(Untitled)

[xandman]

So the plan about going to England and visiting my best gal pal? Not gonna happen. John says he needs me because we're getting everything set up to start building the school. He also made it pretty clear that if I was to get called out of town on a family emergancy or something I could kiss my job goodbye

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[xandman]

I looked up at Dawn in the rearview mirror. There was no reason to drag this out. Maybe I could give her a few more minutes, or another hour, but eventually she'd have to know. Someone would tell her.

And I really didn't want that someone to be Cordelia or Wes or Faith. Nope, the spreading of the bad news is a consolation prize to the best friend.

I pull over on the side of the road and twist in my seat so that I can see her. "Dawn..." I find that my voice is suddenly and unexplainably missing. I take a deep breath and somehow find it again. "Buffy's dead."

She stares at me for a moment before shaking her head and moving away from me. "Shut up. Xander this isn't..." She looked over at Faith. "What did you do? Brainwash him or something?"

"Dawn," I say, reaching back to touch her shoulder. "I'm sorry...I..." But I can't finish that sentence because there's nothing good enough to say. Nothing that will make things better or bring Buffy back.

"Cordelia and Wesley are going to try to re-ensoul her."

Dawn's mouth drops open and I can tell she knows we're not joking. Her eyes are watering up as she pushes herself even flatter against the door. "She's a vampire?"

[wickedslayer]

"Yeah." I said in a quiet voice and apparently that was all Dawn needed because she burst into tears. Hearing her cry was sorta makin' me feel like cryin' myself. Except I didn't have that luxury. Couldn't cry over B, and more over I knew she wouldn't want me to. I had things to do, needed to focus. Mourning Buffy would just have to wait, like everything else.

For the first time ever I sorta felt the burden. Bein' a slayer never felt like a burden before, always more like just some kickass superpowers. Now it felt like a job, like something only I could do. Which was a scary fucking concept if you ask me.

"Come on." I said just loud enough to be heard over Dawn's crying. "We should go check in with Wes and Cordy. They're at the Sunnydale Motor Inn."

[xandman]

I took a deep breath and nodded at Faith before starting up the car.

Dawn's crying made me feel sick again. This was so wrong. It never should have happened not like this.

I turned right and headed towards the motor inn. Maybe Cordy and Wes would have some answers for Dawn because I didn't have anything.