Dark are the Shadows
Ms Hunter Ashripperbard7@yahoo.com
frost29@post.com
pairings: Buffy/Quentin, Xander/Anya, Willow/Tara, Barnabas/Roxanne, Julia/Thomas, Maggie/Joe, Giles/Angelique
rating: PG13
SUNNYDALE, CALIFORNIA
Quentin Collins was dragged into a simple white room that contained a metal table and two chairs, one on each side facing the other. His hands were handcuffed behind his back and the soldiers hadn't even draped a blanket over his shoulders. He was roughly placed on a chair.
He stared at the blonde woman across from him without dropping his eyes or shifting on the chair despite being hauled into the room naked in front of her.
“Mr. Collins, I'd like to discuss some of the results of the tests we've run on you,” Professor Walsh said after a moment.
Quentin didn't say anything.
“We know you are a werewolf, you've changed several times in the last 3 days,” Professor Walsh continued. “However, your bite doesn't seem to be contagious like most were creature's bites that we've seen.”
Quentin barely blinked as he held her gaze.
“You also have an accelerated healing rate and some of your DNA markers seem to be unique,” Walsh stated. “Any comment?”
Quentin winced as a nightstick was jammed into his ribs but he refused to speak. A nightstick from the other side came down on a shoulder and he was pulled back up onto the chair.
“Have any answers for me?” Walsh asked. “You realize we have drugs that can wring some answers from you, don't you?”
Quentin was jabbed in the ribs again when he refused to speak.
“What is your relationship with the Slayer?” Walsh asked.
Quentin didn't even blink.
A moment later he was pretty certain that his collarbone was cracked. He was pulled up and tossed into the chair.
Walsh sighed. “All right, the hard way. Start him on the usual soul breaking drugs, don't let him sleep, drop the temp in his cell and randomly timed shocks. High pitched noises should work well, were hostiles usually hate that. Perhaps you'll be more talkative when we meet again, Hostile 215. Take him.”
# # #
COLLINSPORT, MAINE
Elizabeth let out a squeal and dashed into Giles' arms as he squatted down after he and Angelique walked into the Old House.
"Elizabeth!" he exclaimed and hugged her and then lifted her into his arms. The Watcher smiled as they walked into the main room where Barnabas, Roxanne, Julia and Amy were sitting. "Hullo, all."
"Rupert, good to see you," Julia said. "Did Thomas make it all right to California?"
"Yes, he intends on staying out of sight and protect Tara, Joyce and Dawn while Buffy and the others deal with the Initiative," Giles explained. "He knows those bastards could grab him because he's a werewolf and staying behind as a guard frees the others up to focus on getting Quentin back."
"Good, he can be a little hot-headed," Julia commented. "I'm going to call him in a bit. Are Buffy and the others any closer to getting Quentin back than last night?"
"I don't know," Giles said. "We're keeping phone contact to a minimum for the moment until the Council gets them off my case."
"Seeing them drag their heels over you is alarming," Barnabas said as Giles, Angelique and Elizabeth sat down. "Will they hold to their bargain about us?"
"I think so," Giles said slowly. "The Council, at least. As long as they haven't shared any information with the Initiative, the US government likely has no idea there's anything strange here and I doubt they'd share info. They barely share information with us."
"If they've hurt Quentin...." Barnabas growled.
"They have," Giles said softly. "We need to face that. They've had him for a couple of days, they don't wait to start their testing which is more akin to torture."
"Damn," Barnabas said and Roxanne squeezed one of his hands. He nodded after a moment. "I'll be patient."
"I hope I can," Giles commented.
"I think being here will help," Angelique said. "After any of this settles down we can find someone to help Quentin and Rupert with the trauma's they've been through."
"Winter will be enjoyable if everyone comes around," Amy added. "That'll help. Now, Elizabeth and I are spending the night down here. You two rest and settle in."
"Rupert and I will take one of the upstairs rooms," Angelique suggested.
"Roxanne and I are in the basement, Julia is in a hidden room," Barnabas informed them.
"Sounds cozy," Giles said with a smile. "I slept on the plane but..."
"You're beginning to relax and it's catching up to you," Julia suggested.
"Go on up, we'll see you both tomorrow evening," Barnabas suggested.
"And Elizabeth and I will see Rupert in the morning sometime," Amy added.
