The Other Watchers - BTVS/crossover - part 3 - 08/07/2023

The Other Watchers
Ms. Hunter Ash

Fan Fiction Crossover
Buffy, the Vampire Slayer: Buffy & Dawn Summers, Anya Emerson, Xander Harris, Willow Rosenberg, Rupert Giles, William Pratt, Tara Maclay #### Pairings: Buffy/Spike, Anya/Xander, Tara/Willow

Angel: Wesley Wyndam-Pryce, Cordelia Chase, Charles Gunn (maybe) Winifred Burkle (maybe) ###Pairings: Wesley/Winifred

Highlander: Original characters so far but some of the tv/movie cast might appear


# # # #

Buffy was amazed by the fact she was relaxed and smiling by the time the four of them had finished dinner and dessert. She was also very glad that Tara was a bit more confident but was still the Tara she knew. On the other hand, Tara had some new skills that Buffy found very surprising. The other woman was sometimes thought of as clumsy in addition to being shy. Now Tara wielded a sword with confidence.

She was also amazed at how open Giles was with all of them. He had told the two women stories about his many lives and of adventures he and Tovar had shared. One thing that was puzzling Buffy was that they hadn't said how Giles had come to know Tovar and become friends with the fellow immortal.

Buffy's eyes darted around as they left the restaurant and she noticed her three companions doing the same.

Giles reached out to open the door for Tara when all three Immortals stopped and looked around.

"Saxon!"

Buffy saw a man standing under a light at the edge of the parking lot.

What really caught Buffy's eye was the hand held inside his jacket and his intense eyes.

"Get them out of here and on the plane," Giles said as he pulled his coat off and handed it to Tovar.

"Giles!" Buffy protested.

"Keep Tara safe," he said as he moved away from the car.

"Come," Tovar urged. "Neither of you are experienced enough to take him on."

Tara hesitated and then got in the car. "Buff, this is the way it is, come on."

Buffy got into the car reluctantly.


# # # #


Asher Giles trotted towards Garth Harkins, his eyes darting around. Where was Siobhan? The husband and wife never traveled separately.

Garth Harkins raised his hands when Giles drew closer.

“Pax,” he said loudly.

Giles was confused. He slowed and glanced around cautiously. “You're not going to suggest a spot of tea before we get on with it, are you?”

“No, but I do seek a truce,” Garth replied. “Hey! Look out!”

Giles turned and saw a car speeding for the parking lot and jumped to the side only to have the car skid out of control turning sideways as it hit him.

“Saxon! Saxon, can you hear me?”

Giles opened his eyes slowly and found Garth holding his hand.

“Do you understand me?”

“Aye,” Giles whispered.

“I need your help, bounty hunters have Siobhan,” Garth said urgently. “Please, I swear we'll never cross swords again.”

“Take....my....sword,” Giles whispered as sirens drew closer. “Sunnydale, California, meet me there.”

“Got it,” Garth said and pulled Giles sword into his jacket as the chatter of restaurant patrons and others almost drowned out his words.

Giles saw Garth draw back as the sirens reached them and he closed his eyes.


# # # #


“I can't just leave Giles!” Buffy protested as Tovar drove to the airport.

“He wants the two of you away from Garth Harkins,” he replied calmly. “Garth usually fights fairly but sometimes long held grudges override ethics.”

“How do we get our swords on the plane?” Tara asked.

“We'll buy some clothes, wrap them around the blades and put those in a guitar case,” Tovar explained.

“This sucks,” Buffy complained. “I just got him back.”

“I understand,” Tovar agreed. “Hopefully he will call before we get on a plane.”

“You okay, Tara?” Buffy asked.

“Not really,” Tara answered after a moment. “Are you going to California, Tovar?”

“Yes, you need more training,” Tovar responded.

“Especially if Giles doesn't follow, right?” Buffy asked and tried rolling her head a bit to loosen her neck muscles.

Tovar didn't answer.


