AUTHOR: Pablo

EMAIL: little_claps@yahoo.com

DISTRIBUTION: If you?re interested just gimme a yell.

SPOILERS: Nothing specific S4 Buffy (Kind of)

CLASSIFICATION: Xander/Graham Pre-Slash

SUMMARY: Graham and Riley meet up with an old friend.

RATING: A warm blooded PG-13, set the wheels in motion.

FEEDBACK: Hello ??? What do you think ???

DISCLAIMER: I don?t own nothing.

DEDICATION: Thanks to Yvette for the beta.

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?C?mon Ri? ... Graham?s voice could be heard over the pounding of his fist on the door.

?Trust me, you can talk to her later, If we don?t leave soon I am seriously gonna dehydrate?.

?You do realise alcohol dehydrates you anyway.?

Riley responded through the now half open door with a smirk. ?Just gimme a sec to grab my
coat?

Graham moved away from the door to Riley?s dorm room, shaking his head in disbelief. That
must be some kind of record he thought, the boy had been on the phone to Buffy for about
three hours. The first hour waiting had been OK. Graham was used to waiting, he?d been in the
marines for God sake, waiting made up about 80% of his time, but after the second hour
Graham had seriously considered leaving for a drink without his so called best friend.

After the third hour however, sanity had definitely left the building. If Riley hadn?t locked his
door, Graham swore to himself he would have walked right in, picked him up bodily and carried
him from the room. Ex CO or nothing.

So once Graham had realised Riley had locked the door he resorted to plan B. Once a marine
always a marine. He?d decided that Riley would get off the phone if he couldn?t hear his
girlfriend on the other end. So Graham had started trying to make as much noise as possible.
Subtly at first, but when that didn?t work, he?d resorted to introducing the door to the side of
his fist. Even that seemed to take some time.

Graham was so not looking forward to the next time he ran into Buffy.

?C?mon man? Riley swept down the stairs, straight past Graham and out the door. ?We don?t
have all night? the taller man smirked back over his shoulder.

?Oh no, don?t you start that with me!? Graham couldn?t believe it.

Great suggestion Graham, invite Ri out for a drink when he?s in one of those moods! Graham
followed the quickly retreating figure of his best friend out the door.

?So, just the two of us tonight, then?? Graham knew where this was going.

?Yeah, thought you might wanna take a little time out from your busy schedule as the slayer?s
boyfriend to grab a drink with your best bud?. Riley?s snort the only response as the two
ex-marines wandered towards their local drinking spot

********************************

Graham followed Riley down the stairs to the student bar they usually drank at. Typical student
place, cheap drinks, packed to the rim with students, some he knew, most he didn?t.

Riley went off to look for a table.

?You get the first round??

?How did I know you were gonna say that Ri??

Graham moved towards the bar, the crowd separating smoothly for him. Military demeanour
still evident, people tended to give him a fair amount of space and the odd casual glance. An
imposing figure still, even after last years debacle with the demise of the initiative, Graham still
kept himself in peak physical condition. Always be prepared.

It had been a while since Graham had thought about The Initiative. The embarrassment and
betrayal still close to the surface. Best not to think about it really.

Graham moved up to the bar, sandwiched between two students. One he thought he recognised
from a couple of his classes. Casual nod.

The main reason Graham and Riley frequented this relatively seedy student hangout was because
their friends, now ex-Initiative usually avoided it like the plague. Preferring one of the bars
closer to Lowell House.

Graham tried to grab the bartenders attention. The only problem with this place was the fact
that it was always busy. Graham leant back against the bar surveying the room. Riley nowhere
to be seen. The place seemed pretty full tonight, might not be able to get a table.

Now maybe if they?d been on time? Graham cast a glance around the room. Habit more than
anything else, not really looking at the moment but you get set in your routines. Checking out
the talent. Not what he needs at the moment still trying to sort a bit too much of his life out, a
little too much as Ricki would say ?emotional baggage? airquotes included. but it never pays to
keep your eyes open.

What?ll it be?

Voice from behind him, distracted, obviously not really paying attention to his job. What do
you expect in a place like this though Graham? The ex-marine turned towards the bar.

Downturned face, dark chestnut hair drifting down across the bartenders eyes. Absently
mopping the meagre available space on the bar in front of Graham. Hmmm now that?s better,
just the way Graham likes it. Wonder what his eyes are like?

?Look there are other people here tonight, if you wanna drink you?re really gonna need to
order ...? voice trailing off as the bartender lifts his face to meet Graham?s. Graham not really
catching the last of his sentence anyway. Already lost in the seemingly endless pools of those
chestnut eyes. Darker towards the edge of the iris. Eyes that widen slightly then close a little.
So dark so beautiful. Graham can feel himself drowning in them, no semblance of reality
remaining.

?You still with me?? shock brings Graham back to reality, unsure how long he?s been staring.
Recognition kicks in when his minds finally caught up with the rest of his body.

?You?re Riley?s friend right ???? The ex-marine still unable to answer.

?Uh, yeah ... Xander, right??

?Sure am, back in a sec?

Graham realises too late that he?s gone down towards the other end of the bar to a particularly
unruly group of guys. Obviously been here a while. Already the better part of drunk. Graham is
secretly pleased, shakes his head slightly needs a little time to recover. Silently thinks to
himself ... when did this guy get so hot? Why did I never notice him before? Graham takes the
opportunity to try and recall the few times he?d seen Xander before.

