Dark are the Shadows - a crossover fan fiction - 12/19/2020

Dark are the Shadows 

Ms Hunter Ash

ripperbard7@yahoo.com

frost29@post.com

 

rating: PG13

pairings: Buffy/Quentin, Giles/Angelique, Willow/Tara, Xander/Anya, Joe/Maggie, Julia/Thomas 

 # # # # #

 

COLLINSPORT, MAINE

“They brought Buffy back,” Carolyn said softly. “Wow. That's...”

“Astounding,” Julia suggested as a descriptor.

“Yeah,” Carolyn agreed.

Both women glanced over at Barnabas. Julia had told Amy and Carolyn about Barnabas' interactions with the Powers That Be. If Buffy had returned...

“I hope she can get past whatever trauma all of this has caused,” Barnabas commented. “The world needs an active Slayer, after all.”

“She needs some time,” Carolyn said. “Quentin is putting the family on a plane in the morning.”

“Good,” Barnabas said. //Roxanne, I'm sorry. I keep choosing others over you. Forgive me.//

# # # #

SUNNYDALE, CALIFORNIA

“All right, let's talk,” Giles said as the Scooby gang sat in camp chairs. “I'm not going to lecture about the levels of magic that required or the danger you put yourselves in. I will yell at you all about the coffin when I'm not so tired. Buffy is...very off balance. She wants to take some time to...settle into being back.”

“What does that mean?” Xander asked.

“She needs out of Sunnydale and to...ease back into being the Slayer,” Giles said. “We're going to Maine for a week.”

“She doesn't want to see us?” Willow asked softly.

“She does but don't crowd her or expect overwhelming gratitude,” Giles said. “When she...looked around she saw absolute chaos and couldn't quite piece it together that she was back on all levels.”

“We'll be...gentle,” Tara promised.

Giles pulled his glasses off and began cleaning them. “Don't be surprised if there's a bit of anger for awhile, we'll get through this. Just realize this was very traumatic and it'll take time.”

The Watcher put his glasses back on. “And don't ask about her experiences...elsewhere.”

“Okay,” Xander agreed as Willow and Tara reached for each other's hands.

# # # #

COLLINSPORT, MAINE

Angelique touched Barnabas' arm and he nodded slightly.

“You're thinking about Roxanne,” Angelique ventured.

“Yes,” he answered after a few moments. “I'm wondering if I condemned her to an eternity with the Leviathan.”

“Barnabas, you couldn't have made any other choice,” Angelique protested. “You can claim you're selfish all you want but I and others know better. How many times did you put yourself in danger for the family? Even when it would have been smarter for you to leave?”

“A few,” he said softly.

“In my opinion, if all of this caught the attention of the Powers then Roxanne isn't being tormented by the Leviathan,” Angelique commented. “I don't know her history, especially her history as a vampire, but I can't see whoever the hell controls all of this would let her be tormented forever after that sacrifice for you.”

“You think she wasn't exactly on the right side of things as a vampire?”

“You told me that before you changed the timeline that she was preying on Maggie and not being careful about it,” Angelique pointed out.

“And she wasn't treating Sebastian right,” Barnabas added. “She admitted that people died at her fangs after she became a vampire.”

“Like all of us,” Angelique said. “We don't know when she focused on leaving them alive. She may have been killing those she fed on up to the point of returning to you. I doubt it but we don't know her history but I still don't think the Powers would totally throw her to the wolves. Barnabas, you were offered a restful end by the Powers, I've no doubt they gave Roxanne the same because of her sacrifice.”

“Probably the best I can hope for,” Barnabas said. “I woke up in a coffin underground once, you know.”

“What? How?”

“You were actually responsible,” Barnabas said with a smile that was almost a smirk.

“All right, how?”

“The dream curse,” Barnabas said.

“Julia told me that you had died and then you were confronting me just at sunrise,” Angelique said. “I assumed she had lied to keep me from ensuring the curse worked.”

“No, I did die,” Barnabas said. “I told Julia and Willie to ensure I didn't rise as a vampire, I even had Willie make a stake in anticipation. I knew how powerful you could be and I saw how everyone was suffering with the dream and the progression. When Vicki saw me dead in her dream with wounds on my throat, I knew what you had in mind for me. I had suspected that was your plan. We both have patterns, after all.”

“Barnabas...”

“I'm not dredging it up to cause problems between us,” Barnabas said. “Honestly. Just...a story on how I can relate a bit to Buffy.”

“Go on,” Angelique said after a moment. “They obviously didn't stake you.”

“No, they couldn't,” Barnabas said. “Julia decided to bury me with the hope that I couldn't get out and I wouldn't be dug up. To cut to the end, you remember that I was connected to Adam. He became very ill and died. Then he was back again but suffocating. Julia realized what happened and she and Eliott Stokes dug me up in time. I suffocated to the point of unconsciousness. Perhaps I can help Buffy along with Quentin helping as well. Jeb Hawks had him buried alive. Maggie and I found him. He was almost unconscious and he was terrified.”

“I can't imagine what she went through,” Angelique said softly.

“It's...I've had nightmares for decades over that,” Barnabas admitted. “Who all is coming here?”

“Quentin, Joyce, Dawn, Buffy and Rupert,” Angelique said. “Buffy is upset that the others didn't... dig her up and hasn't dealt with the chaos that was happening when she climbed out of her grave.”

“We'll do whatever we can to help the girl,” Barnabas said. “Waking from the dead and realizing you haven't escaped this world is...difficult at times.”

“Yes,” Angelique said softly.

# # # #

SUNNYDALE, CALIFORNIA

Buffy's hand reached for Quentin's as they stopped at the top of the stairs.

“It'll be all right,” he said softly. “Giles talked with them.”

“Everyone is excited and happy I'm back,” Buffy said with a sigh. “Especially Mom and Dawnie. I can't let them know...”

“That you're not happy to be back?” Quentin ventured.

“I will be,” Buffy said after a moment. “It means I get more time with them, Giles and you. That'll be enough.”

“Come on,” Quentin urged.

Buffy squeezed his hand, took a deep breath and walked down the stairs with him and walked into the dining room. “Hey, guys.”

“Buffy!” Willow said anxiously. “Uh, we, uh, we're glad you're back.”

“Thanks,” Buffy said softly.

Anya got up from her chair next to Xander and walked over to the Slayer and Buffy was surprised to see tears welling up in the former demon's eyes.

“Buffy, I am so very, very sorry about the coffin,” Anya said. “We should have done that first. I'm sorry, we have no excuses.”

Buffy blinked and then hugged Anya tightly. “Thank you,” she whispered.

“We're all sorry, Buff,” Xander said as he stood up.

Buffy looked at her best male friend and realized he hadn't shaved in days and it didn't look like he had slept much either.

“Thanks.”

“We're going to head out near sunrise,” Angel told his ex. “Giles says a Slayer trainee and two Watchers will get here in the morning. We'd rather be gone. Oh, we're taking Spike with us. As annoying as he is... well, he can't hunt humans and he can't fight back.”

“Thanks,” Buffy said. “I appreciate that. Dawn's been telling me about New England, it'll be a change for a week or two.”

“And Carolyn is insisting we all be there for Christmas to meet the entire family,” Giles commented.

“That'll be fun,” Tara said. “Wild storms and fireplaces.”

