Okay so after lengthy waffle here's some story.
It had taken some time but they’d managed to find all the offshoot tunnels with the lower crypt, all of which were as elaborately decorated as the first two areas. Xander walked back through the tunnel to see the Slayer sitting on a white leather couch with the snakeskin case full of money stretched open next to her.
“I never knew that Sunnydale had stores that even carried this kinda stuff.” He modelled a diamond tiara he’d found in a desk for her.
“They don’t carry it anymore.” Buffy quipped dryly. “These guys do.” She flicked a wad of notes over and over.
“So how is the money?” Xander pulled the jewellery off and placed it on a table.
“Pretty.” She repeated the fanning motion.
“Is there really as much as he said?” Xander looked down at the neat stacks.
“I gave up counting after the number became to big to process.” Buffy admitted.
“Whatcha going to do with it?” Xander plunked down next to the briefcase the soft leather cupping his body.
“Hand it all over to the police of course.” Buffy said quickly glancing around.
“You know I’m all for the good guy thing.” He looked up with her. “And I mean all this should go back the stores or the owners but...” He reached over picking up a stack of bills. “Who knows who this belongs too.”
“Don’t they have ways of finding out?” Buffy frowned at him.
“With money? Do you keep the serial numbers of yours?” Xander questioned with a comical seriousness as he put the wad back down.
“Well no, what money?” She joked lamely.
“Buffy, I know I should be all with the morals and the do the right thing but...” Xander looked at her. “You’ve saved this town so many times I think a little payback isn’t too unreasonable.”
“I can’t take the money.” Buffy instantly dropped the stack she held and stood up stepping away as if it had stung her.
“Okay leaving the money.” Xander nodded with a frown. “Shouldn’t have suggested it.”
“No.” Buffy turned and looked at him with a softer look. “I’m sorry. It’s just you know, it’s hard.” She looked back at the money. “I mean its just sat there all moneyish and I’m stood here all poor slayerish.” She sighed loudly.
“Buffy it’s not like we stole it or even helped him steal it. You staked him right away.” Xander stuck up for the pull they both had to just leave with the case and take the contents for there own.
“But where has it come form?” Buffy felt her resolve buckling a little but her morals refused to break.
“Well he said he had legitimate business before he was turned and I bet a lot of it came from the vamps they roughed up.” Xander speculated. “I’m sure no one will ever be able to know for sure.”
“Think of the college fund I could set up for Dawnie.” Buffy looked off distantly.
“And get ahead on the house payments.” Xander chimed in.
“And maybe a vacation.” Buffy sighed again. “No, it’s wrong isn’t it?” Suddenly she flipped again, staring at the carpenter hard.
“Buffy, what is wronger?” He stood up trying to be firm and then winced at his bad choice of words. “I mean so we tip the cops and they come clean this place out, where do you think the money’s going to end up? If everything in the world was right and good sure it would go to an orphanage instead of towards the donut budget or confiscated by the government to fund some secret organization like the Initiative but we both know it’ll probably end up in none of the good places and all of the bad.”
“Maybe that’s it, maybe I should drop it off anonymously at an orphanage or that street kid centre.” Buffy frowned wanting so much to do the right thing.
“Buffy how much do we owe the hospital for Willow’s meds and stuff?” Xander scuffed his shoe into the carpet.
“I was thinking of contacting her parents again about that.” Buffy looked down her eyes catching once more on the case as twenty five thousand easier answers looked up at her.
“Now don’t be mad.” He held up a hand. “But I went by to see them.”
“What!” Buffy swung around to look at him. “Xander I thought we’d agreed...”
“You agreed.” He shook his head. “I saw the creditor bills Buffy, you think I was going to sit by and just keep joking while they threatened you with court?”
“What did you say to them?” She looked at him with angry hazel eyes.
“I told them the truth, well as close as I could.” Xander moved back and sat on the edge of the couch cushion. “Buffy they’re not bad people, they just don’t understand and I mean how can they?”
“You’re not talking quick enough or giving me enough details.” Buffy warned him.
“I told them she was getting better but she still needed a lot of attention and medication.” Xander looked back at her without flinching. “I explained to them that though they didn’t agree the best place for her was with us, because we could look after her.”
“And what did they say?” Buffy’s hard stare didn’t soften.
“They’ll only take over the costs if you sign over guardianship of her to them.” Xander’s voice was low. “They want to take her to that special clinic in New York.”
“NO!” Buffy slammed the case shut. “They want to commit her and that will kill her.”
“That’s what I told them.” He jumped as the noise echoed through the room.
“You shouldn’t have gone.” Buffy stalked away from where he sat.
“Buffy, you are not the only one who is busting their ass to take care of Willow.” He could barely believe his own tone as he snapped at the slayer. “We are doing this together.”
“Did I say that I am?” Buffy whirled round and snarled at him.
“Then don’t tell me I shouldn’t have went. I went, I tried and now we know where we stand.” He looked up at her. “And we stand together to face this.”
“This doesn’t help us with that.” Buffy pointed to the case again.
“It doesn’t.” He looked at it.
Suddenly the Slayer moved back to slip her hand into the metal handle. She picked it up easily and stalked over to stairs.
“Is that a we’re taking it?” Xander hung for a moment not following her.
“No, it’s a we’re taking it to Giles.” The Slayer resolved herself. “He’ll know what to do.”
******
Nice little conversational scene, the characters make sense again!
