Dark Are the Shadows
BTVS / Dark Shadows crossoverMs. Hunter Ash
ripperbard7@yahoo.com
frost29@post.com
rating: PG13
pairings: Buffy/Quentin, Xander/Anya, Willow/Tara, Barnabas/Roxanne, Julia/Tom, Maggie/Joe
# # #
“No, they're not.”
Before Quentin could turn someone stepped behind him just outside the door and wrapped an arm around his neck and squeezed.
“You pull that cross and I will snap your neck quite easily regardless of what Rupert wishes,” a voice warned. “Where is the key to those handcuffs?”
“Barnabas, no,” Giles protested.
“Quiet, Rupert,” Barnabas said. “We are not letting you go with them.”
“Upper breast pocket,” Giles said as Roxanne stepped out of the shadows. “The cross is left breast, inside the coat.”
“Let's get them inside,” Julia suggested as she and Quentin stepped out of the shadows on the other side of the door. “We took his men into the kitchen through the back.”
“All trussed up and gagged like Thanksgiving turkeys,” Quentin Collins added.
Roxanne unlocked Giles handcuffs and pulled the shivering Watcher back into the house. “Elizabeth is at the Old House with her father and they're calling Maggie and Joe,” she told Amy. “Get him by the fire.”
Barnabas pulled Quentin into the house and Quentin Collins quickly found the cross inside the Head Watcher's coat and removed it. Barnabas released Quentin Travers.
“Now, let's discuss this a bit further,” he suggested and motioned Travers towards the parlor.
# # # #
Giles accepted a cup of hot coffee from Amy. “I was outside for only a moment and it's freezing!”
“You're not accustomed to the cold yet,” Amy said. She looked around the room and shook her head. Quentin Travers was near the fireplace across from Giles and Quentin Collins while the vampires stood at the windows and doors, obviously guarding the room. “I'm going to check on our guests in the kitchen.”
Giles winced at the sound of squealing brakes outside. “The others are here.”
“Good, the more the merrier,” Julia said as she looked out the window.
“Giles!”
“In here, Buffy!” Giles yelled. “It's safe.”
Barnabas opened the parlor door and smiled at the Slayer who motioned her mother, sister, Thomas and Elizabeth in followed by the Haskells.
“Rupert's boss had him handcuffed and was about to leave the country with him,” Barnabas informed them. “We were outside waiting.”
“Anyone hurt?” Buffy asked.
“His throat might have a slight bruise and his playmates have headaches,” Barnabas said. “Nothing permanent.”
Buffy sighed as they all entered the parlor and people began finding seats or spots on the rugs.
“Okay, how do we solve this? We're not letting Giles go ever,” she asked Travers.
“I'm at a loss,” Travers said after a moment. “He's no longer human and admits it. We cannot let him continue as your Watcher. We already ignore your ex-boyfriend because you aren't close to him.”
“We defeated the Leviathan because our friends here are vampires and witches,” Buffy said. “And Quentin saved my life when I came back. Giles is stronger, faster and you know how dedicated to all of us he is. You're passing up a great opportunity. We'll have three amazing teams, one on this side of the country. Something Giles probably hasn't talked about, Barnabas was given a choice by the Powers to be zapped to here, to go home or stay in California and fight the Leviathan and probably be killed. He stayed even though it cost him his marriage. He stayed even after the Leviathan were defeated to help us fight Glory. So did Giles' friend.”
“Let's break it down,” Joyce suggested. “In Sunnydale there's two witches, a former demon with a lot of insider information, a fearless warrior in Xander, one hell of a Watcher and father in Rupert and myself and Dawn. We're rather protective of all of them and you aren't taking Rupert from my family. In L.A. there's a psychic, a master vampire, a former Watcher, a fighter and others. Here in Maine there'll be three vampires, a psychic and another experienced fighter. And dashing between both coasts will be Rupert's friend.”
“Two psychics,” Roxanne pointed out.
“And don't forget us,” Joe said. “We've been dealing with supernatural stuff since our mid 20s and we're damn fond of everyone here.”
“And they're family, Joe is a cousin,” Carolyn added.
“And I'm a werewolf with control over my lycanthropy,” Thomas added.
“And I am a licensed doctor,” Julia commented.
Travers looked at Barnabas and Roxanne with a questioning expression.
“I've been a vampire off and on since 1795,” Barnabas said. “We are unique vampires, different than the ones you usually deal with.”
“Howso?” Travers asked.
“They're more like Dracula than Drusilla or Angelus,” Giles said.
“I don't believe that,” Travers said.
“You or me?” Barnabas asked Julia across the room.
“How about all three of us?” Thomas suggested.
