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The Strength Behind An Enemy	By : caliadragon Category: BtVS Crossovers > Misc - Slash - Male/Male Views: 6878 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Buffy, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 1-The Strength Behind An Enemy
- 2-2
- 3-3
- 4-4
- 5-5
- 6-6
- 7-7
- 8-8
- 9-9
- 10-10
- 11-11
- 6
- 7
- 8
23

Author's Notes: Due to changes in Sylum this story is now an AU, so I will be writing a new story for Xander and Willow in Sylum, it will have a different out look from the pair and several of the key players including Buffy, Tru, Harbor School, and Livia will remain in the new Sylum canon story. Thanks to everyone for your support.

In addition, since this is now AU Sylum, I will be working on finishing it and I am going to create a page for just Strength and the other AU stories I have written as well as my fic Slayer's Hope. I have plans to write at least three more stories after Strength. Thanks again for all of your feedback and support of this story.

Same Day

Alex Cabot lay on her side, her eyes closed and her body trembling in fatigue and hunger. She like the rest of her fellow captives had been starved for the last week. They were all hungry and fearing what would happen once their new masters returned to torment them. There was also the added terror of the child that had been placed in their cell. The little girl�s parents were across from them and they were constantly screaming, or had been until a few hours earlier.

One of their fellow captives, a young woman with horrendous scars who had been repeatedly tortured and raped since her arrival, had curled around the baby and growled at anyone who got to close to her. That had only been since yesterday when she was dumped in their cell. She had been whispering lovingly to the baby, promising that her light would soon bring help and that the help would destroy everyone who wanted to harm them. She had then begun to hum a gentle tune to the baby.

This had the added effect of calming everyone. For some reason that no one could name, they all believed her. They believed that whoever it was Buffy was talking about would truly bring them help. That they would be freed from the agony and fear of the last few weeks, or in some cases days.

Alex still had a hard time believing that vampires existed, or that she was one. Her life had become a never-ending nightmare since she had gone into protective custody. The only bright spot in her life had been the time she had returned to New York to testify against the Cuban psychopath that had destroyed everyone in his path. However, less than a year after her going back into custody, she received news that Elliott had been killed in the line of duty. That had hurt badly, she had loved him and not being able to go to his funeral had caused her to spiral into a deep depression.

Her handlers had decided to move her again and she had ended up in Miami, she had only been here for three weeks and had taken a job as a CPA for a local restaurant, she enjoyed working for the Halliwell sisters, both of whom had moved to Miami after the death of their older sister the year before. Phoebe, the younger sister, was a college student. The night that they were taken all three women and one last customer had been in the restaurant.

Alex had at first thought they were there for her alone, since the men that attacked the restaurant were members of the Cuban gang that she had fought against before going under cover. However, seconds after the members of Mala Noche stormed the restaurant three other men had entered, along with two women. Alex had felt terror fill her at the sight of the five people walking in behind the gang members. There had been an air of menace around them and one of the women was obviously insane. You could see it just by looking at her.

As one the five had attacked her, Piper, Phoebe, and the patron, whose name was George O�Malley, they had tried to fight back, but in the end it was useless. The five were easily taken, the restaurant was burned to the ground and they were now vampires, slaves and playthings for their keepers. Alex could only hope that they were saved soon.

Two Hours after meeting�

Anyone with mechanical talent had been recruited to help build weapons. Willow and the clan members still at the Manor were also building weapons that would be delivered by Gabriel when he came to Miami to help hunt for Buffy�s kidnappers. Inara, Jayne�s sister-in-law, had arrived and had immediately gone to the lab to begin programming various weapons with Xander and the group that had been pulled in.

Between the different groups they had managed to start building a wide array of weapons, some of which Xander and Willow had invented as they spoke. The pair�s ability to create and design weapons had equally thrilled and unnerved many of those that were gathering for the battle.

Willow had been in contact with several of their suppliers and had come up with enough venom to build a scorpion stick for each of the fighters; he had also built two extra, but refused to say why. Willow had merely smirked and gone back to work when they asked her if she knew. No amount of questioning would get her to answer and no one was stupid enough to try to browbeat Xander into telling them what they were for. He had also built two guns. One shot venomous bullets and another that shot sedatives; again, he refused to say why.

Each member of the strike teams was given a dampener, either in a weapon or as a piece of jewelry that could not be removed unless you knew where the latching mechanism was. Xander had Lara and several others working with Inara on getting the programming into each new piece of tech. Xander had also built two more zappers and had given them to Speed, letting him decide where they and who they would go to.

In the middle of all of the building Xander would pause periodically and tilt his head, as though he were listening to something. When he did, this Willow would pause and look towards the screen. They would then look at one another and return to their work. Elliot and the others were worried, had then seen something more than they had been told?

Xander had been seen in deep conversation with Alexx and Calleigh. Both women would grab their cell phones afterward and disappear. When they returned Xander would look at them and smile and then go back to work again.

Half the weapons were built and the entire tech was done, those who had been doing tech work had turned to building weapons. Elliot and Riddick had come back into the lab to check on their mates. Elliot had been watching Xander for a few minutes when he noticed that Xander had stopped working on the weapon in front of him.

He moved so that he could see the boy�s face and swore violently, having come to recognize when Xander was having a vision. �Eric, Xander!� Elliot yelled, causing the other man to spin and grab Xander as he collapsed into the vision.

Everyone stopped what they were doing to see what was happening with Xander. Willow had also stopped working, but had not collapsed, much to Giles relief. She frowned and tried to reach Xander within their link, but found herself blocked. Whatever it was Xander was seeing she couldn�t reach. After a few minutes, the vision ended and Xander opened his eyes for a few minutes, and then to their astonishment he jumped to his feet and ran from the lab.

Elliot, Eric, and Riddick followed him. When they found him, he was standing in front of Horatio and Speed, both of whom were looking at him in confusion. Xander wasn�t speaking to them he was looking around the room and had a contemplative look on his face.

�Xander?� Elliot called hesitantly.

�It�s too dark, she won�t like it here. We have to make it lighter, tonight. It has to be done tonight.� Xander mumbled before turning and leaving the room talking to him-self about colors and light.