# # # #


Giles listened closely once he became aware again. Not hearing or sensing anything nearby he opened his eyes and pulled the sheet away from his face. The cold table under him told the immortal that he had obviously died. He sat up with a wince and held his arm across his ribs. At least he still had his clothes on.

Now he had to get out of the hospital or morgue and get new clothes and get on a plane.

The Watcher changed his clothes with someone who no longer needed theirs in the morgue. He absently hoped the deceased didn't have any living things in their clothes. He took the stairs up to the main floor and casually walked into the waiting area of the Emergency Room. When a good sized family group headed for the exit he followed along closely until he was out of the doors and faded into the shadows.

He was very surprised when a car stopped at the curb by him and the passenger door opened. Giles bent down slightly and saw Garth.

“As bad off as you were, I figured you'd be up and about soon,” he said. “Hop in.”

Giles got into the passenger seat and saw his harness and sword in the floorboard in front of him.

“What's going on?” he asked.

“I heard you've been in California for awhile but was spotted in Canada,” Garth said. “I came up to find you. I called in a few markers and tracked Tovar and his new student. Siobhan and I were in LA when we were attacked by bounty hunters or someone. I was shot numerous times and Siobhan was drugged. I woke up and she was gone. I don't know why they didn't kill me.”

“How were they dressed? Did you see them?”

“Yeah, like SWAT or Special Forces,” Garth answered. He downshifted with a heavy scarred hand and Giles sighed.

“They might not be bounty hunters,” Giles said. “If they aren't bounty hunters then Siobhan is still alive. The trick is getting her back.”

“What do you know?”

“There's a secret US military group of soldiers and scientists that capture vampires, werewolves, and demons,” Giles explained. “There are groups around the States, probably around the world.”

“Why are they capturing the supernatural types?” Garth asked.

“To find how better to kill them,” Giles said. “And some scientists are likely working on how to mix demon, vampire and were-creature attributes into soldiers. They set up a center on a negative node where I've been. They captured a friend and it was damned hard to get him back.”

“An immortal?” Garth asked. “I've luggage in the back where you can put your sword under your name. I've got your wallet and passport, by the by. I figured you'd need them and didn't want them locked up as your final possessions in a morgue.”

“Thank you. My friend is a werewolf,” Giles said. “Swing by the Heaven Black club, please. I'll grab a couple of things I need back in the States.”

“Can do,” Garth said. “How does the American government know about immortals and why didn't they take me?”

Giles frowned. “Something.... Siobhan is a witch, you aren't.”

“What does that have to do with it?”

“They capture non-humans,” Giles answered. “If they don't know about immortals it could be they took Siobhan for the magic.”

“You didn't say they were taking witches and mages,” Garth said as he pulled into the parking lot of the club.

“They weren't,” Giles said. “At least...They took Ethan into custody when one of his tricks nearly got me stabbed by the Slayer. They didn't know how to scan for magic but it could be they've figured out how. Leaving you dead and taking Siobhan fits my theory. Now we need to figure out where she is and how to get her back and alert as many of those with magic to stay alert. I'll be down in about 15. If I'm not, get to Sunnydale, California and ask around for Buffy and tell her you've problems with the Intiative. Fifteen minutes, split if I'm not down."

"They aren't after you," Garth said with a frown.

"They have Ethan, they just might be after me," Giles pointed out. "Hopefully this identity will hold up through their first scans. I'll be back."

# # # #


"Home, sweet home," Buffy muttered as the three travelers crossed the city limits line. "Drop me off and head over to Giles' place. I'll try and explain to Will and call you."

"Goddess, I'm scared," Tara admitted.

"We'll get you both through this," Buffy said. "Altheana knows about Giles and you being immortal, right?"

"Yes," Tovar responded. "She counsels many Immortals."

Buffy got out of the car and grabbed her backpack out of the turnk. She smiled when the door opened and Dawn barreled out of the house and jumped down the stairs to hug her older sister. "Hello, runt!"

