Dark are the Shadows
Ms. Hunter Ashripperbard7@yahoo.com
frost29@post.com
a BTVS/DS/F13 crossover
pairings: Buffy/Quentin, Willow/Tara, Giles/Angelique, Barnabas/Roxanne, Julia/Thomas, Xander/Anya, Joe/Maggie
pg-13
# # # #
UNNYDALE, CALIFORNIA
Giles sighed as Buffy placed a hand on his shoulder. “Angelique will be here sometime tomorrow. Thomas will call and let us know where they are, which plane, I mean. I talked the vampires out of rushing here immediately but Thomas is being stubborn. He wants to help find Quentin and protect Tara.”
“He'll be welcome,” Buffy said softly. “I'm going to sneak into your condo through the 2nd story just before sunrise, about the time of the changing of Initiative troops. I'll grab some spare glasses and stuff.”
“Thank you, Giles responded. “My glasses broke when I was hit. Also, Willow needs to be seen at the shop along with Xander and Anya.”
“Why?”
“They don't know about Tara, if both Willow and Tara disappear the Initiative might notice and become interested in them,” Giles reasoned.
“I'm going to get everyone one of those pay-as-you-go phones that you can load money for minutes on,” Buffy said. “That should slow down any one trying to track us and I can keep in touch with you and Collinwood.”
“Good idea,” Giles said. “I'm just...”
He held up a hand and Buffy could see how badly he was shaking and she glanced around and saw no one else was listening nor watching.
“Giles?”
“I'm frightened,” Giles admitted. “After Randall was killed and the Council found me I was put through what they call re-education. Intense counseling, detoxing off street drugs only to put on their drugs that...reduces resistance and some aversion training. Meaning breaking down of the rebellious young man to a shaking mess that would gladly accept whatever training and guidance they wanted. That timid librarian bit wasn't just an act at first. The thought of being stripped naked and tossed into a cell and experimented on...”
“That's not going to happen,” Buffy said. “We'll get you out of the state as quickly as possible. Angel and Gunn will be here in about an hour and Gunn will get you to the plane and pick up Thomas.”
“Thank you,” Giles said softly.
# # # #
Walsh frowned as she looked through the thick plexiglass door at one of their latest captures, the werewolf named Quentin Collins. He was lying on the floor apparently unconscious, blood drying from his nose and one eye swelling shut.
“What happened?” she demanded.
“He managed to bite one of my men,” the Sgt in charge of Platoon A said. “It took three of us to take him down even with the cattle prods.”
“So now one of your men is a hostile?”
“The lab techs are confused,” the sergeant responded. “He's not showing any infection in his blood. We'll know for certain within three days, however. What can explain that?"
"It's theorized that some shape-changing hostiles are descendants of the source and their DNA was altered and its passed along down the line," Walsh said. "It could be we are looking at an unusual hostile, one that doesn't spread the disease but is a shape-changer. Has he responded verbally?"
"Not a word other than to curse us when his pain levels get high," Sgt. Wong answered. "He refuses to speak even when we use his human name."
"I would love to focus on him but we may need to move him," Walsh said. "If so, I'll accompany him to the Barstow facility and do some testing there for a few days, my new teaching assistant can handle my classes for a week. Be prepared to get him on a truck within 30 minutes if you get the word and pass that along."
"Yes, ma'am."
# # # #
OUTSIDE COLLINSPORT, MAINE
Thomas buckled his seat belt as the plane began it's slow movement to the runway. "We can't lose Quentin," he muttered.
"I agree," Angelique said. "Thomas, this is Rachel, she's my aide in the business and she watches over me during the day when I travel."
"Pleased to meet you," Thomas said and attempted to smile.
“Hello,” Rachel said. “I'm going to move over to the table and do some work on those reports the magazines have submitted and that proposal from that young assistant editor.”
“The one proposing that we should start looking into getting online?” Angelique asked.
“Yes, I think it might have merit,” Rachel said as the plane left the ground. “I think it's possible that print will decrease over time.”
“I do as well,” Angelique said. “Read his report and see what he's thinking.”
Angelique turned back to Thomas. “Are you all right? Have you been away from Julia for more than a day after you became their day guard?”
“A few days and up to a week so I could see Elizabeth,” Thomas answered. “Made me as jumpy as a cat.”
Angelique nodded. “I'm going to suggest to Rupert that we stay in a different state but closer to California. You and the others might need my magic. He may need to go to the island, though. He sounded shaken.”
“I wasn't sure anything would get him away from Buffy,” Thomas commented.
“I know, that's why I was giving him some space so he could settle into his life again,” Angelique said. “After this I'm going to be very paranoid about government agencies.”
“Totally.”
# # #
SUNNYDALE, CALIFORNIA
“Giles?”
The Watcher opened his eyes slowly and blinked. “Eh?”
“Can you wake up for a bit?” Buffy asked.
