Dark Are the Shadows - BTVS/Dark Shadows 07/16/2020

Dark are the Shadows
Ms. Hunter Ash
ripperbard7@yahoo.com
frost29@post.com

A BTVS & Dark Shadows crossover

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

# # # #


 

COLLINSPORT, MAINE

“Hey, Carolyn, come on in,” Dawn said as the clock chimed 5pm in the parlor. “Thomas and I have been playing games all day.”

“No sign of any trouble?” Carolyn asked as she walked in.

“Nope,” Dawn said. “And Thomas is a pretty good cook too. How's Amy doing? It was kinda scary last night.”

“It was,” Carolyn agreed. “Amy never saw her brother Tom as a vampire. She knew about Chris but he died when she was still really young. She never saw the wolfman.”

“And she got to see him in fully scary mode,” Dawn said.

“Yeah, she's okay but kinda shaken,” Carolyn said. “It'll be sunset soon. Did Julia think Barnabas and Roxanne would be up and around tonight?”

“She didn't say,” Dawn said. “Thomas and I kept an IV going for Barnabas. I think Julia was hoping they'd both be better.”

“Hope so,” Carolyn said. “If they are, have them come up to the big house. I really hope you come back after your Mom’s surgery, too.”

“Okay,” Dawn promised.

# # # #

Roxanne smiled when she opened her eyes and found Barnabas leaning on the side of the coffin watching her.

“You look better,” she said as she sat up. “I feel better too. What happened last night?”

Barnabas told her all he knew about the attacks.

Roxanne climbed out of the coffin and shook her head. “Carolyn climbed partly down Widow's Hill cliff face? Oh my God.”

“I should have yelled at her to wait for Julia but she was insistent and I wasn't strong enough to hang on much longer.”

“How are your hands tonight?”

“Better,” he said and unwrapped the bandages. “A little raw and scraped but not chewed up and the wrists feel stronger. Julia had Thomas and Dawn keep an IV going for me all day. I should have healed a bit more before coming out but it's worked out. I may have missed seeing Maggie and Joe and risking telling them a version of my history if I had waited.”

“Now, my love, shall we see what's on the agenda for tonight?” Roxanne asked.

Barnabas nodded and kissed her hand and smiled.

He opened the door to the secret room and followed Roxanne into the parlor. He wasn't surprised to find Dawn waiting for them with two mugs. “Good evening, Dawn.”

“Hi, guys,” Dawn said. “Thomas is downstairs with Julia.”

“Anything exciting happen today?” Roxanne asked as she took one of the mugs.

“Thomas found out I was taught by a poker professional,” Dawn said with a smirk. “Carolyn dropped by and asked you two to go up to the big house if you're up to it. And…my Mom needs surgery in four days. Giles is going to fly me out the night before and then back to here.”

“I think we're up for going to see Carolyn. I’m sorry about your mother, Dawn,” Barnabas said. “We'll talk with Julia and Thomas for a bit and then go up.”

“It’s okay, they think they can get all the cancer,” Dawn said. “I'm going to hang around for a bit, Julia is going to take me and Thomas out for dinner.”

“That will be nice,” Barnabas commented.

# # # #

SUNNYDALE, CALIFORNIA

Giles glanced at his watch as Quentin cooked an early dinner.

“Still a couple of hours before sunset,” Quentin commented. “Enough time for a pot roast.”

“It’s after sunset in Maine,” Giles replied.

“I’ll call and talk with Barnabas and Julia later,” Quentin said. “Separately.”

# # # #

COLLINSPORT, MAINE

Barnabas’ cane caught the moonlight from a half moon over the property and his Inverness cloak had its collar turned up as usual, helping create a rather distinctive silhouette in the partial darkness.

The two figures were nearing Collinwood when an explosion separated them. A bright, reddish energy enveloped the red-haired woman who got to her feet slowly.

Nicholas Blair stepped into the moonlight as his hands were encased in the reddish energy. “How? No vampire can stand against the sun energy!”

The woman threw back the cowl of her cloak. “I’m not a vampire.”

