder’s and helped her upright.
ASTA: Where are we?
XANDER: I don’t know. Some sort of a cave I think.
ASTA: A cave? Tabitha said there weren’t any caves in Hades Valley.
XANDER: Not one that she could see anyway. This was under Murdock’s grave.
Asta looked around her surroundings.
ASTA: Is there a way out of here? Or are we trapped?
XANDER: I don’t know. I haven’t taken a closer look at this place. I was looking for you.
Asta slowly got to her feet.
ASTA: How did we get here anyway?
XANDER: My guess is that we dug too far. The rain made the soil even looser and it couldn’t take our weight and we fell in. And that caused a mini landslide, burying us in here.
ASTA: I was holding my shovel when I went in. We could use it to dig our way out.
XANDER: I don’t think that’s wise - not now anyway. We need to wait till the rain stops before we can dig or we will be experiencing another landslide.
ASTA: We can’t wait that long. I mean, we could run out of air and…and what about food? We could starve to death here.
XANDER: I don’t think it will take that long. You hear that sound of dripping water? Once that stops we will know that the rain has stopped.
ASTA: Ok, so what now?
XANDER: We wait I guess.
ASTA: And the talisman?
XANDER: No sign of it yet.
ASTA: Let’s find that and then find a way to get out of here.
Asta nodded to the end of the cave.
ASTA: Let’s see what’s at the end of this cave.
~BAR NONE~
Tabitha was bored. She had been standing beside David at the fuse box - which was downstairs where the alcohol cage was - holding a flashlight while he looked to see whether he could mend the whole blackout problem. It has been nearly an hour now and David had not come close to fixing the glitch.
David moved away from the box, setting aside the screwdriver. Tabitha looked at him, hopeful.
DAVID: There’s nothing wrong with the fuse box. Everything looks normal in here. It’s the main power line that’s the problem.
TABITHA: Can you fix it?
David raised an eyebrow at Tabitha.
DAVID: The main power line? Sure. Just get me access to the town’s power and I’m sure I can do something to fix it.
Tabitha smiled, embarrassed, her face growing hot.
TABITHA: Oh.
DAVID: There’s nothing we can do now. We just have to wait for the storm to stop and hope that the town’s officials are able to get the power back up. In the meantime, we’ll stay here.
TABITHA: Stay here?
DAVID: Yeah. Did you see how heavy the rain is outside? There’s no way you can go home. No one is leaving this place until the storm has stopped.
Tabitha put the flashlight away and followed David back to his office.
TABITHA: You know this gives us the perfect time to talk.
David looked at her, chuckling.
DAVID: You are not going to give up that easily are you?
TABITHA: Not a chance in hell.
David moved behind his desk and sat down. Tabitha sat down across from him.
DAVID: Ok, fine. Let’s talk. Let’s get this over and done with.
David sat back in his chair and folded his arms across his chest. Tabitha placed her hand on the desk and laced her fingers together.
TABITHA: Ok…I think I should explain with more details about what happened a week ago.
DAVID: Wait. Let me start first.
TABITHA: Ok. Sure…
David avoided her gaze and cleared his throat.
DAVID: I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately and I realized that we can’t keep secrets from each other in order for this relationship to work. We have to be honest and not run when presented with the truth. We have to accept it and move on. If we love each other, we should accept each other as we are - secrets and all.
David stopped and took in a deep breath.
DAVID: That’s all I have to say.
Tabitha smirked.
TABITHA: Are you trying to convince me or yourself?
DAVID: (smiled) Largely myself.
Tabitha looked down at her hands. She took in a deep breath and let it out.
TABITHA: So you want to know my secret huh?
DAVID: Yes. No. I mean…I don’t want to know it because I want to know it. I want to know because I think we should be honest with each other.
Tabitha stood up and started pacing the length of the office. She ran her hand through her short hair.
TABITHA: I really don’t know how to start, David.
DAVID: Funny. Seeing how you were so adamant in having this talk.