“And a white Christmas,” Cordelia added. “She's invited our bunch as well. She said the vamps can stay at the Old House with Barnabas, Angelique and Julia.”

“Good idea,' Giles said. “They aren't sure which of the family members they'll tell at this point.”

“This will be... awesome,” Xander said. “I've only seen snow once when a church group took the poor kids in town to the mountains to slide down a small hill on trash can lids.”

“All right, gang, we're going to go pack and head out to the airport,” Joyce said. “We will be in close contact with everyone. Just...give Buffy some time to settle back in. Dawn, grab your backpack.”

“Quentin, will you be coming back with Buffy and everyone?” Tara asked.

Quentin nodded. “I'll be traveling up and down between here, San Francisco and Los Angeles on family business but I'll be here most of the time.”

# # # #

COLLINSPORT, MAINE

Angelique glanced over as Julia joined the vampire witch on the patio of Collinwood.

“What's on your mind, Julia?”

“I'm worried.”

“You usually are, I've noticed,” Angelique commented. “No offense intended. About what specifically?”

“Barnabas, of course,” Julia said with a sigh. “He's growing more and more quiet ever since we found out about Buffy and he's shut down any...psychic connection we have. I mean we don't communicate mentally at this point but I can usually tell what his mood is and where he is. I can't now.”

“He's worried that his choosing Buffy over Roxanne condemned her to eternal torment,” Angelique said. “I was hoping to talk him away from that viewpoint. I don't know if I did.”

“In 1840 he told her brother how to destroy her and in a parallel universe he wasn't able to reach her through a fire,” Julia commented. “If we hadn't changed this time line and found she was still a danger to Maggie I have no doubt what his choice would have been. That's hard to live with.”

“What can he do, though?” Angelique asked. “He can't go off and brood on his own. We just keep working on getting him to work on healing and moving on, perhaps?”

“Easier said than done but we don't have a choice,” Julia agreed.

# # #

SUNNYDALE, CALIFORNIA

The Scooby Gang remaining behind waved as the Giles-Summers family and Quentin pulled away from the mansion.

After they were out of sight everyone lost their smiles. Tara wrapped an arm around Willow's shoulders.

“It's almost sunrise, come to bed, baby.”

“Okay,” Willow said softly. “Do you think she'll forgive us eventually?”

“Yeah,” Xander said. “When pigs fly but it's also Sunnydale so that could happen tonight.”

# # #

COLLINSPORT, MAINE

“Barnabas, I think the eyes are improving,” Julia said. “Do you think so?”

“I can see grey instead of a world of black,” the vampire replied.

Julia gently rebandaged his eyes. “Barnabas, you have to try and snap back, please.”

“I'm not sure I can this time, Julia,” he said after a moment. “How many have I lost over the years?”

“Do you want a list?” Julia asked softly.

“No, you know them as well as I do,” Barnabas said with a sad smile. “Josette, Vicki, Angelique, Kitty, Roxanne three times and Maggie in a way.”

“And me?”

“Yes,” he whispered. “That in addition to being responsible for the deaths of my mother and sister. I don't have the energy any more.”

“You have family and friends that adore you, Barnabas,” Julia protested. “And they know what we are and accept us, that's very rare.”

“I know,” Barnabas said softly. “Just give me some time. I'll try.”

“All right,” Julia responded. “Buffy and family should be here before sunset.”

“Good, Elizabeth will be very glad to see Giles again.”

# # #

SUNNYDALE, CALIFORNIA

“Hi, you must be the team the Council sent,” Xander said as he opened the door to find a middle aged man and woman dressed conservatively and a young woman around 16 or 17.

“Yes,” the man said. “I'm Terrence Wallace, this is Sandra Reyes and Raquel Devlin. We thought we'd touch base with your group and learn where the hot spots are.”

“Cool,” Xander said and stepped aside.

“May we come in?” the woman asked.

“Rule number 1,” Xander said. “Never invite someone in even in the daytime. Rule number 2, remove any 'welcome' mats from in front of your doors. Vamps need an invite to come in, so do some demons and demons can be out during the day.”

“Yes, of course,” the woman said as she blushed.

The three entered the mansion and looked around.

“Where are you staying?” Xander asked as he closed the door.

“We were wondering.....” Terrence Wallace said.

“I can recommend some reasonably priced rentals,” Xander suggested. “That'll be better than a hotel. Vampires don't need an invite to hotel rooms and if someone follows you guys after a patrol it could mean trouble.”

“This is a large place,” Sandra Reyes commented.

“And taken,” Xander said. “Now, let me get a map of the town and show you the hot spots.”

# # #

COLLINSPORT, MAINE

“Glad to see you all,” Amy said as The Giles-Summers family and Carolyn entered Collinwood. “Julia and Thomas will come up after sunset. I'm Amy Jennings, Buffy.”

“And Barnabas?” Giles asked.

“They didn't say,” Amy responded. “He's been...”

“Withdrawing more and more,” Carolyn answered. “Maybe having all of you here will help. I know he's very fond of everyone but Dawn especially.”

“He's cool,” Dawn said.

“It's almost sunset, I'm going up to see Angelique,” Giles said and squeezed Buffy's shoulder. “We'll be back down in a bit. Don't let the size of the place intimidate you.”

“Okay,” Buffy said softly.

# # #

Angelique smiled just before she opened her eyes. “Hello, Rupert,” she said as she sat up.

“Hullo, luv,” Giles said softly. “I missed you.”

“The feeling is mutual,” Angelique said softly. “Come here.”

# # # #

SUNNYDALE, CALIFORNIA

“Do you think they'll want to do a lot of interacting?” Willow asked as Xander told everyone about the new Watchers and potential Slayer after sunset that day. “We need to keep Tara at arm's distance or they might figure out that she....you know.”

“That I'm a vampire,” Tara said. “It's okay, it's what I am now.”

“You're a lot more than a vampire,” Xander said firmly. “They more than hinted they wanted to stay here. I didn't bite and said we were full up and particular about our privacy.”

“What if they're suspicious of all of us?” Anya asked. “Will they watch us?”

Willow frowned. “We can't follow Buffy to Maine, what do we do?”

Everyone looked at each other for a moment.

“L.A.,” Xander suggested. “Angel will take you both in. Anya and I can watch the place here and keep the shop running.”

“That's.... I'll call Angel,” Willow said after Tara nodded.

# # #

COLLINSPORT, MAINE

“Well, that's interesting,” Giles said as he closed his phone. “Tara and Willow are going to stay in LA with Angel while we're gone. The Watchers and potential Slayer wanted to stay in the mansion of all things.”

“What? Why?” Dawn asked.

“I haven't a clue,” Giles admitted. “The girls are worried they'll figure out Tara is a vampire so they're leaving town like Spike did.”

“Probably a good idea,” Buffy said softly.

“Let's hope for an uneventful visit on both sides of the country,” Carolyn said. “I thought we could have a quiet evening. Amy is having dinner with Thomas and Elizabeth and Barnabas is probably brooding by the fire.”

“I wish I had an answer on how to help him,” Joyce commented.

“I doubt breaking a baseball bat while destroying things would help,” Angelique said as she joined the group in the parlor. “I'm at a loss on how to help him.”

“Well, I'm going to start dinner,” Carolyn said.

