ASTA Episode 1.08 - "Perdido"

[Beck]

[shred]

TEASER

~SOMEWHERE IN HADES VALLEY~

The room was dimly lit with just a single naked light bulb overhead. It was void of any furniture expect for one chair. On the chair sat a young man with longish, honey blonde hair. He head hung down, his chin touching his chest, and his hands were tied to the back of the chair. A dark cloth blindfolded his eyes.

Someone entered the room, the heels of expensive leather shoes clicking against the concrete. The sound echoed around the room. The newcomer stepped into the light, revealing Astwihad. The man on the chair did not look up – he just stayed as he was.

ASTWIHAD: Andrew Wells.

Astwihad strolled around Andrew.

ASTWIHAD: You are Andrew right? I’d be so embarrassed if I captured the wrong guy.

Astwihad laughed at his joke. Andrew stayed silent. Astwihad continued walking around the Watcher.

ASTWIHAD: I admire you, Andrew. A lot. I mean, what you did last night was so courageous. You threw yourself right in front of that scary werewolf to help your Slayer out. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a Watcher doing that for his Slayer.

He stopped behind Andrew and placed a hand on his shoulder. Andrew didn’t flinch.

ASTWIHAD: But it didn’t work did it? Instead of helping, you got in your Slayer’s way, nearly getting her and yourself killed. Wasn’t very smart was it?

Astwihad continued walking.

ASTWIHAD: But hey, you’re a young Watcher. There’s still a lot for you to learn. You still got time.

Astwihad stopped in front of Andrew.

ASTWIHAD: But…I do wonder what the Watchers Council would think of you when they find out what an awful job you’re doing. I mean, your Slayer doesn’t know what a werewolf looks like! Isn’t that disgraceful?

Astwihad crossed his arms over his chest and smiled.

ASTWIHAD: So this brings me to my next question. If you are this bad a Watcher, if you can’t train your Slayer as well as a Watcher should, are you then important to your Slayer’s life? Or will your Slayer gladly take another Watcher to replace you?

He stepped forward and leaned towards Andrew.

ASTWIHAD: Do you think your Slayer will miss you? Even realize that you’re missing?

Astwihad uncrossed his arms and slipped his right hand into one of the pockets of his dark pants. He pulled out a long, sleek dagger that had intricate cravings on the handle. Its blade gleamed under the light as Astwihad admired it for a moment.

Andrew slowly raised his head. There was a large gash on his forehead and a trickle of blood ran down his lower lip. There were scratches on his cheeks and temple and the blindfold barely covered the large swelling of his left eye.

Astwihad grinned at Andrew. He cocked his head slightly and admired the wounds that he created. He ran his thumb along the blade of the dagger.

He then crouched down before the Watcher and brought the blade to Andrew’s right cheek and slid it across. The flesh split open and blood ran down his cheek. Andrew hissed in response.

ASTWIHAD: I wonder if your Slayer is out there searching for you. And if she is, what will she do when she finds out you are gone for good? What will she do if she finds your dead body on the street?

Astwihad stood up. Using his free hand, he ripped open Andrew’s shirt, exposing his bare chest. He pointed the blade to his chest and pressed the tip of it gently against the exposed skin.

Andrew grimaced at the contact but did not cry out in pain. He squeezed his eyes closed behind the blindfold, his forehead wrinkling in pain. Astwihad leaned forward, putting more pressure.

ASTWIHAD: Let’s find out, shall we?

Andrew screamed.


CUT TO BLACK

OPENING CREDITS ROLL

THEME SONG “Club Foot” by Kasabian


Starring:
Jewel Staite as Asta Dawson
Nicholas Brendon as Xander Harris
Tom Lenk as Andrew Wells
Cillian Murphy as Oliver Pike
Ashley Scott as Tabitha Pike

Guest Starring:
Dean Cain as Ashley/Astwihad
Tyron Leitso as David Boone
Keegan Kang as Slick

Created by Irene Issac with Beck Schwarz
Based on the hit television show “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”

END OF CREDITS

[shred]

ACT 1

~HOUSE~

Xander sighed in frustration as he hung up the phone. He joined the rest at the dining table.

TABITHA: Any luck?

XANDER: No such. Giles said that he called once to give him an update but that’s the last time he heard from Andrew. So far, calling Andrew’s cell phone and calling Giles is a bust.

PIKE: Did he say what time Andrew called?

XANDER: Around nine last night.

TABITHA: Did Giles say anything else? Besides the update, what else did Andrew talk to him about?

XANDER: Well, Giles did tell him off about being a bad Watcher.

Tabitha looked at him in surprise.

TABITHA: What? Why would he do that? Andrew has been doing a good job.

Pike and Xander avoided her gaze, not saying anything. Tabitha studied the two of them, frowning.

TABITHA: He’s not doing a good job? Am I missing something here?

PIKE: Well, I don’t know about Xander but I didn’t really think Andrew was doing as a good job as Watcher. I mean, Asta didn’t even know that she was fighting a werewolf until a kid told her.

TABITHA: (indignantly) Well, maybe they haven’t covered that chapter yet.

She turned her attention to Xander.

TABITHA: Don’t tell me you feel the same way.

Xander smiled sheepishly.

XANDER: With the whole werewolf incident, it’s hard not to.

TABITHA: Did you tell him that?

XANDER: No, I didn’t!

PIKE: Neither did I. Asta and I talked about it but that was it.

XANDER: Wait, when did you talk about it?

PIKE: Erm…yesterday morning.

XANDER: That’s the same time I saw Andrew leave the house and he didn’t look happy. Didn’t see him again until the fight.

Pike looked worried as he turned to his sister then back to Xander.

PIKE: You think he heard us?

Tabitha slapped his arm.

TABITHA: Pike!

PIKE: What?

TABITHA: This house isn’t the White House. What you say upstairs can be heard in the basement!

PIKE: So you think he heard us?

TABITHA: Well, !

Tabitha rolled her eyes and shook her head in disbelief.

TABITHA: Ok, so he disappears when he heard Asta and Pike talking about how bad of a Watcher he is. Then he reappears. Then he disappears when Giles tells him how bad of a Watcher he is. I see a pattern here.

XANDER: So, what, you’re trying to say that he ran away?

PIKE: What is he? Fifteen?

TABITHA: Guys! This is serious!

The two men ducked their head in embarrassment.

PIKE: Of course. Sorry.

XANDER: Sorry.

TABITHA: Ok. So all evidence says that maybe Andrew isn’t missing but he could have gone to be by himself for a little while. However, there still could be the possibility that something has happened to him.

The sound of the front door slamming shut was heard and a moment later, Asta came trudging into the kitchen. Xander pulled up a chair and gestured for her to sit down.

XANDER: Any sign of him?

Asta flopped down into the chair and groaned.

ASTA: No and I searched everywhere!

XANDER: Don’t worry, we’ll find him.

Asta turned to Tabitha, leaning forward.

ASTA: Is there anything you can do? A spell or something?

