Xander took a drink of his coffee, and picked up the piece of filter with the numbers. "Thanks.' He said, folding it carefully and slipping it into his pocket. He glanced in the direction of the door at Sylvie's last words. "I don't think Lex would take kindly to the suggestion of a psychiatrist...besides, it's not entirely his fault, he's got so much to deal with...But he doesn't deserve to have to deal with it, has' just to damn stubborn to ask for help...he's always been stubborn..."

"People need to drop all the macho bullshit and fear about psychiatrists. It doesn't have to be a bad experience. You just have to find the right one. Everyone needs someone they can talk to. I went to one after Michael died. There's no shame in it. I can't say whether it helped or not, but it was good to have someone who wasn't connected with it in any way that I could talk to and break down in front of and not worry about what they thought of me or who they'd tell. If Lex isn't going to open up to the people already in his life, then he needs to find someone. Otherwise things will just keep building until he collapses under the strain..." She gave a sigh. "If you'd like to be alone, Xander.. just say so..I'm not one for forcing my company on people when it's not wanted."

"Oh, no, it's not that! You don't have to leave unless you want to...I was just thinking." Xander said. "Lex can't talk to anyone around here, because he thinks everyone judges him because of the collar. He'd do well just to accept it. I mean, I'm not saying it's a good thing, it's rather unfair we're stuck in them, but I long ago accepted it was apart of..me..."

Sylvie sighed and sat back in her chair, thinking. She rubbed her thumbs over her coffee mug as she held it with both hands, and odd habit she'd noticed and yet had no reason why she did it... she remembered whenever she'd held Michael’s hand, she'd rubbed her thumb along his fingers...he used to kid her about her restless thumbs.. she suddenly let out a soft sound.. sort of half laugh half sigh and raised her eyes to find Xander looking at her. "Sorry.. an odd little thing popped into my head.” she smiled apologetically. "You're right.. it's not fair. I hope you can find a way to get them off, both of you... but you can't hold Lex to the same standard as you. You've managed to accept things and deal with things differently then he has, that’s all. Maybe he'll be able to find his own peace his own way... I hope so."

"So do I...I mean he's been through enough...it's just..." Xander had been mulling over everything between him and Lex. "I just wish he didn't hate me so much, but then I know...it's my fault he does..."

**

"Xander has a thing for Sylvie, in case you haven't noticed..." Lex muttered, clinging to Faal. "Maybe I did react the wrong way, it just...yus, as you said, earlier sort of...threw me off...I'm just...wound too tight..." Lex sighed deeply. "Did you get your calls taken care of?" He asked in effort to change the subject...

"Xander may have a 'thing' for Sylvie... but when has Sylvie even offered a kind word to him? If she's speaking with him, perhaps there's more going on then you know. You don't like it when people make snap judgments, Lex.. why do you?" He kissed the top of his head and rested his cheek against the red hair. "I know Xander isn't the nicest person in the world to be around, and I know you two have a history... but sometimes, Lex.. I get the feeling that you take out everything on him. He's the closest and easiest target so you aim and fire..."

Lex pulled back from Faal at those words. "Oh no, no, you don't know ANYTHING that happened between Xander and I..." He hissed. "And you wouldn't think so highly of him either if you knew. Xander expects me to forgive him...well it's a little hard to do..." He started to pull out of Faal's arms to turn, but he stumbled over a rock in the heels, and turned his ankle, with soft cry. He regained his balance, only by leaning against Faal and pulled the shoes off, which he threw as hard as he could, out of frustration.

Faal sighed and scooped Lex into his arms, trying to calm him. "Lex.. please... alright, I admit you're right, I don't know him... but I know you. And from what I’ve seen you are extremely vicious with Xander... Rowen hurt you immensely.. broke your heart, stalked you, tried to kill you.. is STILL stalking you and trying to kill you and taking great glee in hurting you at every opportunity.. and yet you're no where near as angry at him as you are with Xander. I know you have your reasons for hating him, fine... but do you have to be so vicious to him? It's not like you, Lex... I hate to see that unrelentless fury come from you..."
"Maybe because at one point Xander was all I had to fall back on and then he...used me!" Lex muttered. "I don't... hate him...not in that sense...but me mocks me, for hating being a slave...then he has to rub in, the fact that I was Abadon's favorite. As if I NEED to be reminded. I've got the physical scars to remind me of that! And then he would dare blame what he did to me, on ME!?" Lex broke there, ending up sobbing. Everything was just over whelming him. He'd held back again on everything, bottling it all up again, until he couldn't take any more.

**

Sylvie nodded softly. "Perhaps he needs to hate someone he can take things out on... Rowen certainly deserves it, but he's not around for Lex to strike out at. It's not fair of him, that's for sure. I don't know what happened between you two... perhaps you deserve it, perhaps not. All I know is Lex needs to come to terms with everything sooner or later... the way things are going now, he's headed for a melt down.."

Xander sighed. "I suppose I do deserve him to hate me...better me then some one else, except maybe Rowen...I can't deny that if I could get a hold of Rowen, I'd quite possibly like to beat the living hell out of him for what he's done to Lex...because Lex has NEVER deserved it, any of it...But you're right, on the course Lex is now...he's going to end up with a break down..." Xander ran a hand through his hair, dropped the hand low enough to finger the ring on his collar, the same way Lex did, staring absently at the table top. He knew Lex had fae blood, where that would lead, and that Lex was the daughter of the seal, he'd known about it since he'd been sent to watch over Lex. Hope had been very adamant that Xander do this, as a way, as she put it, to atone for his sins.