“I'll help,” Joyce offered.

# # #

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA

Cordelia looked up and smiled as the office door opened. “Hi, guys, glad to see you. Angel is out meeting a possible client. Everyone else is around here somewhere. We've got a room all set up for you, complete with very thick black out curtains.”

“Thanks,” Willow said. “We're just... a little wigged with strange Watchers around.”

“I can understand that,” Cordelia said. “Wes wants to compare notes and get caught up on the details on the Leviathan stuff.”

“We can do that,” Tara said. “It was really scary.”

# # #

COLLINSPORT, MAINE

Buffy trotted along the path to the Old House the purple atmosphere of pre-dawn hours. She smiled as Thomas stepped out of the front door, setting a bucket of ashes away from the house in a metal container.

“Hello, can't sleep?” he asked.

“Nope,” Buffy said. “My mind won't shut down.”

“And you normally keep late hours anyway,” Thomas noted. “Want some coffee or herb tea?”

“Yeah, thanks,” Buffy replied. “Barnabas and Julia bedded down for the night.... day?”

“Yeah, Julia just went downstairs,” Thomas said and hobbled into the house. He stopped next to a small table that was obviously for keys and gloves. He picked up something and showed Buffy.

“Barnabas' ring? He never goes anywhere without that, right?”

“Yeah,” Thomas said. “His cloak and cane are here. His hands are a lot better, he's been wearing this.”

“Check on him,” Buffy suggested.

Thomas went to a bookcase in the small living room and pulled at it, revealing that it was a door to a hidden room.

“Neat,” Buffy said softly. She followed Thomas over and her eyes widened at the sight of an empty coffin. “Downstairs maybe?”

“Go down, quickly,” Thomas said as he limped to a metal door and opened it.

Buffy found a large coffin and opened it to find it occupied only by Julia.

The vampire opened her eyes.

“Sorry, we're trying to find Barnabas,” Buffy said quickly. “He's not in his coffin and he left his ring, cane and coat.”

“No,” Julia whispered and climbed out of the coffin. “Damn you, Barnabas. Where....? He couldn't make it to the crypt where there's a hidden room and he wouldn't leave his ring if he did.”

The vampire closed her eyes and Buffy bit her lip.

After a moment Julia opened her eyes and shook her head. “He's shut down. I can't tell where he is.”

“Julia! Buffy!”

Both vampire and Slayer dashed up the stairs at Thomas' shout.

“Josette.... Josette was here, she was crying,” he said quickly. “She said the widows were calling.”

“Widow's Hill,” Julia said and started for the door only to have Thomas grab her.

“It's almost daylight, you wouldn't make it there and back even as a wolf,” he said firmly.

“And you can't run with that cast! Buffy, Widow's Hill!”

“I don't know where that is!”

“Call the main house, you can meet someone on the path and they can show you which path to take,” Julia suggested. “Thomas, call the house. Buffy, go!”

Angelique and Giles were starting up the stairs when Carolyn dropped the phone at the bottom of the stairs. “Giles! Barnabas is out to face the sun on Widow's Hill! Buffy will meet you on the path!”

“No!” Angelique yelled as Giles jumped down to the floor and headed out the door. She followed and passed the Watcher.

“No, the sun! You can't!” he yelled at a disappearing wolf. “Damnit! Buffy! Follow the wolf!” he shouted. “Please let her hear me!”

The Watcher increased his speed as he crossed the large lawn.

Carolyn and Dawn jumped into Carolyn's car behind him with Quentin heading for the Old House.

# # #

Buffy saw a wolf dashing by where three paths met just in the woods and turned to follow. She could hear Giles further behind and sped up. She could see rays of sun hitting the tops of the trees.

Buffy broke from the trees and she could see the wolf heading for a figure standing on the edge of a cliff further up the hill. The Slayer could see a path leading along the top of the cliff and a couple more heading into the woods at different points.

“Barnabas!” Buffy yelled as the sun rose higher on the horizon.

She saw the vampire raise his arms and wince as twilight became morning.

“No!”

Buffy was stunned when the wolf jumped at Barnabas and they disappeared over the edge of the cliff.

“Angelique!”

The Slayer turned and grabbed Giles.

“No! Angelique!”

“Calm down! Don't make me deck you!” Buffy warned. “Come on.”

Giles stopped struggling and followed his Slayer to the edge of the cliff. They carefully looked over and frowned. Buffy got down on her stomach to extend her body further out and sighed with relief as Giles grabbed her legs.

“Nothing! I don't see either of them!”

“Where? The sun isn't hitting the water yet!” Giles said anxiously.

# # #

XWP: Gladiator/Bard 12/20/2020

 

Gladiator, Bard, Warrior - Awakening 6

Ms. Hunter Ash

ripperbard7@yahoo.com 

frost29@post.com

 

Disclaimer: I don't own Xena, Gabrielle, Hercules, etc. etc. etc. This story is for entertainment purposes and it helps keep me sane (sort of).

Sex/Subtext/Alt Fiction: This story is a continuing story of two women in love and they have sex together but not in this one. Violence: the mention of rape concerning one of the major characters, several deaths, one graphic sword strike, ax blows and no bad language. This one puts X&G through some rough stuff.

Seriously - character trauma and injuries.

Storyline: I hope this story could stand on it's own. It is also part of a series I've ended up writing. I started out with one story in mind and who knows where this thing will end up at this point. You might want to read the other stories to get the entire picture.

## # #

Time seemed to blend to Nikki and Gabrielle. Hours into days and days into weeks as June came and went. Most nights were spent too tired to do anything but hold each other. Most every night found itself broken by the bard’s screams or cries for her mate and would end with Nikki holding and comforting the small woman.

One night in June in particular found the bard waking, screaming her mate’s name. Nikki grabbed her friend and quickly covered the bard’s mouth and tried waking Gabrielle. The smaller woman was bathed in sweat and was trembling.

The bard finally nodded that she was awake and Nikki removed her hand.

“It’s Xena, something’s happened!” she whispered in fear. “I saw her screaming.”

“It was a dream, little one,” Nikki whispered.

“No, this wasn’t like other dreams. Oh gods, the baby. It’s time for the baby!”

Nikki let the bard fall into her arms and wept with her friend. She knew that Gabrielle wanted nothing more than to be with her mate at that moment and she could offer little comfort and very little hope.

Gabrielle was amazing in the Arena but the odds were just too great for the woman to escape with her life or without a crippling injury. Nikki didn’t know that Gabrielle’s Regent, Ephiny had once commented to Xena that Gabrielle could be a natural fighter and deadly in a knife or sword fight but the Viking Amazon would have agreed with the Regent, especially after training the small woman. She also knew that having to kill other fighters was tearing the Amazon Queen’s soul apart.

“Shhhh, little one. They’ll be fine and you’ll see them again,” Nikki whispered until Gabrielle fell asleep in her arms.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Axel had been pleased to learn of Xena’s choice for naming her child and publicly welcomed Sasha into the Northern family. Everyone celebrated the victory over the raiders and mourned their dead.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

After that night the bard seemed to lose her sense of hope of getting out. She continued her practicing with diligence that pleased Lycrassis but worried Nikki. Gabrielle wasn’t talking much, that in itself was amazing and a warning sign, Nikki knew. The small blonde’s training was without the fire that a warrior needed in the Arena.