# # # #
SUNNYDALE, CALIFORNIA
Buffy looked at the small group. "Okay, guys, I know everyone is nervous. We're used to going in and cracking skulls and getting things done with a little planning and surprises. I know this is different, this one is in stages and every one of them is scary. I get that. Everybody here is important, I need everyone on board."
Xander and Anya nodded and reached for each other's hands. "We're in," he said. "We need Giles home and Quentin back."
"I'm on board," Sam Grimm said. "Quentin will need some major counseling after this, you know."
Buffy nodded. "We'll figure it out. Angel probably knows someone. Guys?"
Willow and Tara looked at each other and Tara nodded. "I'm o-okay with it. No, I'm not okay but I will be."
"I'm in," Willow added.
"I, of course, am on side," Robert Giles said.
"And I'll make sure no one bugs your mom and sister," Thomas added.
"The three of you stay here with both doors locked and in the cell if anything tries to break in," Buffy said. "Xan and I are going to be digging part of the wall away into a secret room. Having only one exit is a drawback."
Xander nodded. "And the secret room in the Box too. I'm going to get really buff!"
Anya laughed and smacked his ribs.
"Okay, let's go stake out the complex and wait for our chance," Buffy said firmly. "Everyone in place."
# # #
COLLINSPORT, MAINE
"Hello," Barnabas said as Angelique stepped out into the hall late that evening. "Is Rupert sleeping?"
"Yes," the witch acknowledged. "He'll probably sleep very late. He's pretty shaken by all of this. He was jumped by soldiers intent on capturing him. They would have succeeded if not for his father."
"And perhaps after some sleep his fangs will recede a bit more," Barnabas commented. "Roxanne said those items you ordered and asked us to keep an eye out on that they should be here tomorrow during the day. Amy will be here if Rupert is still asleep."
"Good, that might help him as well," Angelique said. "Where are Roxanne and Julia?"
"Downstairs," Barnabas said. "I came up to grab the book I'm involved in while they chat."
"We have unusual lives, Barnabas."
The male vampire chuckled. "That we do."
# # # #
SUNNYDALE, CALIFORNIA
Professor Walsh glanced around as she left her office. Known only to a few top ranked officials in the complex, there was an access to the underground facility behind the bookcase in her office. It kept people from questioning why she might be entering and leaving a frat house filled with young male students when she was only their "advisor."
She hated leaving after sunset but campus was fairly safe most of the time, especially since one of the patrols was usually patrolling on campus when she was scheduled to leave. They knew how to cover their asses.
Maggie Walsh started down the hall towards the stairwell and stopped, her eyes widening at the sight of a large wolf standing between her and the stairs. The scientist stifled a scream and froze. She knew this was no coyote nor was it a German Shepherd. It was a wolf and those weren't normally found on the grounds of a California university.
The scream escaped when the creature put a paw forward and then another, its head lowering slightly as it's eyes locked on hers.
Walsh turned to run only to be sent flying backwards several feet from a right cross from the Slayer. The scientist was caught by someone. She looked up into Xander's eyes.
"Hi, what's up, Doc?" he said cheerfully and lifted her up and spun her around and shoved. "I've always wanted to say that."
Walsh winced as someone else grabbed her arms and fangs sank into her neck.
"Inside," someone urged and the vampire biting her pulled Walsh towards her office with a hand over her mouth.
Once inside the office the small group closed the door and didn't turn on the light immediately. Walsh winced again as fangs began drawing her blood out of her body. The hand over her mouth was removed and Walsh tasted blood and tried to pull away but the arm across her chest held her close.
The wrist disappeared and a gentle voice said. "Okay."
Walsh was dropped into her seat behind her desk as the light went on. She looked around at Buffy and her friends. The older woman started to reach for an alarm button under her desk only to have her wrist grabbed firmly by a young woman standing next to her.
"Don't do that," the girl ordered. "Don't scream at all. You will listen and obey. You will answer truthfully. Do you understand?"
"Yes," Walsh said softly.
"All right, Professor," Buffy said as she leaned over the desk. "Let's talk. Where's Quentin?"
"In the complex," Walsh responded.
"Who knows about him?" Buffy asked. "Have you told your superiors?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"I was afraid they'd force us to release him if your organization pushed too hard," Walsh said. "If they didn't know about him, we could retain control until we could determine what he is and how to replicate his rapid healing and ability to voluntarily change."
