Title:  Uncommon Distractions
Author:  Kay
Email:  kaygrr@hotmail.com
Feedback:  Please?  Because watching a grown girl cry is just pathetic.
Website:  ssfdu.tripod.com/kay/journal.htm (love for Sandy) Archive:  Just
let me know, eh? Fandom:  Buffy Pairing:  (Xander/Graham) + (Xander/Spike)
= Xander/Graham/Spike Rating:  PG-13 Disclaimer:  Mine?  What? *These*? 
No, they're Mutant Enemy's.  They just followed me home and wouldn't leave
until I played with them. Spoilers:  The last season of Buffy.  The
incident with Glory, and the ep "The Body".  (Look at me, trying to be
vague).  And that ugly rumor about Spike and a certain blond slayer? 
Never happened. Summery:  Graham and Riley are called back to Sunnydale
when the area destabilizes.  When they return, they discover there are new
factors in lives of the Scooby Gang, especially in Xander and Spike's.

Part 19/?

Graham hurriedly raked his hands through his hair, trying to make sure he
looked just plain rumpled, as opposed to debauched.  He watched Xander
frantically straighten his clothes, and even Spike was making an effort to
put himself back together, grabbing his shirt and pulling it back on. 
Graham got up and moved over to the chair, leaving Spike on the couch
alone.

There was a nervous fluttering in his stomach, which was absolutely 
ridiculous.  He'd faced down demons in the middle of darkest jungle
nights.  This was Willow; she was just a college student.  Riley's voice
floated through his mind, telling him about a threat involving a shovel,
but he did his best to ignore it.  She was Xander's friend and she had no
idea what was going on.

Xander opened the door even as Willow began to push it open, so the
redhead nearly fell into the room.  "Xander!"

"Hey, Willow."  Xander helped her to steady herself, then stood aside so
she could enter.  "What are you doing here?"

"I hadn't heard from you in a few days and I was beginning to worry." 
Tara entered the apartment right behind Willow.  "Tara baked cookies."

Tara ducked her head and held up the covered plate in her hands. 
"Chocolate chip."

Xander grinned delightedly and took the plate.  "Watch it, Wills.  I think
I may try to steal her away from you."

Willow looked around the apartment and spotted Graham and Spike
immediately. 
  She waved a little at Spike, but her brow creased as she looked at
  Graham, 
clearly trying to place him.  He decided to save her the trouble.  "Graham
Miller," he said.  "I'm a friend of Riley's."

"I thought the Initiative pulled out of Sunnydale."  Willow and Tara moved
closer together, nearly blocking his view of Xander in the kitchen.  He
saw Xander hurriedly put the plate down on the counter then return to the
living room.

"They have," Xander said.  "Mostly."

"What do you mean mostly?  And do Buffy and Giles know about this?"  She
glared suspiciously at Graham.  "What do you want with Xander?"

Graham struggled to find an answer that wouldn't violate national
security.  He was saved by the doorbell chime.  "Door," he said helpfully.

Xander shot him a warning look and opened the door.  "Riley?"

"Hey, Xander.  So you're up and around now?  You must be feeling better." 
Riley looked the dark-haired man over carefully as he walked into the
apartment.

Graham smothered a groan.  He knew Riley; not only did he want to check on
Xander and be sure that he was all right, but he was also undoubtedly here
to make sure that Spike didn't do anything to hurt Xander or Graham. 
Overprotective Riley to the rescue, only this time he was going to make
things worse.  Graham heard a muffled snort and he turned to glare at
Spike, who stared back unrepentantly even as he tried to stifle his
laughter.  How could Spike laugh at a time like this?  Meeting Willow was
like...the only thing he could come up with was meeting the in-laws.  This
was probably more important than that, and Riley had just blundered right
into the middle of it.

"Riley?"  Willow's expression was dangerous.

After making a sound suspiciously like 'eep', Riley raised one hand in a
half-hearted wave.  "Hi, Willow."