**

Aiyla had been aware something had happened, she'd seen Lex storming from the building. "Now what's happened?" She muttered, concerned. She debated on going to find out if the red head was alright, or leave it be with the thought that Faal no doubt was seeing to it. She rather hoped it wasn't over the bet, because he had seemed so bouncy that morning.

She'd been passing a window at that moment, that over looked the front of the building, when she noticed a man standing on the corner across the street, watching the building. She stopped, staring out the window.

"No...it couldn't possibly be..." She muttered with a touch of surprise.

Aiyla's many odd jobs had taken her to a lot of places around town that for one reason or another were dodgy, and she'd met a lot of odd characters. Some better then others.

But most of her odd jobs had been in search of information to lead her to her sister's killer, Xanatos. And it had been recently, after the Black Cat job Nate and Lex had done, that Aiyla had been able to actually track down and get a hold on Xanatos himself.

True she hadn't been able to get close to the bastard, but she knew all about his many connections and jobs and of course, his two 'lovely' pets, she'd even staked out the pets, following them, once while Shelly had followed Lex.

But to now see that one pet, standing on the corner across the street, watching the building, she frowned. "Bloody fuckin' hell, they're still after Lex!" She hissed after a moment.

**

Faal cradled Lex in his arms, pressing his cheek to his head. "Lex.. I'm worried about you. Promise me you won't go any where alone until this new problem is dealt with, okay? If only to ease my mind?" he stroked Lex's back as he drummed up the courage. "And one more thing... I know you are a very private person, but I think you have too much inside you to deal with on your own. I know you feel you can't talk to anyone you know for fear of what they might think of you... but I'd like you to consider speaking to a therapist.... someone who has no stake in your life and is sworn to secrecy over anything you might say and who won't judge you. I know a woman.. she's quite good.. not one of those who just sit there mumbling over a pen and paper asking you 'how you feel' about things... She mostly just sits and listens. The only advice she generally gives is for mediation techniques or relaxation.. I don't believe she has ever prescribed anything more potent than a sleeping pill..."

"A therapist?! You too?!" Lex pulled away from Faal, wiping his cheeks and stumbling on the turned ankle. "I do not need a therapist! First Aiyla, then my father, and now you!" Lex limped back, turning away. He was already taking off the jewelry, taking off the string of pearls then removed the earrings. These he turned and held out to Faal. "Would you please give these back to Sylvie?" he asked in a curt tone. "Then if you wouldn't mind, I'd like to be alone for a little while." He wasn't looking at Faal, balanced on the one good ankle and wiping at his cheeks with the other hand.

Across the street, having seen Lex come out of the building, stood Shelly, Xander's other pet, who stood patiently, watching, waiting...

Faal took the earrings and dropped them into his pocket with a growl. "Damn you, Mordant. Don't you ever listen? " He said. "I just said not to go any where alone... do you actually WANT bad things to happen to you, you stubborn... idiot!" he growled "You want to pull inside your self and let things build until you have a nervous break down, fine... at least then your cute ass will wind up where people can beat some sense into that thick skull of yours. But don't you dare ignore the danger to yourself and put yourself at risk any longer. I have wish to attend your bedside at the hospital, nor your funeral!"

He made a lunging grab for Lex's arm, meaning to throw him over his shoulder if necessary to keep him safe.

Lex swung around, although quiet off balance, jerked his arm away and smacked Faal with purse at the same time. "Damn ME?! No, damn it! I said leave me alone!" He hissed, eyes flashing. He hobbled back out reach, breathing deeply, temper rising. "And for your information, I am NOT incapable of taking care of myself, although everyone apparently ASSUMES I can't!" One hand was clenched, and thin ropes of fire was already tangling it's self around his fingers. He was still trying to keep his balance and back away at the same time.

"Just LEAVE me be!" He snapped, turning away when he felt he was far enough from Faal, and started hobbling toward his car.

***

Nate came up behind Aiyla at the window and wrapped his arms around her waist, nuzzling her neck as she looked out the window. "Trouble?" He asked, then peered over her shoulder and spotted the man she was glaring at. "Ah shite...."

They  were neck and neck as they went to get the others, checking weapons as they went. Part of Nate's brain couldn't help but be impressed with the way she ran in those heels....


**

Sylvie snorted softly. "Of course, you not picking on him as much as you did probably wouldn't hurt.. you know his buttons, Xander.. stop pressing them so often...."

Xander sighed, not looking at Sylvie. "Yeah, I know...I'm a button pusher...He's kinda stuck with me hangin' 'round though...I know it makes no sense to you, but I'm sorta sworn to look after the kid..."

Sylvie's head snapped around as Nate and Aiyla rushed by and she turned to Xander, already standing up. "Now what's going on... and why do I have this sinking feeling Lex is at the middle of it..?"

Xander sighed, but was standing up as well. "Because when is Lex not in the middle of it any more?" He muttered, heading for the door. He had a feeling there was some thing major going down, or Aiyla wouldn't have looked so determined. But lord, some times that brat could get into more trouble then any one else Xander had ever known. Which was no small feat.

*

Eire had come out of an office in time to see Nate and Aiyla rush by. "Okay, where's the fire?!" He called after them.

"It's not a fire!" Aiyla called over her shoulder, slamming a fresh clip into her gun and chambering a round, keeping very well with Nate even in the stilettos but then she was used to running in heels. "It's Lex!"

"Oh god, NOW what has the Brat done?!" Eire asked with a roll of his eyes.

"Nothing yet, but we wanna KEEP it that way!" Aiyla replied, reaching the door first.

**

Nate and the others had all pooled into the hall on their way to the front when Faal came storming in the back. Sylvie and Xander being the closest turned in surprise. Sylvie couldn't ever recall seeing Faal in so black a mood.

