HAPPY HALLOWEEN/SAMHAIN

 HAPPY HALLOWEEN 

Stay safe, sane and watch lots of horror tonight!

Dark are the Shadows - 10/22/2020

Sorry I've been absent.  I've been working on researching for an original piece and finishing up some art pieces.  I shall strive to be more consistent.

 

Dark are the Shadows

Ms. Hunter Ash

Pairings: Xander/Anya, Willow/Tara, Giles/Angelique, Buffy/Quentin

Rating: PG13

# # # #

Giles, Joyce and Dawn remained by the hidden grave as the others wandered away, most lost in their own memories and grief.

Dawn slipped her hand into Giles'.

Angel shook Quentin's hand and glanced over at the Summers-Giles family. “Take care, Quentin, and take care of them.”

“I will,” Quentin said firmly.

Cordelia hugged Anya, Xander, Willow, and Tara and headed down the path with Wesley to where the cars waited in the parking lot of the park.

Angel looked over at the lonely grave and followed his coworkers.

“I'll stay with them and get them back to the mansion,” Quentin suggested to the others.

Xander nodded. “Come on, An.”

Willow and Tara walked towards the path where the Jeep that Joyce was letting them use waited with Willow crying softly.

# # # # #

Angelique picked up Barnabas' phone from an end table and opened it. “Hello? Oh yes, Julia, I'm glad you called.”

“Angelique? What happened? Carolyn didn't have details yet,” Julia asked as Angelique switched the call to speaker.

“Once Dawn was cut the ritual would start,” Angelique began explaining. “She was at the top of a large tower. Spike was thrown off and then Barnabas made it up but found the Leviathan Oberon. Dawn was already bleeding. Oberon shot a flame at Barnabas and both Barnabas and Oberon fell from the tower. Buffy stopped the ritual by jumping through the portal and was killed.”

“Oh God,” Julia said softly. “Is Dawn all right? Is Roxanne really gone?”

“Physically, yes,” Angelique said and the vampire witch glanced over at Barnabas as he sat in front of the fire at the mansion and he shook his head.

“Yes, Roxanne is gone,” Angelique said. “Oberon was getting stronger and Roxanne took him to hell to ensure he got there.”

“How bad is Barnabas hurt?” Julia asked.

“He's blind right now but we're sure he'll heal,” Angelique responded. “We're going to take care of him.”

“Barnabas....” Julia said softly. “How is Quentin?”

“It hasn't hit him yet,” Angelique said. “He and Buffy were... getting very close.”

“Can I speak with Barnabas?”

“He's not up to talking,” Angelique said. “No matter what I think.”

“I understand,” Julia said with a sigh. “We'll call tomorrow. I'll explain to everyone what's happened.”

“Thank you, I'm sure Quentin will fill in more details to you or Carolyn,” Angelique suggested. “Roxanne... she wanted to ensure the Leviathan couldn't get ahold of Barnabas any time soon.”

“This is horrible,” Julia commented. “We'll call tomorrow.”

“We'll be here, goodbye, Julia.”

Angelique walked over and touched Barnabas' shoulder and didn't say anything.

# # # #

Quentin finished a glass of whiskey and sighed.

“Is that helping?”

The immortal looked up at Angelique coming down the stairs. “I'm not drinking before going out on patrol with the others,” he said. “Does it help? Temporarily. How is Giles?”

“Still lost,” Angelique said. “All three of them are. It'll take time.”

“Barnabas is nearly non-communicative,” Quentin commented.

“I know, he won't even talk to Carolyn or Julia and it's been a week since he lost Roxanne,” Angelique agreed and sat down near Quentin. “I want to get all four of them out of here for awhile.”

“To where? Collinsport?” Quentin asked.

“That or the island,” she suggested. “I don't know if semi-isolation would help or moving into Collinwood with Amy, Elizabeth and Carolyn. What do you think?”

“I think the upcoming winter storms might help,” Quentin said after a moment. “They don't get much of that here. It might help pull them out and Barnabas might respond to family trying to help, particularly Julia.”

Angelique nodded.

“I'm going to stay here with the others,” Quentin said. “We'll get all of them to Collinwood for the Christmas season.”

“Just be careful when you're hunting with them,” Angelique urged. “You're immortal, not invincible.”

“I will,” Quentin said. “I just had my last drink. I... miss her badly.”

“I know,” Angelique said softly.

“It doesn't get easier,” Quentin said. “You just learn to live with it.”

Angelique sighed. “I'm not sure everyone learns that. Rupert has been hit hard with this.”

