TITLE: Lullaby For Lost
AUTHOR: Ragna (RaverRagna@...)
RATING: PG, so far.
CLASSIFICATION: Mentions of Graham/Other.
SUMMARY: Xander and Graham have to help Xander's cousin/Graham's ex. But
it's a lot more than a simple stalking...
SPOILERS: Set sort of in the future.
DISTRIBUTION: Any sites with my fic up; you all have unspoken permission. I
write it, you can post it. Everyone else just keep my name on it and let me
know.
PREVIOUS PARTS/ARCHIVED AT: http://www.envy.nu/allthepain/index.html
DISCLAIMER: If you don't recognize it, chances are it's my own creation. If
you do, Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, Kazui Sandollar, FOX and the WB own it or
them. Various friends of mine are holding characters hostage. You may see
them by appointment only. The places mentioned are actual places in
Oceanside, CA.
FEEDBACK: Sorry I'm not home right now I'm walking in the spiderwebs so
leave a message and I'll call you back...in other words, I want it. Don't
care if it's onlist or not, but I prefer offlist since I have quite a few
lists on No Mail.
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Answer to a challenge (#34) at YGTS? Life's finally settling
down enough to where I can *finish* this fic.
~*~*~
Xander was surprised at how quickly the guards let him through the rear
gate. He had thought there would be more of a hassle, but instead they gave
him a quick wave through. He was so surprised he almost didn't move forward.

He was expecting hassles all over the place, but news spread. A Marine
attached to Special Ops was hurt protecting a civilian. That was big news to
spread.

And getting to the place he was supposed to go to, he found even less
problems, being rushed into the CO's office, outlining the situation and
getting what he needed done.

He got lost on the huge base but arrived at the Naval Hospital just in time
for the beginning of visiting hours.

"Everything work out?" Graham asked sleepily.

"Worked out just fine. The Initiative knows, they're sending some people
down here. Willow's coming too. We're going to work the magic angle and
they'll be our back-up. We'll find Dani."

"Good," he said, sinking back into the pillows. "Good..."

Xander sat by the bed, watching Graham fall back asleep. He'd taken a bullet
to try and save Dani.

God, he must love her.

***

Willow got in the car. Giles was loaning her his convertible. This was a
momentous occasion.

She started the car. Or, at least, she tried to.

Nothing happened.

She tried again, and again, and again.

Nothing.

"Giles! We have a problem..."

***

Scott watched Dani. She slept fitfully, twitching and moaning, her hair
falling in her face unchecked.

She was suffering.

It was beautiful.

He had her now, and that was that. No one would take her away from him.
They'd be together.

Forever.

But, it was night time. Shadows abounded, and Scott decided to visit the
cliffs in Carlsbad. It was the one beach with the most shadows. And he hated
being disturbed while he was at the beach.

***

Xander didn't know where to start. He only knew what Dani had told him about
Scott, and it wasn't much. She knew he said once he liked the beach, so he
was combing the beaches, searching the shadows.

He'd just about given up when he heard someone say that at the cliffs in
Carlsbad, someone was attacking beachgoers at night, beachgoers who ventured
into the shadows by the cliffs.

Sounded like it might be Scott.

***

Scott was about to hit the guy with the hat in front of him. The dolphins
were jumping and this idiot was sitting right in front of him. He was in a
killing mood.

The man turned around.

"Surprise," Xander said. He reached over to Scott, grabbing him by the
scruff of the neck.

It took a very short fight for Scott to lose. He could attack someone blind,
but when he was the attackee he was helpless.

Xander clipped handcuffs he'd gotten from the Midnight Adult Bookstore
around Scott's wrists. "Take me to Dani," he said through clenched teeth.

***

Dani woke up slowly. There was a lot of light, and she didn't recognize the
ceiling or what she could see of the walls.

"Hey," she heard from her left. Looking, she saw Xander there, and behind
him she saw Graham trying hard to sit up in bed.

"Graham," she said, relief flooding her voice. She tried to climb out of bed
but found her legs wouldn't hold her. "Help me, Xander."

Xander helped her over to Graham's bed. "Oh, Graham, Scott said he shot you
in the chest and you were dead and..." She started to sob. "Graham, I love
you."

"I love you too," he said quietly. "I didn't mean to make things such a
mess."

She climbed into his bed as best she could. Xander looked at both of them.

"Scott's in a special prison for the criminally insane. He's in a cell
filled with light to make sure he doesn't use shadows to escape. It's not
foolproof, but it's something." He sat back down in his seat.

"You mean he could get out?"

"Maybe..." Xander began when a uniformed Marine came into the room. He
carried a stack of papers in one hand and his cover under his arm.

"Miller?"

"Yes, sir," Graham said.

"News. Scott Captra was found dead in his cell. Too much exposure to light.
You CO has said that you are on medical leave until further notice, and he'd
prefer if you stay here in Oceanside near Tri-City and the Naval Hospital."
The man nodded his head and left the papers with Xander.

"Well, I guess the answer's no," Xander muttered. He looked over to Graham
and Dani and saw them kissing softly. "Well, if you'll excuse me, I need to
find out why no back-up showed up." He stood quietly and proceeded to leave
the room, closing the door with a smile on his face.





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