With a yell Willow sent a bolt of her own at Blair, breaking his energy hold on her.

“Your death will work just as well!” Blair threatened and raised both hands as he chanted and Willow did the same.

“Hey, sorcerer,” a voice behind him said. “I’m not a vampire either.”

Before Blair could turn to answer the new challenge, he winced and looked down at the sword sticking out of his chest. He turned slightly as someone dressed in Barnabas’ cloak stepped around him.

“Who….?”

“No one of importance,” the man said. “I’m a former Watcher and now a demon hunter and you qualify.”

“A sword can’t harm me,” Blair protested.

“That’s why you’re bleeding profusely, can’t catch your breath and a kitten could knock you over, right?” Wesley asked. “Here’s some information for you, the sword is blessed.”

“Just like this cross,” Willow said as she hung a necklace around Blair’s neck and he went to his knees. “The one you held Barnabas with.”

“I’ll….be back,” Nicholas whispered.

Willow pulled out her cellphone and opened it as the sorcerer’s clothes began to smolder.

She and Wesley stepped back as flames began to appear at Nicholas’ feet.

Barnabas, Roxanne and Julia stepped out of the shadows and Wesley handed the vampire his cane.

“Arnold said it better,” Willow muttered and winced as Nicholas began to scream as the flames worked their way up his body.

In a moment he was gone without a trace, the sword dropping to the ground.

Willow closed her phone.

“I’d wager that his masters won’t let him return as quickly next time,” Barnabas said as he took his cloak from Wesley. “Thank you for coming out, both of you.”

“Our pleasure,” Wesley said as Carolyn and Amy stepped out of Collinwood. “Giles knew you couldn’t handle the sword but he suspected it might work against Blair so you needed someone with the sword and someone with magic to distract him.”

“Very clever,” Carolyn agreed. “Is Dawn at the Old House with Thomas?”

“Yes, we didn’t want to risk her out here in case Nicholas got away,” Julia said. “I’ll go back down and bring them up in the car. Thomas is very annoyed with that cast and how tired it makes him.”

“I’ll send the video to Giles and call Buffy,” Willow suggested as the small group headed inside the large house.

“Video?” Carolyn asked. “Of that?”

“Angelique asked for it,” Willow said as she blushed. “Giles too. Giles is…kinda not really human anymore because of Blair having Angelique prey on him.”

“If I can get more details about that spell I’ll start researching on my end and see if we can reverse that,” Wesley offered.

“Okay,” Willow said. “I’ll be into the parlor in a couple of minutes. Hey, Elizabeth! Want to say hi to your uncle Giles? I’m just about to call him.”

The young girl ran down the stairs enthusiastically. “Yes, please!”

Willow dialed and put it on speaker.

“Giles here.”

“Giles, it’s Willow and Elizabeth,” the witch said.

“Elizabeth! That’s fantastic, I’ve missed you,” Giles said over the phone.

“I’ve missed you,” Elizabeth said. “Will you come out this winter?”

“I don’t see why not,” Giles replied. “I’d love to see you and your home there.”

“Awesome!”

“Okay, tell him goodnight and let me talk to him,” Willow suggested. “Your dad will be here in a minute.”

“Okay, bye, Uncle Giles!”

“Bye for now, Elizabeth,” Giles responded. “Willow?”

“Yours and Wesley’s plan went perfectly,” Willow said. “I’ve got a short video of Blair going up in flames and disappearing without a trace. The sword remained, however. The suggestion that we dress like Roxanne and Barnabas was inspired. It drew Blair out to attack us instead of grabbing Dawnie.”

“Oh thank God,” Giles muttered. “Unfortunately, Joyce is going into surgery in four days. Carolyn is going to put Dawn on a plane the night before. Are you and Wes coming back tomorrow?”

“Yeah, we need to focus on Glory now and he’s got a case to get back to,” Willow answered.

“All right, someone will be there to pick you up,” Giles said. “Thank you both for helping settle with Blair. We all owed him.”