“Let's get them out of Sunnydale,” Quentin said. “Have we figured out how to keep the Council from finding out he's half vampire?”

“Willow and I are working on a glamour spell and how to switch a blood sample if they insist on it,” Angelique said. “He'll tell them that he's off on holiday while Buffy deals with an injury and if they want a doctor to examine him, they can have someone in New York or Boston do it.”

“Don't let them know about the island,” Quentin urged. “They know my last name so they probably know about Collinsport.”

“All right. Can you arrange for a plane? I'm not sure Barnabas is up for a crowded airport and airplane,” Angelique asked. “He's... barely trying to adapt to the temporary blindness.”

“I can,” Quentin said. “Tomorrow night? The longer they think about it more excuses they'll come up with not to do it.”

Angelique nodded. “Amy says that she can help Dawn with online classes and home schooling as well. God, it hurts to see all of them so miserable. You wouldn't believe I'd feel like that, would you? For so long I wanted Barnabas to be miserable. Now... it hurts.”

“I'll put a plane and pilot on stand-by if we can get them on a plane.”

“Thank you, Quentin,” Angelique said. “I'm going over to the house to talk with them. The others are dropping by every day and Dawn is back in school but her teachers are concerned, Rupert says. They've told the teachers and principal that Dawn's beloved grandmother died. Getting away may help. I'll let you know how it goes.”

“I'll be here,” Quentin said. // I miss you, Buffy.//

The werewolf walked out onto the patio and walked over to Barnabas as the vampire sat in a lawn chair. “Barnabas, it's me.”

Barnabas nodded. Quentin sat down in a lawn chair near his cousin.

“Successful hunt,” Barnabas commented.

“How do you know?”

“You smell of vampire dust,” Barnabas said.

“Ah,” Quentin replied.

“What's on your mind?”

“Nothing is holding you here in California, Barnabas,” Quentin said.

“No,” the vampire agreed.

“Angelique is going to try and convince Rupert, Joyce and Dawn to go to Collinsport or the island for awhile.”

“Interesting,” Barnabas said softly. “And you think I should go and let Julia and Carolyn tend to me until I heal up?”

“Yes, we do.”

Quentin stood up and turned towards the voice with raised eyebrows.

“Julia,” Barnabas said softly. “Come to rescue me again?”

“Always, you know that,” Julia said as she approached Barnabas.

“Even though you're with Thomas?”

“Yes, he's here with me. He insisted we come out and ask you to come back with us in person,” Julia explained and moved close enough to touch his arm. “Please.”

“Angelique thinks it'd be good if Giles, Joyce and Dawn also go to either Collinwood or the island,” Quentin told Julia.

“I think so as well,” Julia said. “Please, Barnabas.”

Barnabas was quiet for several moments and Quentin could tell Julia was distressed by her husband's bandaged eyes.

“All right, as long as its understood I'm not coming between you and Thomas,” Barnabas said softly. He'd go with them. Home might be good for him, he thought. At least until he could see and then he'd be reminded of when Roxanne had been there.

“I'll arrange for a plane for tomorrow night,” Quentin offered. “Joyce, Dawn and Giles are at the Summers house and Angelique is sleeping in the den with Barnabas. Two coffins, I mean, so there's bedrooms free for you and Thomas tonight.”

“Thank you, Quentin,” Julia said. “Come inside, Barnabas. Have some blood and let me examine your eyes.”

“All right,” Barnabas said and stood up.

Quentin moved up beside his cousin and placed Barnabas's hand on Quentin's arm. “It's clear to the doors and all the way to the chair by the fire.”

“All right.”

Quentin saw Julia bite her lip and follow them inside. Thomas was standing near the staircase and winced visibly as Quentin led Barnabas into the house.

Barnabas sat down and sighed.

“I'll get fresh bandages,” Quentin offered.

“Barnabas...”

“I know, you didn't wish this to happen,” Barnabas said. “Thank you. I will heal and continue on.”

“Quentin said that you were burned, is it that the eyelids were burned or....”

“My eyes were burned and a fall from about four or six stories up off a tower didn't help,” Barnabas said. “The pain is less each night.”

“Here we go,” Quentin said. “A friendly demon doctor gave us these drops and some strong pain pills.”

“A friendly... this town is so strange,” Julia muttered as she began to slowly unwind the bandage from around Barnabas' head and then carefully pulled a gauze pad away from each eye.

Thomas moved closer without a sound.

Julia winced and hesitated.