"Faal, man .. where’s Lex?!" Nate called, pushing his way back to him.

Faal growled as he made his way to the kitchen. "The stupid fool ran off. Want's to be alone."

"What?! Faal.. why didn't you go after him?!" Aiyla called after him.

"Because he wants to prove he can take care of himself. He knows there's someone after him again and the little fool wants to be stupid. The boy is a walking target and he seems to do it on purpose."

Nate growled and grabbed Faal's arm, drawing back in shock at the dark look in Faal's eyes at the touch. "Xanatos' pet is out front.. 'r was.." he said.

Xander groaned. "This is no time for a fuckin' lovers quarrel! Ya should've just CLUBBED him over the head! Sure he would've been mad about it a little while after waking up, but it would save us all the trouble, wouldn't it!" Xander grumbled, turning and heading for the door. Hope would have his head on a silver platter for her and her sisters if something happened to Lex now...

*
Shelly smirked, watched Lex reach his car and start to unlock it, then Shelly was crossing the street in a brisk walk while a black car came around the corner.

Lex had started to turn at the sound of footsteps, but Shelly took a syringe out of his pocket and just as Lex turned, he sank the needle into Lex's neck.

The drug was rather fast acting. Lex only had time for his eyes to widen, before he crumpled to the ground. Shelly grabbed a hold of him, threw him over his shoulder and turned to the black car that had stopped. He opened the back door and dropped Lex unceremoniously into the back seat, before climbing into the passenger’s with Lea.

Then the black car was squealing tires and peeling off down the road.

*
Eire had heard the car and spun, heading for the door. He saw the door of Lex's mustang standing wide open and caught sight of a black vehicle speeding off. "Of all the! I think Xanato's pets just got him..." He said turning around.

Xander put his face in his hand, with all the temptation to shaking the living shit out of Faal. "I told you, ya should've clubbed him!"

"The idiot was warned... and I DID try to grab him. The plan was to throw the little brat over my shoulder, except I got clawed and smacked around for my trouble." he said, inspecting the sore spot on his arm where Lex's nails had caught him as he was wrenching away. He didn't think he'd meant to scratch, but he was too angry to care right then. He sighed angrily. "I have half a mind to let them have him...let them deal with him for a while... that'll teach them. They'll think twice before kidnapping someone again after putting up with THAT for a while."

He stomped past the crowd and disappeared into his office where they could hear a few slamming noises before he reemerged, a gun and shoulder holster in hand. He shrugged out of his jacket and slipped the holster in place as he walked to the door. "Come on, let's go rescue him. Then he can deny he makes himself a walking target again."

Aiyla had had to pause to stifle a snicker, which she managed quite well, and although her face was impassive, her eyes were sparkling. Xander caught her eye, and for a moment, they both had to stifle a snicker.

"Well, it's not like we don't all know who has him...Don't know why they'd want him..." Xander said, shaking his head.

'This is Xanatos we're talking about." Aiyla said, suddenly very serious. "If he can cause me to kill my own sister with out batting an eye, I can only imagine what he wants with Lex." She sighed, aware that she hadn't told Nate that she knew the Xanatos from the Black Cat, was the one responsible for Maya's death.

"Look Faal, it's not like Lex intentionally does this..." Eire started.

'Are you sure about that?" Xander asked. Eire shot him a cold look.

"No. "Faal said. "He's merely the most stubborn pigheaded little fool I've ever met and seems to have an automatic urge to throw himself in harms way at the drop of a hat. It's lucky for him he also tends to surround himself with people who are stupid enough to constantly throw themselves in harms way to rescue him.” He said and pulled his jacket back on. "I hate guns. I hate the feeling that I'll need one. Let's go get him back so we can all brow beat the little bugger to shame."

"And here we all thought you loved him..." Eire muttered from his spot, after retrieving his guns.

Now it was Xander's turn to shoot Eire a look. "He is right you know... Lex has got to be the most stubborn person yet..."

"What would you know Xander?" Eire retorted.

'A lot considering I grew up with the brat!" Xander snapped back.

'Enough, you two!" Aiyla snapped at both of them.

Eire paused, then asked. "Um...how are we going to find them?"

Faal straightened his jacket and looked at Aiyla. "I DO love him. If I didn't I wouldn't be upset with him.” He said and started for the back door and his car. "As for where...I have a feeling Aiyla probably has some ideas."

"As a matter of fact, I do." Aiyla said, heading out the door. "The first place to check is called the Dark Room, it's one of Xanatos' own clubs. This time of day, it'll be empty, but I'm willing to put my money on the table that at least four people are there..."

*
The Dark Room was empty, and not far from the offices. Once they'd arrived, Shelly hauled Lex out of the back seat, through the back door of the club, upstairs to the private party rooms and to Xanatos' office and dropped him again, unceremoniously onto the couch.

Xanatos turned from the window. "Ah...excellent timing my dears." He said with a smile.

"WHY do you want him any way?" Lea asked with a pout.

"Tut tut, my darling. A deal was a deal with Knight. Agreeably we don't have to deliver him for a while yet..." Xanatos said, moving toward his desk. "So, feel free to do with him as you please, as long as he's alive." Xanatos gave them both warning looks.

Shelly was flicking a lighter opened and closed and smirked. "A few bruises and bumps shouldn't matter should it?"

"I suppose not..." Xanatos answered, sitting down to make a call.

'Shall I wake him?" Shelly asked Lea.

"Oh be, my guest." Lea replied, settling onto the arm of the couch over top of Lex.

Shelly crouched down beside the unconscious form of Lexine and took his hand. "Even in a skirt today..." Shelly giggled. Before flicking the lighter to flame and holding the flame to the skin of Lex's palm.