"What are you doing back here?" she demanded.

Riley took a step back.  "Give me a chance to explain."  Wow.  Riley
actually seemed afraid of Willow.  Maybe he should have paid more
attention when Riley was talking about her.

Xander jumped in to the conversation before Riley had a chance to even
start.  "They're not here as a part of the Initiative, Wills.  They just
got into town.  Spike and I ran into them and they've been helping us out
on patrols the past few nights.  They're here to help."  Riley nodded
enthusiastically.

Willow didn't relent.  "Have you seen Buffy yet?"

Riley shook his head.  "I've been working myself up to it.  I'm headed
over there next."  He met Willow's gaze firmly.  "I needed some time and
some help to get my priorities straight.  I know what's important now."

Graham was happy that Riley had finally come to a decision, and he thought
it was the right one.  Riley wasn't happy apart from Buffy.  He didn't
know if they could be happy together after what happened between them, but
they both deserved the chance to find out.

Willow stared at Riley, then nodded.  "I don't usually let people have
second chances.  You won't get another."

"I understand," Riley said.

Willow watched him for a moment and then her stern expression softened. 
"Go see her soon."

"I'm on my way.  I just wanted to stop in to check in on Xander."  He
looked over at Xander.  "You look better.  How are you feeling?"

Willow turned her gaze to Xander.  "Xander?  Are you all right?"

"Just tired," he said quickly.  "It was a late night last night and I got
knocked around a little.  You know - the usual.  Don't worry about me. 
Speaking of being tired, how are you two ladies doing?  I didn't expect to
see you up and around so soon."

Tara yawned hugely, then flushed.  "We're still feeling the effects of the
spell," she admitted.  "But it's getting better.  We're staying awake
through classes now."

"Speaking of," Willow looked down at her watch.  "We're going to be late
to our science class.  Xander, do you want us to stay?"

"No, you get to class.  I'll be fine."  Xander grinned at her.  "Go on. 
You need to get to class and I've got more babysitters here than I can
handle."  His smile slipped a little as he said the last part.  He hugged
Willow, then made a big show of hugging Tara, before closing the door
behind them as they left.

Riley watched Xander.  "Are you sure you're all right?"

Hearing Riley ask about Xander again made Graham take a closer look at the
dark-haired man.  Xander still had shadows underneath his eyes, but he
looked far better than the first time he had awoken.  There was an unhappy
twist to his mouth now, though, that hadn't been there before.  Graham
straightened up on the couch.  What was this?

Xander shrugged off Riley's concern.  "I'm fine."

"Huh.  So what's going on?"

"Ask Graham or Spike.  I don't have any idea."  Xander leaned back against
the wall and refused to look over at the men in the living room.

Graham looked over at Spike, but the vampire looked as bewildered as he
felt.  What the hell was going on?  What had happened to the good mood and
laughter they'd just shared?  He wanted to find out, but he didn't want to
get into it in front of Riley.  He caught his friend's worried glance. 
"Everything's fine, Ri," he said reassuringly.  "When are you going to go
see Buffy?"

"Today.  Now.  As soon as I leave."  Riley wasn't exactly jittery, but he
wasn't far from it.

"Ri, it's going to be fine.  You have to find out, right?"  After Riley
nodded, Graham smiled.  "You can do this.  You know how to reach me if you
need me."

"All right.  I'll catch up with you later."  Riley nodded toward Spike and
Xander, then headed out the door.

Graham hoped everything turned out all right for Riley, but right now he
was more concerned with finding out what had happened to Xander.  He
licked his lips in preparation for asking, but he never got the chance.

Xander pushed away from the wall.  "I'm tired again," he said quietly,
refusing to look away from his feet.  "I'm going back to bed.  Lock up
when you leave."  He walked into the bedroom and shut the door firmly.