He walked out of the lab all together and across the courtyard to the main hall. When he walked in Tru and Nikko looked up, wondering what was going on. The noticed the five men following him and the confusion on their faces. The two shared a look and followed them.

Xander led them to another room; this one was unoccupied and extremely large. �Needs a better bed, more lights, pretties on the wall.� He muttered to himself. He then walked into the bathroom and muttered more about what was needed for the room.

�Xander what is going on?� Eric asked baffled.

Xander looked up at him and blinked. �The rooms. I have to get them ready. They�re not pretty enough, need better beds and more light. They�re coming tomorrow, have to get the rooms ready by then. Need to go talk to Armando and get the new stuff in tonight.� Xander told him as though that made sense.

�Who�s coming?� Elliot asked.

�Miying and Celia, they�re coming and we have to make things comfortable for them. Celia is still healing so she needs a better bed, Miyang is hurt and having babies, we have to make her safe and she doesn�t like the dark. Have to tell Shogun she is here.� Xander said his eyes innocent and earnest. Horatio made a soft sound, while Speed stared.

�Celia Gonzales?� Eric asked softly.

�Yes, this is her home now. We just have to show her how special we think she is. You�ll help me won�t you?� Xander asked looking at all of them earnestly.

�Shogun?� Speed asked shaken.

�Miying is Chosen, but she�s hurting, having babies. Have to tell them she�s safe.� Xander said urgently. �You�ll help me make everything pretty won�t you?� he asked again, earnestly.

�Of course, why don�t you go back to the lab and we�ll get things safe and pretty for them.� Tru said gently.

Xander�s smile was blinding in its intensity and shocked everyone. None of them had ever seen that smile from Xander before. After hugging Tru for taking control of the situation, Xander turned on his heel and ran back to the lab to get his work done. After he had gone, Tru asked the question that most everyone was wondering about, especially since they had seen Horatio�s reaction to her name. Several people had followed the group to the room. �Who is Celia Gonzales?� Tru asked curiously.

Horatio looked to Speed, who smiled gently. �She was my Lady once, and in his first life she was Horatio�s wife.�

Several people gasped and looked at Horatio who smiled slightly. �What I want to know is how Xander knows her and that Miying is from Shogun.� Someone said.

Riddick snorted, �Psychic.� He said shortly, reminding everyone that Xander was a seer and saw what they often didn�t.

�Alright, but what the hell is going on with Alexx and Calleigh?� Eric asked looking to his mate and wondering if knew what the two women were up too.

�Xander gave them a dampener; I couldn�t hear what they three were planning.� Riddick said mournfully.

�That�s not good.� Speed said ominously, he had a bad feeling he wasn�t going to like what the three were coming up with.

~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~

Everyone looked up as Xander returned to the lab; he looked towards the screen and Willow. She gasped, �I won�t I promise. Though don�t you think you should tell Elliot?� she asked Xander with a serious looked. Xander looked at her wide-eyed and then over to Elliot who had followed his mate back into the lab. He raised an eyebrow when Xander blushed.

Xander looked back over at Willow, who smiled gently at him and nodded. Xander took a deep breath and sighed looking at his feet. Speed, Horatio, Eric, and Riddick had come back to the lab and were looking at the suddenly nervous Xander. He looked over at Calleigh and Alexx who were sitting nearby with Peter, Alexx�s husband.

�I�mgoingontheraidtohelpfreeBuffyandtheotherscauseshewillonlyattackyou!� Xander blurted out in one long sentence.

Willow burst into laughter, and Xander turned to glare at her. �Try that again, with spacing!� Willow said with a snicker. Xander stuck his tongue out at her and turned to face Elliot and the others who all looked confused.

Xander took a deep breath again and spoke slowly this time. �I said I�m going on the raid to help free Buffy and the others because she will only attack you.�

At first there was no sound, then it everyone started talking at once. Xander rocked back on his heels under the volume of the denials coming from around him. He sighed and shook his head. �Enough, one at a time!� Speed said irritated by the noise.

�It�s too dangerous, you are not going.� Riddick said in a tone that broke no argument.

To their shock Xander lifted his chin and said, �I�m going, Buffy needs me.� His voice was firm and his eyes clear. If they hadn�t been able to smell his fear they would never have known how nervous he was.

�We�re going too.� Calleigh said making everyone turn to face her. Alexx nodded to let them know she was the other part of the �we� Calleigh was talking about.

�What?� Speed exploded.

�Have the three of you gone nuts? There is no way!� Riddick exploded before Speed could say anything else.

�Watch it.� Alexx said with narrowed eyes. Riddick and Speed suddenly remember exactly who they were talking too.

�If you�re going then so am I,� Peter said calmly, secretly amused by the fact that both vampires backed down to Alexx, but then who didn�t back down to her?

�But honey�� Alexx trailed off as Peter kissed her.

�We�re in this together.� He told her gently. In the background, Speed threw his hands up in the air. His parents were determined; he turned to look at Riddick and was pleased to say he wasn�t the only one looking frazzled by the announcement. Of course, Bosco was glaring at Calleigh and she was just smiling in response. Well if you could call, a smirk and the cool look on her face a smile.

�Willow, tell him this is crazy!� Riddick yelled to Willow who laughed at him.

�Riddick, help or get out of the way.� Was all Willow said, Xander smiled up at her in response.

�Whatta ya mean help or get out of the way?� Ridd8ick demanded.

�I know you�re not deaf! Help protect him or stand back and watch him go without you.� Willow said in a growl. �He�s helping get over it!�

Riddick growled back and spun to face Elliot, only to find the younger vampire in front of Xander. Riddick smirked thinking he would have someone else to make the kid see reason. He swore and threw his hands up at Elliot�s words.

�Are you sure you need to do this?� Elliot asked. Xander looked him in the eye and nodded. �Alright, then your going, but you do what your told and you stay at the back. Do you think you could carry a weapon?� Xander shook his head, though he was smiling shyly at Elliot. Elliot gently reached out and placed a hand on Xander�s shoulder. He was pleased when Xander leaned forward and shyly hugged him.

�What about you Alexx, Peter?� Speed asked, irritated, but resigned to the fact that they were coming.