TABITHA: I guess I didn’t think it was going to be this hard.
DAVID: Just tell me, Tabby. I won’t run.
Tabitha paused her pacing and looked at David intently.
TABITHA: You won’t?
DAVID: I won’t. I want to be with you.
TABITHA: Then why does it matter if you know my secret or not?
DAVID: Because…because I want all of you - your secrets, your fears, your strengths, your weakness. I want every piece of you just like you have every inch of me. I don’t think I can be satisfied if I don’t have that from you.
TABITHA: Why? I’m not this perfect girl, you know. I’m not this person who makes your world ok or makes you happy every second of the day. I lie, I cheat, I betray. I will make you sad. And having all of me would make you see what an imperfect girl I am.
DAVID: Maybe it’s time for me to have a reality check. Maybe I need to see that you’re not this perfect girl so that I can love you even more.
Tabitha turned away from David, facing her back towards him.
TABITHA: No. It doesn’t work that way.
David cocked his head at Tabitha.
DAVID: You were never going to tell me what happened, were you? You came here to feed me another lie.
TABITHA: I…
She looked over her shoulder.
TABITHA: Don’t you trust me?
DAVID: I don’t know, Tabby. I really don’t know.
Tabitha nodded.
TABITHA: Then I think we really have a problem.
~ELEVATOR~
Pike slammed the phone against the keypad in frustration.
ANDREW: It’s not working?
PIKE: It’s dead. I think the power went out in the whole building.
Pike kicked the door of the elevator.
PIKE: Stupid, stupid building.
ANDREW: Why don’t we just wait till the elevator starts working again? The guard is still up at the seventh level so I’m sure he’ll notice that the elevator isn’t working. Besides, we got the talisman so it’s not like we are in the hurry to be anywhere.
PIKE: Sha is still out there.
ANDREW: But we are in here. If he’s targeting us, we can’t be in safer place than in a stuck elevator.
Pike flopped down onto the floor beside Andrew.
PIKE: You’re right.
The two men grew silent. Andrew started fiddling with this cell phone.
PIKE: You were pretty smart back there.
ANDREW: What?
PIKE: How you tricked the guard? That was pretty smart.
Andrew shrugged, looking not a least bit modest.
ANDREW: I try.
PIKE: You know I never really…apologized for saying that you’re a bad Watcher.
ANDREW: No, you didn’t.
PIKE: Well, I’m sorry - I shouldn’t have said that. I don’t know you that well so it wasn’t my place to say whether you’re bad at your job or not.
Andrew smiled at Pike.
ANDREW: Thanks.
PIKE: And I’m sorry again.
ANDREW: For what?
PIKE: For being such a jerk just now. I know you’re trying to help…and you did - I’m not saying that you didn’t. I just shouldn’t have snapped at you every time you said something.
ANDREW: It’s ok. I’m used to it.
PIKE: It’s not that I don’t like you - I do. It just that sometimes -
ANDREW: You wished you had someone more capable than me with you.
Pike laughed softly.
PIKE: Yeah…Ever since the whole kidnapping thing, I just don’t know whether you will be safe when we do these kinds of things. I would feel so much better if you just stayed in the house, you know - cause you’re safe there.
ANDREW: So what you’re trying to say is that you not wanting me to come get the talisman with you is your way of saying that you are concerned about me.
Pike blinked, realizing that was exactly it.
PIKE: I guess you’re right. (pause) Huh. I didn’t know I was that complex.
Andrew set his cell phone aside.
ANDREW: Why do you do this?
PIKE: Do what?
ANDREW: This thing that you do with Tabitha - the killing of vampires, demons. Why do you do it?
PIKE: It was Buffy’s fault. She got me sucked into this when she burned down the school gym.
ANDREW: But why continue to do this when you could have turned your back and pretended that it never happened?
PIKE: I guess I was far too curious for my own good. I was always searching for answers, the truth. I guess me fighting vampires is my way of searching for truth.