TABITHA: Well, I could do your typical locator spell but I need to get some ingredients from Slick.

XANDER: Pike, you and Tabitha go to Slick and get whatever you need for that locator spell. Asta and I will do another round of patrol and see if there’s any sign of Andrew.

ASTA: But I just went out there. There’s nothing.

XANDER: You’ve been out there for two hours and you’re tired. A fresh pair of eyes might see something new. (pause) Well, in my case, a fresh eye.

Tabitha stood up.

TABITHA: Sounds like a good plan to me.

PIKE: We’ll call each other if we find anything?

XANDER: We will. We’ll go around town for an hour or so and we’ll meet back here to do the spell.

PIKE: Sounds good. Let’s go.

Pike and Tabitha stood up and the siblings left the kitchen together. Xander followed them shortly after but stopped when he noticed that Asta did not budge.

XANDER: Asta?

ASTA: It’s my fault isn’t it?

XANDER: What do you mean?

Asta turned to Xander, her eyes brimming with tears.

ASTA: I yelled at him when he was trying to help me fight the werewolf. I told him not to help me. He probably got upset, thinking that I didn’t need him and he left. Something must have happened to him because this is the Hellmouth. Nothing good happens to people on the Hellmouth.

XANDER: You’re wrong. Good things do happen to people and it wasn’t your fault that he’s gone. Things have been kinda rough lately and we have all been disorientated so it’s natural for him – for us – to feel a little useless at times.

Asta shook her head, looking away from him.

ASTA: (softly) But I was even thinking of replacing him.

XANDER: (frowned) What?

ASTA: Never mind.

She stood up and headed out of the kitchen.

ASTA: Let’s go find my Watcher.


###########################################
~SLICK’S SHOP~

Pike pulled the loose brick and waited as the fake wall slide aside. He and Tabitha stepped into the secret shop and looked around for Slick. The place was not as empty as it was the last time they were here. A teenaged girl dressed in all black stood at one of the shelves, studying a jar of eyes. Her gaze flickered towards them for a moment before returning back to the glass jar.

There was also an extremely tall man at the shelf next to the Goth girl. He was dressed in a trench coat and a hat perched on top of his head. He glanced over his shoulder when Pike and Tabitha came in and it was then when Pike realized that he was not a human being but a demon.

Pike looked away quickly, not wanting to look like he was staring. Tabitha touched his arm, bringing back him back to the matter at hand.

TABITHA: I’m going to look for the ingredients for the spell. You look for Slick and ask him if he knows of a stronger locator spell that I can use.

Pike nodded and Tabitha moved towards the shelf where the tall demon was. Pike looked around the small shop before walking towards the glass counter at the other end of the place. He leaned over the counter and spotted the top of Slick’s head. He was holding a penknife and was trying to use it to cut open a packet of sage.

PIKE: Slick!

The small demon jumped, startled. The penknife slipped and the blade nicked his index finger. Slick hissed in pain and immediately put his finger into his mouth. He looked up and glared at Pike.

PIKE: (smirked) Didn’t your mom ever told you not to play with sharp knives?

SLICK: She didn’t have a chance to before I killed her.

Pike blinked, not sure how to respond. Slick burst out into laughter.

SLICK: Nah, I’m kidding. I’m a Myhaa demon – playing with knives is one of our hobbies.

Pike chuckled.

PIKE: Of course.

Slick stood up and put the penknife away.

SLICK: So, you were looking for me?

PIKE: Yup. A friend of mine is missing and I’m wondering whether you have a strong locator spell that might help us.

SLICK: Who is the friend? The one who had the demonic visions or the pirate?

PIKE: The Watcher.

SLICK: Which reminds me, he didn’t report to the Council about the journals I stole right? Because if he did, I don’t think I want to help you find him.

PIKE: (smiled) No, he didn’t.

Slick smiled brightly.

SLICK: Good.

There was silence.

PIKE: The spell?

SLIKE: Oh right! Yeah, I think I got what you need.

Slick turned to the shelf behind him and started looking through the contents on it.

SLICK: By the way, do you remember asking me to give you a list of the possible demons or people that might be responsible for giving your friend those demons visions and dream?

PIKE: Yeah, I do. What about it?

Slick took a jar off one of the top shelves and set it down on the glass counter between them.

SLICK: Well, I managed to get that list. I must say it’s a pretty long list with the very little information that I had from you guys.

PIKE: Well, with everything that we don’t have, that list is a start.

SLICK: It’s in the back. Give me a minute – I’ll go and get it.

Slick went to the end of the shelf – that was behind him – where a beaded curtain hung. He pushed the curtain aside and entered a room behind it. Just then, Tabitha came up to Pike with a bunch of stuff in her hands. She dumped them on the counter.

TABITHA: I got everything that I need. You?

PIKE: Slick said he has a spell that might help us. And he also said that he has a list that might tell us who’s responsible of Asta’s visions and demons.

TABITHA: That’s great! We’ve got progress! Yay us!

Pike looked at her oddly.

PIKE: What are you doing?

TABITHA: I’m trying to be optimistic because with everything that has been going on, it’s good that once in awhile I be a bit chipper. You think it’s working?

PIKE: Don’t ever do that again. You sound like a Teletubby on high.

TABITHA: I’ll tell Pete that.

PIKE: Pete?

TABITHA: Yeah, Pete.

She looked over her shoulder.

TABITHA: Pete!

The tall demon faced Tabitha and smiled.

TABITHA: Pike, meet Pete. Pete, this is my brother Pike.

PETE: Nice to meet you.

Pike looked lost as he gave Pete a nervous smile.

PIKE: Same here. (to Tabitha) That demon told you to be chipper?

TABITHA: He’s an empathy demon so he kinda sensed my troubled feelings. So he told me that I should be more optimistic about things or it’s going to make me a really sad person.

Pike gaped at her.

PIKE: Don’t ever go near him again.

Slick came out of the room and approached Tabitha and Pike. He slapped a thick manila folder on the counter and pushed it towards Pike.

SLICK: Here’s the list.

Pike picked up the folder and studied it in amazement.

PIKE: This is not a list. This is a book.

SLICK: Told you it’s a long list.

He gathered up the pile of things that Tabitha had picked up and started putting them in a brown paper bag.

SLICK: That should cost more than the 20 you gave me but since you’re my favourite customer and you didn’t let your Watcher friend rat me out, I’m going to let this slide.

He handed the paper bag to Tabitha.

SLICK: That, however, must be paid.

Tabitha handed Slick a fifty.

TABITHA: Keep the change, Slick. You deserve it.

SLICK: (grinned) That’s why I say you’re my favourite. Anyway, I’ve got a stronger locator spell for you folks.

He passed them the jar.

SLICK: Put that on a piece of clothing or whatever that belongs to the Watcher and let it do its magick.

Tabitha took the jar and put it into the paper bag that she had.

TABITHA: Thanks, Slick.

SLICK: Anytime.

Tabitha and Pike gathered their stuff and left the shop. Tabitha gave Pete a wave before they left.