Giles nodded and sat up, shifting his legs off the camp cot. He looked around and saw Tara was asleep which wasn't surprising since it was mid-morning according to his watch. Then he saw Joyce and Dawn standing near the door to the cell while Willow set a kettle onto a camp stove.
He looked at Buffy with a questioning glance.
“We snuck them out the back of the gallery in Xander's pickup,” Buffy told him. “They wanted to see you before you leave.”
“I'm grateful,” Giles said and stood up. He smiled when Dawn rushed forward and hugged him tightly. “Shhh, I'll be back once this is all settled or you'll see me over winter break at Collinwood.”
“We're gonna miss you!” Dawn declared.
“I'm going to miss everyone terribly, especially my family,” Giles said. He hugged Joyce when Dawn stepped back. “I'm coming back.”
“You'd better,” she said as tears filled her eyes.
Giles saw Buffy grabbing the rucksack that contained what clothes and items she could sneak out of the condo. “The plane is here?”
“Yes,” Joyce said. “Xander and your father are outside. Wesley is going to take you to the airport and pick up Thomas. Wes will drive up to the back gate here when Buffy calls him. I think your father is seriously considering shooting anyone that tries to grab you.”
“That's a nice change,” Giles said. “I will be back or I'll see you in a month.”
“Just...stay safe and tell Angelique to take care of you,” Joyce said softly.
Giles kissed her gently. “Call whenever you want. Come here, Dawn, another hug for me.”
“Be careful, Dad,” Dawn said as tears rolled down her cheeks.
“I will,” Giles promised. “Willow, quick hug and I'm off.”
After hugging Buffy at the rear gate Giles was lying down in the back seat of Wesley's car heading towards the airport.
“Thanks for lending a hand,” Giles said as he shifted on the seat.
“Pleasure,” Wes responded. “Gunn is hoping to run into some of those soldiers that tried to grab you. Are you all right?”
“Not really,” Giles answered. “I'm a bit rattled.”
“I understand that,” Wesley said. “Your father and Buffy are applying pressure on the Council and the US government. Hopefully this won't take long.”
“I hope not.”
# # ##
COLLINSPORT, MAINE
Carolyn smiled when she opened the door to the Old House and found Maggie and Joe.
“Hey, good to see you two!” she said.
Maggie held up a large take out bag. “Amy said you were watching over things down here because Thomas has gone to California. Joe suggested we bring lunch and keep you company for an hour.”
“Oh that's great, thanks,” Carolyn said as they entered.
“And you can tell us what's going on,” Joe added.
"Well...."
# # #
SUNNYDALE, CALIFORNIA
Buffy looked up as Dr. Sam Grimm walked into the mansion. "Hey, Willow still filling you in on the adventures we've had?"
"Yes," Sam responded. "Is Mr. Giles gone?"
"Uh...what?"
"Quentin Travers called me and asked my opinion about whether we should fight to get Mr. Collins back," Sam said.
"The Initiative tried to grab Giles," Buffy said as Joyce and Dawn joined them. "He's out of state and we don't know where he is."
"They also say they don't have Quentin," Dawn added.
"All right, Travers is working on applying pressure, so is Lord Robert," Sam said. "How do we get him back while they're arguing?"
"We do have an idea but it's highly manipulative, illegal and dangerous," Buffy said.
"I'm in, what they're doing is illegal."
"Okay, see what you think of this...."
# # # #
Giles shook Thomas' hand and then hugged the werewolf. “Take care of everyone.”
“I will,” Thomas promised and trotted down the plane stairs and jumped into Wesley's car.
Giles turned and looked at a young, dark haired woman looking at him. “I, uh, I'm Giles.”
“I'm Rachel, Angelique's assistant and day watcher,” the woman said. “Please have a seat and buckle up. Mrs Rumson said we should leave as soon as possible once you boarded.”
“All right,” Giles said and shoved his rucksack under a seat and sat down and buckled up. “Where...?”
Rachel nodded towards the back of the plane where there was an accordion door. “She's sleeping back there. You can join her after we're in the air or you can sit here, of course. There's a dvd player and a cd player with a wide variety of movies and music.”
“Thank you,” Giles said and gritted his teeth as the plane began to pick up speed and it felt like his stomach was left behind when the plane lifted off.
After a few moments the plane leveled out and Rachel unbuckled her seatbelt.
Giles unbuckled his seatbelt and tried to stop his hands from shaking.
“We have food, sodas, snacks and alcohol if you'd like,” Rachel offered. “We'll be in Boston in about six hours, a car will be waiting and you'll go to Collinsport or the island.”
"A-alcohol?"
"PTSD?" Rachel asked. "A shot might help settle your nerves so you can relax and realize you're safe once we hit Boston. Unless you're in recovery, of course."
"I've been known to indulge too much occasionally but I'm not in recovery," Giles said. "I might be after this."
"I understand," Rachel said. "I have six years of sobriety. That's not a judgment, by the way. No offense if you do need a drink."
