Disclaimers: I do not own Buffy, MASH, StarGate or Charmed. I can not even claim any original characters for this story. This is purely written for fun and not for profit. Just my take on a what if.
Big Thank you to RafMereC for the recommendation.
Also Please leave a review if you like the story. It really is encouraging, at least to me.
Chapter 7 Are you a God?
"No you don't understand I looked for more about the story, I thought it was interesting. Until I finally found the truth. The disappearing ones was only what the sh'loc'tang called them. You me and every other human would call them another name." She paused, "Angels.. They are Fallen Angels. Cast out of the Heavens but still incredibly powerful. We can't stop them. Only a God can stop one of them." Anya finished.
Hearing Anya's declaration. Everyone froze for a moment. Giles grasping his glasses tightly did not even pretend to be cleaning them. Joyce was one of the first ones to recover. "Rupert, why would Whistler tell Buffy she had to kill this thing. If it is a Fallen Angel, then wouldn't he know that only a God could kill one? Would he give her an impossible task?"
Giles paused, "Yes that is an excellent point. I do not believe that the Powers would do that. Which means there must be a key to defeating this creature! We simply have to find it."
Everyone could easily agree with Giles. "Well shouldn't we start researching?" Willow asked.
"Before you start breaking out any books. Do you think we can move Buffy somewhere other than the floor?" Joyce asked looking at Giles.
Giles shook his head, "Ah yes I believe it would be best if we move Buffy into the back room. I have a small bed set up there in case there was ever any need for it."
Giles and Joyce moved Buffy back into the training room and placed her on the bed there. Joyce smiled down at her daughter. "Rupert I am not sure how much help I could be researching, So I will stay here with Buffy. If there is anything else I can help with please let me know." Giles nodded as he left the room.
Outside in the main stop area of the Magic Shop, Willow and Tara were already sitting down with several large tomes that they had retrieve from the loft. Anya was pacing back and forth seeing Giles she grabbed him and pulled him to the side. "Giles I want the rest of the money you promised me. I think it might be a good idea if I were to leave town for the next few weeks. And I will need the additional funds."
"Anya do you plan to run away every time there is a possible apocalypse? If so I feel it prudent to warn you that according to several books of prophecy we will be having two a year for the next few years." Giles paused looking for any reaction from Anya.
"Most of the apocalypses, you deal with are not really that bad, Giles. Yes their actions might kill a large number of people, but really it's not the end of the world even if, you call it an apocalypse. But now you might be taking on something only a God can kill. And I do not see any point to risking myself against a Fallen Angel."
"Anya what about your relationships here. Xander is missing still. And whilst we may not be the closest of friends, We do consider ourselves your friends. If you leave you may lose those friendships. Is running away worth that to you?" Giles asked
"There's a reason Lucifer rules one of the major Hell dimensions Giles. And it's not because of an amazing personality. Even cast out from one of the really powerful Heavenly Dimensions. Lucifer is so powerful that within days of being cast into that Hell He was the new ruler. So I will take my money now." Anya replied. "And don't think about skimping either. I was right about everything. The Tothic demon did use a Ferula Gemina and I showed you how to reverse the effects."
"I suppose you have fulfilled the spirit of our agreement, if not the letter of it." Giles said in a disappointed tone. "Very well let me grab my checkbook and I will take care of your payment."
"No need to do that," Anya said. "I prepared the check while you were in the back. Please just sign it." She handed the check to Giles, who reviewed it. Once it was signed and in Anya's hands she turned to leave. "Thank you Giles." With that Anya left the shop.
Turning back to Tara and Willow who were reading through various volumes he went over to work with them.
After almost an hour Willow looked up. "Giles, your collections seems to be very Heavy on the ancient Sumerian, Babylonian and Greek. But you only have a few works on Egypt."
"Yes unfortunately one can not be an expert in every field. That is why although I may only have a few books about the ancient Egyptians I endeavored to make sure they have the best scope of knowledge available."
Willow nodded, "That makes sense." And turned back to the books. After almost another hour they had opened every book in Giles small collection of Egyptian references. With a defeated sigh Willow put down her book. "I can't find anything here that helps. There are multiple references to Ra and his powers but the closest I could see is doesn't make any sense."
"What do you mean Willow?" Giles asked.
Willow picking up her notes, "Well in one of the books, if referred to how one of the Gifts of the gods made their chosen stronger. But that was all it said, there was no follow up. I couldn't find anything that could help us here." Willow finished in frustration.