Nikki had seen this type of reaction before in fighters. The ones that had given up all hope of survival and merely were going through the motions until someone killed them. The Viking Amazon was frantic with worry and didn’t know how to reach Gabrielle and bring back the little bard’s fire.

# # #

The match that month was with another Myrmillo type fighter and this time the match was scheduled in the afternoon, signifying that Gabrielle’s talents had taken her into the serious matches. It also brought more experienced opponents.

The Amazon Queen didn’t say much as the morning wore on and Nikki paced the cell with her crutch.

“Brie, I know what’s going on inside that head of yours. You can’t give up!”

“Brutus has only been gone three months. I can’t take another nine months or more of this. X.... my mate now has her child, she has something to live for,” Gabrielle said flatly.

“You can’t give up, a blood bond is stronger than this! She wouldn’t want this!”

“I’m sorry, Nikki, I truly am. I care very deeply for you but every day I’m alive puts you and X... my mate in danger. We’ve heard from the slaves of other traders and school owners that Caesar is scouring the entire realm for me so he can trap my mate. I’m a danger to you, to Brutus, to my mate and to her child. I can’t live with all this blood and that responsibility any more.”

Gabrielle stood when the guard came. Nikki grabbed her arm, tears falling down her cheeks.

“Please, little one, don’t do this,” she begged.

Gabrielle gently touched the taller woman’s cheek and then walked out of the cell.

Nikki knew the look, usually on older fighters facing impossible odds, it was a look of resignation. An acceptance of death by the sword.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Dancer cursed under her breath. The one day she wanted to be beaten and she drew an opponent that couldn’t swat a fly! Dancer realized that the only way this idiot was going to beat her was if she put her sword down and stood absolutely still for his sword strike and even then he might miss.

The frustrated fighter moved in quickly and slashed his sword out of his hand and then cut one of his hamstrings, ending the fight. Before the guards could come and carry the screaming fighter away, Dancer reversed her sword and braced it the dirt and positioned it at her heart.

“No!” she heard Lycrassis scream.

“Xena, I love you,” she whispered as she held the sword and let her weight fall forward, closing her eyes.

Gabrielle frowned and opened her eyes and found everything had stopped. She wasn’t moving forward onto the sword and she seemed to be hovering. The bard pulled back and stood up, looking around.

The bard was amazed, it was as if time had stopped, like a dream. Everyone and everything was frozen, just the same as the moment before. Lycrassis starting to his feet, the scream still on his lips; the guard in midstride, running towards her and the fallen fighter; the fighter holding the back of his knee, his face in agony; the crowd in various stages of standing or sitting, cheering or screaming.

Then Gabrielle saw him standing about ten feet from her, waiting.

“Apollo?” she asked.

“Yes, child.”

“Why did you stop me?” she asked in a tired voice.

“Because that is not your fate. You are still fated to be with Xena,” he said simply.

“I can’t last that long!” Gabrielle protested. “Unless you want to zap me there?” she asked hopefully.

“Sorry, daughter. Comes under the ‘too much interference’ thing.”

“Then leave me alone. I’m forced to kill, something I never wanted to do. I’ve become a fighter, deadly with a blade, something I never wanted to do. I use a friend to keep my identity secret, I use her love and body as a shield. Brutus could be killed just for not telling Caesar where I am, Nikki could be killed just for knowing me and Xena would probably walk into a fire trap if she knew where I was. What do you want from me?” she suddenly screamed. “I can’t take it! All of these people could be dead because of me!”

“Yes, and they are willing to be in that position of their own free wills. The other fighters will either kill or be killed, as is their fate. Yours is here,” with a gesture Gabrielle could suddenly see her warrior.

“Xena?” Gabrielle moved closer to her father.

Gabrielle could see Xena sitting by a fire in a small cabin, holding a tiny infant in her arms. The bard began to cry as the baby opened it’s eyes to reveal eyes as blue as it’s warrior’s mother.

“Let me tell you another one about Gabrielle,” the bard heard Xena’s voice as the woman held her child, rocking it. “We were walking through the Bacchae forest and noticed that we couldn’t hear Orpheus’ playing.....”

Xena looked up with a grin and Iolaus walked into sight of the vision carrying a bundle of fresh picked vegetables.

“Iolaus, he lived!” Gabrielle whispered joyfully.

“Yes, the thought of rescuing you and finding Xena kept him alive,” Apollo answered.

“Another story of Gabrielle?” Iolaus asked with a sad smile.

Xena nodded, looking back down at her child. “It gives me hope,” she said simply, tears beginning to fall as she held the child close. “I miss her so much,” the warrior whispered.

The vision faded and Gabrielle went to her knees weeping.

“If you die then she will follow you, child or not. She can no longer live without you or the hope of you. If you die she’ll know it, just as you would know of her death. Without you or Xena, Ares will claim the child and her daughter will take over Xena’s destiny, this time with the northern tribes. Their destiny just may be to wipe out Rome eventually, but with your daughter as their leader, they would wipe out the world and plunge it into darkness.”

“Damn you! All of you! Can’t you find someone else to meddle with for awhile?!” she shouted. “First me and Xena, now her child?” she shouted.

Apollo shook his head. “I know, Gabrielle. None of us want this but the threads are all lined up, it’s up to you once again to determine which one of those threads gets cut or used.”

“I can’t do it anymore!” she cried, tears streaming down her face. “I’m tired, Apollo. I’m so tired.” Her head dropped forward, as if from the weight of her tears.

Apollo walked over and gently touched her head. “I know, daughter, I know. The Fates have not been kind to you and your warrior these past years. I wish I could help more but I can’t. Honor the wishes of your friends and let them make their own choices.”

“How can I face Xena after all of this?” she cried.

“You forgave her worst, do you think she won’t forgive you?”

“We weren’t bonded then. I sleep with Nikki when I’m married to Xena,” Gabrielle whispered.

Apollo gently raised the bard to her feet and took her in his arms.

“You are doing what you need to survive, no one will fault you for that,” he said gently and began walking her back to the fallen fighter.

“Will I see her again?” Gabrielle whimpered.

“I don’t know but the odds are good. You have a natural talent you inherited from your father. You also inherited your mother’s stubbornness. Don’t give up again and you might see your mate on this side.”

Gabrielle sighed and lifted the sword up, looking at it while Apollo, her father waited.

“If I die now?” she asked.

“The Fields for you, and possible darkness for your warrior and the world.”

“Gods, I hate this saving the world stuff,” she muttered and reversed the sword in her hand. She nodded to Apollo and everything began to move forward again, this time with her holding the sword over the fallen fighter and then walking away towards the cells, leaving Lycrassis wondering why he had been leaping to his feet.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The season seemed to go by quickly for the Greeks and their Germanic family.

Summer hunting and raiding turned into fall harvest and everyone was very pleased to discover that Iolaus had a knack for brewing ale and mead, even though he had never done anything like it before. Axel kept teasing the little man that he couldn’t wait to try the mead his little brother had made and now sat fermenting.

Fall harvest began turning to winter chill as the steady got ready for the snow to fly. Animals were slaughtered, the last of the grain harvested, apples taken in and the last of the brew made. Xena and Iolaus found themselves restless but knowing they faced months of winter snow again and the improbability of finding Gabrielle before Spring.