“Totally,” Willow agreed. “Tell Angelique and Buffy. I think we’re all going to meet their friends Maggie and Joe for dinner now that Blair is gone.”

“All right, have a good evening.”

“Goddess, I hope so, we need a few more of those!”

# # # #

SUNNYDALE, CALIFORNIA

Giles closed his phone and smiled at Angelique. “Nicholas Blair was sent to hell again. He thought he was attacking Barnabas and Roxanne.”

“Your plan worked,” Angelique commented. “That's very good and it was very clever.”

“Thanks,” Giles said and leaned down and kissed the vampire witch. “Willow and Wesley are flying back tomorrow. Dawn will come back two nights from now.”

“And then fly out after Joyce gets out of the surgery?”

“Yes,” Giles said. “If she's out of the state then Glory can't find her. We hope.”

“You're still worried,” Angelique noted.

“Yes,” Giles agreed. “The goal of this hell-god would mean this world possibly collapsing or the denizens of a thousand universes could come through and it's likely we wouldn't be able to handle them. I heard from the Council, it's very likely that once the key is utilized the gate wouldn't close until the blood stops, in other words, when Dawn has bled to death or she jumps through the gate.”

“Through the gate?” Angelique asked in a whisper.

“It would either kill her or send her to one of those hellish realms or both,” Giles answered.

“How could it be both?”

“Her soul could be sent to a hellish realm and her body left here,” he explained.

“Then we have to make sure it doesn't happen,” Angelique said. “Without the rogue vampires and Nicholas Blair, we can focus on dealing with Glory and those knights.”

“And the Initiative,” Giles added. “That's still a danger for you and Tara and possibly Quentin.”

“Damn.”

# # # #

Buffy gently took the book from her mother's hands and turned out her overhead light. She placed the book on the rolling table next to her mother's hospital bed.

Joyce opened her eyes and smiled. “You don't have to stay, you know.”

“I know,” Buffy said. “It makes me feel better.”

“Have you talked to Dawn tonight?”

“Yeah, that sorcerer, Nicholas Blair was sent packing back to hell by Willow and Wesley. They flew out there to help because Blair was going after Barnabas and Roxanne,” Buffy informed her mother.

“He won't be able to get ahold of Dawn?” Joyce asked.

“Nope,” Buffy said with a smile. “And the two vampires were destroyed too.”

“Oh thank God,” Joyce said. “So now we worry about Glory.”

“And you getting through surgery,” Buffy added.

“Piece of cake.”

# # # #

Two Days Later

COLLINSPORT, MAINE

Barnabas smiled as Dawn hugged the small gathering just after sunset. Consisting of Maggie, Joe, Amy, Elizabeth, David, Julia, Thomas, Roxanne, and Barnabas, the group was bidding a temporary farewell to the young teenager.

“We will see you in a few days,” Barnabas said as Carolyn started the car to drive Dawn to the airport. “Tell everyone thank you for helping end Nicholas' terror.”

“I will,” Dawn said and then hugged him tightly. “Stay safe, we don't know if Thornton totally believed you.”

“I promise,” Barnabas said.

The small group watched as the mistress of Collinwood and a young teenager from California pulled away from Collinwood.

“Barnabas, we've invited everyone to dinner at the Old House, come down with us,” Julia urged. “You and Roxanne.”

“All right, we'll be down shortly,” Barnabas responded. “Amy, you and Elizabeth going to ride with Maggie and Joe or do you want to walk with us?”

“We'll ride down so Elizabeth can talk their ears off for five minutes,” Amy said.

Minutes later Barnabas and Roxanne walked slowly through the woods between Collinwood and the Old House.

“Feels good not to be watching over my shoulder for Nicholas,” Roxanne commented.

“Same here,” Barnabas agreed.

“You seem to be enjoying being with everyone,” Roxanne said. “I think that's nice.”

“As do I,” Barnabas said. “It's so unusual. Julia and I stayed on the move so we wouldn't get close to others. I don't believe I truly realized how much I did miss having family.”

“I still say having electricity in this place is weird,” Roxanne said as he knocked on the door.

