Xander makes the next move

?What the fuck is taking them so long? It?s been over an hour. How long do they need to knock out another one of these stupid little do-gooders?? Evil Buffy ranted as she paced back and forth.

?Would you chill out? You know how Willow is. She probably just took the most time consuming and painful way to subdue him.?

?If that?s what she did then she?s pissing me off. They were supposed to just knock the loser out and bring him back here. If she?s making me wait just to. . .? Buffy trailed off as Ripper entered the room and she saw the look on his face. ?No fucking way!?

?Their Xander just phoned again.? Ripper confirmed. ?He wants you to meet him in the park in ten minutes to discuss future prisoner exchanges. He even added you could bring our Faith and Tara if you?re, and I quote, ?worried about being taken prisoner.? The little bastard sounded rather smug.?

Buffy saw red at those words. ?That fucking son of a BITCH! He wants to meet us? Find let?s grant his wish. Faith, Tara, move it! When we find this fucker we?ll cut off his dick and fed it to him.?

Faith and Tara followed without a word.

In the park they easily spotted a figure as he stumbled into and then leaned on a tree.

?That him?? Tara asked in a low voice.

?No beard and that ugly eye-patch. But why is he?s so wobbly?? Faith whispered back.

?Who gives a shit? We beat him till he tells where he stashed everyone and then kill him slowly for pissing me off.? Buffy fumed.

All three approached Xander at a brisk pace. He turned to face them just before Buffy kicked him in the crotch and followed that up with a teeth shattering right cross.

?You think it funny now? Think I?m worried about ?being taken prisoner? by a piece of shit like you?? Buffy yelled at the moaning figure in front of her. ?What was that? I can?t quite hear you?? She followed up with a kick to his ribs.

Buffy would have continued except Tara knelt down and scrutinized Xander?s face. She scratched at something on his lips and near the edge of the eye-patch. A moment later she yanked the eye-patch off with a ripping sound as several layers of skin came with it. Underneath an eye rolled back and forth in pain.

?This thing was stuck to his face and his lips are glued shut. That bastard sent our Xander out here knowing what we?d do to him.?

Faith looked around at the completely quiet surroundings. ?Then where?s. . .?

Back at the house Xander stood over an **** Ripper. ?Good to know that no matter what universe it is when Giles takes a hit to the head he?s out like a light.?