�I�ve already made them weapons.� Xander said as he pulled away from Elliot and made his way over to the weapon�s case. He pulled out the guns and the Scorpion Sticks that he had made. �The guns are Calleigh�s and the Scorpion sticks are Alexx and Peter�s.�

�You knew he would be going?� Alexx asked amused, Xander blushed and nodded.

�Is there anything else we should be aware of?� Horatio asked he had been quiet through the earlier exchange. Something had told him that they would be going whether he liked it or not.

Xander looked at Horatio and then his eyes faded out. Elliot panicked and reached out and placed a hand on Xander�s arm. He knew that whenever he saw Xander have a vision he would remember those terrifying moments when Xander connected to Willow and Buffy. Xander came back to himself and looked over at Speed. �You need to call Loch Na, Garth�s grandson Justice is one of those being held by Livia. Max Evan�s descendant Isabel is also being held at the warehouse.� Xander frowned again, �There are many children there and pregnant women. I think they are selling babies and young people to use as breeders. Some are turned, forced turnings, some haven�t been turned yet. Most are from overseas or are runaways.�

Speed swore he really hated that bitch Livia.

24

Xander shuddered in anguish and shook his head to try to dispel the terror and pain that was floating through his link to Buffy. He saw the older man as the vampire holding him turned him; it was the same one that had turned the parents of the baby that Buffy was protecting. A name echoed through his head and a sense of foreboding came over him. He saw a flash of an older man and knew that the vampire that had turned Buffy�s friend was going to be dead before the end of the next day.
He walked out of the lab and went to find Riddick since Horatio and the others had had to go to work and Elliot had gone with them.

~@~@~@~@~@~@~

Evan cringed as he was thrown roughly to the ground and kicked in the stomach; he rolled on his back gasping with pain. He had been in Miami for barely six hours before he had been grabbed leaving Buffy�s house. He had been on his way to the compound that Buffy had told him about the day before she disappeared. Unfortunately, a pair of vampires had grabbed him. They had killed Yvette while Evan had been helpless to save her.

They had then thrown him in their trunk and taken off. That was several hours ago and so far he had been beaten and taunted with the fact that the bitch in charge had turned Buffy. He moaned again as he was lifted by his throat and held aloft. He looked around him as he heard someone scream in rage, and then a baby cry.

His eyes widened at the sight before him. Buffy was lying in a cage. Near her were several other people. Buffy was holding a baby in her arms and looking at him in anguish. �Nooooo!� she screamed as the man holding him lunged forward, biting him. Evan lifted a hand to her, trying to show he cared, but it was too late for reassurance. His eyes closed and he faded away into darkness.

The next time he opened his eyes, he was in a cage and in a great deal of pain. A young woman was holding his head in her lap. �You�ve been turned.� She said gently. Evan closed his eyes again and rode through his death. The only clear thought was that Nash was going to be pissed.

~@~@~@~@~@~@~

�Nash man, Evan has barely been gone a few hours and you are going to Miami? At least let me go with you.� Joe argued.

�Evan�s in trouble Joe, I feel it I�ve got to go, but you need to stay here. Hell Bubba, what will Ingrid say if you take off to Miami with me?� Nash asked as he made his way through the streets to the airport.

�When I explain that it is over Evan missing she�ll understand. Nash we have to make a phone call before we go. I have a contact in Miami that can help us find out if Evan is okay.� Joe said trying to calm his friend. Nash didn�t know the full truth of what Evan may have walked into. Joe did, for that matter so did Ingrid.

�Fine, but make it fast. I have a bad feeling if we don�t get to Evan soon we won�t get to him at all.� Nash said grimly.

~@~@~@~@~@~@~

�Temple Nocturne, how may I direct your call?� Storm asked calmly. Her mate had been called to the new compound that Riddick�s child owned and that the clan had been working out of. Something had happened to one of his descendants.

�Storm its Joe Dominguez I need to speak to Jace please?� Joe said calmly. He was nervous and like Nash, he had a bad feeling that Evan was in a great deal of trouble.

�One minute Joe,� Storm said, surprised that Joe would call from San Francisco. �Jace, Joe Dominguez is on the phone.� She told her employer.

Jace raised an eyebrow, but reached over and took the phone from her. Jace knew Joe and Evan from a case they had worked for a couple of Jace�s friends and a fellow Dom that had been abused by a homophobic asshole just a year before. Jace had also found out that Joe was married to a chosen from Mot and that Evan knew and had hunted rogues with Buffy.

�Joseph, to what do I owe this call?� Jace asked in a near purr.

�Evan is in Miami looking for Buffy, Nash and I think he is in trouble.� Joe said coming quickly to the point.

Jace had also met Nash and found him to be a very fascinating man. Jace had wanted to turn him, but had decided against it, simply because he was sure that Nash would not have agreed. �That is bad news darling, Buffy has been taken by a very bad woman and her minions. I need to make some calls but I will get back to you in a few minutes, head this way, but be careful. Do not ask any questions about Buffy or Evan until you have heard from me.� Jace ordered.

�Agreed and thanks,� Joe said.

�Don�t thank me yet dear, I may not have the answers you are hoping for,� Jace said grimly before hanging up the phone.

Joe turned to look at Nash and sighed, it looked as though his friend would be learning a great deal today. He just hoped that Nash reacted the way he did with everything else weird that had been thrown at them over the years.

Joe decided to call Ingrid and tell her what was going on before he told Nash the truth. When his wife answered Joe took a deep breath and started talking. �Ingrid, Nash and I have to go to Miami.� He said calmly.

�Why, what is going on Joe?� Ingrid asked worried about the tone Joe had used.

�Evan is out hunting Buffy Summers, she�s disappeared and Nash has a bad feeling that Evan is in trouble.� Joe told her.

Ingrid�s eyes widened. �Is this clan related?� she asked softly, worried.

�Maybe, I called Jace and he knew that Buffy had been taken by a very bad woman. He told me not to ask any questions about either of them until we get there and have talked to him.� Joe answered. He noticed the looks that Nash kept sending his way. Damn the man and his intuition.

�Be careful Joe, come home to me.� She said, knowing that this could potentially be more dangerous than his job.

�I will,� Joe promised and hung up.

�What aren�t you telling Bubba?� Nash demanded as he cut through traffic.