In a moment there were three wolves sitting in the parlor. Elizabeth giggled and tackled Thomas-wolf.
Thomas shifted back into human form lying on the floor as she attempted to tickle him, both laughing.
Then Barnabas and Julia were human again.
“That's rather astounding,” Travers admitted. “Why are you all different?”
“I am responsible for Julia being a vampire, Roxanne is human,” Barnabas said. “My vampirism is the result of a curse, each time.”
“I was a vampire and I was killed in the fight against Glory and a Leviathan,” Roxanne said. “Someone brought me back. I will become a vampire again. I'm not leaving Barnabas.”
“She sacrificed herself to ensure the Leviathan couldn't continue to gain power and hurt everyone else,” Carolyn added.
“Fascinating.”
“And you aren't going to ship them to England to study them like lab rats,” Giles said firmly.
“You're included in that plan, Rupert,” Travers said firmly.
“None of them are,” Buffy said. “I'll drop you and your minions off Widow's Hill first!”
“May I suggest something?” Carolyn asked as she touched Buffy's arm. She felt Buffy take a deep breath and calm down. “Rupert is the way he is because of a spell, Willow and Tara are witches and Barnabas became a vampire because of a witch's curse. From what Rupert says, you don't deal a lot with magic other than finding girls that might be Potentials.”
“And the werewolf?” Travers asked.
“A family curse,” Thomas said. “A gypsy curse.”
“More magic,” Carolyn added.
“What do you propose?” Travers asked.
“Mutual benefit,” Carolyn said. “Buffy is the oldest Slayer ever and her family and friends are the reason. Aside from being damned talented, of course.”
“Thanks,” Buffy said softly.
“Send people over to work with the witches and learn how magic has affected everyone in this room,” Carolyn suggested. “The Leviathan used magic, Glory used magic, some demons use magic and the girls use magic. Giles is connected to his friend through magic.”
“And there's much more,” Barnabas said. “IF we were willing to work with you and tell you about some of the things we've been through. My line of vampires are a bit psychic and... there is much that I've never heard of concerning other vampires.”
“Only and only if we trust you and whoever you send over,” Thomas added. “No one gets near them if they're a danger, especially hunters.”
“Yeah, he held a gun to my head when I got close to a sleeping Barnabas once,” Buffy added.
“Much you haven't seen with other vampires?” Travers asked.
“Something we won't talk about for a very long time into our working relationship,” Julia said firmly. “We're putting our family at extreme risk in addition to ourselves.”
“I need to confer with the Council,” Travers said.
“No,” Giles responded. “You decide and decide now. Barnabas and his type of vampires have their souls but they can be dangerous. I'm not putting everyone in this room at risk because you came looking for me. You know I won't hesitate to eliminate a threat.”
“You do take after your father at times,” Travers muttered. “Broken the counseling and conditioning totally, have you?”
“No, but I can consciously shift into that....aspect,” Giles said. “Ask the human host of Glory. Oh, wait, you can't.”
“Giles?” Buffy asked.
“I'll explain later,” Giles said as he watched Travers. “Joyce, give the girls a call, hopefully they're still at the hospital. They should be in on this.”
“All right.”
“I'll get some more coffee,” Amy offered as Elizabeth curled up in her father's arms.
“How did you alert the others?” Travers asked Giles.
“I didn't.”
“Elizabeth came to our place with a note from my mom, Amy,” Thomas said.
“We had the front and back covered,” Travers said with a frown.
“Yeah, but you didn't have the secret passages covered,” Thomas said with a smirk.
“It's a very old house,” Carolyn said. “And large.”
“The family had lived through the founding of the area and the Revolutionary War so there are hidden passages,” Barnabas explained.
“Amazing,” Travers muttered.
“Let me put you on speaker,” Joyce said and clicked on her phone. “Everyone is here, Xander. Who is there?”
“We're in Anya's room,” Xander's voice said. “Me, Anya, Will and Tara.”
“The entire bunch is here except Giles' girlfriend, she who will not be named, okay?” Buffy said. “Also here are Quentin Travers and two minions. They came to find out if Giles is human or not and tried to kidnap him when he admitted he wasn't. Barnabas and others disagreed with that.”
“We've told Travers quite a bit about our friends here and most of what happened during the fight against the Leviathan and Glory except for Barnabas' protege's role in things,” Giles added.
“So what is being decided?” Xander asked. “They can't take Giles and they can't tell anyone about Barnabas and the Collins family.”
“Carolyn has suggested that the Council actually try and learn from us for once,” Buffy said. “They don't like dealing with magic and both families here and in Sunnydale are all over it and the world is still here.”
“But only if they aren't going to consider any of us a danger,” Julia added.
“And if they do?” Willow's voice asked.