Barnabas chuckled and stepped aside for Roxanne to enter when Julia opened the door.

# # # #

“There's a bit that we don't know about the more recent happenings at Collinwood,” Julia said as everyone enjoy after dinner drinks of alcohol or blood. “We watched from afar but learned about most things second-hand through Quentin or Thomas. “What made you start a branch of the business in South America, David?”

“It got me away from Collinsport,” David said. “You know my father and I could seldom see eye-to-eye and, once I graduated college, it seemed a good solution for both of us. I sometimes wonder if he suspected he wasn't my father?”

“Not your father?” Julia repeated.

“The timing could be questionable as to when my mother became pregnant,” David said. “She dated Burke Devlin but quickly married my father after Burke went to prison.”

“That would mean you, technically, wouldn't be a Collins except by name,” Barnabas commented. “But, Josette has appeared to you. She protects the family.”

David frowned and pondered. “That's true. Josette and....”

“London bridge is falling down, falling down. London bridge is falling down...”

“Sarah?” Maggie whispered, her eyes widening.

“Sarah?” Roxanne questioned. “What?”

“Sarah Collins, she died in 1795,” Julia said softly.

“Barnabas, you've never seen Sarah, come on,” David said as he jumped to his feet.

Barnabas shook his head and got to his feet. “It seems to be coming from outside.”

“Let's check,” David suggested. “She doesn't appear to many adults.”

“Go ahead, you two,” Julia agreed.

“She.... yes, we'll wait here,” Maggie said.

Barnabas grabbed his cane and cloak as he and David rushed outside.

“David...”

“Shhh,” David urged. “Come on, that way.”

They began following the singing.

“I think I know where she's going,” Barnabas said.

“So do I,” David said.

“The crypt,” Barnabas said a few minutes later.

David nodded and they both slowed as they approached the wrought iron door and Sarah's voice grew louder. “You go.”

“If she's here for you...” Barnabas protested.

“You go,” David said firmly.

Barnabas opened the door slowly and stepped inside and his eyes widened at the sight of a young girl in Colonial period clothing tossing a ball against a wall and catching it.

“Sarah,” he said softly.

The girl turned and smiled. “I was hoping you'd come.”

“Sarah,” he repeated and went to one knee to be more on her level, just as he had always done. “It's been so long.”

“You went away,” Sarah admonished and then smiled. “You've changed. I'm so happy.”

“Thank you,” Barnabas said softly. “I've missed you so.”

“Maggie knows what you are and likes you,” Sarah said. “She's nice.”

“I agree, she is,” Barnabas said. “Sarah, why won't you rest now? I am changing, I've chosen to side with heroes and help save the world.”

“Do you want me to go away?” Sarah asked.

“I would miss you terribly but you should go onto rest,” Barnabas responded.

“You and the family will need me soon,” Sarah said. “I have to go.”

“Sarah, no, please,” Barnabas begged.

“I love you, Barnabas.”

The vampire blinked and looked around. “Sarah? Please!”

David Collins winced at the plaintive cry from his vampire cousin. He glanced inside and wasn't surprised to see Barnabas at the window, his head low.

“Barnabas, I'm going back to the Old House,” David called. “I'll tell them you got a phone call.”

The vampire nodded without turning around.

# # # #

SUNNYDALE, CALIFORNIA

“Mom, I'm going to go to the mansion for a bit, okay?”

“Of course, Buffy,” Joyce said. “Are Xander and you going to pick up Dawn in a few hours?”

“Yeah, we'll leave from the mansion,” Buffy said.

“Just drive safely,” Joyce said. “I can't believe the surgery is tomorrow.”

“Take some sleeping meds if you need to,” Buffy suggested. “It's almost dark, Tara and Willow will be here soon to keep an eye on things.”

“All right, and you'll be here as soon as you can?”

“With Dawn in tow,” Buffy promised.

“I love you, Buffy,” Joyce said with a smile.

“Love you, Mom.”

# # # #

Giles glanced at the clock as Quentin walked down the stairs toweling his hair dry. “Buffy should be here soon. It'll be a long night for you both.”