Even with Sasha to care for the warrior seemed to be losing her spark and Iolaus began to worry. He watched as his friend began looking haggard and not sleeping, even with all the women in the steading helping raise Sasha.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

January found both Greeks having increased nightmares and depression. The year of Gabrielle being gone was hitting both of them hard and the family around them couldn’t seem to pull them out of it. It seemed like they took turns holding each other at night as they cried.

Iolaus knew it was only Sasha that was now keeping the warrior going. The infant and the fact that Xena knew Gabrielle still lived.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

January found Gabrielle a fully trained gladiator and holding her own in major fights. It also marked a year’s turning point of when she was taken from Xena’s side and sent the bard into a fury of anger that she took out regularly on the practice pells and sparring partners.

Nikki, realizing the reason for the mood, stayed out of the little fighter’s way as much as possible until Gabrielle had worked it out of her system. Unfortunately, the three fighters she met in the Arena that month weren’t able to stay out of her way and made the mistake of pushing Dancer too far in the ring. One ended up a cripple and the other two ended up dead when they displeased the crowd and Dancer won the match.

Then the bard spent a week refusing to get out of bed, tossing and turning with nightmares and despair. Nikki was able to convince Lycrassis, with the help of the healer, that Gabrielle had an illness. It was days before the Viking was able to get the small warrior to eat again and then to start training again. Then Gabrielle’s jaw took on the stubborn set Nikki had come to know and the bard began training seriously again.

================================================================

Hercules returned twice each season during the Spring and Summer with the same news. Every Roman in the Empire was looking for Gabrielle and no one had found her or recognized her, Hercules included. He had gone to Gabrielle and Xena’s families and told them of Gabrielle’s disappearance and had checked in with the Amazons to find that every tribe in the known world was also looking for the Queen of the Greek Amazons and no one seemed to be able to find her.

After his first visit during the Spring he had carried news of Xena’s child to the families and news from the families to Xena.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Nikki and Gabrielle were beginning to actually have some hope in surviving either the year or more Brutus had promised or the three years Lycrassis had wagered with them. They were all making money on Gabrielle’s matches and Lycrassis had left the two women alone in Gabrielle’s training and sex life, which pleased both women. Nikki and Gabrielle kept up the appearance of being lovers and occasionally did find themselves in each other’s arms time and again, mostly for the sexual release and the comfort they could give each other.

Gabrielle kept waking up in the night calling for Xena.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The year Brutus had bargained for came and went and neither Nikki nor Gabrielle brought the subject up, both finding it too painful to even discuss. Losing what little hope the gladiator and trainer had was almost beyond their strength.

The training and matches continued and Lycrassis kept counting the money and the women kept counting the time.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Gabrielle bit into the blanket as her body trembled and shook out of control. Tears began to flow from her closed eyes as always and she bit the blanket harder to keep from screaming her mate’s name as waves swept over her.

In a moment Nikki was holding her, gently crying herself for Gabrielle’s pain. As expected the footsteps left their window and Gabrielle punched the wall in anger.

“Shhhh, it’s okay, he’s gone.” Nikki whispered.

“I can’t do this anymore,” Gabrielle hissed back. “Either I die or he dies, I can’t keep doing this! It’s not fair!” Gabrielle jumped past her gladiator trainer/lover and began pacing with a blanket thrown over her shoulders. “It’s not fair to you! You touch me and my body responds but it’s X.... it’s HER that I want, I only think of her. I can’t do that to you anymore! When I touch you I want it to be her.”

Gabrielle sank to her knees crying.

“How touching!” a male voice sent the bard flying across the room, coming up in a defensive stance to face the intruder. Nikki grabbed her crutch, facing the tall dark haired and bearded man.

“Ares?! What the.... what are you doing here?!” Gabrielle hissed.

“Looking for you, what do you think? Interesting way you’ve been spending your time since you left Greece, Gabrielle,” he smirked.

“Go away, just leave me alone,” she hissed.

“What in the name of Hades has been going on? I turn my back for a minute and you’re killing people, sleeping with someone else and wearing a slave collar. Where’s Xena?”

“None of your business.”

“Brie?” Nikki asked cautiously.

“Ares, God of War, meet Nikki, gladiator trainer.”

“And your more recent bedmate,” he grinned. “Does Xena know what you’re up to?”

“None of your business!” Gabrielle snapped.

“Look, it’s rather obvious that you two really don’t want to be here. Let me know where you want to go and I’ll take you there. As soon as you get dressed, of course,” he grinned.

“And the price? As if I didn’t know,” Gabrielle demanded.

“Where is Xena and why did she leave Greece and leave you here?” he demanded.

“Go figure it out for yourself.”

“You’re willing to die in the Arena?” he asked with raised eyebrows.

“No, but I’m not willing to deal with you either,” Gabrielle said simply.

“How about you, tall and blond one, willing to let her die in the Arena?” he smirked. Nikki frowned.

“Nikki, do not say a word, on my command!” Gabrielle ordered. “He is the last god to ever be trusted.”

“I’m hurt, Gabrielle!” Ares playfully touched his heart in mock pain. “You know I only want what’s best for Xena, to return her to her rightful destiny.”

“Our destiny is with each other, not the Warlord,” Gabrielle argued.

“Doesn’t look like you’re having too much together time here. If I had known you could be so ruthless with a blade I might have offered to train you myself seasons ago.”

“Don’t count on it.”

“Tell me, where is Xena and you’re both out of here,” Ares offered again.

“No, go away.”

“What do you think Xena will do when she finds out about your friend there? And exactly how you’ve been spending your nights? That was quite a show there earlier,” he grinned.

“Gods, can’t you men just leave me the Hades alone!?”

“Not likely. By the way, I like the hair. Makes you look more dangerous, something I think I might have to take notice of in the future.”

With a flash of light he was gone.

“Oh gods, Xena. I hope you’re far enough away,” Gabrielle whispered.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

“Dancer!” Gabrielle turned as she ducked the sword strike of a sparring partner.

Without a glance, she kicked out with her leg and sent the man flying backwards into the mud. The slave calling her grinned. “Lycrassis would like you and Nikki in the Villa.”

She waved an acknowledgment and then turned to help her sparring partner to his feet. With a grin she playfully brushed at the mud on his clothes and then pretended to wipe mud off his face, getting his face totally plastered with mud. He grinned and retrieved his wooden practice sword.

She placed her iron sais into their holders on the outsides of her boots. Nikki had found them from a traveling merchant and had decided they were perfect for her little Dancer gladiator and Lycrassis had been pleased with the choice. Gabrielle had proved deadly with the strange weapons and watching her truly became a spectacle of a dance. She could use one end to bash at her opponents and the other end to kill or block sword, spear and other weapons. In her hands the sais danced a dance of death or defense, whichever the blond woman needed. She had become quite fond of them herself and Lycrassis permitted her to use them in practice and wear them as long as she didn’t use them to kill another trainee. It was also understood that if anyone else died by her hand she would face torture and then the cross.

“How do you do it, Dancer?” he asked as they walked towards the courtyard.

“Do what, Thorsvetter?” she asked the tall Slavic warrior.

“Keep a sense of humor in this place?” he asked in broken Latin.