'I see, I may have to reach out to some of my former colleagues to see if they know anything." Giles said.
"Giles, why do you have a book that says the pyramids were built by aliens." Tara asked.
Giles looked at her, "Ah well Tara, actually it was a Gift from a young man I knew. He was a student of Archeology and Ancient languages. In fact his father Melburn was a friend of my Fathers. We corresponded for several years, and when he wrote his book he sent me a copy as a gift."
"Aliens, but why aliens?" Willow asked. Clearly not understanding why Giles would have that book in the reference area.
"Willow many times when normal people are exposed to the supernatural they try to find some rational explanation for what they have seen. To many people the idea of aliens is more palatable than the idea of Demons." Giles continued. "It would not be wise to shrug off stories of aliens when you know the truth of this world."
Willow shaking her head said, "Well I guess that makes some sense. But we need more information and we are not getting it here." Willow suddenly got an excited look on her face. "Oh, oh I could try a few of the forums. Some one there may have something about the Joy-Fars and Ra."
"Willow what forums?" Giles asked.
"Oh just some forums on the web. I've gotten help before with understanding translations or phrases. I never tell them why just ask what a word means. General help you know. And I could ask if anyone know's any legends about the Ancient Egyptian god Ra and his Joy-Fars. Also anything about his enemies who appeared in a flash of light. That might be general enough to have someone come up with something." Willow finished her excitement shining through.
"Willow that might be too general," Tara added, "Maybe you should also say that the legend you heard said the Joy-Fars were stronger than normal men or specially blessed by the gods. Something like that."
"Ah yes, well that may be off some assistance to us," Giles conceded. "In the interim I would suggest we concentrate our efforts on any references to Angels we can find. Since these beings died out around the time of ancient Egypt, perhaps the Babylonian or Sumerian works might tell us more about their powers or how they operated. Although I would recommend you look for phrases such as 'messengers' or 'agents of the gods' the term 'Angel' may be too modern for our purposes."
In the back room Joyce had fallen asleep in the chair next to Buffy. Her hand resting lightly on Buffy's arm. Buffy's body started to twitch. This caused Joyce's hand to fall of waking the concerned mother. Watching Buffy for a few moments she could see that her daughter was fine, But seemed to be coming out of the deeper, exhausted sleep she had been in earlier.
Joyce heard Buffy mumble, "Sorry Faith" Joyce got up and quickly went to the door.
"Giles I think something may be happening." She called out from the doorway, while keeping one eye on Buffy. She moved back to Buffy's bedside.
Everyone else quickly came into the back room and gathered around Buffy. "What is happening Joyce," Giles asked.
"Buffy started moving and said something like 'Sorry Faith' I thought I should call you." Joyce said.
Right then Buffy mumbled again, "all of us." The gathered friends and family continued to watch as Buffy dreamed. "What?" she mumbled along with something that sounded like 'true'
Buffy seemed to be getting more agitated, they heard the words, Willow, help and helps but could not make sense of it.
"It's almost like she's talking to someone else," Joyce said."
Just then Buffy opened her eye's and sat up. Yelling out "WILLOW's GAY!" Willow hearing Buffy's loud proclamation followed the only sensible course of action her brain could think of. It was time to reboot, so her eyes rolled up in her head as she passed out.
Buffy, jumped out of the Bed and reached for Willow's fallen form. Tara was right beside her. Giles was busily cleaning his glasses. Whilst given what he had deduced earlier Buffy's rather loud proclamation was not a shock to him, it was also not a subject he had any wish to dwell on.
Buffy picked up the fallen witch and placed her on the now vacant bed. "Buffy, honey are you feeling alright?" Joyce asked in a concerned voice.
Buffy absently replied, "Yeah Mom, I feel fine."
"Well that is good to hear Buffy," Giles said. "Right before you awoke who were you talking to?"
"Uhm what do you mean Giles?" Buffy asked in confusion.
"Right before you woke up you said something like 'Sorry Faith' and mumbled Willow's name and help or helps." Joyce replied.
Joyce's words helped to spark Buffy's memory. "Oh yeah I was dreaming? And I was in Faith's apartment again. She was there waiting for someone to come for her. I,.. I think she was waiting for Xander." Buffy fell silent after finishing.
"Really," Giles commented. Joyce looked pensively at her daughter. "Buffy what else can you tell us about your dream?" Giles prompted after a moment.