ANDREW: Truth to what?
PIKE: Good and evil, forces of darkness, what goes bump in the night and what bumps back. The world of monsters and vampires and hellmouths is a world I had never been in and I just wanted to know more about it.
Andrew looked thoughtful.
ANDREW: Wow. That’s deep. You are complex.
Pike grinned.
PIKE: I try.
~CAVE~
XANDER: Have I ever told you that I don’t like caves?
ASTA: No, you haven’t.
XANDER: Well, I never told anyone either because I just realized how much I don’t like caves. They are all dark and wet and…evil.
ASTA: No one likes an evil cave. But not all caves are evil. There are some that…aren’t.
XANDER: Yeah? Name me one cave you been to that isn’t evil.
ASTA: Well, there’s this cave back in New York where it’s filled with pillows.
Xander looked at Asta, his eyebrows raised skeptically.
XANDER: Pillows?
ASTA: Ok, I think I dreamt that one.
Xander did not reply. He grabbed Asta’s arm and stopped her from moving forward. He shone his torch at the wall before them. The wall prevented them from continuing forward. They had come to the end of the cave.
Asta frowned at the wall. There were carvings on it.
XANDER: Doesn’t it look familiar?
ASTA: It does.
Xander took out the piece of paper from earlier and handed it to Asta.
XANDER: Same markings as the talisman.
ASTA: The talisman must be here then.
She handed the paper back to Xander and took his flashlight. She went forward, using the light from the torch to study the wall and the drawings.
ASTA: I don’t see a place where the talisman could be.
Xander joined her and examined the wall. He spotted something suspicious.
XANDER: This square. It looks like it can be moved. See the edges?
ASTA: Yeah.
She handed the flashlight to Xander and placed both her hands in the middle of the square. She gave a push and the whole section moved inward. She gave another push but it wouldn’t budge any more.
ASTA: It’s stuck.
Xander came up to her and placed his own hands on the square.
XANDER: On three.
ASTA: Three!
The two of them pushed that section of the wall with all their strength. The section slid inward. Then the whole cave started to tremble, throwing Asta and Xander to the ground.
As quickly as the tremble had begun, it stopped a second later.
Asta and Xander exchanged quick glances before climbing to their feet.
XANDER: See anything round and shiny?
Asta went to the wall, her eyes fixed on something.
There was a hidden compartment underneath the square section of the wall. Pushing that section back exposed the compartment. In the compartment was a round metallic object. A square was craved in it and in the square was familiar foreign markings that Asta had seen on the paper that they had.
ASTA: I think I found it.
ACT 4
~BAR NONE~
Tabitha and David were sitting on the floor, side by side, leaning against the door of David’s office. They held a bottle of beer in their hands. David took a sip of his beer.
DAVID: How did we get here?
TABITHA: I’m going to say the blackout and our sudden urge for alcohol.
DAVID: That’s not what I meant.
TABITHA: I know.
DAVID: During the whole time we were going out, I never thought we would reach this place. I thought we would be together forever - as corny as it sounds.
TABITHA: It doesn’t sound corny…
DAVID: But it’s stupid to think that way. It’s naive.
TABITHA: You’re not the only one.
Tabitha took a swig from her bottle. She made a face as the alcohol burned her throat.
TABITHA: But you were right. What you said about secrets? You were right. We can’t do this if we have secrets.
DAVID: But?
TABITHA: But the reason why I’m not telling you the truth about what happened is not because I don’t want to. It’s because I can’t. I want us to be right again and I will tell you my fears and my feelings but not what happened last week.
Tabitha looked down at the bottle in her hands.
TABITHA: I will tell you one day but not now. Now until I’m sure about what I’m doing. Not until I’m ready. You just have to be patient.
Tabitha looked at David intently.
TABITHA: Can you handle that? Can you wait for me to be ready?
David tilted his head so that he was looking into her eyes. His forehead furrowed a little as he thought over her request.
TABITHA: I don’t want us to end and I know you don’t either.