“I know,” Barnabas said softly. “If I were human, I'd be permanently blind.”

“Yes,” Julia agreed and gently examined his eyes which included shining a light into each eye.

“The doctor thinks he'll heal eventually,” Quentin commented.

“He should,” Julia said. “It may take some time. The eyeballs are probably better than they were given the damage to the face and eyelids here. The pupils aren't reacting to light just yet.”

“No long walks along Widow's Hill for awhile,” Barnabas said as she applied several drops to his eyes and then gently rebandaged his eyes.

“Not for a bit,” Julia agreed.

Barnabas was quiet as she finished and then sighed again. “Take me home, Julia.”

“Tomorrow night, Barnabas,” Julia promised and wrapped her arms around him as he began to cry quietly.

# # # #

Angelique closed her phone and leaned her head on Giles' shoulder as they sat on the porch at the Summers house.

“Quentin checking up on us here?” Giles asked.

“In a way,” Angelique said. “Julia and Thomas are here and Barnabas has agreed to go home.”

“Really?”

“I think he agrees he needs to be home to heal for awhile,” Angelique said. “Unlike you, Joyce and Dawn. I do think getting away would help.”

“The others might need my skills,” Giles protested. “I have the shop with Anya and my research skills.”

“Rupert, Collinwood has electricity and internet,” Angelique said. “Even the Old House has electricity and internet. Anya was handling things fine given your recent erratic sleep schedule because of me.”

“I don't know if Joyce will turn over her gallery for a week or so,” Giles said with a frown.

“Please consider it,” Angelique urged. “Tell me you don't want away from here for awhile.”

Giles nodded. “I think I do. Let me talk to Joyce and Dawn and the other kids.”

“All right.”

# # # #

SOMEWHERE OVER THE U.S.

Angelique laid her head on Giles' shoulder and interlaced her fingers with his.

Barnabas was across the aisle with his head against the bulkhead of the plane with Thomas sitting next to him. The vampire witch thought it was a good sign that Barnabas wasn't bothered by the young werewolf sitting next to him.

Joyce and Dawn were sitting in seats just behind Angelique and Giles and Angelique thought they were actually handling their grief better than Giles was.

Thomas looked up as a light went on above the door to the cockpit. “Time to buckle up, Barnabas.”

“All right,” the vampire said and felt on both sides until he found the two ends of the seatbelt and buckled them together. “Where are we landing?”

“The airport about 10 miles down from Collinsport,” Thomas said. “Carolyn rented a van because there's a few of us.”

“Good idea,” Barnabas said and flinched when the plane began descending and then touched down.

“We'll get off first, okay?” Thomas asked. “The stairs will be about as steep as the ones we climbed to get into this thing.”

“All right, as long as I have rails to guide me,” Barnabas said.

The plane's engine shut down and in a few minutes the pilot stepped into the passenger area. “Thank you for the business, ladies and gentlemen. In a moment the door will open and you can deplane. I hope you had a good flight and will utilize our services again.”

“We did and will, thank you,” Julia said as Thomas and Barnabas stood up. “I've got your cane, Barnabas, until we get down on solid ground again.”

“All right, thank you,” Barnabas said and let Thomas guide him from the seats and towards the door as it opened and they could see a set of stairs being wheeled up to the door.

“Here we go,” Thomas said and placed Barnabas' hand on Thomas' arm. “All right, we're at the door. I'm going to go first and if you slip I'll catch you.”

“Well, let's hope that doesn't happen,” Barnabas said with a slight smile. “I'm thin but not that thin.”

The vampire knew everyone was nervous until he stepped onto the tarmac.

“I'm here,” Thomas said and guided Barnabas towards a van waiting near the hanger. “Carolyn is here. We'll put you up front with her.”

“Whatever works,” Barnabas said.

He wasn't aware but Thomas was intentionally keeping Barnabas responding verbally from a suggestion from Julia to try and draw the vampire through his grief.

“Barnabas!” Carolyn said. “Can I hug you?”

“Of course,” Barnabas said with a small smile.

“Let's get everyone inside,” Julia suggested as everyone grabbed their luggage and followed Thomas and Barnabas.

# # # #

SUNNYDALE, CALIFORNIA

“Hey, Will, what's up with all the research?” Xander asked as he walked into the Magic Box after work two days after the Summers-Giles family, Barnabas and Angelique had gone back to Maine with Thomas and Julia.

“I might be onto to something,” Willow said absently.

“About what?” Xander asked.

“You have to swear to not say a word to Quentin or Spike,” Willow said as she looked up from her laptop.