"Uhm Faith asked me why I never visited, and I didn't really know what to say. She asked me what I wanted because I only ever came around when I need something. And that's not true is it?" She looked at Giles and her Mother for reassurance.
Joyce took Buffy's hand in her own."Honey it was just a dream don't read too much into it. Even if it is some kind of a mystical thing."
Buffy smiled at her mom, feeling comforted by her words. "I think I tried to warn Faith about the Demon Xander and what Whistler told me. And I heard Xander saying that nothing that Faith had done was her fault that she, Faith that is, was under a spell and something about Willow helping to fix it."
Now it was Giles turn to feel stunned, "Dear God in Heaven, if that is true what did I do?" He said to no one as he sunk into the vacated chair by Willow's bed.
"Rupert, what do you mean?" Joyce asked.
"After Faith killed Mr. Finch I was certain she had become a rogue slayer. That the power had corrupted her. Watchers very thoroughly taught the signs to look for. I did not even consider that she might have been placed under a spell of some sort. And I Bloody well should have!" Giles finished becoming angry at himself for his personal failure to look for answers.
"Giles does that mean Faith might not have been evil. Because she really seemed evil what with helping the mayor and almost killing Angel and kidnapping Willow." Buffy asked.
"Depending on the spell Faith might not have had any more control over herself and her choices then an automobile has as to where the driver takes it. At best she may have been an unwilling prisoner in her own mind, and at worst she may think she was in full agreement with whatever actions she was forced to take."
"Giles why would being a prisoner be better for her?" Buffy asked.
"Because Buffy if she was a prisoner in her mind then she will know she was not actually committing the acts that harmed her friends and other innocents. If however she thinks she did those acts willingly, once the spell is lifted she would suffer immense guilt for what she thought she had done of her own volition." Giles sighed, "We must find out if this is true. And to do that we must get Faith back! What else occurred in your dream Buffy?"
"Ah yeah, I think we were talking and somebody wanted me to wear this really ugly jacket. Oh and I think Faith slept with Xander."
"What" exclaimed Willow as that statement brought her back to consciousness.
Everyone turned to the girl. Who seeing everyone looking at her wondered for a moment why she was laying down. And then recalled Buffy loudly telling everyone that she was gay. She started to blush and found herself stammering, "How? Buffy how did you know?"
Buffy asked, "Know what? What do I know."
Willow grabbed Buffy's hand and pulled her close almost whispering, "You know, How did you know about me and Tara?"
Buffy didn't understand for a moment and then the rest of the dream seemed to fall into place, "Oh my God, " She said loudly, "You and Tara?" At this Tara was looking slightly uncomfortable, while she had no problem with her sexuality it was also not something she flaunted.
Willow, blushing profusely, but unwilling to lie looked at Buffy and said, "Yes it's only been a short time. But I,..I love her."
Buffy hearing this smiled and hugged Willow. "I'm so happy for you. You deserve to be happy."
"Aren't you upset that I'm well Gay now?" Willow asked.
"Ah Willow, Buffy perhaps you could have this conversation another time. Preferably when I am not present. I will only say that whilst this is a surprise. I hope that you and Tara are very happy with each other." Giles interrupted.
Buffy shooting Giles a dirty look says, "No matter what Willow I just want you to be happy. And if Tara makes you happy than I'm happy."
Tara is amazed at the love and acceptance she is seeing. Never in her own family could this have happened. As she feels tears of joy start to fall, Joyce comes over to her and hugs her. "Welcome to the family Tara." She says.
As everyone breaks up, from their heartfelt moment. Joyce says, "I think it would be a good idea if we get some lunch and I really think Giles everyone could use some time to refresh themselves. How about I go get us some food, I had a casserole in the fridge that I could heat up and bring back here along with some snacks and drinks."
"Mom that's great idea. While your gone I can use the shower and get cleaned up here." Buffy pauses, "But you can't go alone. Remember the Xander demon may come after you to get to me."
"Ah yes uhm we may have found some more information about that Buffy," Giles said. "According to Anya it may not be a demon at all. Rather she thinks that the description of your attacker matches that of a fallen angel."
"An Angel?" Buffy asks. "Wouldn't a fallen angel just be a demon."
Actually no it would not be the same thing." Giles replies as he prepares to explain the difference.
Joyce interrupts, "Giles before you get started catching Buffy up I am going to go. If it's alright with Tara she can come with me. While Willow stays with you two."
"Sure Mrs. Summers I'll go with you." Tara says.
"Uhm yes, very good. We will see you both when you get back then." Giles says.