�I have a story for you and I need you to listen and believe me. What I am going to tell you is the truth.� Joe said dead serious.

�Oh hell, I�m listening.� Nash said, extremely worried.

~@~@~@~@~@~

Jace cursed under his breath and dialed Speed�s number and prayed that they had grabbed Evan up for his protection. At the same time Speed and Elliot had been called out on a case, even though they did not want to leave the compound they had work to do. When they reached the house Alexx was already there, having left earlier to answer a call, which turned out to be this one.

When they walked in Speed froze at the sight that greeted him, he recognized the pictures on the mantle and had a sick feeling in his stomach. He walked into the parlor and saw Alexx crouched down beside the body of a woman in her mid-thirties. Speed knew whom she was without having to be told. �Yvette,� he said softly. Speed had met the woman when she was still practically a child and had come to work for the Summers family at age 17, after the murder of Joyce, Hank, and Dawn Yvette was the only one of the household servants to stay, everyone else had gone with the decision to banish Buffy. Now she was dead.

�We found signs of a struggle in the next room and an I.D. Detective Evan Cortez.� Horatio said from the next room, Speed stepped to the left and saw his mate standing in the dinning room there was a painting on the wall, a painting of Buffy�s family. Horatio was staring at the painting and Speed could feel sorrow and anger as his mate looked at what remained of a once happy and vibrant family.

Speed looked down as his phone rang and was surprised to see Jace�s number come up. �Speedle.� He said as he answered.

�Evan Cortez, do you have him?� Jace asked almost urgently.

�No why?� Speed asked wondering why Jace would call him.

�Nash Bridges is coming to look for him and Buffy both. Nash is much like your Horatio Caine; they both have the same reputation. Joseph, Nash�s partner is married to a chosen from Mot; they are on their way here.� Jace answered succinctly.

�Cortez has been taken by someone, probably who you are thinking took him.� Speed answered carefully.

Jace cursed again, �I�ll send them to your new compound; have one of Riddick�s darlings pick them up won�t you? I�ll call you back with the flight time.�

�Alright,� Speed said, also cursing what was happening. Fate just seemed to be working against them in this case.

He hung up with Jace only to have the phone ring again, this time it was Riddick. �Speedle,� he answered.

�We�ve got a problem, Xander had another vision.� Riddick said shortly, these visions were really beginning to piss him off, he couldn�t wait til he could go and kill something.

�What now?� Speed asked with a groan. Elliot and Horatio had both turned to face him when Riddick began to talk. At the mention of another vision, Elliot tensed up and looked worried.

�Some cop tied to Buffy has been turned, what�s worse his boss is on the way here and Xander has seen him on the raid with us.� Riddick told him gruffly.

Speed growled, �That goes with what we know here, tell Angel that Yvette is dead. They took Cortez from Buffy�s house. They must have had it under surveillance. We�ll be back as soon as we can, I�m going to be calling back with flight times for Bridges and his partner, I need you or one of the others to meet them at the airport and take them to the compound.�

�Alright,� Riddick said before hanging up the phone. He looked over at Xander, saw that his youngest child had stopped working on weapons and was now focused on something else; Willow was watching him in the background and gasped out in surprise, Xander turned to look at her, and nodded.

�Okay� okay,� Willow squeaked out.

�Okay what?� Eric asked eyeing the pair.

�Nothing,� she said with a bright smile before turning and looking at Xander again. Xander smiled in response.