Graham stared over at Spike.  "What the hell just happened?"Title: 
Uncommon Distractions Author:  Kay Email:  kaygrr@hotmail.com Feedback: 
Please?  Because watching a grown girl cry is just pathetic. Website: 
ssfdu.tripod.com/kay/journal.htm (love for Sandy) Archive:  Just let me
know, eh? Fandom:  Buffy Pairing:  (Xander/Graham) + (Xander/Spike) =
Xander/Graham/Spike Rating:  PG-13 Disclaimer:  Mine?  What? *These*?  No,
they're Mutant Enemy's.  They just followed me home and wouldn't leave
until I played with them. Spoilers:  The last season of Buffy.  The
incident with Glory, and the ep "The Body".  (Look at me, trying to be
vague).  And that ugly rumor about Spike and a certain blond slayer? 
Never happened. Summery:  Graham and Riley are called back to Sunnydale
when the area destabilizes.  When they return, they discover there are new
factors in lives of the Scooby Gang, especially in Xander and Spike's.

Part 19/?

Graham hurriedly raked his hands through his hair, trying to make sure he
looked just plain rumpled, as opposed to debauched.  He watched Xander
frantically straighten his clothes, and even Spike was making an effort to
put himself back together, grabbing his shirt and pulling it back on. 
Graham got up and moved over to the chair, leaving Spike on the couch
alone.

There was a nervous fluttering in his stomach, which was absolutely 
ridiculous.  He'd faced down demons in the middle of darkest jungle
nights.  This was Willow; she was just a college student.  Riley's voice
floated through his mind, telling him about a threat involving a shovel,
but he did his best to ignore it.  She was Xander's friend and she had no
idea what was going on.

Xander opened the door even as Willow began to push it open, so the
redhead nearly fell into the room.  "Xander!"

"Hey, Willow."  Xander helped her to steady herself, then stood aside so
she could enter.  "What are you doing here?"

"I hadn't heard from you in a few days and I was beginning to worry." 
Tara entered the apartment right behind Willow.  "Tara baked cookies."

Tara ducked her head and held up the covered plate in her hands. 
"Chocolate chip."

Xander grinned delightedly and took the plate.  "Watch it, Wills.  I think
I may try to steal her away from you."

Willow looked around the apartment and spotted Graham and Spike
immediately. 
  She waved a little at Spike, but her brow creased as she looked at
  Graham, 
clearly trying to place him.  He decided to save her the trouble.  "Graham
Miller," he said.  "I'm a friend of Riley's."

"I thought the Initiative pulled out of Sunnydale."  Willow and Tara moved
closer together, nearly blocking his view of Xander in the kitchen.  He
saw Xander hurriedly put the plate down on the counter then return to the
living room.

"They have," Xander said.  "Mostly."

"What do you mean mostly?  And do Buffy and Giles know about this?"  She
glared suspiciously at Graham.  "What do you want with Xander?"

Graham struggled to find an answer that wouldn't violate national
security.  He was saved by the doorbell chime.  "Door," he said helpfully.

Xander shot him a warning look and opened the door.  "Riley?"

"Hey, Xander.  So you're up and around now?  You must be feeling better." 
Riley looked the dark-haired man over carefully as he walked into the
apartment.

Graham smothered a groan.  He knew Riley; not only did he want to check on
Xander and be sure that he was all right, but he was also undoubtedly here
to make sure that Spike didn't do anything to hurt Xander or Graham. 
Overprotective Riley to the rescue, only this time he was going to make
things worse.  Graham heard a muffled snort and he turned to glare at
Spike, who stared back unrepentantly even as he tried to stifle his
laughter.  How could Spike laugh at a time like this?  Meeting Willow was
like...the only thing he could come up with was meeting the in-laws.  This
was probably more important than that, and Riley had just blundered right
into the middle of it.

"Riley?"  Willow's expression was dangerous.

After making a sound suspiciously like 'eep', Riley raised one hand in a
half-hearted wave.  "Hi, Willow."