The walked down the street towards their house, passing by Willows cemetery and then Bar None.

PIKE: Hey, how about we ask David if he has seen Andrew? He might have heard or seen something.

Tabitha did not look at her brother as she replied.

TABITHA: Maybe not.

PIKE: It wouldn’t hurt to try.

Tabitha pointed to the closed sign of the door of the bar.

TABITHA: The place is closed. He’s probably busy cleaning up after last night.

PIKE: It would be quick.

TABITHA: Well, if you want, you can go in and ask. I’ll wait out here.

Pike frowned at Tabitha.

PIKE: You want me to talk to the guy I violently dislike?

TABITHA: If you don’t want to, then don’t. No one is forcing you to talk to him.

The door of the bar swung open and David came walking out with two large, black trash bags. He stopped when he saw Pike and Tabitha in front of him. Tabitha looked away, shifting her weight from one foot to the other awkwardly.

DAVID: Hey.

PIKE: Hey, David.

DAVID: You guys want something or just admiring my door?

PIKE: Well, there is a question we need to ask you.

DAVID: What’s up?

PIKE: Have you seen one of our friends? Short, blonde –

DAVID: Almost killed me one time?

PIKE: Right. I forgot you were there.

DAVID: What a surprise. But no, haven’t seen him since that night.

He moved past them and dropped the two trash bags next to a dumpster.

DAVID: Is there anything else because I’ve got a lot of work to do.

PIKE: No, that’s it. And thanks, man.

David’s gaze flickered to Tabitha for a moment before returning to Pike. He gave him a small smile.

DAVID: Yeah…sure.

He turned and was about to walk back to the bar when Pike called out to him.

PIKE: Hey, David! Sorry but there is something else.

DAVID: Shoot.

PIKE: Am I fired?

DAVID: Do you still need the job?

PIKE: Yeah, I kinda do.

DAVID: Well, then you are.

With that, he turned and went back into the bar, the door slamming shut behind him.

PIKE: Ok. That was…fun. (to Tabitha) You ok?

TABITHA: Yeah, I’m fine. Let’s head back. Xander and Asta should be home by now.

Before Pike could ask her anything else, she walked on ahead. Pike stared after in her confusion. He followed her a minute later.

[shred]

ACT 2

~MONASTERY~

Astwihad grabbed a fistful of blond hair and yanked Andrew’s head back.

ASTWIHAD: Are you tired yet? My arm still feels pretty good – I can probably go on for another hour or so.

Andrew didn’t respond. He shook his head free and spit blood out from his mouth.

ANDREW: Get bent!

ASTWIHAD: Alright, fine. I’ll give you a 30 minute break.

He strode out of the room and into the main hall where Ahriman was. Astwihad leaned against the wall and pulled out a handkerchief from the inside pocket of his coat. He started wiping down the blade of his dagger.

AHRIMAN: You are wasting our time with the Watcher.

Astwihad looked up briefly before going back to his cleaning.

ASTWIHAD: I am? Well, I find it fun. I just want to take a look inside him. See how he’s wired. I thought I’d play with his mind a little but I feel like I’m rushing into things.

He paused his cleaning and looked worriedly at Ahriman.

ASTWIHAD: You think I would be rushing into anything?

AHRIMAN: I don’t understand why you are keeping him alive. I would have just cut off his head and concentrated on Asta.

ASTWIHAD: But where’s the fun in that? Andrew is her Watcher. There might be some information we can get from him on Asta. Information like weaknesses, strengths…you know, the usual stuff.

AHRIMAN: And what are you going to do after you have this information?

Astwihad shrugged. He folded the handkerchief neatly and pocketed it. He raised the dagger up and studied it under the dim light.

ASTWIHAD: Oh who knows. I might let him go or I might just cut his head off.

He looked at Ahriman and grinned.

ASTWIHAD: It depends on my mood really.

###########################################
~HOUSE~
~later~

TABITHA: We are back!

Tabitha and Pike went into the kitchen and dumped the stuff they had bought on the dining table.

PIKE: It looks like they are not back yet.

Tabitha looked worried.

TABITHA: Is that a good thing?

PIKE: Says the person who’s trying to be more optimistic.

Tabitha started taking the various contents out from the paper bag and set them on the table.

TABITHA: Hey! It’s hard to be optimistic with everything that has been going on. What do you want me to say? Oh, I’m sure they are fine, Oliver. They probably stopped for some supper on their way home.

PIKE: Well…that might actually work.

TABITHA: I’m going to tell you right now that I’m going suck at this optimistic thing. So if I fail miserably, I’m not going to do the whole “if first you don’t succeed, try again” thing alright?

PIKE: (chuckled) Alright.

Tabitha picked up the empty paper bag and went to the rubbish bin under the sink to toss it.

PIKE: Hey can I ask you a personal question?

TABITHA: (brightly) Sure, little brother. Go ahead and ask me a personal question that might bring more gloom into my life.

PIKE: Seriously, Tabby.

TABITHA: Seriously, Ollie. Ask me.

PIKE: Ok…did you and David break up?

Tabitha froze, averting her gaze. Without a word, she went to the refrigerator and yanked the door open. She bent down slightly and searched through the contents.

PIKE: Tabby…

Tabitha spotted what she was looking for, grabbed it and closed the door. She offered the chocolate bar to Pike.

TABITHA: Chocolate?

PIKE: You didn’t answer my question.

TABITHA: (sighed) What part of me ignoring your question did you not understand? I don’t want to talk about it.

She unwrapped the chocolate bar and took a big bite out of it.

PIKE: Oh come on, Tabby, you have to tell me.

TABITHA: Why?

PIKE: Because I asked whether I could ask you a personal question and you said yes!

TABITHA: (scowled) And that means I absolutely have to give you an answer?

PIKE: Well, yes! It’s how it works between normal, civilized people.

TABITHA: Yeah, well, we are not normal, are we?

She brushed past Pike and went into the living room. Pike didn’t fail to follow.

PIKE: He broke up with you because we trashed the bar, didn’t he?

TABITHA: Can you blame him?

PIKE: Well, did you explain to him what happened?

Tabitha flopped onto the couch and slouched into her seat. She took another bite of her chocolate.

TABITHA: What do you think?

PIKE: You didn’t. Why?

TABITHA: Because! Because for some stupid reason I thought that we were living in a perfect world where people forgive each other and forget all the wrong that we did and move on. But no! We are not living in a perfect world – quite the opposite actually. We live in a world where there are people like me who is constantly screwing up in things and –

PIKE: Hey! Where’s that optimism?

Tabitha glared at him.

TABITHA: Not funny, Oliver.

PIKE: Look, just tell me what happened.

TABITHA: (sighed) I went to talk to him, to try to explain to him what happened but without many details. He wanted the full explanation. I didn’t give it to him and he asked me to leave. He said he would call but he hasn’t.

PIKE: So you guys didn’t break up?

TABITHA: No, not yet. But I’m sure he’ll call any moment now and tell me it’s over.

PIKE: And you are going to just sit there and accept it?