Riddick and Eric shared a look, both of them thinking that the pair was up to something. Riddick shrugged it off; if it didn�t blow up he wasn�t going to worry about it right now.

~~~~~~~

Nash had pulled the Cuda over and stared at Joe for several minutes. �I believe you. I don�t know why I believe you, but I do. This is a hellova a thing to find out, but hell, I�ve found out stranger. Let�s go get Evan and Buffy and kill whatever or whoever it is that has them.�

Joe grinned slightly, that was just the reaction he was hoping for. He almost felt sorry for the vampires that had taken Evan, almost, but not quite.

I have added two more fandoms and several characters from Anita Blake. Edward and his mate, Raphael are from AB. The other fandoms are tied in with the new school that Bev, Rayna, and I have created. I also added Nash Bridges since I love Evan Cortez and have made him Buffy's ally. He will be showing up in Miami and getting himself into trouble in no time at all.

This chapter written with Cordy, thanks for the help!
25

"What's got your shorts in a knot, man?" Joe muttered. He knew damn well the two Vampire women walking ahead of him and Nash could hear every word, but there was no reason to let Nash know that just yet.

Nash turned to look at Joe and winced, "I am having a crisis of morality here Bubba. Those two are young enough to be my daughters, but they are just the kind of women I go for."

Joe snickered and grinned, this was too good to pass up. "Nash man, have you now shame?"

Nash narrowed his eyes at his friend and then turned to look at the two young women. There was something going on here. Without looking back at the two humans, or even glancing at each other, the twins smirked and put a little more sway in their walk.

"Something you aren't sharing, bubba?" Nash grumbled. His eyes narrowed on Joe, who smirked wickedly in response.

Joe chuckled wickedly, "Their older than you man, their vampires."

Nash blinked for a moment and then grinned widely. "I think I'm going to like this vampire stuff, once we kill who has taken Evan and Buffy that is." He said ending on a serious note and he would kill who had taken Evan and that broken little girl.

Joe shook his head with a grin. He really couldn't wait until Nash met the twins' 'Daddy'. However, the smile faded at Nash's words. His worry for them increased, especially since the twins were the ones who picked them up.

"Here's the car," one twin announced as they approached a massive black Hummer, not one of the civilian versions, or the one used by the Miami Dade Police Department. It was a matte black military grade HumVee.

The two San Francisco cops stared at the vehicle then at the twins.

"How the hell did you get one of these?" Nash demanded.

The other twin smirked. "It was a gift for our Centennial."

"Lara and Indy got it for us," the first twin agreed.

Nash grinned, "It's very nice, but I think I'll stick with my Cuda."

Joe chuckled and nodded to Nash; the two men opened the doors for the women and then climbed into the back of the car. Nash gave Jack a flirty smile when she turned to look back at him, but said nothing.

Silence reigned on the way to the compound. Nash had questions, but he had a feeling he needed to wait until they got to their destination to get the answers. As he drove he thought of Evan and worried, the boy was his son in all the ways that mattered, having that same son missing and maybe dead made him very angry.

Nash knew how to keep secrets, hell he had been keeping one for years. He spent nearly 10 years undercover in Miami and he knew coming back here could cause many problems, but that was just to damn bad. Evan and Buffy needed him and if it meant breaking his own rules about coming back here, then that is what he would do.

He could only hope that he didn't run into anyone that knew him as Crockett, he didn't want to remember that life or the lies that he had lived with for years, that he was still living with now. Not even Joe knew of the years that he had spent under cover in Miami, he had lived a duel life for the early years of Cassidy's life. One of the main reasons his marriage to Lisa failed was because of the life he lived undercover and the fact that as much as he loved her, he could never really let her close to him. The years of living a duel life as two different people, both of whom were doing a dangerous job, made Nash a moody bastard. Then to make matters worse there was a man living that same life, a man that was now a Captain of a Vice unit himself, one that Nash hoped he didn't run into while in Miami. It would be too hard to explain things to Joe.

The two men never spoke of the life they had dueled by necessity; he never wanted to talk of it again. However, Sonny Crockett owed him a lot, and if he had to call in those favors to help Buffy and Evan then that is what he would do.

Jack triggered the gate of the compound as they approached. Kyra never slowed down as she passed through the only barely wide enough opening and Jack clicked the remote again just as they cleared the gate, causing it to all-but slam shut behind them.
"Gentlemen, welcome to Sylum's Miami base of operations," Kyra said as she sent the massive vehicle into a skidding stop parallel to one of the smaller Hummers used by the Miami Dade crime lab.
Jack stepped out. "Check your guns at the door. No offense."
"But we don't know you," Kyra continued seamlessly.
"And our family is in here," Jack finished.
Two pairs of suddenly flat ice blue eyes locked on the two San Francisco cops. "Our son is in here," they said together

Nash grinned at the startled look on Joe's face and felt desire trickle threw his fear for the Buffy and Evan. He nodded his acceptance though and turned to look at the women, "I will." He said in agreement.
Joe nodded and agreed as well. Both men could understand the need to protect your family and child, though Nash did wonder how old the son was since Joe said the women were older than him.
He followed Joe out of the vehicle and was startled when the door suddenly flew open and a young dark haired teen ran out the door. On his heels were two men, one with a scruffy beard and the other with sunglasses and a baldhead. The boy ran and stopped in front of him. The green eyes looked at him in sorrow. "Evan's been turned along with Buffy, I've made you weapons so you can help save them. There will be others that need you when we are through." The boy gave him a shy smile, hugged both of the twins and ran back into the house.
Nash watched the boy go and frowned slightly, "Is the person who hurt him dead yet?"
"No," said the bald man calmly. "But they will be. All of them. Painfully."
Joe blinked. "You're Riddick."
"Yeah," the large man all but grunted. He turned his head toward Nash. "I'm not a big fan of warnings, but don't mess with my girls. They're broken in ways you ain't ever gonna get."
"I ain't ever intentionally hurt a lady," Nash shot back.
Riddick smirked. "That's the kicker. Those ain't ladies."
The scruffy man snorted. "Ladies don't call 'Who's the Better Killer' their favorite game."
Joe chuckled again, "The ones he likes would, and either that or they would steal you blind and try to kill you."
Nash smirked, "Very true, bubba, very true."
Riddick and Speed raised an eyebrow at that. "I happen to like a woman who can scare you, thrill you, and out think you ninety percent of the time." Nash explained. Speed let out a snort.
"Most of the women I know are that way," he drawled.
"Lucky you," Nash said sincerely. If there was one thing Nash Bridges liked it was women, all women, he respected even the bad ones.
Riddick studied the taller of the two California cops. If this guy turned out to be the Twins' mate ... yeah, he could see it. "Let's get inside."
The twins were waiting inside with a locking metal box.
"Guns," Kyra reminded the two humans.
Jack's head whipped around at the sound of a high-pitched giggle and small running feet. She sighed and traded a look with her twin. "Sugar."
"You two go on, we'll take care of this," Speed promised.
The Twins nodded curtly and ran off. Joe blinked. "What was that?"
"Sandro must have found the candy stash again," Riddick said with a smirk. "They'll be chasing him for hours."