She shrugged. “Either that or cry,” she said simply and they separated, she to follow the slave and he to the bathing room.

Gabrielle almost lost her breath when she walked into the main room of the villa and saw Brutus standing with Lycrassis.

Her Roman owner grinned at her attempt to keep the surprise from her face.

“Well, it seems our friend here has come back to finish our wager. It’s been more than a year but it seems fate has taken you out of my hands, Gabrielle.”

Gabrielle felt her heart stop for a moment. Brutus’ face remained without emotion.

“What, my Lord?” she whispered.

“Seems that Caesar has been looking for you this entire time and I’ve had you all along. To think I had a talented bard under my roof all this time. You could have entertained us!”

Lycrassis walked over with the grace of a stalking tiger. Gabrielle froze where she was and he quickly pulled her sais from their sheaths and twirled them in his hands. “She’s gotten to be quite the fighter, Brutus, just as I thought she would. Just as I wagered.”

“Caesar wants her and the trainer and has instructed me to pay double the price we wagered for both of them if you keep quiet about this for awhile,” Brutus said simply.

“Why would he want the trainer?” Lycrassis frowned.

“Your trainer is an Amazon and part of Gabrielle’s tribe,” Brutus answered.

“That’s why she was so protective of you in the beginning!” Lycrassis grinned and Gabrielle felt her face blushing with anger. “Of course, I agree. I’m not one to argue with Caesar. I’ll prepare horses and what few possessions they have.”

“No horses, I want them shackled hand and foot and a chain between that.” Brutus instructed and Gabrielle’s head dropped.

“Caesar must want this one very badly,” Lycrassis continued frowning.

“She’s going to lead one of Caesar’s greatest enemies into a trap, Xena.” Brutus said easily.

“Ah, another one in love with you, Dancer?” Lycrassis laughed and Gabrielle blushed. “Xena, Warrior Princess. Which do you prefer in bed, Dancer? The Viking or the Greek?”

Gabrielle gritted her teeth and refused to meet his eyes. He laughed viciously and grabbed the bard into a rough kiss and resisted her struggles for a long moment. He laughed when he let her go.

“I should have tried to bed you again, Dancer. You must like to play rough.”

The Roman began to move away and Brutus held out a hand.

“I’d like to have those. Caesar may put her in the Arena and would be most pleased to see her fight with these.”

“Of course, Brutus. I’ll get everything prepared.”

Lycrassis left the bard and Roman alone. Gabrielle looked up but saw no change in Brutus’ expression and her head dropped again.

# # #

Dark are the Shadows 12/08/2020

Note: like others, this year has affected me.  My writing has slowed and I apologize for that.  I got some new sparks igniting in the brain (yay!) Don't worry, I haven't dropped off or out yet. :)

Dark are the Shadows
Ms Hunter Ash
frost29@post.com
ripperbard7@yahoo.com

A BTVS/Dark Shadows crossover (and others if they jump in)

pairings: Barnabas/Roxanne, Buffy/Quentin, Giles/Angelique, Xander/Anya, Willow/Tara, Julia/Tom, Maggie/Joe

rating: PG13

# # #

Angel kicked open the door to the warehouse and jumped inside with a sword at the ready. He stepped aside and Xander and Gunn followed him in, both with bats in hand.

The three heroes slowly approached two figures in the center of a wide circle of bodies of demons.

“The robot?” Xander asked as Angel squatted next to Buffy and an unconscious or dead werewolf.

“No, it's not the robot,” Angel said softly.

Gunn turned the werewolf over and frowned. “Got a bad gash on his head. They took out a lot of Hellions here.”

“It's Buffy?” Xander whispered. “It worked?”

Angel quickly checked Buffy over and lifted her shirt and felt her skin and showed Xander and Gunn his bloody fingers. “She's hurt. Look at her fingernails, what the hell happened? What do you mean it worked?”

“Uh, can we get them out of here and get some help and talk about this later?” Xander suggested.

Angel jumped up and grabbed Xander by his shirt and pulled the young man off his feet as his face shifted into game face. “What did all of you do? Why are her fingernails broken and filthy?”

“Hey, wolfie is changing,” Gunn said and pulled back slightly as the werewolf changed back into Quentin in human form.

“Let me go!” Xander yelled. “She needs help not you taking time to beat me up.”

Quentin moaned and sat up slowly as Gunn helped him. “Buffy?”

“Let's get her to the hospital,” Angel said as he dropped Xander.

“Can we help her without the hospital?” Quentin asked. “She...she's going to be traumatized.”

“Because she woke up in a coffin?” Angel ventured.

Quentin nodded. “I know, I did. It was terrifying. At least she was strong enough to get out.”

“Coffin?” Xander whispered. “No...the ritual was interrupted!”

“Was that before or after you dug up the coffin, hero?” Gunn asked. “I'll help Quentin, you carry Princess.”

Angel nodded and pulled Buffy into his arms.

“No, this...”

“Stop talking, Xander!” Angel snapped.

# # # #

“I can't believe this!” Cordelia exclaimed as she tried to keep her voice low.

Angel sighed and nodded. “I know, I know. Are the others avoiding us but hovering on the edges?”

“Yeah,” Cordelia said as they glanced down into the living room. “How is she?”

“She's beginning to try and wake up,” the vampire said. “That knife wound should heal all right. It's her mental health I'm worried about. I spent time in hell and was totally insane when I was brought back. She wasn't gone as long, thankfully. Countering that is that she woke up in her coffin and clawed her way out.”

“That is... terrifying,” Cordelia said softly. “Gunn and Xander went out to try and help out against the remaining hellions.”

“Okay,” Angel answered. “Quentin is sitting with Buffy. We cleaned her up as best we could and treated her wounds and bruises.”

“How impossible was that ritual they did?”

“It had to be extraordinarily impossible or we'd see a lot more resurrections,” Angel said. “We'll hear some answers once we know Buffy is going to wake up.”

“Has anyone called Maine?”

“Not yet,” Angel said. “I told them I would seriously hurt them if any of them called Joyce or Giles.”

“Good.”

# # # #

COLLINSPORT, MAINE

“Quentin?” Carolyn asked as she answered her phone and people became more alert in the drawing room. “What's going on?”

“The gang was trying a ritual to close the Hellmouth or something,” Quentin said. “The downside would be that it would actually attract demons if it didn't work. We've spent most of the night fighting demons. They're almost cleared out.”

“Why the hell would they want you out of town?” Carolyn asked.

“Because I'd talk them out of the attempt,” Quentin said. Hopefully Carolyn would forgive him the lies later. “I have a feeling it was really dangerous but all of them are all right. I'm going to go make some strong coffee for them. Carolyn, keep Joyce, Dawn and Rupert close by. I'll call back when I know more.”

“All right,” Carolyn said and hung up the phone.

# # #

SUNNYDALE, CALIFORNIA

“Q-Quentin?”

The werewolf turned from the window and crossed the room quickly. “I'm here. Don't try and sit up yet. You took a good beating and were stabbed.”

“We ended up in hell?”

“Hell? No, Sunnydale,” Quentin said.

“But... demons everywhere, people were dead and cars were on fire.”

“Those were a particularly dangerous kind of demon,” Quentin responded. “The ritual to bring you back attracted them.”

“Back? I'm alive?” she asked and looked at her hands. “I couldn't breathe.”