"What are you doing back here?" she demanded.

Riley took a step back.  "Give me a chance to explain."  Wow.  Riley
actually seemed afraid of Willow.  Maybe he should have paid more
attention when Riley was talking about her.

Xander jumped in to the conversation before Riley had a chance to even
start.  "They're not here as a part of the Initiative, Wills.  They just
got into town.  Spike and I ran into them and they've been helping us out
on patrols the past few nights.  They're here to help."  Riley nodded
enthusiastically.

Willow didn't relent.  "Have you seen Buffy yet?"

Riley shook his head.  "I've been working myself up to it.  I'm headed
over there next."  He met Willow's gaze firmly.  "I needed some time and
some help to get my priorities straight.  I know what's important now."

Graham was happy that Riley had finally come to a decision, and he thought
it was the right one.  Riley wasn't happy apart from Buffy.  He didn't
know if they could be happy together after what happened between them, but
they both deserved the chance to find out.

Willow stared at Riley, then nodded.  "I don't usually let people have
second chances.  You won't get another."

"I understand," Riley said.

Willow watched him for a moment and then her stern expression softened. 
"Go see her soon."

"I'm on my way.  I just wanted to stop in to check in on Xander."  He
looked over at Xander.  "You look better.  How are you feeling?"

Willow turned her gaze to Xander.  "Xander?  Are you all right?"

"Just tired," he said quickly.  "It was a late night last night and I got
knocked around a little.  You know - the usual.  Don't worry about me. 
Speaking of being tired, how are you two ladies doing?  I didn't expect to
see you up and around so soon."

Tara yawned hugely, then flushed.  "We're still feeling the effects of the
spell," she admitted.  "But it's getting better.  We're staying awake
through classes now."

"Speaking of," Willow looked down at her watch.  "We're going to be late
to our science class.  Xander, do you want us to stay?"

"No, you get to class.  I'll be fine."  Xander grinned at her.  "Go on. 
You need to get to class and I've got more babysitters here than I can
handle."  His smile slipped a little as he said the last part.  He hugged
Willow, then made a big show of hugging Tara, before closing the door
behind them as they left.

Riley watched Xander.  "Are you sure you're all right?"

Hearing Riley ask about Xander again made Graham take a closer look at the
dark-haired man.  Xander still had shadows underneath his eyes, but he
looked far better than the first time he had awoken.  There was an unhappy
twist to his mouth now, though, that hadn't been there before.  Graham
straightened up on the couch.  What was this?

Xander shrugged off Riley's concern.  "I'm fine."

"Huh.  So what's going on?"

"Ask Graham or Spike.  I don't have any idea."  Xander leaned back against
the wall and refused to look over at the men in the living room.

Graham looked over at Spike, but the vampire looked as bewildered as he
felt.  What the hell was going on?  What had happened to the good mood and
laughter they'd just shared?  He wanted to find out, but he didn't want to
get into it in front of Riley.  He caught his friend's worried glance. 
"Everything's fine, Ri," he said reassuringly.  "When are you going to go
see Buffy?"

"Today.  Now.  As soon as I leave."  Riley wasn't exactly jittery, but he
wasn't far from it.

"Ri, it's going to be fine.  You have to find out, right?"  After Riley
nodded, Graham smiled.  "You can do this.  You know how to reach me if you
need me."

"All right.  I'll catch up with you later."  Riley nodded toward Spike and
Xander, then headed out the door.

Graham hoped everything turned out all right for Riley, but right now he
was more concerned with finding out what had happened to Xander.  He
licked his lips in preparation for asking, but he never got the chance.

Xander pushed away from the wall.  "I'm tired again," he said quietly,
refusing to look away from his feet.  "I'm going back to bed.  Lock up
when you leave."  He walked into the bedroom and shut the door firmly.

Graham stared over at Spike.  "What the hell just happened?"

*****