Lex came to with a cry of pain and Lea giggled. "Aww. Sleeping beauty is awake."

Lex looked around wide eyed, attempting to scramble away from the both of them, but Shelly grabbed him by the hair, yanking him back. "Maybe we should break out some of the toys..." He suggested to Lea.

**

Faal grabbed Aiyla's hand and dragged her out with him. "I'll drive, you tell me where to go.. anyone who can fit, climb in, otherwise find another damned car."

Faal started the engine then gunned it impatiently as he waited for everyone to get in.

Xander, Nate and Eire squeezed into the back seat as Aiyla made herself comfortable in the passenger’s. "Right, make a left at the light and keep going straight until I tell you to turn." She brought her purse and was pulling what looked like a palm pilot out, turning it on.

She called up what Xander realized, looking over shoulder, was the play back of a surveillance camera in the interior of a dark club and indeed, he saw on the miniature screen, the unmistakable image of Lea and Shelly carrying Lex through the darkened room toward a stair case.

"Oh yesh, they're there." She said, turning it off.

"Where do you get those things?" Xander asked.

"A friend of mine, Mariko, ingenious inventor." Aiyla said with a smug grin, "Turn right here." She instructed.

"Now left here."

In a few minutes a large building painted black came into view. There was the black car Eire had seen, parked in front.

Xander, had had the intution to remain outside, he saw Xanatos appear on the back stairs with a shackled Lex, who was rather in his knickers.

Xander scowled, but something told him to stay put and observe. He watched Xanatos take Lex down the stairs to a black limo. Xander memorized the number in one go, and was already removing his cell phone as the limo was started.

He wasn't without friends. "Asia, babe, I need a favor, can you trace a car for me, well it's leaving now, I need to know where's its headed." He asked over the phone. "Great!" He smirked and gave the girl on the other end of the phone the number, then put in the hands free device, stashing his cell phone safely in his pocket, so that Asia could feed him the directions.

**

If any of the others had been in front to see him, they would've cringed to see how different he looked at that moment. His skin a pale golden with his hair that almost seem to be ruffled by the power swirling around him.. but his eyes, which should've been a pale swirling rainbow... were a dark menacing storm of color. The two people in front of them didn't know him and so were not alarmed. He didn't even stop. He was vaguely aware of Aiyla raising her gun, but he merely stormed past, flicking both wrists outward and the two men were slammed against the wall hard enough to dent the plaster.

There was a low whistle behind him. "Damn Faal... "

Faal stepped into the room and looked around. Seeing Lex's torn clothing on the floor the feeling of menace coming off him grew... "Where to Aiyla..."

Aiyla, who was quite used to Fae power, cast a look about the room, before moving to the desk. She took two things from her pocket, a slim grey box and her cell phone. She picked up the phone, and was thankful it was an antique style. She unscrewed the cover on the mouth piece, pulled a wire from one side of the slim grey box and inserted into a mother board.

Sitting that down, she took slid the back off her cell phone, and licked the end of a second wire and plastered it to the memory card on her cell phone, turning the phone over and turning it on. Numbers flashed through the cell phone’s screen, coming to rest on the last call made.

"Fuck!" She swore. "Knight...he's called Honnor Knight..."

At that moment, Xander appeared in the room, casting a look at the two unconscious men. He still had the hands free in his ear. "They're headed for the pier." He said, turning back to Aiyla and Faal.

Aiyla was already undoing her little device and pocketing. "The pier it is!" She said, heading for the door. "Where the fuck are Nate and Eire!"

Faal spun and the three of them went back down the stairs, Faal not even looking at the two unconscious forms laying sprawled on the floor. Xander raised an eyebrow at Aiyla. "You ever heard of him being like this before? He's being kind of... scary if you know what I mean..."

Aiyla chuckled as they ran from the room, following Faal. "He's fae, Xander...get used to it!" She replied.

 Faal emerged into the lot as Nate jogged around the corner, Eire with him. Faal yanked the car door open. "Get in or get left behind. "He said.  Once outside, Aiyla shoved Nate toward the car, jumping back into the passenger’s seat.

*
The rendezvous had been set up. Rhett stood in the shadows watching and waiting. He'd known about it once Knight had received the call. He watched the man Knight had sent to collect Lexine Mordant and watched as the black limo pulled up.

Xanatos got out of the car, before dragging a nearly unconscious Lex with him. Apparently Xanatos had taken some frustration of things going wrong, out on Lex, because he had bruises that the pets hadn't inflicted. Rhett frowned and wondered just what his brother's meddling had caused this time. He was unaware Rhy was dead, of course.

Xanatos dragged Lex, the gravel scrapping and cutting at his delicate skin, but Xanatos hardly noticed or cared. He flung the red head at the feet of the other man. "The money?" Xanatos asked.

The man held out a brief case. Rhett started to move forward.

**

Faal raced across the streets to the dock, taking the corners almost before Aiyla called them out. It was almost as if he could feel where Lex was. When he caught sight of the limo stopped ahead of them he slammed on the brakes, the car swinging around in a skid that stopped with the drivers door and the rear passenger inches away from Xanatos and Lex had been before he leapt to the side, dragging Lex with him.

Faal was out of the car, the power swirling around him almost like a wind as it slammed into Xanatos, tossing him into the side of the limo. Faal stepped over to Lex and knelt, brushing his fingers over his cheeks. A grim smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as he looked down in to the groggy, pain filled face. "See? You my love, are a trouble magnet. Now lie still and rest while we save your ass again." Faal said and the power swirling around him wrapped itself around Lex, cocooning him in safety at Faal's feet.

