Dark are the Shadows 02/23/2020

Dark are the Shadows
02/23/2019
Ms. Hunter Ash

rating: PG13
pairings: Willow/Tara, Buffy/Quentin, Xander/Anya, Giles/Angelique, Barnabas/Roxanne; Julia/Thomas


# # #



“All right! Quiet!” Buffy yelled as everyone talked and debated after Giles told of his encounter with Blair once they returned to the manor. “We already know that we aren't turning Dawn over to any of them. That interchange with Blair may have told us something.”

“What?” Xander asked.

“Glory's time might be getting short,” Buffy said. “You think Blair would approach us if he was sure he had time to grab Dawn and keep her from the knights or Glory?”

“If so, that means we do whatever we need to do to keep her out of their hands,” Giles said firmly. “We also learned another thing, whatever Glory has planned will destroy the universe and kill Dawn.”

Joyce reached over and squeezed Dawn's hand.

“Which is NOT going to happen,” Buffy said firmly.

“So lets get Barnabas and Dawn on the road,” Quentin suggested.

“I'll put their luggage in the car,” Xander offered.

“I've a small ice chest with sodas and sandwiches for the ride there,” Joyce added.

“You're the best, Mom,” Dawn said. “I.... I'm scared.”

“I'm hoping that you and Barnabas being gone will throw Blair off balance,” Giles suggested.

“Quentin and I will bring Barnabas down,” Buffy suggested.

“Xander and I will carry Roxanne out,” Giles added.

“And hope for an uneventful trip,” Buffy said softly.


# # #


Dawn glanced over at Quentin as they headed for Los Angeles.

“So you like my sister, huh?” she asked.

“Yes, very much,” Quentin responded. “She's amazing. It seems to run in the family. You know a lot of people would be having multiple meltdowns in your place, especially at your age.”

“Thanks,” Dawn said softly. “I think I am inside. I... I can't wrap my head around it.”

“I can understand that,” Quentin said. “To discover you're something that you never dreamed of and that there's nothing you can do about it can shake someone.”

“Really?”

“I am a werewolf,” Quentin said. “I was told I was now cursed and that it would happen that night and then the pain began. I woke up the next day with my clothes destroyed and bloody.... and a victim in town. I almost killed the woman I loved another night.”

“Wow,” Dawn said softly.

“Barnabas didn't want to be a vampire and couldn't control the blood hunger and killed, especially at first,” Quentin said. “He woke up in his coffin with Angelique about to stake him. He didn't even realize he had died right away or why he was in a tomb. Then he discovered he was a monster and that had a price tag. You can somehow be used to open gates that could destroy the world but you're also a human, teenage girl. A normal kid.”

“Maybe.”

“And the sun is down,” Quentin said. “I'll pull off and park behind a business of some kind and let Barnabas and Roxanne out of the trunk and move the luggage around.”

“You don't think he'll go back to Julia, do you?”

“Not at this point,” Quentin said. “Roxanne is someone he fell hard for and didn't have a chance to even spend time with her and he's been with Julia for a long time.”

“Roxanne is kinda new and exciting?”

“Pretty much,” Quentin agreed as he pulled onto an off ramp. “And Julia made mistakes in how she handled it and he got stubborn. Let's see... how about that furniture store, not like many people will break in there so there shouldn't be cameras in the back.”

“Cool.”

Quentin pulled behind the business and turned out the lights and the overhead light. “Let's get them out.”

Barnabas sighed when the trunk opened. “I was hoping you wouldn't have to wait long after sunset. A car trunk is much like a coffin but...”

“Not your favorite seat in a car?” Quentin ventured as he lifted Roxanne out of the car and held her until she was steady on her feet and then helped Barnabas out.

Dawn carried two rolling suitcases to the back.

“Hi, guys,” she said.

“When we get to the airport I'll drop the three of you at the terminal and circle around while Roxanne gets you two checked in,” Quentin suggested. “Dawn can help you get through security.”

