Xander ducked as a demon went flying over his head, despite his misgivings earlier this was actually fun. Unlike his friends, Jett was including him in the fighting. It made him feel like he was capable of helping his friends.

Spying a demon about to sneak up on Jett Xander shouted, "Watch out!"

Xander soon realised the howling demons meant would mean his warning would go unheeded. Acting on instinct, Xander ran forward intent on saving his friend. He managed to get between Jett and demon just as the demon delivered the killing blow.

As his stomach was cut open Xander fell to the ground, dizziness overtaking him. He was amazed at the way he could feel the blood flowing from his body, it was kind of weird. He was lying on the ground thinking how weird it was when he felt someone approaching.

"What did you do to him?"" Spike asked seriously having caught the unmistakable scent of Xander's blood. He didn't like the thought of the boy dying. Spike had plans for the boy and nothing was going to stop him from carrying them out.

Jett snarled at the vampire who was now standing next to Xander's bleeding form, "Fuck off baccae! He was trying to protect me. I should have told him that it takes a lot to kill a god.

"Fuck! We're taking him to hospital, you can carry him!" Spike said seriously knowing he couldn't carry the injured man with his chip.

"No time for that." Jett commented picking up Xander and disappearing in a flash of sparks.

"Bloody Hell!" Spike exclaimed in shock as he looked at the spot the pair had been just seconds before.

"Grandmother! Help!" Jett shouted as he materialised in Gaia's home still holding Xander's bleeding form.

"What's wrong?" Gaia asked quickly as she ran over to them, gasping when she saw Xander's wound.

Jett snarled angrily, "He was hurt protecting me and I can't heal him!"

"What! If you don't he's going to die." Gaia said knowing how much depended upon Xander.

"He can't die. I like him." Jett said tenderly cradling Xander's body.

Gaia said sorrowfully, "If it is his fate you can't stop it, Grandchild."

"Fuck the rules. I want him to live and no one is taking him from me!" Jett shouted as Xander opened his eyes.

Xander gasped out, "Promise you'll get that guy, Jett? I only wish I could have gotten to know you properly. Maybe in the next life, huh?"

With that Xander died in the arms of the last remaining Olympian who felt a strange emptiness in his heart as he looked at Xander. It felt as if he was missing something and he couldn't figure out what.

"GAIA, something's happened to the Kid!" Auto cried out alarmed as he ran into the room.

"He died. I'm going to wake Uncle Hades up and make him give Xander back." Jett said in a determined tone.

*******

Spike started walking towards the Magic Box knowing he had to inform the witch about Xander's disappearance if only to cover himself. He knew once they discovered Xander missing he would be the first person they would suspect of killing him, even if he wasn't responsible.

"Red, the Whelp is in a bit of trouble." Spike drawled as he walked inside to find the rest of the Slayerettes there talking.

Grabbing Spike by the neck and squeezing Buffy shouted, "What do you mean trouble? If you've done anything to him, you're dust!"

"He was taken by some weird looking guy dressed in black. One minute I was having an argument with the guy, the next he had disappeared with the Whelp."

Walking over to his books Giles said quickly, "What did this stranger look like? Did you get his name or anything?"

With an exaggerated frown Spike answered, "Black hair, dressed in black and called me a baccae. He disappeared in a flash of sparks. I think he said something about being a god."

"Black hair, baccae, sparks. Bloody hell, it was Ares. What would he want with Xander?"

"The God of War's kidnapped Xander? Okay, my life just got way weirder than normal." Buffy said with a pout.

"Well show me a picture and I'll tell you if its him!" Spike said wanting to get away if they were indeed planning an assault on the God of War.

Giles brought over a book detailing the pictures of the Gods according to the Amazon Queen Gabrielle who had managed to defeat the gods in a violent battle. He waited patiently for Spike to answer and was shocked when the vampire pointed to another picture.

"That's the guy!" Spike declared pointing at the picture of Jett.

Reading over her Watcher's shoulder Buffy asked, "Who's Jett?"

Giles started his lecture, "Jett is one of triplets, the only sons of Eris, Goddess of Discord and Hephasteus God of the Forge. The triplets were exiled to live as mortals as punishment for claiming vengeance on Zeus after the God raped their mother. They were mortal for hundreds of years. At the time of their punishment the three were only 600 years old which is very young for a god."

"How did he get his powers back and why has he got Xander?"

Giles sighed, "He's the Greek God of Justice. As a mortal he was an assassin and killed people, many of whom had committed terrible crimes. I can only assume that Xander is the next person to be on the receiving end of Jett's Justice."

"We have to go and save him!" Buffy shouted pacing around the room.

Giles smiled indulgently, "It won't be that easy. I don't know any spell to find him and he's not going to just walk in the door."

At that precise moment Jett and Auto walked in the door, having decided they needed someone else who was used to deciphering strange prophecies. It was Gaia who had suggested speaking Rupert Giles after the pair failed to make made any sense of the prophecy.

"I have need of your help, Mr Giles." Jett said with a pleasant grin, doing his best to look harmless.