TABITHA: Well what else can I do?

PIKE: You know what you can do.

Tabitha shook her head.

TABITHA: No way. That’s not an option.

PIKE: Why not?

Tabitha stared at him in shock.

TABITHA: I cannot believe you just asked me that. I’ve told you. I don’t want him involved with what we do. It’s too dangerous.

Pike sighed and sat on the coffee table in front of her.

TABITHA: You’re going to break that.

PIKE: (smirked) Don’t worry, I’m not as heavy as you.

TABITHA: (scowled) Are you trying to make me feel better? Cause it’s not working.

PIKE: Look, I don’t like David that much and I’m actually doing a small happy dance when I heard you broke up with him…

TABITHA: But…?

PIKE: But you were happy with him and I don’t want you to lose that. You love him, Tabby. Don’t give up so easily.

Tabitha smiled and leaned forward, taking Pike’s hands into hers.

TABITHA: When did you become so nice?

PIKE: I’ve always been nice.

TABITHA: (smiled) Yeah, you are.

Tabitha kissed his forehead and stood up.

TABITHA: Come on. Let’s do that spell and find Andrew.

PIKE: Aren’t we going to wait for Xander and Asta?

TABITHA: No time. If we get anything, we’ll give them a call and update them.

The two of them headed towards the dining table in the kitchen. Tabitha picked up the jar and twisted the cap open. A strong stench wafted out of the jar and both Tabitha and Pike starting gagging.

PIKE: Oh gross!

TABITHA: It smells just like your socks, Ollie!

Pike grabbed the jar and took a peek instead.

PIKE: It’s just brown goo.

TABITHA: That’s it?

PIKE: Yup.

He handed the jar back to his sister.

PIKE: And if it smells that bad, I don’t want to be touching it.

Tabitha rolled her eyes.

TABITHA: Wimp. Ok, so what did Slick say we should do with this?

PIKE: He said to put on Andrew’s clothing or anything that belonged to him.

TABITHA: Ok…do you have Andrew’s clothing?

PIKE: (frowned) Why would I be having Andrew’s clothing?

Tabitha rolled her eyes.

TABITHA: Can you get something of his at least?

PIKE: I guess I can see what I can find in the basement.

TABITHA: Good.

Pike left the kitchen, leaving Tabitha alone with the stinking jar. Tabitha took another whiff of the contents and set the jar down, pushing it far away from her.

TABITHA: Oh yeah. Very much like Oliver’s socks.

###########################################
~CEMETERY~

Asta pulled out a stake, then ducked and rolled away from the oncoming vampire. She stood up and plunged the stake deep into the vampire’s back. The vampire roared in pain and whirled around.

ASTA: Shit! Missed the heart.

XANDER: Asta!

Asta looked over where Xander was and he tossed her his own stake. She caught it and stabbed the vampire again. This time, she got the result she wanted. The vampire crumpled to dust and the stake that was in the back clattered to the ground.

XANDER: Incoming!

She looked over at Xander again and noticed two more vampires advancing towards them.

ASTA: I don’t have time for this!

Asta rushed the two vampires and started throwing punches and kicks at them. However, most were blocked and she received more hits than the vampires did. A roundhouse kick to Asta’s chest by one of the vampires and she flew a few feet away, landing hard on the ground. She pushed herself up and watched as Xander tried to take the two vampires on. He managed to stake one vampire but didn’t have the same luck with the other.

Asta scrambled to her feet and ran towards the remaining vampire. She blocked a punch, put one of hers in, blocked another and aimed a sharp kick in the middle of the vampire’s chest. The vampire stumbled back before Xander plunged his stake into the chest of the creature. The vampire exploded in a cloud of dust while Asta looked at Xander in surprise.

ASTA: What just happened?

XANDER: I staked a vampire?

ASTA: No, not that. I actually got beaten by a measly vampire. That shouldn’t be happening to me. I should take those vampires out easily by now.

XANDER: You’ve got a lot on your mind. I’m sure it’s nothing serious.

ASTA: You think I’m worrying too much about Andrew?

XANDER: I think you worry too much. Period.

ASTA: That’s not good right?

XANDER: Not particularly.

ASTA: Great! Not only did I lose my Watcher but I’m losing my skills in becoming a good Slayer. This has got to be my worst day ever.

XANDER: Let’s keep searching for Andrew.

The two of them started walking again. They were now out of the cemetery and were walking down a street.

ASTA: I don’t think walking around aimlessly like this will help us find Andrew.

XANDER: We can’t give up just yet.

ASTA: But we are not getting any closer, Xander. What am I going to do without a Watcher?

XANDER: (frowned) Is that all he is to you?

Asta blinked at Xander, slightly puzzled.

ASTA: What?

XANDER: Andrew – he’s just a Watcher to you?

ASTA: Well, yeah…

XANDER: And nothing else?

ASTA: What are you getting at?

XANDER: Nothing. I’m just surprised that you don’t consider Andrew as your friend.

ASTA: Well…he’s just…isn’t that against some code?

XANDER: What code? The Watcher’s-can’t-be-friends-with-slayers code? I think they took that down.

ASTA: I guess I never really thought about it.

XANDER: Maybe that’s why you both are not working as efficiently as you would like. Maybe you should try looking past the Watcher/Slayer relationship and start being friends.

Asta looked over at Xander, chewing on her lower lip worriedly.

ASTA: You think that would work? Would make us better in what we do?

XANDER: Doesn’t hurt to try. Buffy didn’t just have a Watcher/Slayer relationship with Giles – they had something more than that and not in an icky way. And look where they are now.

ASTA: I don’t know. I just don’t seem to connect with him.

Xander laughed.

XANDER: Trust me - you two have more in common than you both realize.

Asta and Xander continued walking down the street. They rounded a corner and found themselves in the street which led to the old monastery.

ASTA: This is useless. Hades Valley isn’t a big town. We have looked everywhere and there’s no sign of him!

Xander nodded towards the monastery.

XANDER: We haven’t checked the monastery yet.

ASTA: Why would he be in a monastery?

XANDER: The Hellmouth is there. If something like this happens, my bet is that the Hellmouth is responsible for it.

ASTA: The Hellmouth took Andrew?

XANDER: No, but whatever could have come out of the Hellmouth might. It wouldn’t hurt to look and if we don’t find anything, we’ll head home. You must be tired.

ASTA: You think?

Xander blinked at her sharp tone. Asta shook her head, looking sheepish.

ASTA: I’m sorry. I’m just so stressed out.

XANDER: You know what they say – a stressed out Slayer is a cranky Slayer.

ASTA: (smiled) Let’s go before I get even more cranky.

The two of them hurried down the street towards the monastery.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~MONASTERY~
~inside~

ASTA: This place looked the same as we left it the last time we were here.

The two of them moved around the main hall, letting their eyes roam around the room to look for anything unusual.

XANDER: You’re right. Doesn’t look like anyone has been here.

ASTA: Stay here. I’ll take a quick look around to make sure the place is empty.