Joyce and Tara leave together as Giles continues explaining everything they have found out to Buffy.
As Tara and Joyce get into Joyce's Jeep. After starting the car and pulling away, Joyce says,"Thank you for coming with me Tara. I really wanted to talk with you about what happened earlier with Buffy, Willow and Giles. Do you know why they are acting like they are about Xander?"
"Na No Not for sure Mrs. Summers" Tara says, "But I am sure that they are under some kind of spell."
Joyce nods, "Please Tara, call me Joyce. I've told Willow and Xander hundreds of times to call me Joyce. Mrs. Summers makes me feel ancient." Joyce finishes with a small laugh.
Tara laughs as well, "Oh OK I'll try to remember that Joyce." she says.
Joyce looks at her and says, "Thank you. Now what can we do if they are under a spell."
Tara thinks out loud as they are driving. "I'm really not sure. It would depend on what the reason for the spell was, what its intentions where , how long they have been under its effect. All of those things and more are really important to try and figure out how we can break the spell."
As Tara finished speaking both women fell silent pondering what they knew. The rest of the short drive to the Summers house was completed in silence. Arriving at home Joyce and Tara got out of the Jeep and entered inside.
"Tara,sit please" Joyce began as she sat down in the living room. "I think we can safely say this spell is meant to make them forget about Xander. Not forget who he is, like amnesia, but for them to forget how much he helps them. What I don't understand is why someone would want to do that. "
"Well," Tara said running with the thought. " you said earlier without Xander, people would have died. So maybe someone is trying to make it easier for them to kill Buffy or Willow." As she finished her thought Tara felt a cold spike of fear run through her. She had just found Willow and did not want to lose her.
Joyce also looked up with fear at the thought of losing her daughter. After the disaster with Hank's cheating Buffy really was all she had left. "So it would have to be some kind of evil spell than right?" She asked.
"Not necessarily the spell itself may not be evil, it usually depends on the person casting the spell. Whether their intent was good or evil." Tara explained.
From inside the kitchen Xander's voice came. "Very true Tara. With most magic it is always about intent." Walking into the room where they were seated. Xander continued, "And that is part of why I am here I need your help to fix what's wrong."
Joyce looked at Xander, and realized he was too young. "You're not Xander" she said slowly.
She was not sure what they could do if this thing attacked her and did not want to make it violent before they tried to get away.
Tara hearing Joyce's words realized it was the truth. But she wasn't sure of any spells she knew that could help right now. She was very surprised to hear what this other Xander said next.
"Yes and No, Joyce. Yes I am Alexander Harris. No I am not your Xander. As near as I have been able to determine I'm from a massively alternate timeline, In fact the difference are so big you can just call it a alternate universe."
"Dif, Differences? .Like your evil and iiis good?" Tara asked afraid of what the answer would be. The one thing that she did notice even through her fear was that this Xander did not feel frightening. Tara suddenly thought of something that might help. As she listened to Xander speak she opened up her sight.
Xander laughed,"Nope no gotie, Different as in where I come from I died saving Buffy and everyone else." Joyce gasped at that statement."Don't worry I got better." Xander said with the same smirk on his face that Joyce knew so well. "I was offered a job. I kind of became a guardian Angel."
Tara suddenly exclaimed, "Oh my GODDESS.!" Turning to look at her both Joyce and Xander saw she had squeezed her eyes firmly shut and was starting to hyperventilate. "Oh Goddess, oh my gosh."
Joyce moved over to her, "Tara what is it? What's wrong?" She asked sitting by the girl and putting her arm around her.
"Iiiit's hhhim." Tara said. "He iiis sssso pure." Tara wasn't sure how she could explain what she had just seen love and compassion purer than anything she had ever seen in her life. The light from Xander's aura had filled the room blinding her. She could easily believe now that he was an Angel. Nothing else could be that good. The light had been too much it was painful, her eyes felt like they were burning up.
Xander hearing Tara's pronouncement had an idea of what had happened moving over to the girl he placed a hand on her shoulder. "Tara did you just try to use second sight on me?" He asked.
Tara nodded tears leaking out of her eyes. "Shh it will be alright in just a moment." Xander said as he placed his other hand over Tara's eyes and began healing them.
"What just happened?" Joyce asked as Tara quit crying and opened her eyes blinking at the light.