DAVID: No…no, I don’t.
TABITHA: So?
He gave her a small smile. He reached out and took her hand into his. David gave her hand a squeeze.
DAVID: I’ll be waiting.
Tabitha let out a breath of relief. She leaned forward and gave David a quick kiss on the lips.
TABITHA: Thank you.
David lifted his bottle and Tabitha clinked her bottle against his. They both took a swig of their drink.
TABITHA: And as part of the new and improved me, I’ll tell you all the things that you don’t know.
DAVID: (chuckled) Ok. Let’s hear it.
TABITHA: Ok. Let’s see. I actually didn’t finish college. I dropped out because I couldn’t support myself and Pike so I took a job at a pet store. Everyone didn’t know. They thought that I worked part time while I studied.
DAVID: Why didn’t you tell anyone?
Tabitha shrugged.
TABITHA: Maybe I didn’t want them to know that I was struggling. I was Oliver’s elder sister. The elder sibling shouldn’t be the one struggling. It’s always the youngest. Oliver should be the one dropping out of school and doing drugs and going to jail while I nagged about how he’s wasting his life and tell him that he could be as successful as me if he tried hard enough. And also, my parents were waiting for me to fail so that they could swoop in and take over.
DAVID: You have never told me much about your parents.
TABITHA: Cause there’s nothing you should know. They are evil. They came by a couple of weeks ago. And you know why I didn’t tell you or invite you to meet them over dinner? Because you and Oliver are the only good things in my life and I don’t want them to come near it.
DAVID: Why not?
TABITHA: Because they are evil! They are like Midas but…but instead of turning everything they touch into gold, they turn every good thing into bad, evil things…and they turn those things against me.
DAVID: (smiled) Glad I didn’t meet them then. I don’t want to go against you.
TABITHA: (grinned) Neither do I.
Tabitha fell silent as she took a few more sips of her beer. David leaned sideways and nudged shoulders with hers.
DAVID: Well, don’t stop there - carry on.
Tabitha scowled at him.
TABITHA: You’re enjoying this are you?
DAVID: Yes. But this is good for you. It’s good to let it all out instead of keeping it all in.
TABITHA: Ok…let’s see. Oh! Remember the first time we met?
DAVID: How can I forget? I got into a fight with your brother.
TABITHA: That’s right, you did. Your usual, run of the mill bar fight.
DAVID: Yup. And you came in to stop it. You took my side.
TABITHA: Well, it wasn’t your fault. Oliver was being, well, Oliver and you were the innocent bystander, who was clueless as to what was going on.
DAVID: Good times.
TABITHA: So, anyway, I broke up the fight and I took you over to the bar to look at the cut that you got on your forehead.
DAVID: That’s right.
TABITHA: And the whole time I was patching you up, I keeping thinking how bright your blood was.
David looked at her incredulously.
DAVID: What?
TABITHA: Yes! I started thinking about what makes blood red and why do some people have brighter blood than others.
DAVID: And here I thought you were thinking about how good looking I was and hoping that I would ask you out.
TABITHA: That’s why I was surprised when you did ask me out.
DAVID: It was kinda obvious. I could see the horrified expression on your face when I asked you to dinner in return for patching me up. You know, I still have that scar from that fight.
TABITHA: A scar? You got a scar from that?
David nodded.
DAVID: Right here.
He pushed back his hair and Tabitha could see a small, light pink scar just below the hairline. She reached out and touched it.
TABITHA: Why didn’t you tell me?
DAVID: It’s just a scar - no big deal.
TABITHA: Still. You should have told me.
Tabitha took her hand away from his temple.
DAVID: You know what? I think we’ve had enough talk.
TABITHA: What do you have in mind instead?
David grinned. Tabitha returned his smile and leaned forward for a kiss. They dropped their bottles to the floor and did not care as they rolled away.
~ELEVATOR~
Pike and Andrew were now sitting across from each other having a game of thumb war. After a few more seconds of wrestling, Andrew pinned Pike’s thumb and he grinned triumphantly.