XANDER: I’m a big boy, Asta. I can follow you in.

ASTA: Don’t worry, I’ll be quick.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Unfamiliar voices wafted into the room that Andrew was in. Andrew raised his head and strained his ears, trying to identify the voices. The voices got louder and for a moment he thought he could distinguish them.

He held his breath and listened carefully. Then he heard it. The unmistakable voice of his Slayer.

ANDREW: Asta? Asta!

A moment later, he heard footsteps pounding into the room.

ASTA: Andrew!

[shred]

ACT 3

Asta gasped when she saw a badly beaten Andrew tied up to a chair in the middle of the dimly lit room. She let her eyes adjust to the dim light before running up to her Watcher. She crouched down beside him.

ASTA: Andrew, it’s me. Are you alright?

Andrew nodded. She yanked down the blindfold and Andrew blinked rapidly.

ASTA: Are you badly hurt?

ANDREW: No…

ASTA: Good. Geez, Andrew, I was so worried about you. And that affected my fighting!

ANDREW: It did?

ASTA: I cannot believe you would do such a thing.

ANDREW: What –

ASTA: Don’t ever go missing like that again, Andrew. Or I will have no choice but to get you deported.

ANDREW: Deported?

ASTA: Yes and get another Watcher. You’re useless!

Andrew gaped at Asta.

ANDREW: I’m not useless! (pause) Am I?

VOICE: You are some of the time, Sparky.

Andrew turned towards the far end of the room where the voice came from. He froze when the newcomer came forward, the dim light lighting him up.

Warren smiled at Andrew as he laughed.

WARREN: I mean, you can’t even escape the scene of the crime even with a jetpack strapped to your back!

ANDREW: You’re dead.

WARREN: So? Doesn’t mean I can’t make a cameo appearance.

Andrew shook his head, switching his gaze from Asta, to Warren and then back to Asta again.

ANDREW: You’re not real!

WARREN: Now, is that the way to talk to your Slayer, Andrew? I mean, she might be a hot chick with super powers but deep inside, she’s just a teenager. She’s just as fragile as your Boba Fett action figure.

ANDREW: What are you saying?

Warren took a few steps forward and came closer towards the tied up Watcher. He bent down.

WARREN: Stop treating her like a Slayer, Andrew.

ASTA: Andrew! Are you ready?

Andrew turned around and saw Asta standing in front of him with a quarter staff in her hand. She was in a fighting stance, the staff held high before her. Andrew looked down and realized that he was not tied up in the chair anymore. He was on his feet and had a similar staff in his hand.

ASTA: Fight me!

Andrew looked at his Slayer in confusion.

ANDREW: You want me to fight you?

Asta did not reply. Instead, she came forward and thrust her staff towards Andrew’s abdomen. Andrew easily blocked the jab with his staff.

ANDREW: You won’t win.

Asta continue thrusting, jabbing and swinging her stick at him but none of the blows came in contact with Andrew. He blocked them with ease.

ANDREW: You know why?

Another swing towards Andrew’s head and he ducked, the staff whizzing just above his head. He jabbed his own stick towards Asta. It hit the target and Asta doubled over in pain. He struck her across the face and she went down.

ANDREW: You hesitate just before you make your moves and this is because you think too much. You plan your moves before you make them and you shouldn’t.

Asta was on her feet now. She rushed him and Andrew rolled out of the way. He struck her across the back.

ANDREW: I can see it all in your eyes. Don’t let your brain do all the fighting – let your gut do it. Go with the flow.

Asta whirled around. Andrew hit her left cheek and then hit her abdomen.

ANDREW: The more you think, the more you hesitate.

Asta raised her staff and swung it hard at Andrew’s head. Andrew blocked the stick, lashed out with his feet, catching her at her chest. Asta stumbled back.

ANDREW: And the more you hesitate, the more the opponent can read your mind and beat you.

A final blow across her temple and Asta went down to the ground. Panting hard, she looked up at him, blood running down her face. Andrew stood over her grimly.

ANDREW: Even I can beat you.

The sound of clapping was heard. Andrew whirled around and saw Warren coming up to the two of them, the expression of awe on his face.

WARREN: Wow, Sparky, I’m impressed. That was awesome. You nearly killed your Slayer.

ANDREW: I didn’t –

He heard the sound of movement and he turned around. Asta was on her feet with a knife in her hand. Her face didn’t have a scratch on her and she didn’t look as badly beaten as a minute ago.

ASTA: My turn.

Asta threw the knife and it flew, end over end, straight at Andrew. It struck Andrew’s heart and he didn’t even flinch. Andrew looked down at the knife sticking out of his chest. He returned his gaze towards Asta.

ANDREW: You’re good.

ASTA: I’m a Slayer.

The room started to spin. Andrew grabbed the handle of the knife and yanked it out. He didn’t feel any pain but that did not stop the blood from pouring out from the wound. Andrew touched the wound gingerly and his eyes widened when he realized that he hasn’t stopped bleeding.

The room started to spin even more and Andrew stumbled a little. Both of his hands shot out, hoping to find something that he could hold on to, to steady himself. All his hands could grab onto was air.

The room grew dimmer. Andrew lost his footing and crumpled to the ground. He stared up at the ceiling as the room continued to spin out of control and the edges of his visions started to grow murky.

Warren then loomed into view.

WARREN: There’s more to her than meets the eye, Andrew. She’s not just a Slayer.

Darkness engulfed Andrew and then there was nothing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Asta came back out into the main hall of the monastery and shook her head.

ASTA: Nothing. The place is empty.

XANDER: Let’s head back home then.

Asta nodded and the two of them left the old building.

Astwihad came out of the shadows and watched as Asta and her friend left the monastery. He looked over at Ahriman, who was staring intently at the Slayer. Astwihad grinned, turning his eyes back to the front door of the building.

ASTWIHAD: I love magick. You can do so many fun things with it.

###########################################
~HOUSE~

XANDER: We are back!

Xander slammed the front door shut and he followed Asta into the living room. When they entered, they found Tabitha sitting on the floor with a large map in front of her. Pike was standing just behind her.

ASTA: What are you guys doing?

PIKE: The locator spell. I don’t think it worked though.

ASTA: Why not?

TABITHA: It’s been thirty minutes and no results yet. We need to use the stronger spell.

ASTA: Why didn’t you use the stronger spell first?

Tabitha stood up, dusted her pants off before going towards the kitchen. Asta and Xander followed closely behind.

TABITHA: It’s pretty risky to use a strong spell if you’re not sure how much resistance you’re going to experience.

ASTA: Huh?

Tabitha went to the dining table and picked up a jar. She stretched out her hand so that the jar was no where near her face and made her way towards the living room.

XANDER: What’s in the jar?

TABITHA: Something that smells awfully like Oliver’s socks.

PIKE: So not!

ASTA: Erm…continue your explanation with why you didn’t use a stronger spell in the first place.

The three of them were now back in the living room. Pike had a T-shirt in his hand and he lifted it up to Tabitha.