"It was too much, when I looked at him. The light was too much to see." Tara said in an awed tone of voice. "I can see aura's and I wanted to see if he was evil or not." Looking at Joyce and speaking with more conviction than Joyce had ever heard anyone speak with she in her life Tara continued. "He's not he is so full of love that it hurts to look at him."
Joyce looked at a now blushing Xander. Who looked back at her and said."Whitelighters are chosen for their compassion, love and courage. Once we become whitelighters it's sort of like the old bible stories of people not being able to look at God. If someone tries to see our aura it can blind them."
"Whitelighter? Is that what you are I thought you said you were a guardian angel?" Joyce said.
"Whitelighters are a kind of guardian angel. We help good witches, future whitelighters and champions." Xander replied not wanting Joyce to think he had lied to her.
"So when you died you became a whitelighter to protect Buffy?" Joyce guessed. Knowing Xander had seemed to love her daughter from the first time they met.
"Well to protect her and Willow and Faith," Xander said. "They were my girls and I will always try and protect my girls." He finished with a lopsided grin on his face. Joyce recognized that smile.
It was Xander reaching over to him she pulled him into a fierce hug. "Thank you for protecting my little girl." She whispered in his ear. Xander stiffened in her arms. "What is it? What's wrong?" She asked.
"I couldn't always protect her." Xander said in a pain filled voice. Returning Joyce's hug. "And I am so sorry for that Joyce."
Joyce felt shocked, she recalled the words from the hospital, "Your Dead"
"Buffy died didn't she?" She asked quietly.
Xander hugged her tightly tears falling. "I am so sorry I couldn't save her."
Joyce didn't know what to say or think. Here was an Angel crying in sorrow about not saving her daughter's life. But Buffy was alive. She didn't have any words that would come out. She opened her mouth, not knowing what to say, and heard herself saying, "I know. It's alright I still love you Xander." a warm feeling burst from her chest. She wasn't sure what had just happened but it was clean and pure and filled with love. "Shh it's alright I still Love you." She stroked Xander's back calming him down.
Xander stood back and smiled at her, "Thank you. I know you're not really my Joyce but thank you anyway."
Tara watching the tender moment between Joyce and Xander, didn't want to speak. But the silence was getting awkward. "Ssso wwwhat now? Why are you here?"
Xander grinned at her, "I've always said I am here for the beautiful woman and twinkies. But right now I am missing the twinkies." Joyce and Tara both giggled at that. Then Xander continued. "I need your help Tara. I would like you to come with me to help fix Faith and figure out a way to help everyone else."
"Come wiwwwith you? Where?" Tara asked in shock.
"Well where is hard to explain, but basically to Heaven, with a small H. Just a little piece of it." Xander said.
'He..Heaven?" Tara could not believe what she was hearing.
"Yes if you're willing to come that is we really need your help." Xander said.
"Oh ok." Tara said.
Xander smiled and held out his hand to Tara, when Joyce spoke up. "Xander Harris you had better not even think of leaving me here!" she said.
Xander turned to her and in a completely believable voice said, "Of course not I was just about to ask if you wanted to come with us." Grasping both women's hands he orbed them to the Elders domain.
Wow first part of this chapter was very hard to write. But once Joyce and Tara were alone it just flowed. I thought of cutting it off at Xander's appearance but thought that was too evil.
Also that seen with Xander and Joyce. No idea where it came from. Seriously no idea. Brought a tear to my eye writing it though.
Also I wanted Anya to stay but could not get her to. Really she wanted out and I could not stop her from leaving.
Now the next little bit you may want to skip as it is a teaser.
Margaret Walsh sat in her office. Waiting at her computer for the video conference to start. Her work on Adam was moving forward and she was please at the results her teams were achieving. The only problem on the horizon was the Summers girl she was distracting Riley too much.
The computer screen suddenly showed the conference was starting. Only instead of her normal contact there was another military officer on the screen. "Dr. Walsh, I am Colonel Maybourne. I know you were not expect me but I have some new orders for you. Several days ago someone in Sunnydale posted some interesting questions requesting information on Jaffa's, Ra and People appearing and disappearing in a flash of light."
Walsh was startled she was aware of the Stargate program because of the technology she had received for her own projects. But no one in Sunnydale should be asking those questions.
"What would you like me to do Colonel Maybourne?" She asked.
"Find out everything you can about Willow Rosenberg and Rupert Giles. We also want to know about any of their known associates. And find out what they know about the Goa'uld. This is a high priority request, do not let anything stop you from fulfilling it. I will expect daily updates." With that the screen closed.