“And we've plenty of time before the flight,” Barnabas noted. He leaned over and kissed Roxanne gently.

“Let's go before someone notices us back here,” Quentin urged as he shut the trunk.

It wasn't long before Roxanne, Dawn and Barnabas had gotten an aide for their luggage due to Barnabas’ obvious injuries and the vampires hesitated.

“I’m coming back,” Barnabas said as they ignored everyone around them.

“You’d better, I love you,” Roxanne said softly and hugged him tightly. “Never say no.”

“I remember,” Barnabas whispered. “I won’t. I couldn’t believe you accepted me as I am and that you don’t despise what you are because of me.”

“I’m able to have a future with you, I accepted this life fully, my love. You’d better go.”

“I love you,” Barnabas said and kissed her gently and then she was heading for the door.

Barnabas sighed and then looked at Dawn with a smile. “Shall we? Let’s not keep this young lady waiting with our luggage.”

Dawn nodded. “Can you get stuff out of your pockets for the scanner?”

“Slowly, yes,” Barnabas said. “I love how rapidly one can travel but I’m not fond of airplanes.”

“Me either,” Dawn agreed. “We can be slightly scared together.”

“We shall.”


# # # #



“Tell me why we’re at the hospital again when none of us are injured for once?” Xander asked as the small group entered said hospital.

“One of the nutcases listed in the police reports has a mark or tattoo like Buffy described,” Willow said.

“Among his insane ranting there might be a hint of what Glory wants, how the key would work,” Giles added. “They obviously know more than the Council. That’s almost refreshing.”

Buffy rolled her eyes at her Watcher.

The Slayer froze when she opened the swinging doors to the mental ward part of the hospital and saw Glory waiting.

“Damn.”

“I thought you might show up here,” Glory said. “I figured we could have another discussion.”

Willow and Tara pulled back slightly as Giles moved forward, pulling a crossbow out from under his coat.

Spike smirked and shook his head.

“Conversation’s over, hell bitch,” Buffy said softly.

The Slayer hit Glory with a right cross and then a left. She managed to duck a swing by Glory and kicked the hell-god across the hall and into a room. Buffy followed quickly and discovered it was some sort of x-ray or cat-scans or something.

Buffy grabbed Glory, spun her around and threw the hell-god into an X-ray display box only to be kicked away when she attempted to follow through.

Glory turned and hit Buffy across the jaw.

Before she could swing again Spike jumped up on a desk and over it to land behind Glory and grab her arms.

Glory struggled in his grasp as Buffy hit her.

“I thought you said this skank was tough!” Spike exclaimed.

The hell-god broke free and grabbed the vampire’s arm and sent him flying into a wall. Glory followed him and dragged the vampire to his feet and head-butted Spike as Xander moved behind her. Glory sent Spike across an exam table and into some equipment that he dented and smashed and slid to the floor unconscious.

“When he wakes up, tell your boyfriend to watch his mouth!”

“He is NOT my boyfriend,” Buffy snapped.

The two began exchanging blows again as Giles tried to aim without hitting Buffy but was frustrated by their constant movement. He absently glanced over at Willow and Tara, wondering what was in the small leather pouches they had in their hands.

Buffy attempted to kick Glory only to have her foot grabbed and held by the hell-god.

“Oh, hey, nice shoes,” Glory said. “You do have good taste… most of the time, I’ll give you that.”

She shoved Buffy’s foot away and the Slayer took advantage of the move to flip over backwards, bringing her shoes under Glory’s chin. “Giles!”

The Watcher stepped forward as Buffy hit the floor and fired the crossbow. His eyes widened when the bolt bounced off Glory’s stomach.

“Oh, please!” Glory exclaimed. “That’s like….”

Xander hit Glory over the head with the tire iron.

Glory spun and grabbed the metal bar. “Hey! Watch the hair!”

