Title: Once a Slayer, Now an Immortal

Disclaimer: I do not own either Buffy: the Vampire Slayer or Highlander. I am merely borrowing them.

A/N: This story will take place after season seven of Buffy: the Vampire Slayer and after "Revelation 6:8" in season five of Highlander. Richie will not be appearing in this story; he is probably off traveling. Wesley will be on loan from a slightly AU season five of Angel for a few chapters here and there.

* Shocks All Around *

Now Buffy was really confused. Apparently there wasn't just one man walking around L.A. with a sword—there were two. Buffy stood there, flabbergasted, unsure of what to do. On the one hand, she felt that she should break up the fight that had just begun in order to prevent any serious injuries but, on the other hand, she was kind of curious to see how the fight would proceed. She had already decided that these men were not entirely human. Peter Wilson had already recovered from all the wounds she had inflicted on him and the new guy, Duncan MacLeod, didn't even seem shocked by it.

She watched Wilson thrust forward with his blade and MacLeod block the attempt with his own. She had to admire MacLeod's abilities. He was clearly an expert swordsman and he moved with a grace that Buffy was unused to seeing. Usually when she fought with a sword, it was against demons that either didn't have swords of their own or that were relying on strength rather than skill. MacLeod had skill. Buffy could tell that he was mixing together several martial arts forms yet he transitioned between them with poise. Buffy was also admiring of his katana. Although she wasn't fond of swords, the Slayer in her had to be in awe of the Japanese blade and the way it seemed to cut the air as the Highlander swung it.

Suddenly, there was the sound of sirens. Both men stopped mid-battle, frozen in place and listening closely, trying to determine if the sirens were headed towards them. They were. Both men dropped their swords to their sides and put on insincere, nonchalant looks. They watched as an ambulance passed by the alley's opening, speeding towards some other destination. MacLeod breathed a sigh of relief and Wilson took advantage of the distraction. Leaping forward, he slashed his sword across MacLeod's chest, drawing blood. MacLeod staggered back but remained standing.

This had gone on long enough. Buffy was concerned for her rescuer and began to move forward to put a stop to it. A hand on her arm halted her. She whirled around, to see who had hold of her, silently berating herself for allowing the man to sneak up on her. He had unruly black hair and a sharp nose. His pale green eyes looked her up and down as if evaluating a possible threat. He eventually let go of her arm, leaving Buffy unsure as to whether he had decided she was a threat or not.

"Don't interfere," he told her. "Just watch."

Buffy turned back to the fight and subtly took a step back, making her shoulder to mid-arm with the newcomer. She did not want him where she couldn't see him. The tall, skinny man noticed this and smiled slightly. She may be new to immortality, but he could already tell that she was bright. Her unwillingness to let him out of her sight was a good sign that she would survive as an Immortal for quite a while. He had been worried when it had been so easy to sneak up on her.

"Shouldn't we do something?" Buffy asked the man, inadvertently revealing her comfort around violence by her even tone.

"No," he replied firmly, again contemplating the threat level this small woman warranted. "MacLeod will be just fine."

"And what about the other guy … Peter Wilson?" questioned Buffy, not really all that concerned for the other man. Although she was gazing at the fight in front of her, the newcomer could tell that she was watching him out of the corner of her eye, ready to respond in an instant should he try anything.

He decided to answer her question with another question, "Who challenged whom?"

"Wilson challenged your friend, MacLeod," said Buffy, stumbling slightly over the word "friend." While it seemed that the two men were linked somehow, the newcomer's lack of concern for MacLeod was startling.

"Then it's the wanker's own fault if something happens to him," he responded coolly. Buffy couldn't help but smile at the man's British accent and use of the word "wanker." He reminded her of a cuter and more laid-back Giles. A cute and more laid-back Giles that carried a sword, that is. G-d, she wondered, how many freaks were walking around L.A. with swords and why did they seem to be converging around her? Didn't they realize that wearing trench coats in this heat was just ridiculous? Extending his hand sideways the newcomer remembered his manners, "I'm Adam Pierson by the way. And you are?"

"Buffy Summers," she responded, shaking his hand, before even thinking about whether she really wanted to give her name to this total stranger.

"Buffy!" he guffawed, his laugh turning into a cough.

"Oh, and you're one to talk," replied Buffy passionately. "Your name's … actually completely normal. Damn."

Looking back at the fight, Adam saw that Duncan had now forced his opponent onto his knees, a mimic of the earlier fight when Buffy had been standing just where Duncan was now. Duncan raised his katana, preparing to behead Peter Wilson.

"No!" yelled Buffy, charging forward, unwilling to see any more death, not sure if she could handle it. But she was too late. Duncan's blade came down, efficiently severing Wilson's head from his body.

Buffy's hand flew to her face, covering her gaping mouth. Overcoming her shock, Buffy began to stride forward again, intent on taking MacLeod's blade from him but stopped when she saw tiny tendrils of blue lightning leaping and crackling over Wilson's lifeless body and Duncan's tense, but alive, body. She felt Adam grab her shoulders and pull her back to a safe distance. They crouched behind a dumpster and Buffy maneuvered herself so she could see what was going on.

The lightning had increased in intensity and was now extending all around the pair at the middle of it. Suddenly, a bolt shot right into MacLeod's chest, pushing him back. Although he remained standing, his knees were bent at what looked like a very uncomfortable angle and he was wavering. He shouted as more electricity entered him and began to shake. The bricks on either side of him were beginning to look scorched and Buffy was afraid that they would crumble. It seemed like the electricity was coming from the dead man's body. Wave after wave of energy slammed into Duncan. Buffy was unsure how much more the man could take.

Then, just as suddenly as it started, the focused lightning storm stopped. Duncan collapsed to his knees and leaned on his katana, using it to keep the rest of his body upright.

Buffy shrugged Adam's hands off of her and stood up, slowly approaching the exhausted man in the middle of the alley. As she came nearer, he looked up at her, seeing the shock on her face. Using his blade to steady himself, Duncan slowly rose to his feet.

"All right over there, MacLeod?" asked Adam, who had emerged from behind the dumpster as well, with a playful voice.

"Just fine, old man," replied Duncan, wincing slightly as his neck cracked.

Buffy just looked back and forth between the men, her brow furrowed and her mouth slightly open. "What the hell just happened?" she asked, drawing the attentions of both men back to herself.

"That's a bit involved," said Adam. "Maybe we should find somewhere quiet and less airy to discuss it."

* TBC *

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