Defintion of Human
Round 1, Part 2
Deana

The darkness was thick and heavy filling every corner including a small 7 by 10 window. Once it was his only salvation, his only light, where he had watched Spender walk away leaving him to die. Now the window was blacked out swallowing, absorbing light much as the alien life form did as it entered him. Even now when it left him he was faced once again with the hollow emptiness that the dark offered him.

It seemed like an eternity since Spender had left him here. Left him to die trapped in a silo in the middle of nowhere. Breathing slowly, he once again started talking to himself, 'Concentrate on every breath, inhale and exhale. You're alive, not going to give up, can't give up. Just think of Mulder, and how happy you could make him-now that you can be his living X file. Imagine what tests Scully will put you through just to determine whether we're human or not. Fuck, I don't even know anymore.' Strange as it seemed thinking about being Mulder and Scully's lab rat it was his high point for the day.

He felt along the wall to his right to find the scratches. Scratches he made to try and indicate how many days he'd been trapped. Nothing but guesses really, but one of the few things that helped his sanity. Feeling each ragged scratch he counted six altogether. Six days without food, without water, that he couldn't stop the one question foremost in his mind was he still human? By natural definition he wasn't. By natural definition he should be dead maybe not by Mulder's definition, but by Scully's. She plays by the rules of science. And by natural assessment of what defines a human essentially includes eating, drinking, and breathing. Trying living without breathing------- Especially if one went by the fact that he hadn't eaten, nor had anything to drink in days, and when the oilan took over his body crawling to every opening. It infused each opening slowly traveling studying him, throughout his body through every major organ.

No, the oilian would enter him roughly once a day for what he imaged and hoped was only for an hour or so. He hated thinking that it was possibly longer. But it was so hard to know exactly. After so many days without food never mind water by all rights he should be dead, but that thing would just ooze into his body forcing his conscious mind into a smaller dark prison within his own mind.

Relief would be there once it left, but his fear grew as he acknowledged that it was keeping him alive. For what purpose he didn't know, but surviving and staying, as its plaything for eternity was beyond his scope of acceptability.

-oo0oo-

Scully ignored Mulder's more impolite silence since they arrived at the Harris home, and turned back to Mrs. Harris, "Oh, one more thing Mrs. Harris, if you happen to hear from Alexander could let us know. Here's our number, we just have a couple of questions for him regarding his medical treatment after the swim-team incident."

Mulder couldn't resist staring at Mr. Harris as all his instincts kept flashing red flags until he felt Scully nudge his arm as she past him on the porch stairs indicting they should leave. "Well, again thank you for your help, Mr. Harris. Mrs. Harris." As Mulder reluctantly followed and nodded as Scully thanked them.

Opening her door Scully asked, "Ok, so what was all that about?" Mulder indicated with a quick movement of his head and smiled, "Not here." Scully looked over and waved as Mrs. Harris stood watching them off as her husband turned and entered the house.

Mulder started the car and drove off.

Mr. Harris approached his wife holding the phone. "Get the fuck in here, where's that card?" Grabbing the card he barely restrained himself when he heard someone on the other end. "You got do something, the fucking FBI where here asking about that brat of ours. No I told you they took him yesterday, with no problems. Listen we're not going to be taking the fucking fall on this. Your end fucked up, we've done everything you asked, if you don't do.... Yeah, ok, ah their names Mulder, Fox Mulder, and Dana Scully, should have been Dana Fox with that red hair---Hey, you're going to take care of this right. Right well see that you do." Mrs. Harris watched her husband hung up the phone muttering about needing a drink. Without thinking she went to get her husband his drink, trying not to think about what had brought the FBI to their home.

-oo0oo-

After leaving the Harris house they rode in silence until they pulled up in front of a store named 'The Magic Box'. Scully looked over the shop then turned toward Mulder, "So are you going to explain to me what happened back there?"

Mulder took a breath, "It was just a feeling. We're not going to get anything from the Harris'. We got to find that boy Scully." Without another word Mulder opened the door, and stood on the curb for a second waiting for her.

Exasperated and curious about what was going through her partner's complex mind; she stepped out of the car and followed her partner into the shop as he opened the door ringing the bell above the door announcing there entrance.

Scully watched as three people were milling around while this one guy who struck a remarkable resemblance to Billy Idol a hard rocker of the eighties; sat back on a bookshelf counter swinging his legs banging the cabinet beneath him as if he was annoyed.