Nash winced and Joe snickered again, "My daughter was bad about sugar highs." He said in sympathy. Nash then disarmed himself and placed his main gun and his backup gun into the box. Joe followed his lead and then followed the two vampires into the lab.
What they saw stunned them. Xander handed Riddick four guns and smiled at Nash and Joe again, he then paused and looked at Horatio, "Flash bombs?"
Horatio shook his head, "Thirty is plenty." He answered calmly, though he was smiling.
Xander nodded and walked back over to his green cabinet, Nash raised an eyebrow as the people nearest the cabinet suddenly cleared the area. He and Joe shared a look as the boy stepped to the side and opened the cabinet.
The little redhead on the screen laughed wickedly and whooped suddenly. "I love it!" she exclaimed with a wiggle, making the older man with her look afraid, for that matter so did a majority of the people in the room.
"Love what?" Horatio asked cautiously.
"Xander is going to release the color bomb; it's a bigger version of what we used on Buffy, only it has a sedative in it as well. We were thinking it could be used on bank robbers." Willow beamed at them and Lara chuckled evilly.
Danny Ocean looked at the pair wide-eyed, "Don't think about it." Riddick said suddenly. Danny gave him an innocent look, but said nothing.
Speed only shook his head. "So who helped Sandro find the candy?"
"Danny," Xander offered absently. "Although I think he might have built in Twinkie Radar." He made a show of wiping an imaginary tear from his eye. "I'm so proud." The vampires gapped at him in astonishment, while Willow giggled at their surprise. Xander was allowing a bit of his mischievous side out, it was a direct response to being linked so tightly with Willow, not that any of the watching vampires realized this.
"You know your sisters are going to spend the rest of the day trying to calm him down, right?" Riddick asked. He sounded amused.
Xander shrugged. "It'll keep their minds off what's coming."
Riddick nodded at that and was pleased to see that his youngest child had not regressed into himself. Actually, since the last two visions, Xander had been speaking more and seemed less tense. Riddick wondered what was going on, but like his two eldest children, he knew Xander would tell him in good time.
Xander was putting together a small clear gun, "Is that a squirt gun?" Speed asked him. Xander looked at him and nodded shyly.
"It's for the dye. I figured it could be put into the bombs for the area that has human guards and in a squirt gun for the ones that are among the slaves and prisoners. That is, if you want to use it?" Xander said nervously, looking back down at his hands and shifting slightly.
"I want to!" Lara and Blade said in unison. It was a good idea and one Blade could see being used a number of ways. Riddick raised an eyebrow and looked over to where Horatio was standing.

"I think it is a good idea Xander, it is non-toxic?" Horatio asked.

Xander looked up at him and nodded. "I've been thinking about it for awhile, me and Willow learned that the ink packs they put in to stop bank robbers have toxic dyes in them and with the way some lawyers are it would give them a chance to sue the bank or the manufacturer for having toxic substances. So we decided to make them." He told Horatio with a smile. Willow giggled in the background.

"You and Willow are a bit scary, I like that about you." Jayne said with a smirk for his little brother. Xander blushed and Willow laughed wickedly.
AN: This story will hopefully go as quick now that I have a new laptop and have decided to work on it exclusively. This takes place in the Sylum universe. In it Buffy is a human woman at war with vampires. Xander and Willow are real, something that no one, vampires included, knows. Xander and Willow are the total opposite of the characters on the show. Xander is a quiet, emotionally damaged teenager who is borderline agoraphobic and only talks to Willow. For years they have worked as Buffy's weapon crafters and researchers never knowing she was lying to them about the vampires' true nature.

Elliot Stabler was turned three years earlier by Munch, but had to transfer to the New Orleans police force and lives at the Manor. Spike is a rogue who rarely works with anyone but the main council his sire Angel, and Riddick.

Beta: Nei'chan thanks for the input and the help.

Feedback: Caliadragon@gmail.com or on the list, if you should choose.

Archive: At Beyond Canon, Sylum, and anyone with prior permission, anyone else please ask.

Summary: The hunters have gathered and it is time to free the captive and the damaged.

Previous Parts Here: http://brain-insane.com/beyond/fic/viewstory.php?sid=2871&warning=10

26

Two days later...

It was ten at night by the time all of the weapons, hunters and plans had been made. Everyone was impatient to get started. They knew through Xander's visions that there were a number of children and pregnant women in the warehouse. Most of the men on site were young and imprisoned; the few older men on the site were weakened by hunger, drugs and beatings. The humans were a combination of young and old, male and female. This was the same with the vampires. Xander was unsure if their main targets of Livia and her Generals were still there, but at the moment their only goal was to rescue the prisoners and kill the rogue vampires there. That information was through Xander's last vision, which was six hours earlier. Riddick was certain that the visions could not compete with Xander and Willow's single minded building and creating of weapons, most of which were vetoed, but put on a list of use and sell later.
Gabriel and Giles had arrived, with their mates in tow earlier that morning. Willow and Xander had gone into a huddle and then spoke to Tru and Nikko. The four �siblings' had spoken for several minutes, no one had listened in on the conversation, as it was deemed that Tru and Nikko were not going so they had no reason to worry about what the four were planning.
Though a part of Riddick wondered about that as Tru and Nikko were a lot like Xander and Willow. It turned out that Nikko was a child genius and Tru before her death had had visions of the dead and woke with one day to find and stop that very death. She had come clean about what she did when she realized that everyone accepted Xander and his visions.
Xander had hugged her when she told him that her brother had warned and begged her not to solve his death, but by ignoring it she had ended up undead. Nikko's ability focused on treasure and he had admitted to helping his father quite a bit. His family was killed because of their connection to Lara and Indy, but also because they were looking for a relic that Livia was determined to keep to herself. Nikko had no idea what it was, but he knew that it originated in the myths of Troy and Livia's sire.
Once it was decided who was going to be going into the building to hunt and that they would all be following Maximus, it was then decided that they needed to decide on the police side of the equation. With as many officers as they had, as well as Alex Cross, and Jack Bauer they were able to say that it was a case that the feds needed back up on stopping.
Riddick had wondered if they were going to have problems with Bridges even though Dominguez had assured them that Nash would follow them in and not be any trouble. Nash had agreed to follow his team leader, which turned out to be Riddick himself. Riddick had nodded in agreement when Maximus had suggested it. He knew he wasn't the only one to notice the way the twins were eyeing the cop or how they had allowed the man near Sandro. Xander had given Riddick guns for both mortal policemen, guns like the ones he had made for Calleigh, and had then gone back to making more dampeners.
Once all of the weapons and people were gathered in the gym Maximus stood up in front of them and began to give orders. As he spoke it was easy to see the roman general that he once was. All eyes in the room were on him, the charisma and power he exuded drawing in even the most impatient among the gathered vampires. Normally gentle eyes were cold with ruthless determination. Those gathered had no doubt that under his leadership they would win.