She grabbed Xander and threw him into a bank of equipment and spun to look at Giles and Buffy.

“Okay, enough playing around,” she declared. “Dying time. Starting with the half-breed here!”

The hell-god threw the tire iron like a javelin.

“Giles!”

Buffy dived in front of her step-father, the sharp end of the tire iron piercing her upper chest.

“Buffy!”

“Is that the best you little gnats can do? Nice catch! Let’s see how you handle flying through that window 3 stories up,” Glory said and started towards Buffy.

Willow and Tara rushed past Buffy and Giles, putting Glory between them and sprinkled her with glittery powder.

“Hey! Look what that did to my dress!” she yelled.

“Discede!” Willow said firmly and Glory broke into glittery powder and disappeared.

“Wow,” Willow whispered and collapsed on the floor.

“Willow!” Tara exclaimed.

Buffy and Giles looked at the witches as Tara held Willow, helping her sit up. The red-haired witch wiped at her nose as blood began escaping down to her lips.

“What did you do to her?” Buffy asked.

“Teleportation spell,” Willow said. “I’m still working out the kinks.”

“Where did you send her?” Buffy asked.

“I don’t know,” Willow admitted. “That’s one of the kinks.”

Buffy saw Xander and Spike sitting up and looking around.

“That was an incredibly dangerous spell for an adept at your level,” Giles commented.

“Yep, won’t be trying that one again any time soon,” Willow declared.

“Ow,” Xander muttered.

“Are you all right, Buffy?” Giles asked as she held a hand over the puncture wound.

“Yeah, it’ didn’t break any bones,” Buffy said. “We’ve got to come up with some way to fight her.”


# # # #


SOMEWHERE IN THE AIR OVER THE UNITED STATES


Dawn glanced over at the vampire next to her. “Are you worried about seeing Julia and Tom?”

“Yes,” Barnabas replied. “I care very much for her. She's been part of my life since 1967, when your mother was very young even.”

“I don't get why you two broke up,” Dawn admitted.

Barnabas sighed. “Probably has much to do with my history. I realized that Julia had fallen in love with me but she wasn't saying anything and I didn't feel the same at the time. She watched me fall in love with other women and still stayed in my life. She saved me many times both as I am now and when I was enjoying the sun more. Aside from Josette, Roxanne was the real threat. I realized after the fire, I not only did I need Julia in my life but that I wanted her there.”

“But you never stopped loving Roxanne,” Dawn commented.

“I still love all of them,” Barnabas said. “You know Josette told me to move on and Vicki loved me but she wasn't in love with me. Roxanne... she accepted what I was without hesitation, like Julia.”

“Buffy and Angel can't be together. I know she really liked Riley and was falling for him and maybe now with Quentin but she's said she'll always love Angel,” Dawn commented. “Kinda that she loves him but maybe isn't in love with him. Are you in love with, Roxanne?”

“Yes,” Barnabas said with a small smile.

“So you're not going to try and get back with Julia?” Dawn asked. “Sorry if this is too personal.”

“It's fine,” Barnabas said. “No, I'm not. I turned Roxanne away and it wasn't good enough for Julia. I'm not sure I can do anything at this point whereas she'll trust me even though I did nothing wrong.”

“I hope it works out for everyone,” Dawn commented. “Tell me about Collinsport.”

“It was founded in....”


# # ##


SUNNYDALE, CALIFORNIA

Quentin walked up behind Buffy and gently touched her shoulders. She leaned forward and closed the door to Joyce's bedroom.

“The treatments are pretty hard on her,” Buffy whispered as he wrapped his arms around her. “I think she agreed for Dawn to leave for a few days to keep Dawnie from seeing how hard all this is.”

“Come downstairs,” Quentin suggested. “Everyone else is asleep or... occupied.”

“You mean Giles and Angelique and Willow with Tara?”

“Exactly,” Quentin said. “We can sit in front of the fire.”