“Driving to LA and back again and then waiting for Joyce to get out of surgery will make for a long day, I agree,” Quentin said.

“Carolyn called while you were in the shower,” Giles said. “Dawn caught the plane and is on her way.”

“Good,” Quentin said and then frowned. “Is Xander outside?”

“No, he's picking Anya up at the shop, why?” Giles asked.

“I thought I saw movement outside.”

Giles frowned and pulled a pot of stew off the burner. “With trolls and Glory knowing this place, let's not take chances. Grab a weapon and stay near the stairs. Willow can protect Tara from most anything, we get the rest.”

Quentin nodded and went back into the living room while Giles checked the back door.

Both men weren't expecting both doors to crash in and to be rushed by figures dressed in SWAT gear.

# # # #

Buffy frowned as she approached the mansion and saw the front door was open. She moved quietly to a window and looked through a small space between the black-out curtains and her eyes widened at the sight of Giles on his knees with his hands tied or handcuffed behind his back and he was missing his glasses and his nose had been bleeding. Behind him with a pistol to his head was an Initiative soldier. Buffy could make out other soldiers at the base of the stairs.

“I said let him go or I start shooting!”

“We are government agents on government business!” someone yelled. “Throw down your weapon and let us search the place now! We are after enemies of the state!”

“He's done nothing to your state!” she heard Quentin yell.

“He's not human!” someone countered. “Stand aside!”

Buffy moved a knife from inside her jacket and put it behind her back in her belt. She glanced at the sky and almost smiled. It was almost sunset....

The Slayer moved away from the window to the center of the yard and ran towards the window, sje jumped up and used a tree branch to launch her feet at the window, crashing through and hit two soldiers from behind. Buffy rolled up into a crouch and threw the knife, hitting the soldier with the gun at Giles' head in the shoulder, causing him to fall away.

“Giles, go!” Buffy yelled as she got to her feet and began exchanging blows with soldiers and tried to avoid the stun batons. “Quentin! Get 'em out!”

The Slayer yelled and backhanded someone as a flash of pain startled her from her side. She grabbed a soldier and spun him around and released him into three of his mates. Buffy grabbed the knife out of the soldier screaming on the floor and threw it and hit another soldier in the thigh.

Buffy grabbed a coat rack and used it to knock most of the remaining soldiers back.

She turned and dived out the window. Buffy hoped that Quentin and Willow had gotten Tara and Angelique down the back stairs. She smiled when Xander's pickup skidded to a stop at the curb and she jumped into the back with Quentin and Willow and found Giles lying down in the bed of the truck. Xander took off at a high rate of speed.

“Where's Tara and Angelique?” she asked anxiously.

“They'll meet us at the tomb,” Quentin said. “They got out. I was trying to hold them off until sunset.”

“What happened?” Buffy asked as Willow cried softly with Giles' head in her lap. “Is he okay?”

“Soldiers broke in both doors and he fought back,” Quentin said. “One of them backhanded and then tried to shock him. Giles was angry and his fangs came out and they swamped him.”

“Giles?”

The Watcher opened his eyes and shrugged. “I'll be all right. We're in trouble now, you realize. We didn't let them have our vampires and now they know I'm not human.”

“I know,” Buffy said softly. She tapped on the small sliding window of the pickup. Anya opened it. “Let me off here, I'm going to my place and get a few things, one of which includes a handcuff key.”

“Okay, just be careful,” Anya said. “We're going to park the pickup in the warehouse Quentin told us about.”

“Good idea. We'll figure something out somehow to keep them away from us,” Buffy said. “Giles, hang in there.”

“Don't worry about me,” Giles responded. “Have someone pick up Dawn at the airport. You and Dawn need to be at the hospital in the morning.”

Buffy nodded. “I'll arrange it. Someone call if anything else happens or if he's hurt more than he's letting on.”

She jumped out of the pickup and looked around, looking for anyone following them. When she didn't see anyone she began trotting down the street towards an alley.

# # # #