TABITHA: Look at it this way. How would you kill a bunny with a bulletproof vest?

Asta blinked at the other woman in confusion. She looked at Xander for an explanation.

XANDER: Don’t look at me. I don’t know her that well.

Asta turned back to Tabitha.

ASTA: With something other than a gun?

Tabitha took the T-shirt from her brother and crouched down. She spread the clothing on the floor.

TABITHA: Like a bomb right? But if the bunny wasn’t wearing a bulletproof vest, would you still use a bomb?

ASTA: No?

Tabitha twisted off the cap of the jar and as strong stench came out of it.

PIKE: Gah! It does smell like my socks!

TABITHA: No because it’s too powerful. It’s the same with the spell. We don’t use a stronger spell unless we are sure Andrew is wearing a bulletproof vest. And now that the weaker spell didn’t work –

ASTA: He’s wearing a bulletproof vest?

TABITHA: Exactly! You’re learning fast. Can’t say the same for Oliver though.

Xander turned to Pike.

XANDER: That was one weird analogy.

PIKE: You see what I had to live with for the past 7 years?

XANDER: You have my sympathy.

TABITHA: Are we ready?

PIKE: All set.

Tabitha got down on her knees. She raised the jar right above the T-shirt and tilted it. She gave a little shake and let the contents to fall out. Thick, brown goo took it’s time to slide out of the jar and fall on the T-shirt.

ASTA: Is this all you have to do?

TABITHA: Pretty much.

XANDER: You don’t have to chant or anything?

TABITHA: Slick just said to pour this on something that belongs to Andrew and let it do its mojo…

Tabitha trailed off when she noticed that the goo on the T-shirt started to glow.

XANDER: Holy…

PIKE: Cow.

The goo then started to dissolve, producing a greenish vapour. The vapor lingered in the air, swirling just above the T-shirt. Pike stepped forward and pulled Tabitha to her feet and away from the clothing.

ASTA: What are we supposed to do now?

TABITHA: I’m not sure.

The green vapor rose higher and started drifting out of the living room.

XANDER: I think we should follow it.

ASTA: We should?

XANDER: It might lead us to Andrew.

Xander didn’t wait for the rest to reply as he started to follow the cloud.

ASTA: You are just going to follow it? What if it leads us to a cave filled with vampires and demons?

TABITHA: There aren’t any caves in Hades Valley.

ASTA: I’m just saying we can’t follow that cloud blindly. We need to arm ourselves.

TABITHA: Oliver and I will stock up on the weapons. You both follow that thing – we’ll catch up with you.

The four of them went their separate ways. Asta grabbed Xander’s arm before he could leave the house.

ASTA: You’re not going after that thing without a weapon.

XANDER: I’m not letting you go alone.

ASTA: I’m a Slayer, I should be doing these kinds of things. You doing my job isn’t going to help me become a better Slayer.

XANDER: You sure?

ASTA: (nodded) Go help Pike and Tabitha with the weapons.

Xander open his mouth to protest before thinking otherwise. He snapped his mouth shut and nodded.

XANDER: Just don’t die.

ASTA: I won’t.

Asta let go of the older man and threw the front door open. She spotted the greenish cloud floating down the porch and out into the street. She broke into a run following it.

The cloud led her through the streets of Hades Valley before stopping right in front of the old monastery. The cloud hovered in front of the door for a moment before disappearing.

ASTA: What the hell?

She turned around to look for some sign that Andrew was somewhere around. She almost bumped into someone when she did so.

ASTA: Ashley!

ASHLEY: Asta.

ASTA: What are you doing here?

ASHLEY: Just taking a late night stroll.

ASTA: Really? I didn’t think you would even come out of your house after last night.

Ashley frowned down at her.

ASHLEY: What happened last night?

ASTA: We were talking, the werewolves came and you weren’t there anymore. For a guy who is so hell bent on helping me, running away like that at the first sign of trouble doesn’t exactly give much substance to your mission statement.

ASHLEY: Oh that…about that…

ASTA: You don’t have to explain. I completely understand.

ASHLEY: I didn’t run because I was scared.

ASTA: Then?

ASHLEY: I said that I would help you but I didn’t say anything about helping you do your job. I’m just going to help you train; teach you a thing or two about being a slayer.

ASTA: And you running away was…

ASHLEY: Me avoiding a potentially nasty situation.

ASTA: Right. Anyway, I would love to chat but I’m on a tight schedule.

ASHLEY: You looking for someone?

Asta narrowed her eyes at Ashley.

ASTA: How do you know I’m looking for someone?

ASHLEY: Just a wild guess from all that running I saw you do before I bumped into you.

Asta looked at him intently, wondering whether there was more than he was letting on.

ASTA: Yeah, I’m looking for someone. We did a locator spell and it led me to the monastery. I was here earlier and I didn’t see anything inside. So I’m thinking something went wrong with the spell.

ASHLEY: Or you weren’t looking hard enough.

ASTA: What do you mean?

ASHLEY: I’m just saying that sometimes you need to look a little deeper to find something valuable.

Asta crossed her arms across her chest and raised her eyebrows.

ASTA: Do you know something I don’t know?

ASHLEY: (smiled) I doubt that.

He looked past her shoulder and his smiled grew.

ASHLEY: I think your cavalry is here.

Asta glanced over her shoulder and spotted Xander, Pike and Tabitha running towards her.

ASTA: You know, you should meet –

Asta turned back to Ashley and stopped in mid sentence when she realized that he was gone.

XANDER: Asta!

Asta turned and faced her friends.

PIKE: Where’s our cloud?

ASTA: It stopped in front of the monastery and disappeared.

TABITHA: So Andrew’s here?

XANDER: That can’t be right. Asta and I were here earlier and the place is empty.

ASTA: Maybe we weren’t looking hard enough.

XANDER: How hard do we need to look? There are not many places where you can hide a grown man who screams like a girl in there.

PIKE: Doesn’t hurt to try to search in there again. You guys up for it?

TABITHA: (grinned) I sure am! Let’s go.

With weapons in hand, the four of them went towards the front door of the monastery. Pike was leading the group. He reached the front door and cautiously pushed it open. Once it was open, he went in, the other following closely behind.

Tabitha took out a flashlight and switched it on. She swept the beam around the place.

TABITHA: I don’t see anything.

ASTA: Not yet anyway.

PIKE: Did you check the rooms as well?

ASTA: Yup.

PIKE: Downstairs.

ASTA: Yup.

TABITHA: And you didn’t find anything?

ASTA: Nope.

XANDER: Maybe something went wrong with the spell. You sure Slick didn’t give you more instructions on how to use it?

TABITHA: No. And if something went wrong, we would have faced something more explosive than the cloud leading us to the wrong place.

PIKE: Maybe there’s a hidden room or passage or something that we missed.

XANDER: I think we are wasting our time here. We need to think of another game plan instead of searching a place we have already searched.

ASTA: We’ll take 5 minutes. If we can’t find anything, we’ll leave.

They continued to walk around the main hall, looking at every nook and cranny for a hidden passage way or something that would indicate that Andrew was in the monastery.