"Spike quit that, or you won't get your package." A red hair announced before turning back to clearing off a table full of opened books. Scully turned hiding her smile, and brought her attention back to Mulder. He cleared his throat, before he addressed the girl behind the counter. "Excuse me, but I'm looking for a Rupert Giles. Is he here?" The girl smiled back, "Mr. Giles will be right back he's just in the stockroom. Is there anything I can help you with?" The blonde girl seemed a bit shy, but friendly. Mulder smiled back, "No, thank you. We'll wait." He left the counter appearing to browse various items on the shelves.

The back door opened followed by an English accent, "Ah, here you go Ma'am. I believe this will do the trick for you. Just follow the instructions to the letter." The woman, who had been browsing the crystals necklaces, looked up as she was addressed, "Oh, Thank you Mr. Giles. I will. Thank you again for your help." The woman leaned in closer as he passed her the package, and asked in throaty matter, "Are you sure there's nothing else I can do for you? Dinner perhaps?"

Scully watched as the man turned a shade of red running a close second to her hair, and start to fluster about trying to get his someone's attention to help him, but they seemed to enjoy watching him lose his composure. "I..that is..."

Stepping up behind the woman Scully cleared her throat and put on a big smile, "Ahm, excuse me, I was wondering if you could help me?" The woman looked back at her then over at Mr. Giles reaction, and knew she lost his attention for now.

The man threw her a grateful smile, "Yes, yes of course." Turning back to the other woman, "I'm sorry, Mrs. Birch, as you can see now's not really a good time. Please to come back another time if you have any problems with the spell, I'm sure Willow will be more than happy to go over anything with you. Isn't that right Willow?" He turned toward the other red head, who nervously smiled back, "Oh, yeah sure. I can do that any time Mrs. Birch." He politely smiled again, "Now if you'll excuse this young woman has been waiting." Mrs. Birch huffed as she turned and stormed out of the shop.

"Good going Rupes, no wonder you've got such an active social life." The blond man smirked, and the redhead tried to stifle a giggle. Giles glared over at the man, and moved over to the redhead girl. He turned back to the woman waiting for him, "If you'll excuse me for just one moment."

The redhead side stepped before he could grab her, and clasped the blond girl's hand, "Ah, you all set Tara, I think we better go, gotta do that thing, right?" The blond opened her mouth then nodded, "Yeah, that--that---th-thing. Sorry Mr. Giles. We have that thing." The redhead pulled the blond closer into a hug then kissed her cheek as she pulled her out the door yelling quickly behind her, "We'll let Buffy know, about the schedule change. Bye."

He started after them for a moment muttering under his breath about woman. "I hope you don't think that way about all woman?" He looked back at the young woman before him confused for a moment before answering, "Ah no, I'm sorry. What may I help you with?"

Scully smiled at the man she liked his accent, "Mr. Giles, Rupert Giles?"

At her formal address he knew she wasn't here as a customer, standing taller more alert, and very wary, "Yes, what can I do for you?" Scully noticed the changed and cringed inside before reaching for her badge, and turning nodding toward her partner, "I'm special Agent Dana Scully, and my partner Mulder I would like to ask you a few questions. About a young man Alexander Harris, he seems to be missing?"

Giles finally noticed the man walking over and looked at the badge, 'FBI'. Flustered, he gasped out, "Missing? Xander? Good lord, when, what happened?"

Scully's smile softened over the man's response acknowledging that this man cared more for the boy than his own parents did; even the blond who had jumped off the counter, and stood beside the older man in a protective stance. A stance that belied the harsh words he spoke, "How do you know the git's missing? Saw him not even two days ago. Looked right fine stuffing his face with more Twinkies, and a right disgusting sight too."

Mulder came over to stand by Scully and address the man's question, "Not officially missing. We'd just like to find him, and ask a few have some questions about some medical treatments he had a few years ago when he was on his High School swim team. We've checked his family, and at work..." He watched for a reaction, and found the older man pulling his glasses off beginning to polish them calmly. "We talked to his parents, and they mentioned he went on a trip a few months back, and thought maybe he took off again since he broke up with his girlfriend, an Anya Emerson. Mr. Harris' foremen gave us your name. Seems your listed in case of an emergency. Thought you might be able to shed some light on where he might be-if he did take off."

"Ah, I see that's how you got my name. Yes, Xander left on a road trip a few months ago, but has been back for a while. And yes, he and Anya did break up, but it was mutual with no hard feelings." Giles answered quietly contemplating why the FBI where really involved.

"Do you have a number, or address where we can reach her?" Mulder asked as he studied the tow men.