There was a crack of a pair of fighting fans opening. Xander turned his head and saw a sight he'd never thought he'd see. The look of vengeance on Aiyla's face was awe inspiring and frightening at the same time.

She moved forward toward Xanatos who was picking himself up off the ground. "All these years." Aiyla hissed. "You son of a bitch..."

Xanatos straightened his tie arrogantly. "I'm afraid you have me confused with some one else." He sneered. He started to turn from them, when a fighting fan slammed in to his shoulder, and sank into the metal of the car, pinning him there, with a yelp of pain, and he looked around at them again.

Aiyla had thrown it, with expert aim and force. She stalked toward him with the other fan, until she was right in his face. "You caused me to kill my sister. Maybe you remember her name. Maya. I'm Aiyla Tatiana Conaill, daughter of Aisleen, Queen of the Red Court." She folded the fans with a flick and while holding it, decked Xanatos across the face with everything in her. "You'll pay for what you did to my sister. But not from me, and not now!" She hissed before spitting in his face.

Xanatos was shocked, but fully awake, although in pain and he watched Aiyla turned around on her heel, yank the fan from his shoulder and walk away.

As she passed Faal she said, "He's all yours."

Faal turned to look at the other man, who was half way to his feet, a briefcase near at hand. Apparently he'd been knocked down by Faal's blast. " I take it your Knight's man?" He narrowed his eye's at the man and sneered. "You look very familiar... but you couldn't be the man I remember. Nate, Eire... watch him... he does anything stupid and you can do whatever you'd like to him." Faal turned his attention back to Xanatos. Xander had moved up beside him and was kneeling beside Lex. "You don't want to do that Xander." he said just as Xander was about to touch Lex. "Not if you want to keep your arm."Xander raised an eyebrow but quickly stood back up.

He turned to Xanatos. "I understand you like to hurt people." he said and a wisp of power flared out and speared the wound in his shoulder. “Nate's mentioned how you looked at my little flame when they were working that night... and I can see how you've... treated him today.” He turned his eyes full on Xanatos and the man cringed, his face paling as those fierce some eyes focused on him. "I am very tired of you people hurting Lex. I tried to stand aside and let him handle it as much as I could, but enough is enough." He turned a look to Rhett. ”If you live, tell Knight and I will come after him and Ravenscourt if either of them seek to harm this boy again." Without even turning to look at Xanatos, he summoned the sword and threw it, impaling him to the car. "And it will end there."

Faal ignored the sword as it flared and it and the body began to glow and fade as he stooped and swept Lex into his arms.

Rhett turned and with out a word began walking away before Nate or Eire could do anything. He chunked the brief case into the water, with a slight smirk. Oh yes, Knight would get the message.

Near by lay the body of Knight's real man. Rhett had assassinated him to take care of this, but obviously Lexine's guardian had gotten there before had to do anything.

*
Eire started to stop the man walking away, when his nose twitched and he saw the body laying in the shadows. He raised an eyebrow, looking back and forth between the man walking away as he chunked the brief case and the body and looked at Nate with confusion. "I don't think that was Knight's man..."

*
Aiyla held up a ring of keys to the shackles after Faal had scooped up Lex, who was conscious, but thankfully the drug had numbed most of the pain. But he would like to get out of the bloody shackles and at least get something to cover his knickers.

Faal looked at the keys and released the cocoon a round Lex. They watched it swirl uncertain for a moment then sort of disappear into Faal. Aiyla hesitated only a second before quickly undoing the shackles, which Xander took from her and hurled out over the water.

Eire squatted down and tried to reach the briefcase which was slowly starting to sink just out of reach. "Wha' are ye doin'?" Nate asked, one eye on Eire the other on Rhett.

Eire growled in frustration. "Payoff money.. gotta be.."

Nate snorted as the case shifted and a burst of bubbles signaled it’s plummet beneath the water. "Damn. Would've been good evidence." Eire grumbled, crouched on the water's edge, then got up, moving over to the other body. He rolled it over, inspecting it. He was sure he'd seen the man before with Knight.

"That man...who walked away, that was NOT Knight's man!" Eire said, standing. "This is! Who the fuck was that other guy!? And why'd he chunk the money?!"

"Does it matter?" Aiyla asked from her spot. She wished she'd had a jacket for Lex, who was listening to all of them, but rather unable to move much or speak. She glanced back at Xanatos car. She thought maybe she'd feel a bit bitter that she hadn't done it, but then Faal deserved to do it more after what Xanatos and his pets had done to Lex. And in a way, Maya was avenged.

"Yes, it does!" Eire protested. "This fucker's name was Right! He was a fuckin' captain in the Illuminatie!" Eire was suddenly kicking very viciously at the body, over and over, with a feral snarl. The man had made his life hell for two years.

Faal felt Lex shiver and set him on his feet, shrugged out of his jacket and placed it around his shoulders. Lex eyed the gun, reaching tentative fingers out towards it. "It's an emergency sort of thing.. I didn't use it. It turned out not be necessary... I was a tad angrier then I thought..."

He glanced down at the pool of light that was all that remained of the sword and body, then turned to face Aiyla. "Maya rests now." He scooped Lex back up and carried him to the car, setting him on the seat. "Eire.. you're beating a dead man. Get in the car or walk home."

Xander was leaning against the back of the car, watching everything. "Hey...somethin' just occurred to me..." He said, looking thoughtful.

Eire had stopped kicking the dead man, "Wha?!" He growled.

Xander ignored him. "Does this mean Lex won the bet? I mean, he's out of the skirt."

Aiyla started laughing and had to actually sit down on the ground, a bit overwhelmed by everything. She heard a weak giggle from the car and glanced at Lex who was curled up on the passenger’s seat. "I guess it does." Aiyla said stifling her laughter finally.