"Where's Giles?" Dawn demanded. "He told Willow to tell us about him!"

"When did he call Will?" Buffy asked as they headed for the front door.

"Night before last," Dawn answered. "Where is he?"

"He got hung up, he should be following within a day or two," Buffy answered. "Can I bribe you into going upstairs and giving me and Willow a few minutes?"

"Depends on the bribe."

"Pizza and ice cream," Buffy suggested. "An entire pint of ice cream and no bed time."

"Deal!"

Buffy watched as Dawn trotted up the stairs and listened for Dawn's door to close. She smiled when Willow stepped out of the kitchen. "Hey, Will."

"Hey, where's Giles? I can't wait to see him!"

"I'm hoping he can follow in a day or two," Buffy said. "Let's have some coffee."

"Okay," Willow said. "I am so glad you didn't stake him. That would hurt!"

"I almost used a sword after he made me drop my stake," Buffy commented.

"Oh gods, that....could be very bad," Willow said softly.

"Yeah, he told me," Buffy said. "Will...."

"What is it? What's wrong?"

"Just that something's come up," Buffy said. "Where's Giles' friend from the coven?"

"Outside meditating," Willow answered.

"Will...Giles isn't the only Immortal we know," Buffy began.

Willow frowned and obviously pondered. "Who?"

"Tara's alive, Will," Buffy said and saw her friend blink in surprise and lean against a counter.

"What?"

"When you had a meltdown, Giles came to help you and he asked a friend to be there when Tara woke up and get her out of town," Buffy explained. "He said a Hellmouth mucks with their spidey-senses and she needed immediate training while he helped you."

"Tara?" Willow whispered. "Why didn't he tell us?"

"He was going to when those demons attacked and we thought he was dead," Buffy said.

She nodded to the older woman that stepped into the house.

Altheana watched Willow closely. "Easy, young one," she said softly. "Balance out."

Willow nodded and sat down on the kitchen floor as she tried to calm her rapid heartbeat and breathing. "She's alive. Tara's alive and immortal."

"Yes," Buffy said.

"She won't want me after what I did!" Willow's eyes widened.

"Will, she's as nervous as you are," Buffy protested. "I promise. She knows what happened and can't wait to see you. She's worried you won't want her."

"Of course I do! She's.....she's Tara," Willow responded.

Buffy glanced over her shoulder slightly.

"Willow."

Willow's head snapped up and she was in Tara's arms in a flash, holding each other tightly.

Tovar looked around the door jam. "She couldn't wait."

"It's cool," Buffy said and looked at Altheana. "I'm Buffy and that's...you know Tovar."

"Yes, its been a long time, my friend," Altheana said and walked over and kissed Tovar for several moments. "You're as handsome as ever."

"And you get better looking every day," he responded.

"With everyone getting all sappy I'm going to go explain to Dawn and then call Xander over here."

Tovar and Altheana moved outside onto a swinging bench while Tara and Willow cuddled on the sofa. Within 10 minutes they heard a loud squeal.

Tara looked at Willow and stood up.

Dawn ran down the stairs, jumping past the last five and into Tara's arms. "This is so cool! I missed you! Willow missed you so much!"

"I missed all of you," Tara said with a wide smile. "I had to learn how to defend myself though."

“So let's get Xander over here after he gets off work,” Buffy suggested. “I'll go and see Anya and explain everything.”

//And hopefully Giles will be here soon// she thought.


# # # ##


Giles moaned and rolled over on the bed and grabbed for a trashbin and began dry heaving for several minutes before he could blink and raise his head.

"I'm not surprised, you never could handle strong drugs," a voice commented.

Giles' eyes widened and he looked over his shoulder and saw Ethan Rayne standing in the doorway of a bathroom. Giles stumbled to his feet and looked around.

"Where are we?" he demanded.

"Hell," Ethan said easily.

Giles looked around at low-cost furniture that was maybe fashionable in the late 70s, an older tv and horrible curtains and bed covers.