"Bloody Nazis," Thomas muttered.
"Is there another secure place you were going to send him if we breached the complex?" Buffy asked.
"Yes, outside Barstow," Walsh answered. "I have been prepared to move him."
"2nd phase, guys," Buffy said to the others.
"Professor, see this blond? Here's what's going to happen," Tara said firmly.
# # # #
COLLINSPORT, MAINE
Giles whistled as he trotted down the stairs and smiled when he spotted Amy in the living parlor. "Good morning, it is still morning, yes?"
"Yes," Amy answered. "It's 9 a.m. yet. How did you sleep?"
"Damn well," Giles said. "Hopefully this will be over soon and we can all focus on planning for the winter holidays."
"I absolutely agree," Amy responded. "Want some breakfast? I'm a damn good cook and there are steaks in the fridge."
"That sounds good, can I help?"
"You can if you will tackle the potatoes," Amy suggested.
"You're on."
“Oh by the way, a couple of packages arrived for Angelique, they're for you, over by the sofa.”
“Really?” Giles asked and examined the long boxes. He pulled out a knife and cut the bindings and gently sliced the tape. He opened the first box and felt a smile expanding on his face. “That is....a Gretsch. Amazing.”
He pulled out an electric guitar and pulled the wrapping away. “This is fantastic.”
“What's the other one?” Amy asked.
Giles leaned the guitar against the sofa carefully and opened the second box. “Oh.... this is an expensive acoustic guitar,” he said as he pulled the wrapping away from the second guitar.
Amy smiled and went to make breakfast as he pulled out cords and a small amp and began tuning the guitars.
# # # #
SUNNYDALE, CALIFORNIA
“Good morning, everyone,” Professor Walsh said as she and another blonde woman entered the conference room and sat down. Most everyone in the room were dressed like scientists/doctors with three men in Army uniforms with the rank of captain. “This is Dr. Schreck, she's with the Barstow complex and will be accompanying me in the transfer and study of our mystery hostile. I'm starting to get pressure from shadow groups above about this particular hostile.”
“So you're going to move it to Barstow?” a senior scientist asked.
“Yes, immediately,” Walsh said and pulled slightly at the neck of her turtleneck. “We'll sedate it and transport in a cargo van. Dr. Schreck will keep an eye on the hostile's vitals while I drive. I want everyone in the complex to be totally in the clear in the illegal transport from the colonel down to the lowest private. I will take on any flack over this. The only records on this hostile have been contained in-house and will be erased before we leave.”
Several of the scientists looked at each other and most everyone nodded.
“Captain Florescu, have the hostile prepared for transport,” Walsh ordered. “Dr. Schreck will sedate the creature before placement in the van. Let's move, gentlemen, I want it out of the complex before foreign agencies force our hand. I will return in three days and will be in contact with Dr. Schreck by a secure cell phone. Let's go.”
# # #
Dr. Sam Grimm injected the naked man on the gurney and absently noted that he didn't flinch at the sting nor looked at her. A soldier dropped a blanket over the “hostile” and the gurney was placed in a cargo van with it's brakes locked.
Dr. Sam noticed a captain watching her and Walsh closely. Sam put away the small bottle containing the sedative into her medical bag followed by the syringe after securing the needle. She nodded to Walsh and an Army captain handed Walsh a set of keys.
Sam moved her lab coat to one side, pulled a semi automatic pistol from a holster and quickly unloaded, checked the magazine and reloaded the weapon and placed it back in her holster. She saw the captain visibly relax.
"Good luck, ma'am," he said to Walsh as she climbed behind the wheel and Sam got into the back with an unconscious Quentin.
Sam nodded and closed the door.
In minutes they were leaving Sunnydale.
Sam sighed and moved to sit in the passenger seat. “Are we being followed?”
“Not that I can tell,” Walsh responded. “We'll know by the time we hit Barstow and pull off. I'm surprised you went the entire morning without saying a word.”
“We were concerned that my English accent might make them suspicious as they know Mr. Giles is English and the Council is based in the UK,” Sam explained. “How long until we reach Barstow?”
“Two hours,” Walsh answered. “How did you join your Council?”
The two began chatting like new colleagues.
# # #
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