"No, I'm afraid I don't. She was able to return to a previous job when an opening became available. She jumped at the chance." Giles looked Mulder in the eyes then replaced his glasses.

"Are you sure of his reaction to the break-up-that it was amicable?" Scully inquired.

"Yeah, the git was just fine. They had a good run, but it was more just the physical between them. She was a good bird, and he was happy for her." The blond spouted off.

Giles whispered, "Spike, please." And raised his hand to Spike's shoulder to calm them both down, and was thankful the witches had left.

Mulder turned his attention to the blond and asked, "And your name's, Spike?"

Spike leaned in closer, "Right, Spike, Mr. William Spike Bloody. Bloody with two o's."

"I think got that, and you're a friend of Mr. Harris'?" Mulder continued.

Spike started laughing, "You could say that."

The redhead asked, "And you'd say?"

He looked over at the petite redhead who was full of spirit, not unlike their own redhead. Unable to stop himself from leering in her direction he answered, "I'd say we were roomies for a short time. He helped me when I was in-between places. And don't call 'im Mr. Harris. That's that wanker of a father he's addled with. Xander's nothing like 'im."

Neither Mulder, nor Scully could hide their grins since they had similar sediments concerning the Harris'

"Well I'd like to leave a card. Again we'd just like to question him on some past medical treatments he received." Scully handed over the card to Mr. Giles. Before giving him a bright smile, "We appreciate your time and help. Please call day, or night---" Scully paused looking right at Giles, "---with any information, of course. We'll be in town for a few more days before heading back to Washington."

Scully blushed as she heard the blond snort at her attempt of flirting, but looked back up to see the man smiling with his own blush. Scully smiled, happy to know he wouldn't blame her for the unsettling news about the Harris boy. He reached out to shake her hand as he softy caressed his thumb over her hand "Yes, yes of course, Dana, I mean, Miss Scully. It was a pleasure to meet you as well-even under the circumstances." Turning, and with more formality he shook the other agents hand before he watched them walk out.

"Alright Watcher they're gone. Gonna call the witches back, to find out what happened to the boy?" Spike asked.

"Good lord no. And not Buffy either." Giles announced as he started toward to door and turned the sign indicting that the store was now closed as he bustled around grabbing different ingredients throwing them into a bowl, and lighting candles.

Spike spat out, "Wot, know twinkie boy means more to ya than that."

Giles looked confused stopping what he was doing before he recalled what Spike had just said, "What, of course he does."

"Well, then why? Why the spying, why not calling in the Calvary for one of your scoobie deals?"

Exasperated Giles looked sternly at the vampire as he lit the ingredients in the bowl, "I had you spying, as you call it just for this reason. I was afraid might happen to Xander, but medically not this. Buffy is needed here, and focused on her duty guarding the Hellmouth. With, Willow she'll want to charge in with magic to fix everything, and Tara would follow her. Magic she's not prepared, or strong enough for yet. "

"Yeah what did the poof get into?" Spiked inquired as he watched the smoke spiral up changing colors as it neared the ceiling.

"Nothing more than he does every day try to protect us. Remember what they said about his medical treatment in High School?" Spike nodded before Giles continued, "Xander went undercover when different members of the team started to disappear. Only they didn't disappear, but started to transform into these sea-creatures. It seems the swim coach wanted a winning team and was able to get a hold of this Russian formula to enhance the team."

"Wot he injected them that formula?" Spike asked.

"No not injected, he was more subtle. Had them inhale, and absorb it through stream baths. The medical treatment was after to flush out their systems-those who didn't disappear and turn into those creatures."

Spike whistled, "Red's right boy's a complete demon magnet."

"Be that as it may. I took it upon myself to keep an eye on him and the others for any long-term effects. At first there didn't appear to be any. Then one by one each student died. At first I thought it was Hellmouth related, but four of the team members had moved away. I was informed shortly after Xander left on his road trip that the last boy died. I used a few questionable resources to get a copy of their autopsy. Just like the other boys they could find no medical reason as to why their immune systems failed."

"Oi, you've had all this information and didn't say, or do anything?" Spike gasped at the possible meaning why the Watched didn't do something.

"Shut Up Spike! I did do something. And there was no sense to say anything to Xander and have him worry. None of the others were abducted. I thought it was more a medical substance for which I didn't have any proof of anything."

"Abducted? Someone abducted Xander?"

Giles frowned as he looked down into the bowl and the location spell he enacted, "Yes, it looks that way. The spell I cast confirms it Xander's alive, but no longer on the Hellmouth."

-oo0oo-

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