"Listen up people, we are going in hard. There will be no quarter given to the rogues, but remember we have imprisoned vampires and mortals in the warehouse. All of our intelligence tells us that most if not all of the prisoners are injured, pregnant, or very young. Our main goal is to free the prisoners, don't allow hostages to be taken." Maximus paused here, letting the full knowledge of what kind of people they were going after sink in.
"Xander and Willow will be the ones to approach Buffy, when you see where she is being held alert their protective team as quickly as possible. Do not approach her on your own. She has been turned and will be even more unpredictable than she was as a human. Also from what we have gathered she has a child in her cell with her, a child she is protecting." Again he paused looking over at Willow and Xander, noticing they both looked at him with trust. "The pair, along with Alexx, Peter, Calleigh, Bridges, and Dominguez will be coming in from the back. The last three along with Delko, Ocean, Ryan, and Cobb will act as Willow, Xander, and the Woods' protection. The rest of us will come in from the roof and the entrances." The General paused to look at the people in question, getting nods and confident looks, they would protect the weaker among them.
"Caine, Bauer, and Cross will be the leads when we have dealt with the vampires and brought in outside help to get aide for the human prisoners. Xander has also informed me that this is a breeding factory; there are records on site of children and women who have been sold as stock and breeders. The records are in the main part of the factory, we need those records. Do not allow anyone to destroy them. Remember dust those you can and capture everyone else." Maximus gave everyone a hard smile and watched as they moved out to the waiting vehicles. He hoped that Commodus was there, he wanted to finally dust the soulless bastard.
~@~@~@~@~@~
By eleven o'clock the gathered vampires had put on and activated the dampeners that they would wear during the attack, there was a slight feeling of vertigo as the group activated the dampeners, but it quickly passed and the teams began to take position. As one the group of avengers attacked, they moved as though they had battled together centuries instead of just a single night. Groups fell to their knees or hid under the nearest surface as the vampires battled one another. Others, rogues, fled in the face of the army of warriors, only to be dusted or captured depending on how they acted when crossing the warriors flooding in the back entrance.
Coming in from the most protected area Xander and his group met very little opposition. The group followed Xander as he led them to where Buffy and the others were being held. When they were attacked Willow and the others protected Xander from those who mistakenly saw him as the weak link as he stood weaponless.
Willow was doing very well, between the training she had received with her mate and the occasional lesson she had received from Buffy, she was holding her own against the rogues. Eric, Danny, and Rusty were also showing their training as they cut a swathe through the rogues. Those that managed to get past the first defense undusted were cut down as the Woods' and the officers in the group dealt with the rogues that went at them. The guns and the scorpion sticks worked instantly and very well against the coming attackers. Jayne, who had worried about his group, was moving swiftly among them, making sure that his team and his little brother were safe from the rogues and any humans coming their way.
The rest of the teams were moving like a well oiled death machine, they surged forward dusting and decimating the vampire army left behind by Livia and her group. Maximus could tell that the vampires left behind were young and in no way prepared to deal with the powerful vampires coming after them. Most of those within the warehouse were cowards in life and foolish in death. That was not to say they were not dangerous, they were, Livia and her group seemed to prefer two types to make vampires out of, the depraved and the victimized.
The twins were death incarnate as they moved through the rogues, Kyra killing the oldest vampire still in the warehouse, a man who in life was responsible for the massacre of a village full of young children and their mothers. He had personally killed over half the women and raped most of the children before the men of the village had returned and attacked him. Bateman had found and turned him, they had returned to the village and killed everyone left alive. He had been Bateman's first child. Kyra did not know this, all she knew was that he was a rogue and deserved the dusting he received, she moved on, not even bothering to shake his dust from her body before she engaged the next rogue.
The human followers mostly surrendered or were collapsing as the fumes hit them from the knock-out gas. The prisoners huddled together watching what was happening and feeling hope for the first time since they were taken by the group of monsters. Only one group of vampires was foolish enough to try to take a prisoner and this one shocked them by attacking back. Despite being hugely pregnant, the small Asian woman was able to disarm one of her attackers and dust him; she then spun on the one to her left and stabbed him, driving him to his knees then dusting him. This provided enough of a distraction that Draco and Severus were able to get her away from them and watch as their mate dusted the remaining two vampires.
As Xander and his group moved past the woman and the three older vampires, the others were confused when she smiled wearily at Xander, who beamed at her in response. Edward, Raphael, and Gabriel came from one of the offices dragging a crying, unkept, human between them. Gabriel had what looked to be a set of keys in one hand. Xander glared at the man, but kept walking towards the back of the building.
By the time the group reached the back rooms the fighting was over, many of the fighters were disappointed that the whole battle took less than thirty minutes and that the top fighters that they had been seeking were not on the premises. Xander and Willow both broke away from their group when they got closer to where Buffy was being held. Willow pulled out a set of lock picks and handed them to Xander, who casually picked the lock on the cage, and who made the rest of the group look at him in wonder. What other skills did the pair possess?
Eric was about to caution the pair to be careful, but it was already too late. Xander had stepped into the cage with Buffy and lifted both her and the baby she was carrying up into his arms. As they left the cage Xander looked at his Dad and smiled sadly. "They all need help." He said gently looking back to the gathered people, all of whom were eyeing them with a painful combination of hope, fear, and despair.
Will Turner, Jack Sparrow, Elliott, Angel, and Vachon all hurried into the room. With them were Speed, Horatio, and Bosco. Elliott froze when he saw one of the women, a low moan of pain and shock ripped from his throat. Xander froze and looked at him guiltily. He had known that she was there and also of Speed's connection to the two sisters, but after the way everyone reacted to the knowledge of Buffy and John, he was unable to bring himself to hurt them further or distract them with the knowledge that more people they knew were now prisoners of Livia and her group.
Elliott watched his mate come past him and Elliott was unable to stop himself from gently reaching out and stroking his hand down his mate's arm. Xander gave him a weak smile, pleased and relieved that Elliott didn't seem angry with him. Xander made his way further into the room and knelt with Buffy still in his arms. Willow reached forward and gently took the baby from Buffy's arms and kissed Buffy on the forehead. Willow then turned and stood with the infant in her arms. She walked to where two young vampires were sitting, both of them watched her with a light of hope their eyes.
Blueskye took her child from the small red haired woman and sighed with. Closing her eyes she leaned back into the arms of her mate and husband, crying softly as he rocked them both in his arms.
