Title: Conversations with an Older Man

Category: BTVS/Highlander crossover

Rating: T

Disclaimer: I own nothing except the demented plot. All BTVS characters belong to Joss Whedon, etc. All Highlander characters belong to Davis Panzer Productions, etc.

Author Notes:

1) Sequel to Three Men and a Key.

2) Richie didn't die.

3) This series is set two years after BTVS series finale. The BTVS part is an alternate universe with minor supporting characters of my own creation (but they're very friendly).

4) There is a bit of violence (but no worse than what you see on either show).

5) My apologies for the formatting of the previous two stories. When I originally posted them, the formatting went goofy for some reason. I have since discovered the horizontal rule to replace my dividers that identify changes of scene and point of view. I also reposted the chapters of the previous stories with the new and (hopefully) improved formatting. Thank you for your patience.

Chapter 1

Methos opened the door then entered the room. "Honey, I'm home."

His friend glanced up. "Well, look who's back."

"Hey, Joe," Methos greeted as the other man enveloped him in a backslapping hug.

"Been in town long?" Joe asked as they walked toward the bar.

"Just got in," Methos said easing onto a barstool.

"What can I get you?"

"The usual," Methos replied and surveyed the room. Of all the places in the world, Joe's was one of his favorites. Good friends, good music and good beer.

He watched as a young woman came through the door. The lighting was such that for a brief moment he thought it was Alexa, a woman he had fallen deeply in love with only months before she died. He let out a breath as she strode to the bar.

"Hi, Joe," she said shrugging off her coat and hanging it on a hook.

"Hey, Dawn," Joe returned. "How was school?"

"I just finished watching Ingmar Bergman's The Seventh Seal for film history," she said reaching for a tray and an order pad. "I need some blues to cheer me up."

"What did you think of the film?" Methos asked.

"I'm never going to look at chess in quite the same way again," she replied.

"Dawn, this is an old friend-," Joe began.

"-Adam Pierson," Methos finished using his most recent alias.

"Dawn Summers. Nice to meet you," she said shaking his hand then noticed some customers. "I better get to work."

Methos watched her go.

"Don't get any ideas," Joe warned. "She's not your type."

"Why do you always say that?" Methos asked turning to his friend then regarded him with a speculative look. "Why Joseph Dawson, you old matchmaker. Who do you have in mind? MacLeod?"

"No," Joe said wiping down the bar. "Dawn's one of his students at the university."

"Well, if it's not MacLeod and it's not me, it must be Richie," Methos deduced and took a sip of beer. "How does he feel about her?"

"He likes her, and I think she likes him, but they both seem to be nervous about going beyond friendship. I'm just going to let nature take its course. I'm not going to interfere and neither are you."

"You're no fun," Methos said. "So where's Romeo?"

"Richie's in a race in Portland for a few days."

"So tell me about our Juliet."

"Dawn's a freshman at the university and just started waitressing here about three weeks ago."

"She from Seacouver?"

"No, some town just north of LA," Joe said. "Sunnydale."

"Sunnydale?" Methos asked his eyes suddenly riveted on Dawn.

~ Alta California, 1812 ~

"Boca del Infierno," the monk whispered in awe.

Mouth of hell, Methos thought, an apt description.

A huge earthquake had hit only hours before. Methos and Brother Franco watched helplessly as the mission sank into the ground. Most of the other structures including the nearby Chumash village were on fire, and tremors still rocked the area. They tried to tend to the injured, but there were so many people.

Then darkness fell.

He first saw them walking boldly through the smoke. When a soldier came up to them, a member of the group punched the man sending him spinning to the ground. The attacker grabbed the soldier by the hair, pulled him to his knees then ripped out his throat and fed.

"Vampires," Methos muttered then yelled to the monk. "Take as many people with you as you can and get out of here."

"What about you?" he protested.

"I'll be fine, just go," Methos said pushing the man away.

Terrified, Brother Franco yelled for everyone to run then left himself.

Methos looked at those who were too injured to leave. Poor wretches are lined up like a bloody feast, he thought with resignation then drew out his sword.

To the vampires' surprise, he easily beheaded the first attacker. Methos cut down three more before he was overwhelmed. His head was wrenched back and he felt teeth tear into his neck. His eyes slowly drifted closed as he gave into oblivion.

"You okay?" Joe asked.

"Yeah," Methos replied rubbing his neck. "Just jetlag."