Eire went back to kicking the dead body for a couple more times before stalking toward the car. He shoved at Xander, who shoved him back.

"Well, actually, he only won the first part of the bet...but considering the circumstances, we can forgo the rest of it." Aiyla said as she, Eire, Nate and Xander climbed into the back seat.

She leaned over the passanger's seat, which probably put her rear end right in Nate's face, but she hardly cared at the moment, and doubted really that Nate would care either. She grabbed Lex's hand, inspecting the burn on the palm. "How did this happen?" She asked.

When Lex didn't answer she sighed and let go of his wrist, having a good idea of how. "Faal, would you be so kind as to drop me off back at the Dark Room?" She asked, still leaning on the passanger's seat.

"What for?" Xander asked from his spot.

"Never your mind, Xander. I have some things I need to take care."

"Ye don't need t' go back there." Nate said from behind her.

"Oh yes, I do." Aiyla replied firmly. "I have some things I need to take care. I'll walk if Faal doesn't want to. But I'm going back there, and the sooner the better." She planted herself on Nate's lap, ignoring his look.

Lex pulled Faal's jacket tighter around him, curled up on the passangers seat, took a deep breath, and asked in a very soft and broken voice, it was almost hard for anyone to hear him. "Is it...really...nessasery for you...to go back there, Aiyla?"

 But Aiyla heard him. "Yes, it is. And by the way, I hope you're happy with yourself!" She leaned back over the seat again to give him a dark look. "Making us run off to the rescue again. Its a wonder none of us are tired of saving your ass all the time...I'm about ready to suggest chaining you to your bed!"

Lex didn't say anything, and only retreated further into the jacket, closing his eyes.

"You look like shit, Lex, covered in bruises, scraps and cuts. If I didn't know you so well, I'd say you're a bloody attention whore. Gods...if something happened to you..." She trailed off, realizing Lex was crying. With a wince, she settled back down on Nate's lap.

"Ye could say thank ye, ye know." Eire said from his spot, then Aiyla smacked him with such viciousness that Eire was stunned to silence. She gave him a dark look, then shot Xander one, daring him to open his mouth, but Xander was wisely keeping it shut.

As much as she'd wanted to make Lex feel guilty for scaring the shit out of all of them, she HATED to see Lex cry. There was just something about it when he cried, it rather wrenched her heart.

And unbeknownst to probably everyone else in the car, Aiyla had seen it more and more often with Lex, since he and Faal had come back from that little inn. He'd told her it hadn't had anything to do with Faal and she knew it didn't. But she had a feeling that not even Faal knew how upset Lex had been lately.

It was one of the reasons she'd made the bet with him, in attempt to get cheer him up some. She was starting to regret it now. She slid an arm around the side of the seat, laying her hand on Lex's shoulder to offer some kind of silent comfort, but she winced, feeling his body shaking with silent sobs.

"I'll drop you off. I may need directions back though, I wasn't really paying attention..." Faal said as he drove.

Taking the corners as Ailya called them out, they returned to the club at a more sedate pace. "Do you want us to wait, or should one of us come back for you?" He turned and peered back at her. "Perhaps Nate should stay with you and we can send a car for the both of you. Those two are still in there. They might have regained conciousness by now... if they're alive... I never bothered to check."

"That's one of the reasons I'm here." Aiyla said, opening the car door. "No, just see to Lex, I'll be fine...I'm not quite as helpless as Lexi." She said with a slight chuckle, before getting out.

She started to close the door, but Nate got out as well. Aiyla glanced at him, bemused, but headed for the club.

The door was still busted in. Aiyla drew one of her guns as she entered. The main room, although dark, was empty. She moved over toward a corner of the bar, opposite the stair well and reached under it, removing the button camera she'd placed there. She glanced at the stair well, before moving toward it, chambering a round in her gun, just in case.

Faal watched the two slip inside before turning his gaze to Eire and Xander. “Either of two care to follow, or would you perfer to return with transportation for the love birds?" He reached across the seat and rubbed Lex's arm suddenly wanting to hold him. "Here... if you both are staying with us, get up front and fight over who drives.. Lex and I will take the back seat."

Lex had had his eyes closed still, although wasn't crying as hard, until he had felt Faal rub his arm. He opened his eyes, which were red from crying and caused more tears to roll down his cheeks, to look at him.

"I'll drive!" Eire said with an elated grin. Xander rolled his eyes, and got out, followed by Eire who was practically bouncing at the chance to drive. Eire glanced at the club, then shrugged. "Meh, they can handle themselves if they get into trouble...I'll just come back and pick 'em up..."

Xander snorted. "That's a best friend for ya."

"Want I should leave ye here?" Eire asked Xander with a look.

'I didn't say that..."

'Then shut yer hole." Eire replied.

Faal handed Eire the keys and went around to get Lex as Xander held the door open. Once he had Lex in his arms, Xander waited until they were in the back seat before closing the door for them and sliding into the front seat.

Faal sat back, pulling Lex into his lap and cuddling him close, letting him cry if he needed to. He poured enough power into him as gently as he could to speed the healing of his various wounds, concentrating on the most painful ones first.

When the car suddenly spun it's tires, before ripping off out of the lot, he suddenly wondered if Xander might not have been a better choice at the wheel.. perhaps Eire's eagerness should have been a warning...

"This is a really nice car though!" Eire said cheerfully.

Xander momentarily looked like he was considering the option of leaping from the car and taking his chances rolling down the street.

Any agression Eire had felt over finding Right dead, and not by his hand, had fled the moment he got behind the wheel. He gleefully sped along.