"None taken," Giles responded and hesitated and then went to the closed cabinet she indicated and poured himself a shot of Jamison's whisky and downed it. He sat back down and sighed. "I'm not accustomed to running these days. This...set off the PTSD you mentioned. Watchers go through some psych training on PTSD as it's common with Slayers. I didn't think I it was an issue for myself until now."
"Do you know why it's come up? Specifically, I mean?"
"Yes," Giles said. "I've had near melt downs when the threat of....the original trauma came up. I should have realized. I suppose this means I should look into counseling."
"It might help," Rachel agreed. "Why don't you take a nap?"
Giles nodded. "Good idea, I think."
# # # #
SUNNYDALE, CALIFORNIA
Buffy didn't bother knocking on Walsh's door.
The scientist raised her eyebrows and her hand started to move.
"Keep your hands in sight, please," Buffy said firmly. "When am I getting my team mate back?"
"As I stated before, we don't have any of your vampires," Walsh said. "That was your unauthorized agreement with Graham."
"The Council has a deal with almost all governments around the world," Buffy countered. "The Slayer gets a pass when dealing with demons, vamps and other 'hostiles', as you call them. That includes my team."
"We're still verifying that," Walsh said. "By that time, who knows what will have happened to any hostiles in our custody."
Walsh found herself two inches off the floor, half dragged over her desk.
"Anything bad happens to my team mate and I will out you and your toy soldiers to every demon and vampire I can find," Buffy threatened. "Maybe even any sorcerer that might take an interest. I know some that would get a kick making your life hell. Now release my team mate and any one else connected with me and mine."
Buffy dropped Walsh and slammed the door when she left. The Slayer trotted down the hall and out onto the quad and across it. She jumped into the back of Xander's pickup that was waiting in a loading zone. Buffy looked back and grinned at the sight of Graham and Forrest rushing halfway across the quad trying to keep her in sight.
The pickup disappeared around a corner.
Buffy leaned into the back window. "Thanks, Xan. Hopefully, that will shake her up. She said that they aren't abiding by the Council agreements until told to do so. She also threatened that a lot could happen to Quentin before then. We have to move but subtle like."
“Let's do it,” Xander said. “Thomas is at the crypt and Wesley is standing by with the car to whisk Quentin out of town if we get him back.... when we get him back.”
“Then we move tomorrow night,” Buffy said. “And we plan tonight and tomorrow.”
# # # #
BOSTON, MASS.
“Rupert, time to wake up, my love.”
Giles opened his eyes and smiled. “Hullo, luv.”
Angelique smiled and leaned down and kissed him. “We've landed and are slowly approaching the hanger. Let's get into the car and we'll call Collinwood and see how things are there, if they've noticed any strangers asking questions or hanging around and you can decide if you want to go to Collinsport or the island.”
“All right,” Giles said and sat up. “I feel better. I got some sleep.”
“You did,” Angelique agreed. “Come gather your things.”
Giles nodded and stretched. “I'm hoping the Council will muzzle the Initiative and I can go back to being a Watcher and our meet-ups won't be with me having a melt-down.”
"It's all right to need help, Rupert," Angelique said softly and kissed his cheek as the door to the airplane opened and the pilot motioned the three passengers down the steep steps of the portable stairs.
Giles sighed in relief once they were in the car and he leaned back as Angelique pulled out a cellphone.
"Carolyn, it's Angelique," she said into the phone. "Has there been anything alarming on your end? I need to know if I can bring Rupert to the Old House or to the island."
"Hi, Angelique," Carolyn's voice responded. "Nothing out of the ordinary here or in town. We have regular blood deliveries to the diner from a butcher with no hitches. No one has been asking questions and there's no signs that anyone is snooping around or watching either house. We'd love to have both of you here, especially with Thomas in California. Amy and I are going to alternate keeping an eye on the Old House during the day."
Angelique looked at Giles while Rachel clicked away on a laptop in the passenger seat next to the driver.
"The Old House," Giles answered the non-verbal question.
"We'll be there in a couple of hours," Angelique told Carolyn. "We'll add Rupert to the day watch rotation."
"I can't wait to see him," Carolyn said. "Drive safe."
"After the driver drops us off he'll swing up the coast and drop Rachel at the pier where she'll take a launch to the island," Angelique explained. "She's my business right hand and she helps keep me sane and idiot editors and managers at bay."
Rachel glanced back at both of them with a smile. "I'm very protective of the aging Mrs. Rumson."
Giles hoped the driver was up-to-date on everything concerning Angelique. "What happens when the elderly Mrs. Rumson passes on or will she become the oldest living woman in the States?"
"No, that would be too much attention for the recluse," Angelique said. "The public will become aware that Sky and Angelique had a daughter. Mrs. Rumson went into isolation after her husband's insanity and suicide and didn't reveal that she was pregnant at the time and the daughter looks very much like her mother."
"And Barnabas is descended from the original Barnabas Collins from 1797," Giles commented. "And Quentin looks much like his ancestor."
"Strong genes," Rachel said and turned back to her laptop.
# # #
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