XANDER: Do we split up? We can cover more ground faster that way.

TABITHA: Or we could get ambushed much easier.

XANDER: It’s hard to get ambushed when there’s no one here.

A low growl was heard behind them. The four whipped around with Tabitha pointing the flashlight in the direction the growl came from.

A large blue demon came out of the shadows, growling. It looked like a mini Tyrannosaurs Rex but with long arms and was a bit smaller.

XANDER: Ok, I take that back.

Another growl was heard and Asta turned to her left to see another of the same demon coming out of the shadows.

ASTA: I see another one.

PIKE: Another one over here.

XANDER: Add that to another three over here.

The four of them came together, with their backs to each other, forming a loose circle.

ASTA: This is not good.

TABITHA: I think we are surrounded.

XANDER: Something isn’t right.

PIKE: What do you mean?

ASTA: I think he means this is a trap.

As if on cue, the blue demons started closing in on them.

[shred]

ACT 4

Andrew was running as fast as he could through the hallways of Sunnydale High. He glanced over his shoulder and didn’t see anything behind him. However, that didn’t make him slow down. He turned to his left and ran down another hallway.

He burst through the double doors that led to the cafeteria, weaved through the tables and chairs and ran out the cafeteria on the other side. He stopped short when he saw Warren standing in his way.

WARREN: She doesn’t know what she is.

Andrew blinked at Warren before looking over his shoulder. There was still no one there.

ANDREW: What?

WARREN: She doesn’t know.

ANDREW: That’s she’s a Slayer?

WARREN: What a Slayer is.

Andrew looked away.

ANDREW: No, she doesn’t.

WARREN: And you would think that is one of the first things you would tell a Slayer.

ANDREW: I don’t want her to know.

WARREN: She has to know what she is.

Warren was not looking at him anymore but something off to his right. Andrew followed his gaze and noticed Asta. She was fighting a large blue demon with a battle axe. She looked like she had everything in control.

WARREN: If you don’t tell her, she’s going to lose every time she fights.

ANDREW: She doesn’t need to know.

WARREN: Why? (pause) Do you love her?

Andrew snapped his head back to Warren, looking at him incredulously.

ANDREW: What? No! Of course not.

WARREN: Then why the secret?

ANDREW: I don’t know…

WARREN: She’s your friend. She has every right to know.

Andrew looked over his shoulder again. Then back to Warren.

ANDREW: What am I running from?

Warren did not look at him when he answered Andrew. He turned his gaze towards Asta.

WARREN: The person who will eventually kill Asta.

Andrew slowly turned around and was stunned to see himself standing before him.

WARREN: There’s still time to make things right.

Andrew continued to stare at himself, not able to say or do anything.

WARREN: There’s more to her than meets the eye, Andrew. She’s not just a Slayer.

The young Watcher turned back to Warren.

ANDREW: I want to make things right.

Warren smiled. When he spoke, his voice was different. It was the voice of Andrew’s captor.

WARREN: I have all the information I need. I don’t need you anymore.

Then Andrew slipped into darkness.

###########################################
~MONASTERY~

Asta swung her axe straight at the demon’s head and lobbed it off. She turned and faced another one that came at her.

XANDER: There’s too many of them! We gotta go back!

Asta chopped down and sliced the second demon in two. She was on a roll and she didn’t think she could stop.

ASTA: I’ve got it under control!

Something hit her across the back and she went down to the ground. She rolled onto her back and instinctively held up her axe, blocking a claw that was coming down on her face. She grabbed the arm that the claw belong to and threw the demon over her head. She flipped, pushing herself to her feet, spun round and struck the demon at its abdomen.

TABITHA: Asta! We gotta go.

Asta looked over her shoulder and saw Xander, Tabitha and Pike at the front door of the monastery. They looked worse for wear. She returned her attention to the demons in front of her. She counted about 5 more demons.

ASTA: I’ve got them!

A large hand wrapped around her upper arm and started tugging her backwards

XANDER: There are too many of them and all of them are coming after you. You can’t take them by yourself.

Asta did not struggle as Xander pulled her towards the exit of the monastery. She kept an eye on the demons.

ASTA: Why? Why are they after me only?

XANDER: No time for questions. Just for running.

As soon as Xander and Asta stepped out of the monastery, the four of them broke into a run, putting as much distance between them and the monastery full of demons. They ran until they reached Willows cemetery.

XANDER: We are going to hide in a cemetery?

PIKE: We can’t lead them to a place where it’s populated. And the tombstones will give us some cover.

TABITHA: Over here!

Tabitha led the way as they entered the cemetery and headed towards a mausoleum. They hid behind it.

TABITHA: Did they follow us?

Asta peered around mausoleum and took a quick look around. The place was deserted.

ASTA: Doesn’t look like it.

PIKE: Why were they after you only? They had us surrounded but like some laser guided missile but they went for you and you only.

ASTA: Maybe they knew I was a Slayer.

XANDER: Maybe. And they sure knew that we were going in there. (to Tabitha) You sure nothing went wrong with the spell?

Tabitha scowled at Xander.

TABITHA: Are you doubting my spell casting abilities?

Asta looked around the cemetery, checking for another way out – but something else caught her eye.

XANDER: No, no. I’m most definitely not. I’m sure you cast spells just fine.

PIKE: Someone knew we were going in there.

TABITHA: The same someone who took Andrew?

ASTA: Guys…

The other three stopped their conversation and regarded the Slayer.

ASTA: You see that right?

They turned their eyes to where Asta was pointing. There was a large tree a few feet away from them. On one of the branches, hung something unusual.

TABITHA: What is that?

PIKE: I don’t know. I can’t make it out.

XANDER: Is it a demon?

TABITHA: Doesn’t look like it. It doesn’t look alive.

Asta took a few steps forward, frowning. The whole scene looked very familiar to her. It was as if she had seen this exact same scene before – like some bad déjà vu.

Then realization dawned on Asta.

The man turned and gestured to something behind him. With the dim light, she was able to distinguish limp bodies hanging from a lone tree. Asta gasped when she recognized the dead bodies of her friends – Xander, Andrew, Tabitha and Pike.

MAN: Your friends are only just the beginning…

ASTA: Oh my god. That’s Andrew!

Asta sprinted forward, leaving the rest behind, dumbfounded. A moment later, they ran after her.

As soon as Asta reached the tree, she dropped the axe that she had and started scaling the trunk. Using all the speed and strength she could muster, she climbed the trunk, reached the branch Andrew was hanging from and started inching towards him.

ASTA: Someone break his fall!

Xander nodded and stepped forward, moving directly under Andrew. He looked up, his face etched with fear.

When Asta reached Andrew, she pulled out her pocket knife from the pocket of her jeans. She flipped the blade out and reached down. Little by little, she started cutting at the rope.

TABITHA: Asta, is he breathing?

Asta flicked her gaze from the rope to Andrew’s face. She could not see much of his face. There was a piece of cloth covering his eyes and from the lack of light that she had, she could not see whether Andrew was breathing.