Lex curled up on Faal's lap, still crying, although not as hard as he had been. He buried his face in Faal's shoulder. He was still sore from being beat up, tossed around, and attempted to be set on fire. Not to menton drugged.

"Man, ya know, Aiyla's kinda right, Lex...ye’re a bit of an attention whore...OUCH! Fuckin' hell if ye hit me again, Xander, I'm gonna shove ya out of this car!" Eire growled, after Xander had smacked him hard upside the head.

Eire's comment had just made Lex start crying harder again. It was always hard to hear things like that from some one you THOUGHT was your best friend...

"Enough Eire." Faal said quietly, his voice firm. "Lex has already been told what a fool thing he's done and I'm sure once he's had time to recover he'll have appologies and thanks for all involved." He tried to cushion Lex as the car took another rather sharp corner. He had an instinctive knowledge that Lex was about to say something rather infuriating so he quickly clamped a hand over his mouth. "Not now Lex. Trust me.. you don't want to say the wrong thing to me right now."

Lex moved his head, from behind Faal's hand and there came the whispered reply. "You...could have left me...there." He was going to say it eventually, now was as good as any time, Lex reasoned.

"Yes, I would!" Xander hissed. "You dont' get it, do you!? He isn't USED to having any one look out for him! He isn't USED to having a guardian! He spent twenty years of his life as Abandon's play thing, do you have any fuckin' clue what thats like?! Hmm?! Do you have any fuckin' clue what's like to be used over, and over again, and have no say in it, not able to fight back?! It's a fuckin' wonder he even survived! You have any idea what it was like, night after night, having to hear him sob, beaten, bruises, whipped, RAPED?!" Xander ended in a yell and caught Lex cringe out of the corner of his eye.

Faal's eyes went completely dark with his anger.. anger at Lex, anger at Xander, but mostly anger at himself. "Yes. I do. Stop the car Eire." He kept his eyes locked on Xander's furious gaze and wondered why, if he cared so much for Lex he always treated him like shit... then asked himself the same thing. "I said, stop the car. Now."

**

Eire took a deep breath and swore to himself under his breath, but pulled over to the side of the road. As soon as the car stopped Faal opened the door and stepped out. "Get him out of here." he said and started to walk away from the car. He felt like he was going to explode from the anger and the power it had built and he desperately needed to be away from them before he lost control and hurt them. He knew they have every right to be angry with him. He knew he'd have to appologize later... but now he needed to find someplace to just... explode...

Eire started to object, but Xander shot him a dark look and said. "DRIVE, Eire!" Eire shot him a glare back but threw the car into gear. Xander heard a strangled sob and looked around the edge of the seat again, to see Lex sobbing silently, his head in his arms on his knees. Xander flung himself back around into his seat with a desperate sigh and stared moodily out the window.

When they got back to the office, Xander said softly to Eire. "We're not going to get him out of this car...you're going to have to go get some one who can..."

Eire stared out the windshield a moment. "Think Kay can?" He asked.

"Maybe...worth a try..." Xander replied. "I'll stay here with him..."

Eire opened his mouth, then nodded, getting out of the car. He headed into the office, in search of Chaos.

Xander leaned back around the seat. "Lex.." He called his name softly and started to reach for him, but the moment his fingers brushed Lex's arm, Lex shot backwards, looking up fearfully, the move so sudden and fast, he smacked the back of his head off the door, but didn't even seem to notice.

Xander sighed again, and dropped his hand, dropping back around in his seat to wait for Eire and Chaos.

"Kay! " Eire's voice preceded him throughout the building and Chaos, noticing the almost paniced tone to it, hurried out to meet him. "What?"

"It's Lex... we need you're help...him and Faal had a fight and well... see for yourself..he's in the car with Xander..."

Chaos frowned and followed Eire back outside, waving the others back inside. When she got to the car, the only person in it was Xander. "I thought you said he was in the car with Xander...?"

Eire sighed. "He is..." He opened the door carefully and Chaos could see Lex huddled on the floor on the far side.

"Ah shit..." She said. "What do I do? I don't know what to do?" She knelt down infront of the door and held out her hand. "Lex... come on hun, let's go inside..."

Eire had snatched his coat before following Chaos back out the car. He figured it would come in handy once they DID get Lex out of the car, seeing as he was still in his knickers and had shed off Faal's jacket.

"It was a right vicious fight too..." Eire muttered.

Lex's gaze jumped fearfully from Chaos, to Eire, and Xander, who'd gotten out of the car to go around where the other two where. But he wouldn't move.

"Could always open the other door and drag him out..." Eire muttered.

Xander shot him a cold look. "Ever heard of flight or fight...that's exactly what he'd do...God I've never felt like hitting some one so bad..."

"Who?! Lex or Faal?" Eire asked.

"Faal you idiot..."Xander muttered. "He didn't need to say what he did, even if he was mad at Lex..."

"Lex hun, come on...its no good for you to keep sitting here..." Chaos said gently.

Lex didn't move for a moment, then slowly, began to creep forward, although he looked as if he'd be ready to dodge away if any of them made a quick swipe for him.

Chaos turned to see the two men crowded behind her. "Back away guys... stop crowding in. Hell, you're making ME clausterphobic...here.. give me that." she said holding out her other hand to Eire. "thank you." she said as he handed her the jacket and they backed up a bit. "It's alright Lex. It's just me, and you know i'd never hurt you... come on out.."

Xander backed away, going to lean against the far wall and was slightly surprised when Eire joined him. "Well, I hope where ever Faal is right now, the bastard's feeling right proud of himself...it's gonna take a fuckin' miracle to get Lex out of this...mood this time..." Xander muttered, staring angrily into the distance.