"Well, it looks like a Motel 6," Giles muttered.

"Super 8 or something, this one has a hot plate, crock pot, coffee pot and microwave. In other words, same thing," Ethan commented.

The other immortal walked over to the door of the motel room that housed a window with closed drapes and an ancient a/c unit. He touched the door and everything simmered.

Giles blinked rapidly. Past the shimmering illusion he could see a hall of other cells with a guard's desk at the end of the corridor where a scientist watched a row of video screens and an armed guard watched another set of screens.

"You gave me up?" Giles said softly as his hand clenched.

"Wait a minute, Rip!"

Giles rushed Ethan, slamming him into a wall and hitting his old mate with a left cross. Ethan retaliated with a punch of his own into Giles' ribs, followed by two more as Giles winced and then doubled over. The Watcher stumbled to the bed and laid back down.

"I didn't rat you out, you idiot!" Ethan yelled. "I'm in here with you and I've been here a hell of a lot longer than you!"

"I've been trying to get you out for years but I didn't have the leverage," Giles countered. "The Council wouldn't help and several governments around the world are working with the US in this little black ops operation."

He coughed and closed his eyes against the pain.

"What's wrong?" Ethan's voice asked. "The drugs make you that sick?"

"My ribs are broken," Giles said as he tasted blood. "I was in a car wreck before I was grabbed. Where are we? Canada?"

"No, the US," Ethan said as he sat down on the bed next to Giles. "It's not Area 51 but its damned close. Your bunch hasn't a chance of finding us. Well, they do but not as free people out to rescue us."

"What do you mean? Make sense, please," Giles grumbled.

"I'm not the one that gave you up," Ethan repeated. "As much as I wanted some intelligent company around here, I didn't do that. A stray of yours did. He gave you all up, Super Barbie, the witches, the former demon, vampires with souls and the boy."

"All of them?" Giles whispered and opened his eyes. "They're after everyone?"

"Yes, they want to figure out how several of us can do magic," Ethan explained. "And where Barbie gets her powers. Former demons and vampires will get the usual treatment. I don't know if they plan on taking the kid or the little sister. They know you, me and the witches do magic."

"And want to know how and they threw me in here with you so they could listen to our meditations, debates on the finer points of a circle of Solomon construction? Microphones and cameras?"

"Everywhere," Ethan said and nodded.

"Well, I'm too damned old for this nonsense," Giles mumbled.

"Well, we aren't getting any younger," Ethan agreed. "At least they won't treat us as lab rats very often."

"Who gave us up? Riley?"

"Captain America?" Ethan asked. "He's been around a few times. It wasn't him. Take it up with Fido there."

Giles looked up and sat up slowly with Ethan's help. Sweeping the spotless floors outside the cells was a familiar figure. At least he had been familiar once.

"Oz."

"Not anymore," Ethan said softly. "They call him Fido now. The boy's mind is gone, Rip. They broke him a long time ago and kept at it until he's little more than an obedient zombie. On full moons they put him in a cell and he howls all night long and screams. They took parts of his brain in their attempts to figure out the change. They also used a lot of silver and an implant. On full moons it scrambles his brain and hurts. He can't even change into a full wolf or even a wolfman. You can't blame him for this."

Giles got to his feet and walked to the plexiglass wall. "Oz!" he yelled.

The werewolf looked up with dull eyes and went back to his sweeping.

"Oh God," Giles whispered. "Those empty cells."

"Ready to go for your bunch," Ethan said. "They like putting family members across from each other, it breaks them faster."

"And the magic?" Giles asked.

"Doesn't work down here, they've figured out just enough to dampen and shield it," Ethan explained.

Giles' eyes narrowed slightly. "Bollocks. Sod that. Got any ideas?"

“Not a one,” Ethan said. “Maybe they'll let us have a deck of cards or something.”

//Tara! Willow!// Giles mentally yelled. //Get out of Sunnydale! Soldiers//