“I know,” Quentin said softly. “They.... the ritual was interrupted before they could dig up the.... where you were.”

“Why am I back?”

“I haven't asked them,” Quentin said. “I know none of them have slept well since you... saved Dawn, especially Willow.”

“I died,” Buffy said as she slowly sat up. “I did what a Slayer does. I saved Dawnie.”

“And the world,” Quentin added.

Buffy looked at her hands and began to cry and Quentin wrapped his arms around her.

# # #

Angel moved around Cordelia quickly as the front door slammed open and Spike entered ahead of Xander and Gunn. He met Spike halfway down the stairs.

“Hold it, Spike.”

“Is it true then?” Spike demanded. “She's back? These misfits brought her back?”

“Shhh, she's back but she's traumatized and injured,” Angel said and glanced towards the Scooby gang as Xander joined the witches and Anya.

“Traumatized?” Spike asked, lowering his voice.

“She woke up in her coffin and they hadn't dug it up yet,” Angel whispered. “And she was just brought back from wherever her soul went.”

“Why are you out here? Wouldn't you be in there?” Spike asked. “And a coffin underground. Prats!”

“Quentin is with her,” Angel answered. “I heard her crying so she's awake. Come on, there's blood in the fridge. Come calm down and wash up. You were fighting with the hellions?”

“Yeah, I was fighting them and took out a couple and then jumped in to help these two and Gunn told me what happened,” Spike said as they walked back down the stairs.

They stopped when they heard a bedroom door opening.

“Cordelia, could you sit with her?” Quentin asked. “I'm going to get some coffee and talk with the gang.”

“Of course.”

Quentin walked down to the living room as Angel, Spike and Gunn joined him and the others.

“Buffy is awake,” he told the others. “She's confused and her body hurts. It may take some time for her to realize all of this is real. When she climbed out of her grave she saw fires, chaos, death and demons. She was talking and had a good cry, those are probably good signs. I'm going to make some calls and then get Joyce, Dawn and Rupert back here without telling them what's happened. Arranging it and getting them here will give Buffy a few hours to rest and try to... accept that she's here.”

“Can we talk to her?” Willow asked.

“She drifted off to sleep again,” Quentin said. “You all can explain to Angel what the hell happened while I make calls. I'll be back inside in a few. God, my head hurts.”

Angel crossed his arms. “Well?”

# # # #

COLLINSPORT, MAINE

“Collinwood, may I help you?”

“Amy? It's Quentin,” the werewolf said. “Who all is there?”

“Joyce, Dawn, Rupert, Barnabas, Thomas, Julia and Carolyn,” Amy answered. “Joyce and Dawn couldn't sleep.”

“Let me talk to Rupert, please.”

“All right,” Amy said. “Rupert? Quentin would like to talk to you.”

“Probably a question about the demons,” Giles said as he walked into the foyer and picked up the phone. “Hullo, Quentin, what's up?”

“Listen close,” Quentin said. “By the time you get to Bangor a plane will be ready to bring you, Joyce and Dawn to California. Rent a car in LA and get here ASAP but don't break the sound barrier. Angel and crew will get the rental car back to LA.”

“What on earth is going on?” Giles asked with a frown.

“I can't tell you over the phone,” Quentin said.

“Is someone....”

“No one is dead or hurt, I swear,” Quentin said. “Please, just get here. Along with Angelique if she wants to come along as well.”

“All right, we'll be there in a few hours,” Giles said. “See you then.”

Giles was frowning when he walked back into the parlor. “Uh, Quentin wants Joyce, Dawn, Angelique and I back in Sunnydale as quickly as possible. He swears no one is dead or injured but won't say what's wrong over the phone. A plane will be waiting for us in Bangor.”

“Wow,” Dawn said softly.

“I... well, we should pack then,” Joyce said. “Dawn, run on up and get started.”

After Dawn dashed up the stairs Joyce looked at Giles. “Did he say anything at all that could give us a hint?”

“No, none,” Giles said. “It'll be after sunrise when we get there...”

“Don't worry, Rupert,” Angelique said. “I'm going to stay here tomorrow and then follow. I prefer not to be carried off a plane like a sack of mail. Go pack.”

“I swear our lives are strange.”

## # # # #

SUNNYDALE, CALIFORNIA

Quentin stepped back inside. “Joyce, Dawn, Rupert and probably Angelique will be here in a few hours. Now, what happened?”

“Willow found a ritual to bring someone back from the dead if they had died from magical means,” Angel said. “She figured a gate was magical enough to qualify. They did the ritual but forgot to dig up the coffin before starting the ritual. The demons interrupted the ritual and they thought it didn't work. That's it.”

“And it was dangerous as hell, right?” Quentin ventured.

“Kinda,” Willow answered. “You would have told Giles and he'd try to stop us because it was dangerous.”

“Why risk it?” Quentin asked.

“Because we couldn't leave Buffy in some hellish realm,” Willow said. “Faith is the current Slayer but she's in jail. The world and Sunnydale needs a Slayer.”

“I'm going to check on her,” Quentin said after a moment. “Angel, which one of us breaks it to her family when they get here?”

“We could...”

“No,” Angel said firmly. “I'll talk with them and I'll be fair when explaining. I won't hang the bunch of you out to dry. I have a feeling that Giles will have a few words.”

Quentin nodded. “I'll send Cordelia down.”

“This isn't going to be fun,” Xander muttered.

“We got Buffy back,” Willow said softly. “That's all that counts.”

# # # #

COLLINSPORT, MAINE

“I'll call Thomas if I get a call from Quentin,” Carolyn said to Julia, Thomas and Barnabas. “He sounded extremely stressed but swore that no one is dead or injured.”

Julia shook her head. “I hope everything is all right back there.”

“So do I,” Carolyn agreed. “And that we can get all of them out for the holidays. David is heading home tomorrow but the entire family will be here for Christmas.”

“I can't wait to meet them,” Julia said and hugged Carolyn. “night.”

# # #

SUNNYDALE, CALIFORNIA

Quentin opened his eyes and blinked.

“The family will be here soon,” Cordelia said softly.

Quentin looked at Buffy sleeping in his arms and nodded. He got up carefully, placing a pillow in her arms.

He yawned when they left the bedroom. “The others?”

“Xander is the only one still awake,” Cordelia said. “Angel is napping in the den. I'm about to get him up.”

“All right,” Quentin said. “I'll start some fresh coffee.”

Cordelia nodded and went to wake Angel.

Five minutes later Quentin stepped back into the living room as Angel and Cordelia went to the door. The werewolf absently noted that Xander was nowhere in sight.

Joyce and Dawn walked in with their rolling suitcases followed by Giles.

“Glad that you're all here,” Angel said.

“What's going on?” Joyce asked.

“Please sit down for a minute,” Angel suggested. “It's not bad news but it is startling.”

Joyce sat down on the sofa with Dawn on one side and Giles on the other.

“Please explain,” Giles insisted.

“The group did a ritual tonight,” Angel began as he sat down across from them. “It was dangerous and it required a lot of magical energy, that drew demons to town.”

“What was the working?” Giles asked.

“A resurrection spell,” Angel said softly. “Someone killed by magic could possibly be brought back. Mostly likely it wouldn't work.”