Only a couple of times really, seen him talking to Buffy, not sure why out of all of Buffy?s
friends Xander?s the one he?s seen the least. Cruel irony that?ll have to be remedied.

Graham, in control again, marine training to the fore. A little disturbed as to why he was so
effected by the boy now down the other end of the bar.

?Gray, there you are. Couldn?t find a table, we may have to bar it. you OK? you seem
distracted?.

Graham turned to his friend still feeling a little flustered.

?Yeah, sure ah ...?

Then he?s back.

?So Graham, sorry about that. Hey Ri. Didn?t see you there.? Xander reaches across the bar and
shakes Riley by the hand. Thinks twice and then extends his hand towards Graham. Graham
smiles. Xander?s hand. still slightly damp from working behind the bar. Damp but warm.
Graham finds himself smiling again.

?So you guys know each other then?? Riley seems a little confused trying to recall when the two
men had met.

?Yeah, old friends. I have fond memories of when we first met. It was like two minutes ago,
thank you very much Mr ?I don?t introduce my friends to other people?. Saving him all to
yourself were you?? Xander?s smile betraying the lightness of the statement.

Graham just stares at the dark man?s smile while Riley sputters some nonsensical apology. Now
THAT is a smile! Graham can?t help but join in. Intrigued by what Xander had said.

?S?ok ... So what?ll it be??

Graham finally remembers why he?s here, ?ah 2 beers thanks Xander?. Likes the way the name
sounds when he says it. Wants to know more.

Riley mutters something to him but he can?t keep his eyes off Xander, realises now why he get
a D in Covert Operations, and tries to concentrate more on his friend next to him. Succeeds
momentarily till the dark haired bartender is back with the drinks.

?No, on the house, first drinks always on the house for my friends, which reminds me I guess I
should get back to work, those drinks just don?t pour themselves huh? back soon.?

Recognition only just kicking in. Friends. Graham can?t help but smile again and wonders to
himself when did he ever get this mushy. God It must have been way to long. Barely keeps up
his part of the conversation with Ri. He?s used to that though, he?s not really talkative at the
best of times.

Second beer, Graham pays again so he can speak to Xander. Riley questions this but not too
much, a free beer?s a free beer after all. Riley seems to be relaxing a bit, must be the beer. He
hasn?t mentioned Buffy more than 50 times in the last 10 minutes. He stands facing the rest of
the room while Graham takes advantage of his innatentiveness to do some relaxing of his own.

Face downwards, doesn?t want to be too obvious. Surreptitious glance upwards every now and
then. Meets those dark brown eyes again, lost, but what a place to lose yourself in. Must be at
least making some sense to Riley as his friend doesn?t question Graham?s part of the
conversation. Then he?s back. Directly in front of him. The only thing he can see, those eyes,
that smile dominating his field of vision.

?Another?? Xander asks, already opening the next two bottles.

?Thanks man?

Riley reaches across to grab the next drink. Doesn?t offer to pay but Graham doesn?t really
mind. What?s 5 bucks when it earns him another one of those smiles.

Bar seems a lot more empty now, Graham unsure about when the majority of the crowd slipped
out. Glad Riley hasn?t suggested they move to a table. The views much better at the bar.
Another smile sneaks across the ex-marines face. He looks up, realises Xander is watching him.
Smile widens in response to the one on the dark haired mans face.

?So I think I might call it a night, not too late to try and tag along on Patrol tonight?. Riley
can?t resist mentioning Buffy again. ?We should finish up and then go?

Graham not happy, but his friend has a point. Can?t stay here forever and there?s always
tomorrow.

?Thanks for that Xan, we?ll catch you later I guess?.

?OK Riley, nice finally meeting you Graham.? Graham starts to seriously wonder if that boy
ever stops smiling.

?Yeah Xander, see you later.?

Walk back to the dorms uneventful. Riley harping on about his favourite subject. Graham
doesn?t mind though. It?s nice to see his friend so happy. Riley wishes him goodnight as they
get inside. Before his doors shut he can already hear Riley on the phone.

Graham quickly undresses and climbs into bed.

Dreams claim Graham?s sleep, for the first time in months he dreams about the initiative. Of
Riley almost dying, about losing Forrest. He dreams about Adam and the final cataclysmic
battle that signalled the demise of that part of his military career. Throughout the dream he
keeps getting distracted. Dark brown eyes, He can see Xander in uniform. Battling with Adam.
He?s too far away. Buffy distracted by some orange skinned demon. Riley pinned against a wall
by two vampires. And Xander exposed, Adam moving inexorably towards him. Graham tries to
shout out a warning but no sound seems to come from his mouth.

Like slow motion, Xander doesn?t even seem to be moving, there?s no escape from the killing
machine before him. Graham desperately trying to run to save Xander, but it?s like fighting
against the tide, the distance still too great. Graham screams out to Xander who seems to hear
him and turns to face him. Xander just smiles. That beautiful smile, Graham can almost count
the number of times he?s seen that smile tonight but it?s still the most beautiful thing he?s seen.
Then darkness.

The ex-marine wakes up. Body drenched in sweat unsure what to make of it.

He tries to sleep again, this time unplagued by dreams.

tbc ...