“Sounds good,” Buffy said and reluctantly moved out of his arms. “I can't believe Giles being this attached to a vampire. To a vampire witch of all things.”

“Shhh, wait until we're downstairs,” Quentin whispered.

Slayer and werewolf settled in front of the fire on a comfortable sofa.

“You were saying about Giles?” Quentin asked.

“Nothing important,” Buffy said softly and kissed him.

Quentin moaned softly when the kissing became passionate and he felt Buffy unbuttoning his shirt.


# # # #


MAINE

Dawn smiled when Barnabas grabbed the keys to the rental car and folded the agreement and place it in his coat.

“Shall we? It's an automatic so I should be fine with driving,” he said. “Hopefully Carolyn can show you some sites tomorrow during the day. New England is beautiful and our coastline is... wild and dangerous most times.”

“That would be cool,” Dawn said. “Click the lock thing on the key fob, the lights will flash and we'll know which car is ours.”

“Good idea,” Barnabas said and pointed to an economy class car.

Within minutes they were leaving the airport and heading for the small fishing village of Collinsport.

“Does Carolyn have kids?” Dawn asked. “Who's in the family?”

“Carolyn has a son and daughter from her second marriage,” Barnabas said. “She lost her husband two years ago. Her son is in Boston, he's a teacher and comes home at least once a month. Rachel is her daughter, she's down in Atlanta researching viruses. David is her cousin and a bit younger. He lives in Brazil and handles the South American branch of the family business and he seems to love the heat and the sun. He has three kids, two boys and a girl. Amy Jennings is Thomas' mother. It was her brothers that fell to curses, one to vampirism and the other to lycanthropy. They are Thomas' uncles and Thomas' daughter, Elizabeth. That's it. I wasn't with anyone when I was human and had no children.”

“It'll be nice to see Carolyn,” Dawn commented. “She made sure me and Mom were hiding when those demons attacked. Then she disappeared.”

“She hid in a tool cabinet in the garage, I'm told,” Barnabas said. “She is a remarkable woman. I wish she had said something years back, we've missed a lot of time with her.”

“Time is kinda an enemy, huh?”

“Yes, it always has been,” Barnabas agreed. “It either flies too quickly or it drags. When I was locked in a coffin it felt like forever before I drifted off into a vampire sleep. Watching my cousins Elizabeth and Roger grow older and die was difficult. I hadn't experienced that before. My mother killed herself and I was imprisoned before my father died.”

“My grandparents and dad are still alive but I don't see them often... especially my dad,” Dawn commented.

“I'm sorry, it's his loss, you know,” Barnabas said.

“Even if none of it really happened to me? I'm not real, remember?”

“And I'm a monster,” Barnabas said. “The memories are there for all who love you, that makes it real.”

“Okay,” Dawn said. “You should have been a dad. Like Giles should have been a dad.”

“I believe he already is,” Barnabas said. “He obviously loves you and Buffy very much.”

“He's the best.”


# # #


SUNNYDALE, CALIFORNIA

Buffy snuggled closer to Quentin as they laid on a thick rug in front of the fireplace.

“We should probably move before Mom comes downstairs,” she said softly.

“Hmmm, your place or mine?” he asked.

“Yours, she won't just barge into your room,” Buffy said as she sat up and grabbed her blouse.

“Good point,” Quentin said. “You're so... so beautiful.”

Buffy kissed him again. “You're pretty damn impressive, yourself. Come on.”

Quentin retrieved his pants and pulled them on and grabbed the rest of his clothes.

Buffy breathed a sigh of relief when they didn't run into anyone before reaching Quentin's room.

Quentin laughed when Buffy shoved him against the door he had just closed and kissed him again.


# # # # #


COLLINSPORT, MAINE

“Wow, everything is so much older here,” Dawn commented as she and Barnabas got out of the car at cemetery where many of the Collins family were buried.