"I kinda know how he feels..." Eire muttered. "Lex I mean...when Nate and...Michael and Kay rescued me after two years with the Illumantie...I was almost the same way...not submissive, but...not entirely there...everyone was a threat to me...It took Nate and Mike four months to get me to come around..."

"I don't want to think it's gonna take that long with Lex, Eire...I'm just afraid this has completely broken him..." Xander sighed.

"Why you givin' a damn anyway?" Eire asked, giving Xander an appraising look.

"For Evie..." Xander replied, although it was only half a truth... "She loved the kid like a son..." Xander sighed. "Wish she was here..."

Lex finally responded, crawling out of the car very slowly. He cast frightened glances in Eire and Xander's direction, his eyes very wide. Everything Faal had said was replaying over and over again in his mind, but other wise his mind was completely blank, except for the voice keeping him submissive and silent.

When Chaos went to place the coat around his shoulders, he flinched openly, started to scramble away, but Chaos got the coat around him.

"Exactly how bad was this fight?" She asked Eire and Xander.

"Obviously bad enough..." Xander muttered. "If it's caused him to be that submissive again...I'm not about to repeat what was said..."

Chaos sighed and pulled Lex against her, cradling him in her arms and making soothing sounds as best she could. She took a moment to slip out of her jacket with out letting go of Lex then called her wings out so she could wrap them around him too, offering as much of a safe coccoon as she could.

Lex allowed himself to be embraced safely, shutting his eyes. But there was a voice in the back of his mind that said that this wasn't who he wanted to be embraced by. He still said nothing.

Xander had to turn and walk away. He couldn't stand there any longer. It was too much to see Lex like that and not be able to do anything. If he thought he stood any chance against Faal would have gone to hunt him down. He wondered if Faal had any real clue what he'd done. And how he could have done it.

It was one thing for Xander to be an ass to Lex...Lex had been able to stand on his own against Xander. He thought briefly that Rowen probably hadn't even done this much to Lex.

Then he realized something numbing...Lex must really love Faal for his words to have effected him like that, and that twisted another knife in Xander's heart.

He stormed out of the room, out side, around the corner of the building and when he thought he was safe enough away, he let out a yell. "HOPE!"

There was a shimmering of air, and a rift opened behind him, waiting for him to enter. Xander turned and stormed into it.

When he emerged, he was in a stone chamber. The only other person in it was a very beautiful red headed young woman, weaving at a loom. When she raised her eyes, it was obvious she was blind.

"Problems Xander Caine?" Hope asked softly.

”Did you intend for him to go back to being so bloody submissive, to the point that it's just...he's broken!" Xander growled.

Hope turned her eyes back to her weaving and continued working. "Only Faal can fix this..." She said evenly.

"Great, in the mean time while we all wait for him to come to his senses, we have to bare watching Lexine like that!" Xander winced suddenly as she looked up suddenly, even through the milky white of the blindness her eyes flashed.

"Then I suggest you go back and bare it as is your cross and reprieve for your sins, Xander Caine." she said, although her tone was still even, there was something frightening in her.

And suddenly Xander found himself again back in the parking lot out side the building. He swore, kicked a rock and stalked back toward the building.

Chaos slowly maneuvered Lex into her office where she closed the door, keeping everyone outside, hoping he would feel safer that way.. she wished she knew what she was doing.. and what had happened to put him in this state...

Lex huddled into Eire's coat deeper, and his eyes looked blankly about the office, not really seeing it. But he was vaguely aware of the fact that it had been Chaos who had escorted him in there.

And he had to speak before all the voices in his head drove him absolutely crazy...or crazier then he already was. He took a deep breath and said very softly, without even looking at Chaos. "He's mad at me..." His voice was so soft and lost sounding there was a tiny bit of him that was appalled at him for it.

Then he was moving toward the couch in the corner, before pratically falling on it, his head buried in his arms, but he couldn't cry, as much as he felt like it, he also felt like he had nothing left in him, no emotions. He was numb for the first time in a very long time and he hated it.

**
Faal walked until he found himself alone in the center of a burned out foundation of a building, long since reduced to the concrete with a scattering of garbage. He closed his eyes, seeing first Lex laying there bound and injured, then Lex huddled on the floor in fear of him..

He felt something snap inside himself and crashed to his knees, unheeding of the broken masonry that dug into his knees. He dug his hands into what little dirt lay scattered over the broken cement and focused on taking all the anger and power he had and forcing it out of him, into the ground beneath him.

He screamed his pain and rage as he felt as if something where burning him from the heart out and he changed tactics.. instead of pouring the anger out, he focused his thoughts on Lex and his love... he felt the burn shift slightly and tears suddenly poured down his face as he collapsed further, the power pooling around him where he sat huddled on the ground... "Sweet Terra.. what have I done..."

"An excellent question, Faal,  but a bit late to ask, I think." Came a voice from near by, where a bit of wall stood. Estehl was sitting on it casually, watching Faal. He'd felt the power shift, and appeared.

"The problem is, you're not helping matters by running away." He added. "And I'm afraid you're going to lose Lexine to being a submissive slave again, if you don't hurry..."

Faal looked at Estehl, not caring about the dirt and filth covering his legs and hands, or the tears covering his face. He took a ragged breath and forced himself to his feet, nodding at Estehl. Without another thought he did something he rarely did.. opened a rift and shifted through then focused on Lex and opened a second one.

He stepped through into the middle of Chaos's office, his gaze locking on Lex automatically.

Chaos sucked in her breath at his appearance and after taking note of his face, left the room, locking the door behind her.

Faal took the two steps to reach the couch and reached out a tentative hand towards Lex...his voice a ragged whisper. "Little flame... forgive me.. please...I'm so sorry..."