Title: Teamwork
Author: Christine
Email: Buffygirl43@hotmail.com
Rating: R
Summary: While most of the Scooby Gang is in England restoring the Watcher's Council, Xander and Dawn stay behind in Cleveland.
Author's Notes: This takes place about a year after 'Chosen'.
Disclaimer: Xander and Dawn, nor any other BtVS character is mine, doesn't that just suck? I should write a letter.

The Xurquios demon who is furiously flapping its leathery wings only a hundred feet in front of us begins to move slowly in our direction. I can see a thin string of drool hanging over the side of its mouth; its eyes are brightly glowing red orbs. I swear if looks could kill, Dawn and I would both be dead right about now. I feel her squeezing my hand tightly and she glances at me, silently questioning what to do. I shake my head slowly and grip the ax in my other hand while trying to formulate some sort of plan in my head. Running would be the best option, but I figure that this demon would probably catch us pretty quick anyway. I glance down at the thing's claws on its feet and cringe. Even without the paralyzing effect, the claws would definitely rip a nice gash into someone. I glance at Dawn and I see that she still has the tranquilizer gun still in her other hand. I slowly begin to walk backwards, still holding onto her hand.

"How many darts are still in that thing?"

She whispers back to me. "I don't know, I think like three."

"Think you can shoot it really quickly?"

She looks at me and I see the doubt in her eyes. "I'll try."

She nods and quicker then I thought she could, she aims the weapon at the demon and pulls the trigger. It goes into its chest, but it doesn't slow it down. I see her aim again and it hits the thing in its leg. This time it makes the same ear piercing screech that its offspring had made and beelines straight for Dawn. Before I can even lift up my ax, its wing pushes me off to the side and I see its claws rake Dawn across her arm. I'm up off of the ground before the thing can do anything else to her and I swing my ax up and it makes a sickening noise as its right leg falls to the ground. Another wail escapes the demon and I duck as its other set of claws try to get me. I bring the ax up underneath the hovering demon and it goes right into its chest. The thing flails in the air for a moment before crashing down to the ground. It stops moving, but I don't want to take any chances so I drive the ax through its neck, severing its head. I drop the ax and run to Dawn who's slumped over holding her arm. I kneel to her level and look at her wound. "Can you move it? Giles said the claws paralyze."

She shook her head. "It's numb, but it feels like its going away." She glances over at the body of the demon and then back at her arm. "Maybe cause you killed it?"

I shrug. "I guess so. Its still a bad gash though."

"And it ruined my shirt too. Stupid demon." She struggles to stand up and I let her lean on me as she gets up. I see a thoughtful expression cross her pretty face. "Maybe I can cut the sleeves and make it a tank top?"

I raise my eyebrows. "How about we just get you another shirt at the store."

She smiles happily and links her arm with mine, leaning into me as we start walking back to the apartment. "Just as long as I don't have to pay for it."

I push 'end' on the cordless phone as I see Dawn walking back into the living room. "What did Giles say?"

I pat the spot next to me on the couch for her to sit down on. "You know, the usual 'Good lords' and glasses wiping. He was just glad the thing didn't eat us for dinner."

She gives me a small smile as she flops down next to me. I glance at her arm and cringe when I see the claw marks. "Did you wash out the cut?"

"Yeah, I'm surprised you didn't hear me cursing in the bathroom just now when I poured peroxide into it." She looks at it for a second before continuing. "I'm just letting it air out a minute before I bandage it."

She playfully pushes my arm. "You were really brave out there. You saved my ass."

"Hey you were the one who shot it twice with the tranquilizer gun. If you hadn't done that, it probably would have been too strong."

She smiles. "We make a good team."

"That we do."

She picks up the remote control and turns on the TV as she leans into me, her head resting on my shoulder. I try not to think of the proximity of how close she is to me right now and I look down at my hands, but at the same time I can see right down her tank top and I yank my head back up to look at the TV instead. She moves again and nestles her body even closer to mine. Every fiber of my being right now is telling me to turn her head and kiss her, but the logical part of me, the one that for the longest time has been telling me not to have feelings for her because she's Buffy sister, is screaming at me not to. She moves her head and looks at me as I try focusing on the infomercial about the new Tae-Bo dvds. "Is something wrong?"

Reluctantly I turn away from the screen. Her lips are pouting and she has a confused look upon her face. "What?"

"You're all tense, are you okay?"

I nod my head, but I can tell already that she knows I'm lying. "I know something is wrong Xander, you're a terrible liar." She flips her long hair back behind her ears and waits for my response.

"Uh – its nothing." I see her raise her eyebrows. "Honestly."

"Uh huh. Right." She rolls her eyes at me and crosses her arms, waiting for me to spill. "Xander we've been living together for almost a year. Not counting the years before that where we practically lived under the same roof anyway. I know you – I know something is up and I'm not gonna leave you alone until you tell me what it is."

A sigh escapes my lips. "If I tell you, you'll get weirded out, and then it'll be uncomfortable and we won't be able to get past it, and you'll think I'm crazy and then- "

"Xander, what the HELL are you talking about?" Her face has an unmistakably bewildered look upon it.

I get up from the couch and pace across the living room as I try to tell her how I feel. "Dawn, I just..." I stop mid-pace and look at her curled up on the couch. "I think that sometime over the past year, my feelings for you have changed."

The perplexed look on her face starts to fade. "And?"

"And as much as I shouldn't, I can't help noticing you're not a little girl anymore. You're not the little kid sister of Buffy's; you're a beautiful young woman who I can't for the life of me stop thinking about lately. I know you only see me as a friend, as a big brother type, and that's okay, that's- "

I fail to notice her standing right in front of me. "When did you get off of the-"

Her lips are on mine before I can finish talking. For all the times I've fantasized about kissing Dawn, this kiss surprises me. I had envisioned her being inexperienced, yet innocent at the same time. Boy, was I wrong. I can feel her tongue dart out to trace the outline of my lips and automatically I open my mouth, inviting her in. I can feel her grip the back of my head, pulling me closer to her, tilting her head for better access. She pulls away suddenly, her eyes awash with lust. "I don't see you as my big brother Xander. I haven't for a long time now."

I open my mouth to speak, but nothing comes out. A sly grin spreads across her delicate features and suddenly her mouth is on mine again, teasing my senses. She breaks the kiss and whispers into my ear. "I've been waiting for this longer then you'll ever know."

I raise my eyebrows. "I hope I don't disappoint you."

Her lips hover over mine before closing the gap. "You're Xander Harris, you couldn't disappoint me if you tried."

I just smile as my lips touch hers again.

Okay guys, should I continue this fic, I could make it like a 'Xander/Dawn adventure series' like with them living on their own in Cleveland, or just leave it as it is. It's all up to you! :)