“The Council will need to find a new Head Watcher,” Giles said.
“Giles!”
“What, Willow?” Giles asked. “They mean to turn me into a lab rat and then kill me and if things aren't agreed to our satisfaction they'll include Barnabas, Julia, Thomas and maybe Elizabeth and Roxanne in on that as well. And my girlfriend.”
“Slayers don't kill humans,” Xander said.
“I'm not a Slayer,” Giles said. “It would be advantageous for them and us if we work together. No capturing and studying any of us and we'll work with them to expand their knowledge about vampires, werewolves and magic. If not, several of us will disappear for a bit.”
“You, girlfriend, Barnabas, Roxanne, Julia and Thomas?” Tara asked.
“Yes, and they'll make enemies out of everyone else including me,” Buffy said firmly.
“What do you guys think?” Dawn asked into the phone.
“Hang on,” Xander said.
“You realize its highly likely that others know where we are and what our mission is,” Travers commented.
“You came after me,” Giles said. “I'll disappear. I have people who will protect me and I have places to go that you know nothing about. And it would really piss off my father.”
“Yes, there is that,” Travers said softly.
“What's all this about your father?” Buffy asked softly.
“After things settle down,” Giles responded.
“We vote to work with the Council,” Xander said. “As long as they swear they won't touch any vampires, witches, werewolves and ghosts that we vouch for. No medical tests, no labs, no Initiative type stuff unless we agree and only with someone watching blood draws and stuff like that.”
“Ball is on your side of the court, Travers,” Buffy said as she crossed her arms. “I know you have Watchers and Potentials and strike teams around the world but Giles can disappear and you'll find we're kinda hard to take out even if your bunch figures out what happened to you.”
“I doubt that,” Travers said with a frown.
“Can any of your stuffed shirts raise the dead, send Leviathans packing or eliminate an actual god?” Buffy retorted. “We did.”
“And the Powers seem to favor us,” Giles added. “They healed Barnabas' eyes and brought Roxanne back because of all they sacrificed in our fight against darkness. Still think I'm a negative influence?”
“Possibly but I am rather fond of continuing to live,” Travers said. “Who is your girlfriend, the vampire witch you mentioned before? You staked her but it didn't kill her?”
“It killed her,” Giles said. “Barnabas' line don't crumble to dust unless its by fire or sunlight. She was brought back after the Leviathan were dealt with. Yes, she is a witch, a powerful one that has different abilities than Willow and Tara and different from what I could accomplish when I was young.”
“She's powerful?”
“Yes,” Giles said. “I died, Quentin. I died and became a vampire and then became human again. She's not really sure on how we accomplished that but it worked. What do you say? Do we work together or I take you for a walk to a cliff that's claimed several lives over the centuries?”
Joe Haskell shifted in his chair.
“Joe?” Barnabas asked.
“I'm just uncomfortable with having to kill someone on the same side that we are,” he said as Maggie squeezed his hand.
“I know,” Giles said. “I wouldn't do it for myself, you know someone would protect me until I die and join her. I would do it to protect everyone here, especially the Collins and Haskell families, you all stayed in the fight when it wasn't the smartest idea. Most importantly, I do not want to leave my family.”
“Mr. Travers, I suggest you give it some serious thought,” Maggie said. “The Collins and Haskell families have been through a lot and paid some heavy prices but enemies were eventually vanquished.”
“Losing you and going to war with the Council only helps the darkness, Quentin,” Giles said.
“And how to we prove to you that you can trust us considering it was likely you'd never see freedom again two hours ago?” Travers asked.
“That's a very good question,” Buffy said.
“Anybody got a suggestion?” Carolyn Stoddard-Hawks asked.
“We can't put him under a thrall,” Julia commented. “They'll look for fang wounds.”
Giles frowned. “Let me make a phone call. Discuss it over, everyone.”
The Watcher stepped into the hall and sat down on the stairs leading to the second story of the mansion. He pulled his phone and dialed from memory.
# # # #
SUNNYDALE, CALIFORNIA
“Any ideas?” Tara asked the three other Scooby members in Anya's hospital room.
Willow shook her head. “This... Giles can't go on the run! And they can't go after anyone there!”
“Yeah,” Xander agreed. “No doubt they can disappear but... we need them. The world needs them. Why can't Travers realize that Giles was half vampire or whatever he is when we took on Glory? If Giles was evil he would have made a deal with Glory and screwed us and the world over.”
“It would be most inconvenient if Giles had to go on the run,” Anya commented. “We would lose sales.”
“That would be horrible,” Willow said.
Anya's eyes narrowed but she couldn't tell if Willow was being sarcastic or not.
“Totally,” Tara agreed with only hint of a smile.