ANDREW: That’s three games in a row, Pike. Admit it - you suck at this.
Pike rolled his eyes instead of responding. He shifted so that he was propped up against the wall of the elevator. Andrew stood up and started to stretch.
PIKE: Can I ask you something?
ANDREW: Shoot.
PIKE: Why did you become a Watcher?
Andrew blinked at Pike, looking surprised. He did not expect Pike’s question.
ADNREW: Because it was the right thing to do.
PIKE: What do you mean ‘the right thing to do?
ANDREW: Before I met Xander and Buffy, I wasn’t exactly the model citizen of Sunnydale.
PIKE: I wasn’t the model citizen of Hades Valley either.
ANDREW: Were you part of an evil group that tried to kill Buffy at every chance you got?
PIKE: No…
ANDREW: Did you kill your best friend?
PIKE: No!
ANDREW: Then I win.
PIKE: So, you becoming a Watcher…
Andrew nodded solemnly.
ANDREW: Is me atoning for my sins.
PIKE: But why a Watcher? You could always be like me - killing demons on your own time.
ANDREW: I could but I’m not good at the whole fighting thing. I’m good with books, research and demonology. Fighting is not my thing so I couldn’t do what you do.
PIKE: Do you enjoy it?
ANDREW: I do. It makes me feel happier about myself. Before this, I hated all the things I did - I hated myself for it. But not anymore.
Pike nodded, looking thoughtful.
ANDREW: Why all these questions anyway?
PIKE: I’m just curious…and getting to know you a bit better. I don’t think we would have this conversation if we were back home.
Andrew sat back down beside Pike.
ANDREW: That’s true. It’s nice to know more about the people you’re fighting the good fight with.
PIKE: So does being a Watcher make what you did more…forgivable?
Andrew looked thoughtful.
ANDREW: No. Nothing will ever make what I did forgivable. But…it’s good to know that I tried.
Pike leaned his head against the wall of the elevator. He chuckled softly.
PIKE: Never would I have thought I’d be stuck in an elevator with you.
Andrew grinned.
ANDREW: Neither did I.
PIKE: But for what it’s worth, I don’t think I would have brought Tabitha along if I knew we were going to be here.
ANDREW: Why not?
PIKE: Cause Tabitha’s my sister and I only can stand her for a few hours.
Andrew laughed.
ANDREW: I have a brother so I know what you mean.
PIKE: You have a brother? Was he…
ANDREW: Evil? Yeah. He let loose a bunch of hellhounds during his high school prom. I think it’s because of him I went down the path of darkness. (pause) I hate him.
PIKE: Well, at least you’ve changed. Got to give you credit for that. This thing I do is now something you do.
ANDREW: (smiled) Imagine that.
The two went silent. A minute later, Andrew started humming.
PIKE: What are you humming?
ANDREW: “That thing you do.” What you said reminded me of that song.
Andrew started singing.
ANDREW: You, doin' that thing you do. Breaking my heart into a million pieces, like you always do.
Pike joined in.
PIKE: And you, don't mean to be cruel. You never even knew about the heartache. I've been goin' through.
ANDREW & PIKE: Well, I try and try to forget you girl but it's just so hard to do. Every time you do that thing you do!
~CAVE~
Asta reached into the compartment which was carved out from the wall and took out the talisman that was in it.
ASTA: Wow.
XANDER: It is really shiny.
Asta flipped the talisman around and studied it.
ASTA: Do you know how this works?
XANDER: What do you mean?
ASTA: How do we put Sha back into this?
XANDER: No, I don’t. We didn’t really read into that.
ASTA: Ok. So whatever we do, we try not to chant any spells or say anything magick like.
XANDER: Gotcha. Good thing I’m bad at those.
ASTA: Let’s go and see whether the rain has stopped.
The two of them walked back to the place where they started from. When they got back, Xander went to the place they dropped from - which was covered with dirt and rock - and glanced up. Water kept dripping from a small hole.