One by one the teams moved forward leading out, or carrying out, the new vampires. Many were weakened from beatings and hunger. Elliott and Alex Cabot shared a hug, before Elliott lifted her into his arms and carried her out of the cage. They both watched as Xander placed Buffy into Will Turner's arms and stood. Elliott watched as his mate turned and taking an unneeded breath headed further into the building. Xander turned to look at him one last time before he disappeared around the corner, smiling in reassurance. Elliott knew from that look that Xander wanted him to remain with Alex, but Elliott needed to be with his mate. He kissed Alex on the forehead and assured her he would be back. He then handed her off to Edward and Raphael, who had heard their brother's mate promising to return. They knew then that he must have known her when he was human.
Nash and Joe were the last ones to leave the cage with Evan between them. Evan was not as weakened as the others, but he was also only two days old and had been fed very little blood in that time. As Nash and Joe were helping Evan the twins flanked them, not letting Nash out of their sight. They had waited to long for their mate to return to them and they weren't going to loose him now.
Horatio, Speed, the Woods', Calleigh, Eric, Riddick, Elliott, and Bosco followed after Xander, no one wanted him in the building alone. The building seemed to be secure, but there was no guarantee that it was. When they caught up to the younger vampire he was shivering in front of a closed door. As they approached him Xander opened the door and swayed, whimpering softly at the sight that greeted him. Eric, Elliott, and Riddick hurried forward, but it was Eric who reached the young man first. Eric sucked in a shocked breath and shuddered in revulsion. He reached forward to pull Xander back and out of the room, but the whimpering boy stepped further into the room and went to the bound and injured man on hanging on the wall.
When the others stepped into the room they all reacted differently, but all felt horror. Alexx wretched and nearly fell to her knees, guilt and horror warring inside her heart. Peter swallowed back his own horror and embraced his trembling and ill wife. Elliott wanted to gather Xander up and remove him from that room; sadly he had seen things like this before as a cop, some things that were worse. Speed swore virulently and violently, every language he ever learned tumbled from bloodless lips, his entire body trembled with the need to avenge his friend. Calleigh sobbed, swallowed and felt a cold sweat break out all over her body. Tears slowly slid down her cheeks and she panted for breath so that she would not become ill. Horatio turned to tempered steel, his body went rigid, his eyes began to glow and a soft vicious growling rumbled in his chest.
Horatio looked at Xander and saw his horror, compassion, and understanding. "Eric, take Xander out of here." Horatio ordered gently, the boy didn't need to see this.
"No! I... I know how to get him down without hurting him further." Xander rushed out, looking back at them with a sorrowful look, biting his lip with worry.
Elliott shuddered and he wasn't the only one. No one in that room wanted to know how Xander knew how to undo that contraption. Elliott knew one day he would ask, but not now.
Xander stepped forward and began to gently remove the skewers from John's abused flesh, he then unbuckled the straps on John's arms, legs, and torso. Eric and Riddick eased the once large man down to a sitting position. Xander continued to remove items from John's body, while doing so he spoke softly to John, crooning softly to the abused man. Once everything was removed from John's body, Riddick and Horatio lifted the damaged man and carried him from the other room, letting the others move aside and then follow them to the main room.
Most of the other vampires looked over as the group entered; many winced at the sight and smell of the damaged man. Xander stepped back over to where Buffy, Willow, Turner, Angel, Vachon, Sparrow, and Basher were all sitting. Willow stood immediately and Xander went into her arms, shivering and clinging to her. After a few minutes Xander eased away from Willow and walked back over to where he woman he smiled at earlier was sitting with two vampires he did not know, along with Severus, Harry, and Draco. When he sat in front of her the pair shared a long look before she drew Xander's head forward and he pressed his ear against her belly. Surprise filtered through the room as Xander began to purr softly.
Willow went back to her mate and hugged him tightly. "What is going on with Xander and Meiying?" Giles asked softly.
"He's listening to his twins, she's the mother." Willow said calmly, though Giles could feel a touch of humor through their link.
"Huh?" Elliott asked looking up from his place at Alex's side. He had gone to her once the group returned, he was also trying not to growl over the intimate position his mate was in.
Willow grinned at him slightly and hugged Giles to her, "She's carrying Xander's twins, not biologically of course, but still his twins.
Will Turner shook his head at that revelation, but turned his attention back to where Buffy lay in his arms. She was looking up at him in wonder, her eyes full of sadness and pain. Basher turned slightly and took a pair of blood bags from the chosen who had arrived minutes earlier and then turned back and began to feed Buffy. Tears had dried on his cheeks and he looked as devastated as Will felt. "She's coming with us. We have places in Sanctuary where we can take her to heal, don't worry, she won't be left behind for Sylum to deal with. Alex Cross can come with us, but our Imp is coming home." Angel said roughly, looking to his mate who nodded in agreement. They had lost her once; they would not loose her again.
Buffy, for her part, was awed to discover that they wanted her around that they wanted to take care of her. She felt safe and loved for the first time since she lost her family, and since she had rejected both Willow and Xander. Her mind was at peace, she was not sane, but she was at peace. Perhaps in time Buffy would be safe enough not to have to worry that she would hurt someone.
Evan was relieved to see that someone was taking care of Buffy and also relieved to see Nash and Joe. He had no idea that they knew about vampires, but he was glad to see them there and a part of him had known that Nash would save him, even if he didn't admit it until now.
Nash was glad to see that both Buffy and Evan were relatively alright and that the group had gotten to them in time. However, his attention was on the twins and how right it felt to be in their presence. Both women were what he was attracted to in a lover and he had no problem with the fact that they were parents to a little boy or that they were vampires. Joe was watching Riddick's girls and his best friend and smiled slightly, he had a feeling that Nash was about to be claimed.
Meanwhile Horatio and his close knit team were also dealing with the devastation done to a man who were once their friend and Calleigh's lover. John was ready to go, more so than he was the day he pretended to commit suicide. Calleigh sank down in front of John and with a trembling hand reached out and took John's less damaged hand in her own. A part of her wanted to be angry with him for leaving her, but another part, the part that loved him, wanted to let him go. That part made her weep.
"I'm so sorry Calleigh, I'm so sorry." He cried out weakly. She nodded and kissed his hand, cradling it to her cheek.
"Horatio," John said softly. Calleigh kissed his hand one last time and stood.
"I'll always love you," she promised. John choked out a sob.
"Good bye baby," Alexx said through her tears.
Eric and Speed patted him gently on the shoulder and stepped back away from him.
"Good bye John," Horatio choked out, angry and aching for his friend and his loss to them all. Horatio then stood and lifting the sword he had used in the battle, with one last look at his friend, he swung outward taking John's head and ending his suffering. Bosco stepped forward taking Calleigh into his arms and rocking her as she cried out her pain.
Riddick stepped forward putting his hand on his mates shoulder, "They will suffer for this and al that they have done." Riddick vowed, the others nodded, Livia and her childer would suffer for that they had cost the clan.
- 6
- 7
- 8
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The Strength Behind An Enemy