Giles blinked and pulled his glasses off. “Magic? Like a gate?”

“Yes,” Angel said with a nod. “They succeeded. Buffy is alive.”

“What?” Joyce whispered as she squeezed Dawn's hand tightly.

“She was injured fighting the demons that showed up but she'll be all right physically,” Angel explained.

“And mentally?” Giles asked with a frown.

“The demons interrupted the ritual and they couldn't....” Angel hesitated.

“They didn't bring up the coffin before running for their lives,” Cordelia said. “Quentin found them and took one hell of a beating to keep the demons busy so the bunch could get away.”

“She woke up in a coffin and had to fight her way out,” Quentin added. “There was a lot of chaos going on so she was confused, terrified, angry and traumatized.”

“Where is she?” Joyce asked.

“Upstairs in my room,” Quentin said. “She fell asleep a bit ago.”

“I have to see her,” Joyce said as she stood up.

“Me too,” Dawn said.

“Go ahead,” Quentin said.

“I'll wait,” Giles said. “Then I'll hug her like crazy. The others are asleep?”

“I'm not sure where Xander is,” Angel said. “The others are asleep. Willow was exhausted.”

“Are you all right?” Giles asked Quentin.

“A lot of the damage was healed when I changed into a wolfman and then back,” Quentin said.

“Wait, a wolfman? But your portrait....”

“Yeah,” Quentin said. “I know. I can't explain it except that when Buffy was overwhelmed something snapped inside and I kept the wolf mostly under control.”

“Because Buffy was in danger,” Angel commented.

“Yes,” Quentin said. “The largest demon stabbed her and I lost it.”

Giles resisted glancing at Angel. For Quentin to have pushed past the magic of the painting because of Buffy...

“I'm going to call Carolyn,” Quentin said. “I know I freaked everyone out with the call. I just didn't think telling you over the phone was a good idea.”

“I'd probably crashed the damned car getting here,” Giles agreed.

“Excuse me a minute,” Quentin said and stepped out onto the patio. He pulled his phone out and dialed Carolyn's cell phone number.

“Hey, Quentin,” Carolyn's voice answered. “Can you tell me what's going on now?”

“Yes,” Quentin said and explained the ritual to Carolyn.

“They tried to bring Buffy back?”

“They brought Buffy back,” Quentin answered.

“Oh my God,” Carolyn whispered. “Is she okay?”

“She's traumatized,” Quentin said. “I'm not sure she even realizes she's back totally yet. She should be okay.”

“Give her a hug for us,” Carolyn said. “I'll let Thomas and Amy know and they can spread the word.”

“All right,” Quentin said. “Joyce and Dawn are with her now. It's going to be a long day.”

“Take a nap later,” Carolyn suggested. “I'll talk to you in a few.

# # #

“Baby?”

Buffy opened her eyes slowly and tried to smile as her mom sat down on the bed beside her and Dawn climbed up next to her sister on the other side.

“Hi, Mama,” Buffy said softly.

“You're here,” Joyce said softly.

Buffy nodded and then hugged her mom tightly and Dawn wrapped her arms around both of them.

# # # #

Quentin sat down next to Xander on the patio.

“Can't sleep?”

“No,” Xander said softly. “Spike and Angel already yelled at me. If you're going to yell can we schedule it for a little later?”

“I'm not going to yell at you,” Quentin said. “I would encourage you and the others apologize on your knees about not digging up the coffin. I've been buried alive. It's terrifying.”

“You have?”

“Yeah,” Quentin answered. “I was knocked unconscious and woke up in a coffin and the air got thinner and thinner. Barnabas and Maggie rescued me just in time. I was almost unconscious again. Barnabas was also buried alive. He was unconscious when Julia and a friend got the coffin up.”

“How could we miss that?” Xander whispered. “That was...unforgivable.”

“We told Joyce and Dawn that the demons crashed the ritual before you could dig up the coffin,” Quentin said. “Apologize to Buffy. Hopefully, she'll forgive you. Go take a nap.”

# # # #

Giles and Angel stood up when Joyce and Dawn walked down the stairs and joined them. The men could tell they had been crying but they were also smiling.

“Rupert, she'd like to see you,” Joyce said as he hugged her.

“Are you two all right?” he asked.

“We're still in shock,” Joyce responded.

“I think that'll last for awhile,” Angel commented.

“Go on up,” Joyce urged Giles.

Giles trotted up to Quentin's bedroom and hesitated at the door. He knocked softly.

“Come in,” he heard Buffy's voice call and opened the door. He found his Slayer sitting up in bed. She was badly bruised but tried to smile at him.

Giles sat down on the bed and squeezed one of her hands. “I can't believe it. Are you all right? Truthfully.”

“Not really,” Buffy said softly.

“I heard about the coffin,” Giles said.

“Yeah,” Buffy said and glanced down at her hands.

“And?”

“I can't,” Buffy said after a moment.

“Please,” Giles urged. “I'll find a way to help.”

“The others can't know,” Buffy said and looked up. “I can't tell anyone.”

“I can help with the PTSD this will probably cause,” Giles said. “I love you.”

“They think I was in hell,” Buffy whispered.

Giles' eyes widened as he realized what Buffy was hinting at. “Oh God, I'm sorry, Buffy.”

“I was done, Giles,” Buffy said. “I was okay taking Dawn's place and saving the world. That was my gift. My life, my death. Like a Slayer, right?”

“That's not why you did it and I know that,” Giles said. “I am beyond proud of you for that.”

“You didn't know what they were going to do?”

“No, not even a hint,” Giles said. “We were in Maine. Your.... it hit us very hard and Barnabas is badly injured and Angelique suggested maybe getting away would help. The only odd thing was Willow rushing me off the phone night before, that was it. Last night Quentin called and said they tricked him into leaving town.”

“I saw Barnabas fall, he's still hurt?” Buffy asked.

“He's blind,” Giles said softly. “The Leviathan helping the demon named Doc open the gate used fire against Barnabas. He and the Leviathan fell. We think his eyes will recover.”

“Anyone else injured?”

“Cuts and bruises but we lost Roxanne,” Giles said. “To send the Leviathan to hell... the circle required someone to charge it and, well, basically to escort him. To keep the Leviathan from focusing on Barnabas and the rest of us, Roxanne stepped into the circle before anyone could stop her.”

“Oh God.”

“How can I help?” Giles asked after a minute as they both absorbed what the other had said. “I won't say anything about...where you were.”

“Thanks,” Buffy said. “They think they saved me.”

“Where you were....”

“It's fading, all I know now is that it was warm and safe,” Buffy said softly. “I was done, Giles. Now...”

“Now, we'll get through it,” Giles said. “Whatever you need. We'll tell the Council you were injured stopping Glory and that you need some time.”

“Can we leave Sunnydale for a week or so?” Buffy asked. “Please.”

Giles nodded. “I'll have the Council send a potential and Watcher to help cover here. We're welcome at Collinwood or at Angelique's island in her mansion.”

“Collinsport,” Buffy said after pondering for a minute. “I can try and.... be around people, around people I'm not angry at before dealing with Slaying. That okay?”

“Absolutely,” Giles said. “We will get through this and I'll encourage the Council to get Faith out if a counselor thinks she won't be a danger to anything other than demons and vampires.”

“That would help.”

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