“Uh, okay,” Xander said slowly. “Why are we keeping the vampire and werewolf who doesn't turn into a werewolf out of this loop?”

“Because they wouldn't believe we could do it or maybe even think we shouldn't try,” Willow said.

“What do we think we can do?” Xander asked. “Spit it out, Will.”

“Bringing Buffy back,” Willow said.

Xander sat down at the table with a stunned expression.

# # # #

COLLINSPORT, MAINE

Rupert Giles threw a rock off of Widow's Hill and looked out over the wild Atlantic ocean. The Summers-Giles family had been in Maine five days and they had checked out Collinsport and the grounds of Collinwood along with both houses. The Watcher had excused himself from lunch. He knew it was a symptom of depression and grief but food didn't taste good to him. He also hadn't been sleeping as much as he should.

Dawn tried to smile as Joyce joined her on the path to Widow's Hill, both of them watching the Watcher for several moments.

“I'm sorry, Mom,” Dawn said softly.

“For what?” Joyce asked.

“I tried to stop the ritual,” Dawn said as tears began to escape her eyes to trail down her cheeks. “Buffy wouldn't let me.”

“I know, baby,” Joyce said and hugged her daughter tightly. “Remember how I said we'd have to help each other?”

“Yeah.”

“We have to also try and help Rupert,” Joyce said.

“He won't talk about it,” Dawn commented.

“I know,” Joyce said and frowned. “Come on, I have an idea that might help.”

# # #

SUNNYDALE, CALIFORNIA

“Will, what are you saying? Buffy's dead,” Xander asked softly. “Dead. We buried her body and you run that damned robot around so the vamps won't realize Buffy's gone.”

“I don't think she was meant to go through that portal and its really possible that her soul was sent to hell,” Willow replied.

“You want to bring her body back like a zombie?” Xander asked with a frown.

“Zombies are boring,” Anya commented. “Even the ones that don't try to eat you.”

“I agree with her,” Xander said firmly. “No zombie Buffy!”

“She won't be a zombie!” Willow protested. “I want to bring her soul back to her body and.... renew her body. She'd be like she was when she died.”

“That...that's on the level of a deity, Will,” Xander said. “I don't think this is a good idea.”

“You don't want her back?”

“Of course I want her back!” Xander protested. “If it's possible why aren't witches bringing people back by the hundreds?”

“Maybe because they aren't brave enough,” Willow suggested. “Or don't have the power.”

“And you do?” Xander asked. “I mean the telepathy when we're patrolling is really helpful but... raising the dead back to being healthy? We know about zombies, raising a body but what you want...”

“What I want is Buffy back and to save her from that hellish realm Glory was trying to get back to!”

Willow jumped up from the table and ran out the front door.

“Wow,” Xander said softly. “An, you ever see someone raised like she wants to do with Buff?”

“No,” Anya replied. “It's whispered about in sorcerer circles but I never met anyone who did it. Of course, having that kind of power would mean the sorcerer would have enough power to do their own revenge stuff and wouldn't need me.”

Xander frowned. “That actually makes sense. Do you think we should do this?”

“I don't know,” Anya said. “If Buffy's soul is suffering...maybe the higher powers will look the other way if we bring her back.”

Xander frowned. “I wish Giles was here. Oh what am I saying? He'd say No right away and worry about Will over-stepping her power or something. I gotta find out what Tara thinks.”

# # # #

COLLINSPORT, MAINE

Giles looked up and smiled slightly as Joyce stood up from a chair on the terrace at Collinwood. He then looked puzzled when he noticed a baseball bat leaning against another chair. “What's going on?” he questioned as he approached the house.

“You've been trying to take care of us while neglecting yourself, Rupert,” Joyce said as she walked over to him. “You're not eating, you're barely sleeping and you haven't let yourself grieve.”

“I'm....trying,” Giles said softly.

“You have to let some of it out,” Joyce insisted and picked up the bat. “There is an old abandoned greenhouse down that path. A lot of glass and wood to break.”

She handed him the bat. “Let some of it go, Rupert. You can't help us if you're slowly killing yourself.”

Giles took the bat and nodded. “I'll try.”

“To quote the kids, there is no try, there is do or do not,” Joyce said with a gentle smile. “No one will be anywhere near you so let go.... and don't step on a rusty nail.”

Giles chuckled. “I'll keep that in mind. Joyce, thank you.”

“We'll get through this, Rupert,” Joyce said and kissed his cheek. “It hurts like hell and always will, though.”

“I know.”

# # # #