# # # #
COLLINSPORT, MAINE
Giles walked back into the sitting room and handed his phone to Quentin Travers.
“It's for you.”
Travers took the phone almost cautiously. “Hello, this is Travers. Ah yes, of course.”
He quietly listened as Giles sat down next to Joyce and Dawn. The young teen slipped a hand into Giles' and squeezed.
“Please don't go away,” she whispered.
“I hope not,” Giles said softly.
“Yes, I understand,” Travers said. “I think we can all benefit from that arrangement. I will get the Elders to agree to this. I'm sorry Rupert had to call you, it is an unusual situation. Yes, I'll tell him to call you. Goodbye, sir.”
Travers closed the phone and looked at Giles. “You had to bring him into this?”
“You know I didn't want to,” Giles replied. “You want to continue living, so do I and I care about my family and friends. Do we have a deal? Both groups will work with researchers with those numbering one or two. No hunters and the families on this side of the country won't be at the beck and call of the Council. If we need help, we'll yell. And no records about me and my unique condition. Researchers can talk to me over the phone or through a confessional or something. I'll donate blood and I won't have the family name ruined. I did that once, already. Bad enough I have to explain to him about my unique condition. Acceptable?”
“You know it is,” Travers said as he leaned over and handed Giles his phone. “Now what?”
“Well, we aren't walking to Widow's hill in the dark, how about we bring his men in by the fire and offer them coffee?” Carolyn suggested.
“I'll help you cut the tape,” Quentin offered.
“I'm going to walk Elizabeth down to the Old House,” Thomas said. “Try out this walking cast and put her to bed. Night, everyone.”
“Could someone explain to those who can't see what the hell everyone is thinking?” Xander's voice asked.
“How about you explain about your father, Rupert?” Travers suggested. “You haven't told them a thing, have you?”
“And why would I? What would I tell them?” Giles demanded. “I just told them this last month that I have a title and that my father is alive.”
“Giles?” Buffy asked and the Watcher sighed.
“I came from a family with a very long history of service, either to the Watcher's Council or to the Crown,” Giles said. “I am a knight, my father is a lord. When he passes away I inherit the title. It's not something observed very much in the Council, there's a number of nobles among the Elders and some that came from lower ranks and situations.”
Giles looked up as two men entered the room almost cautiously.
“Grab a seat somewhere, gentlemen,” Travers said. “I've reached an understanding with Watcher Giles and his Slayer. He's about to fill in some details about his family to everyone here.”
“Why were we hit and tied up?” one of them demanded.
“His family was afraid we were going to kidnap Watcher Giles before he could explain away any doubts,” Travers said. “Go ahead, Rupert.”
“What does service to the Crown mean?” Xander asked over the phone. “In movies that usually means 007 is about to go into action.”
“In the case of my father that's exactly what it means,” Giles said. “Nothing as glamorous as the movies but he was seldom home, especially after my mother died.”
“He's also done several favors for the Crown that were unofficial,” Travers added. “Which is why he has the ear of the Queen and high ranking officials.”
“We're not taking Giles back because of royal power plays?” the 2nd man demanded.
“No, you're not taking me back because I'm not a vampire,” Giles said calmly. “Buffy, toss me a cross. I've already done this for Mr. Travers, by the way.”
Buffy pulled a cross out of a backpack and handed it to her Watcher and then took it back after several moments.
Amy and Carolyn entered with a coffee cart.
“We have tea and coffee and muffins,” Carolyn announced. “And it's good tea. We've definitely learned which tea is good in this region by our British friends.”
“Thank you,” Giles said with a smile.
“Have some tea,” Travers encouraged his men. “Then go back to town to the hotel. I want to talk more with the Slayer and her team. I'm sure the Haskels will drop me off.”
“We'd be happy to,” Joe said as he handed Maggie a cup of coffee and sat down with one of his own.
“I still don't get why we were hit if he's not hiding something,” Watcher #1 said.
“Because we thought you were about to kidnap our friend and family member,” Barnabas said. “We knew the sheriff most likely couldn't respond fast enough to prevent you from leaving the property. People would have been hurt if the state police had to track your car down.”
“And the suspicion that there's at least two vampires among this bunch?” Watcher #1 demanded. “Have everyone here hold that cross.”
Buffy was surprised that none of the vampires in the room flinched or shifted in their seats.
“Two of them are vampires,” Travers said calmly. “It's irrelevant at the moment as to which two here are vampires. It is my judgment that they are in the same category as the vampire in Los Angeles. Now, finish up your tea or coffee and head back to town and have a decent dinner.”
“And leave you with vampires?” Watcher #2 asked.
“And with the Slayer and a competent Watcher,” Travers said firmly. “Go.”
# # # #
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