XANDER: It’s still raining.
ASTA: Guess we are going to be here for awhile.
XANDER: Yeah. Better get comfortable.
Asta looked around at where they were and once she found a safe spot, she flopped down. She patted the spot next to her.
ASTA: Get comfortable.
Xander smiled and took the young Slayer’s offer, sitting down beside her. Asta flipped the talisman in her hand over and over, absentmindedly studying it.
ASTA: What a day huh?
XANDER: It’s what we do.
ASTA: It’s what I do.
Xander winked at her.
XANDER: Doesn’t mean I can’t join in the fun.
Asta faced the other man and looked at him seriously.
ASTA: Can I ask you a question?
XANDER: Does it have anything to do with slaying cause I might not be the best person to ask.
ASTA: No, nothing like that.
XANDER: Ok, shoot.
ASTA: Have you ever thought about…quitting?
XANDER: Quitting this thing that we do?
ASTA: Yeah. I mean, I have thought about quitting nearly everyday. So I’m sure you thought about it some of the time. What about after your eye injury?
XANDER: Well, there were doubts…
ASTA: But?
XANDER: But I never thought about quitting.
ASTA: Even after…
XANDER: Even after.
ASTA: Wow. That’s so decent of you.
XANDER: Well, I try.
ASTA: I don’t think I would be as dedicated as you are.
XANDER: It’s still early, Asta. It’s perfectly alright to have doubts and thoughts about quitting. Buffy was the same. Just give it time and you’ll find out that being a Slayer is your gift to the world. Just like helping a Slayer is my gift to the world.
Asta looked at Xander in admiration.
ASTA: You are amazing, Xander Harris, you know that?
XANDER: You’re not bad yourself.
The two of them shared a smile. A moment later, Xander looked away, clearing his throat uncomfortably. He shifted to get more comfortable but that movement made his shoulder throb in pain. Xander winced; scrunching up his forehead in pain. He touched his shoulder and pulled his hand away. Blood coated his fingers.
Asta frowned.
ASTA: You ok?
XANDER: I’m fine.
Asta caught sight of the blood on his fingers. She sat up straight.
ASTA: Liar! You’re bleeding!
XANDER: It’s nothing.
Asta scrambled to his side and took a look at his wound with her flashlight. She handed him the talisman so she could take a closer look at his injury.
ASTA: It looks quite bad. We need to put pressure on it so you won’t bleed to death.
XANDER: I’m fine - really.
ASTA: You are now but if you leave it unattended, you’ll get infected and then you won’t be fine.
Asta took the hem of Xander’s shirt and tore it.
XANDER: Hey! That’s my good shirt.
ASTA: Really? You don’t look good in it though.
XANDER: I don’t?
Asta smiled at Xander.
ASTA: No. Blue’s more your colour not green.
Asta took the strip of ripped shirt and tied it around Xander’s shoulder.
XANDER: Ow!
ASTA: Sorry.
She tightened it some more.
XANDER: OW!
Asta shot his a cheeky smile.
ASTA: I’m really sorry.
XANDER: So not!
Asta leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. She pulled away a little and cocked her head.
ASTA: Feel better?
Xander swallowed nervously, keenly aware of how close she was.
XANDER: Erm…yeah…much better.
Before Asta could say anything else, Xander turned away from her, a light pulling his attention away. The talisman in his hand was glowing.
XANDER: What the…
Xander dropped the talisman to the ground and the two of them got to their feet.
ASTA: Is it supposed to be doing that?
XANDER: I -
The talisman shot a beam of light straight up, lighting up the whole cave. Then a naked, human man materialized before them.
XANDER: Oook. This is not good.
CUT TO BLACK
END CREDITS
Written by
Irene Issac
Story Editor
Beck Schwarz
Special Thanks To
Everyone and anyone who helped in making this episode a success
A BECK TO SHREDS production. © 2006 Irene Issac