“Collinsport and the Old House predate the Revolutionary War,” he said. “I'll be just over that slight rise.”

“Okay, I'll hang out here.”


# # # #


SUNNYDALE, CALIFORNIA

Giles hesitated outside Quentin's room as he and Angelique started towards the stairs.

“Rupert?” she asked softly.

Giles shook his head and didn't answer until they were downstairs. “I believe Quentin has company tonight.”

“You heard them?”

Giles blinked. “Yeah, why?”

“Rupert, the doors are solid and they weren't being loud,” Angelique said and then glanced up towards the rooms upstairs. “Come, let's get some coffee and get out of here for a bit.”

“All right,” Giles agreed.

Within minutes they sat down in the Espresso Pump with cups of tea.

“What's on your mind, my love?” Giles asked.

“Do you realize that we are still very connected?” Angelique asked.

“I figured we were, what makes you think so?” Giles asked.

“Several things, darling,” Angelique said and reached across the table to hold his hand. “I've heard the others talking about you wearing sunglasses even inside if its a bright, sunny day.”

“They've noticed, yes,” Giles agreed. “What else?”

“You're not eating enough but are still strong,” Angelique continued. “And your heightened senses. You shouldn't have been able to hear Buffy and Quentin.”

“And?” Giles asked.

“You don't like having your cross next to your skin,” Angelique added. “I've watched you pull it off just after sunset.”

“I know that isn't conducive to interaction between us,” Giles said and sighed. “You're right, we are still connected. I'm not a ghoul, I know that. I'm not craving...aged meat.”

“No, I fed from you too often to turn you into a ghoul,” Angelique agreed.

“So it's still the spell or that my DNA changed because of drinking your blood,” Giles said. “We know I'll rise as a vampire when I die.”

“Are you all right with all of this? Have the...symptoms gotten worse?” Angelique asked.

“Since I can't change becoming a vampire, I'll be all right with it, especially if we're still together... frequently. As for the symptoms, I don't think so,” Giles said and then frowned.

“What is it?”

“A small group of college students just entered,” Giles said. “One of them was in the caves that night, one of Riley's team-mates, a soldier.”

“And the others?”

“They look military as well,” Giles said. “There's no mirrors here except near the bathrooms. We should be fine.”

“Let's hope so.”


# # # #


COLLINSPORT, MAINE

Barnabas squatted and dug at the newly dug grave for a moment and placed a man’s ring in the dirt and covered it. He looked at the temporary marker and sighed. He knew Julia and Carolyn would arrange for the tombstone.

How many times had he been in this same position at a grave? Leaning heavily on his cane and mourning, how many times? From Jeremiah and Josette to his mother and sister. That had been the beginning, hadn’t it?

He glanced over at other newer graves. “Daphne, Sabrina and Chris, Elliot, and Mrs. Johnson… I miss all of you.”

His attention turned back to the newest grave.

“Willie… you were with me for so long,” Barnabas said softly. “From terrified slave to a good friend to a family member. How many times did you protect and save me? Even when I was human you saved me. I was human and Vicki heard my desperate plea to her and you heard a heartbeat at my portrait. It was you that Josette appeared to when I was trapped in a coffin. I am going to miss you, my friend.”

The vampire wiped away tears as he remembered Willie Loomis, one-time thief and best friend for a long number of years.

“Barnabas?!”

The vampire jumped to his feet and spun towards the voice and froze.

There was no mistaking who the older woman was. She was still beautiful. Maggie Evans, no, Maggie Haskell.

“It can’t be,” she said softly.

Barnabas absently noted the bouquet of flowers in her hand.

Several options flashed through the vampire’s mind, he could disappear and she’d think him a ghost. He could attempt mind control to make her forget she had seen him, or…

No! his mind screamed. He was barely aware of Dawn running towards him from the other direction. Maggie had come through the graveyard from the main gate, not the side gate he had used...

And what was she doing there so late at night, damnit?


# # # #