Spike smirked, "Where's the Whelp? Bored you already?"

"Olympus. I've decided not to punish you Spike, but one wrong move or bad word about Xander and you will receive Justice for everything you have done." Jett said with a growl making the vampire spin in the air with a look.

"What do you want? And why do you care about Xander?" Buffy said ready to attack.

Jett said scowling at them, "Xander cried out for Justice and I'm here. All I want is to fulfil Xander's wish and catch up with some family. I care about Xander because no one else does."

"We care about him!" Willow protested eagerly.

Auto said looking at the blonde vampire, "Right (!) Coming Spike? I have a feeling you could be useful."

"Where are we going?" Spike asked arching an eyebrow arrogantly.

Jett sighed, "To catch up with Hercules. We'll need his help unfortunately."

Having read about how much the Gods hated Hercules Giles said curious, "Why do you need to find him?"

Jett explained slowly as if taking to a child, "He is the key to getting my family back and without my family Xander will be dead permanently."

"Dead? What did you do to him?" Willow asked accusingly.

Jett said with a pained smile, "Nothing. He was killed trying to protect me. Something that was both foolish and noble. My brother will let me resurrect Xander and Hades wouldn't have a lot of say once Joxer decided."

"Joxer? The idiot on that Xena: Warrior Princess show?" Buffy asked in confusion.

Jett said in a bored tone, "That idiot as you call him is the King of the Gods and my brother. He's the best one for the job and he actually cares about mortals instead of being only concerned with what he can get out of them."

"But.Gabrielle said she killed the King of the Gods herself in a fierce battle." Tara stated in confusion.

Jett laughed ruefully, "Yeah right (!) She was in a mood ever since discovering Joxer is a God. She hated the Gods, blaming them for every little problem. The bottom line is that without waking up my brother I can't get Xander back."

"We'll come then. Seven heads are better than one." Dawn said glaring at her sister when Buffy started to protest.

Jett said with a shrug, "You and Spike can come. The witches should stay here with the Watcher and research. They're good at it and the Slayer should stay and protect the Hellmouth."

*******

Cupid woke slowly the feeling of a breaking heart burning through him. He went to sit up but stopped when he felt someone holding onto him. Opening his eyes he looked at Strife and grinned, he had never seen the other man look so at peace.

Suddenly the memories of what he had happened last time he was awake hit him and he sent out his awareness trying to find another god. He frowned when he only found Jett's. Gently kissing his son's forehead Cupid kissed Strife's cheek before flashing out the room determined to find some way to wake everyone up.

Flashing into Jett's temple, Cupid frowned when he spied a mortal lying on the bed, an apparently dead mortal who was looking very good for a dead guy. This mortal reminded him of someone but he couldn't remember whom. He shrugged figuring it would come to him in time. Getting a lock on his cousin's location Cupid flashed out of the room taking one last look at the mortal.

"Jett, there's some fucked up mortal on you're bed!" Cupid said as he appeared in the Magic Box.

Jett growled, "Cupie, that's not a fucked up mortal. That's* my* mortal. Wait.what do you mean fucked up?"

"I know he's supposed to be dead but he doesn't feel dead. There are emotions coming from him. He's very angry, almost homicidal."

A chilling voice said, "You're almost right. I'm definitely homicidal. Time to make them pay for hurting me."

"Xander? What's happened to you?" Auto said in confusion.

The amused reply was, "The name's X, not Xander."

"X, may I speak to Xander?" Jett asked as if enquiring about the weather.

X smirked, "I'm afraid Xander's not here right now. Just tell me what you want him to know. He'll hear it."

Jett nodded in understanding as he said, "Okay. Xander don't worry, I'll get you back. We'll get the chance to get to know each other properly."

"I wouldn't make any bets on that. See you later, Killer." X said as he phased out of the room.

Spike rolled his eyes, "Bloody Hell the Whelp's possessed again!"

"He's not. I would be able to tell." Cupid and Jett both said at the same time.

"How did you wake up?" Jett asked Cupid ignoring the mortal's for the time being.

Thinking that Jett reminded him so much of Strife Cupid smiled saying, "There was a lot of pain coming from a broken heart. It woke me up and I couldn't tell where it was coming from. I decided to see you and find out why the others weren't awake."

Jett nodded at Giles before saying, "We're going to find Jerkules. Someone keep an eye on the fucking bastard that raped Xan. If you don't the guy'll be dead soon, not that I blame X or Xander for wanting to kill him."

"I will. If he kills then Xander will never be the same again. The rage would consume him." Buffy said her eyes glazing over as she remembered the past.

"What is this prophecy you need me to help with?" Giles said before Spike could answer.

Seeing Jett was a little distracted Auto answered, "Something about a Child of the Light and Dark being responsible for the Second Age of the Greek Gods."

Giles held a hand out saying, "Give me a copy and I'll start translating while you find Hercules."

"Sure thing, G-Man." Jett said with a smirk as he grabbed Dawn and Spike before leaving the room in a showy flash of sparks.

Cupid smiled at them before leaving in a flash of sparks, "See you later then."

*****
tbc