ASTA: I can’t tell!

She concentrated on cutting the rope.

ASTA: I’m almost there. Get ready, Xander!

The rope snapped and Andrew dropped like a stone. He fell on Xander and the two men crumpled to the ground. Asta leapt down from the branch gracefully.

Pike and Tabitha hurried over to Andrew and Xander. They picked Andrew up and moved him away from the other man. They placed him on the ground – with Tabitha yanking the blindfold away – and Pike touched the pulse point at Andrew’s neck. Asta knelt down on the other side of the still Andrew.

PIKE: I can’t feel a pulse.

TABITHA: Does anyone here know CPR?

XANDER: I do.

Pike moved out of the way and Xander took his place. He position Andrew the way he wanted and started doing CPR on the Watcher. Nothing happened for a full minute.

XANDER: Come on, Andrew. If this can revive a slayer, I’m sure it can revive you as well.

Asta took Andrew’s limp hand in hers and held it close to her chest. She touched his forehead, tears forming in her eyes.

ASTA: Andrew? Can you hear me? Please wake up. I need my Watcher back.

Xander continued with the CPR but Andrew remained unresponsive.

ASTA: I need my friend back.

Everyone except Xander held their breath as they watched Xander try to revive the Watcher. Nobody dared move or speak. Then Andrew’s eyes snapped open and he gasped, sucking in air that he needed.

ASTA: Oh god, Andrew!

Andrew went into a coughing fit as the rest looked on with relief.

XANDER: Just breathe deep, Andrew, and you’ll be fine.

TABITHA: Try not to move him. He might have suffered some broken bones.

Asta touched Andrew’s shoulder.

ASTA: Are you ok?

Andrew looked at Xander and then at Asta with a dazed looked in his eyes.

TABITHA: Andrew?

PIKE: We need to get him to the hospital. He doesn’t look in good shape.

ASTA: Andrew, do you know where you are?

Andrew shook his head.

XANDER: Just relax and try not to move.

Andrew opened his mouth and tried to speak. And when he did, his speech was slurred.

ANDREW: (softly) What happened?

XANDER: Lots. We’ll fill you in when we get you to a hospital ok?

ANDREW: Are you real?

PIKE: You betcha pal. As real as your friends can be.

Andrew nodded.

ANDREW: Good, good. I’ve been seeing a lot of things lately. It’s hard to tell.

XANDER: We are real, Andrew. You are alright now.

ANDREW: Thank goodness.

Asta squeezed his shoulder and smiled at him.

ASTA: I’m so glad we found you.

###########################################
~HOSPITAL~

DOCTOR: He’s going to be fine. He lost quite a lot of blood but we did a transfusion for him and he’s recovering nicely. He has suffered a dislocated shoulder, had some deep cuts on this chest and abdomen and had a nasty concussion. But we have patched him up and he will be fine. I need him here under observation for a few days and then you can take him home.

TABITHA: Thank you Doctor.

DOCTRO: You’re welcome. If you need anything else, just ask one of the nurses to page me.

TABITHA: Of course.

ASTA: Can we see him?

DOCTOR: You can but don’t take too long – he needs his rest.

XANDER: We just want to see whether he’s ok.

The doctor nodded.

DOCTOR: However, I would strongly advise you to report this incident to the police. Whoever did this shouldn’t go unpunished.

Tabitha smiled sweetly at the doctor.

TABITHA: Trust me, they won’t.

The doctor nodded his goodbye and left the four of them in the hallway.

PIKE: So how about we go in one at a time. I don’t think we should overwhelm him with our many well-wishes.

XANDER: Good idea.

He turned to Asta, who was looking through the window of Andrew’s room.

XANDER: Asta, you wanna go in first?

Asta nodded. She grabbed the door knob and twisted it open. She entered the room and closed the door behind her. She made her way towards Andrew’s bed, grabbing a chair on the way. She set the chair down beside Andrew and sat down.

Andrew’s left arm was in a sling and his head was swathed in bandages. He left eye was swollen shut

ASTA: Hey.

Andrew’s good eye fluttered open and he smiled when his eye landed on her.

ANDREW: Hey.

ASTA: How are you feeling?

ANDREW: Like Timothy Dalton hit me on the head with his Oscar – if he had one.

Asta chuckled.

ASTA: At least it’s not worse. (pause) Do you remember what happened?

Andrew flicked his gaze away from his Slayer. He sighed.

ANDREW: Not really. I remember what happened when I was tied up to the chair but it’s all foggy. I don’t remember how I got there or how I got out.

ASTA: Do you have any idea who took you?

ANDREW: No. All I heard was his voice. He was male, human and he sounded very good looking.

ASTA: Did he say what his name was or gave any indication where you were?

ANDREW: No. He was careful not to give that away. But…

ASTA: But?

ANDREW: He knew a lot. He knew about the fight with the werewolves, he knew that you guys think I’m a bad Watcher and he knew how I felt.

ASTA: How you felt?

ANDREW: You know, useless, like a bad Watcher.

ASTA: Oh.

ANDREW: He knew who you were and that I was your Watcher. He knew a lot of things about me – about us.

ASTA: So this guy has been watching us, taking notes.

ANDREW: Looks like it.

ASTA: Do you think his connected with the visions and dreams I’ve been having?

ANDREW: Maybe. It would make more sense.

ASTA: What did he do to you?

Andrew went silent, looking away. Noticing that this might be a touchy topic, Asta cleared her throat and changed the subject.

ASTA: Ok. Don’t worry, we’ll figure this out. We’ll find him and kick his ass till kingdom come.

Andrew smiled.

ANDREW: I know you will.

ASTA: I’m really sorry.

Andrew moved his head so that he was looking directly at her.

ANDREW: For what?

ASTA: For what happened.

ANDREW: It’s not your fault.

ASTA: No but you wouldn’t have left if I didn’t say those things.

ANDREW: Maybe. But you were right. I am a bad Watcher.

ASTA: No, you’re not. I’m just giving you a hard time when I shouldn’t. I should cut you some slack.

Andrew cracked a smile.

ANDREW: I should do the same.

ASTA: I’ll be a better Slayer, I promise. I’ll train harder, fight better and…and…

ANDREW: Asta.

Asta was crying now. She didn’t know how she started but now she couldn’t stop as tears streamed down her face.

ASTA: I’m really sorry.

ANDREW: It’s ok. We’ll be ok.

Asta buried her head in Andrew’s chest and cried softly. Andrew blinked, feeling awkward. Then he lifted his good hand and gingerly placed it on Asta’s head. He stroke her hair comfortingly as Asta cried.

ANDREW: We’ll be ok.


CUT TO BLACK

END CREDITS

Special Guest Star
Adam Busch as Warren

Written by
Irene Issac

Story Editor
Beck Schwarz

Art Designer
Joe (Enderswrath)

Special Thanks To
Everyone and anyone who helped in making this episode a success


A BECK TO SHREDS production. © 2007 Irene Issac[/i]