Counterparts
Disclaimer: I don't own Buffy, Stargate or any of the other universe or characters that shall be mentioned here.
Summary: Searchers of Merlin's Avalon cave find a second long range communication device, or at least that's what they believe.
Timing: Stargate Season 9 just before Beachhead
Author's notes: This chapter was particularly hard for me to write…why? I don't know but some parts were like pulling teeth! I spent days just sitting at my computer, doing absolutely nothing. Thankfully, it's finished now, so enjoy Now on to the story
Chapter 10 Wesley and Fred Part 1
Dr Jackson's office a short time later
Caroline Lam walked slowly into Daniel's office; she looked around and found him sitting at his desk, staring off into space, photos of the Ancient device spread across the tabletop.
She gathered that he was trying to continue with the translations but he was having trouble.
"Daniel?" she called out hesitantly, wondering whether or not she should interrupt his musings.
Daniel shook himself out of his musings, "What? Oh, it's you, sorry I was spacing there. Were you standing there long?"
Caroline shook her head, "No, I just came by to see how you were doing," she stated quickly.
"Oh, okay," Daniel remarked.
An uncomfortable silence began to build up as the two stared at each other waiting for the other to say something.
Finally, Caroline broke the silence, "So…how are you doing?" she asked again.
Daniel thought about the question for a minute before answering, "For the most part, I'm feeling very…weird."
Caroline raised an eyebrow at that, "Weird? Really?"
"Yes, I mean, you do realise the number of upheavals that have occurred in less than a day here are setting an all new SGC record? I mean the whole Phoenix incident alone is a whole new level of weirdness-combined with everything else and the weirdness factor is through the roof!" ranted Daniel unhappily.
"Is that all?" Caroline teased.
Daniel looked at her incredulous for a full second before snorting ruefully, "Yes that's all!" he retorted sarcastically. He shook his head at the doctor's whimsical remark. "You know, I wonder if anything else is going to happen today?"
Caroline burst out laughing at this remark; "Well now that you mention it…" she said when she stopped laughing.
Daniel groaned, "Oh god…what happened now?"
"Its doctor Price," was Caroline's succinct reply. She pursed her lips, "It's getting a bit much isn't it?"
Daniel took off his glasses and started to rub his aching brow, "I think we passed that mark a long, long time ago…"
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General Landry's office, the same time
"Dr Lee, is there nothing you can do to control this device!" demanded Landry angrily as he was stood over his chair and loomed over his desk to glare at a very uncomfortable Dr Lee.
"I thought I had disabled it, sir, but I guess I was wrong," Dr Lee retorted helplessly.
"I guess you were!" was Landry's exasperated rejoinder.
Dr Lee started to squirm under "Well sir in either case it doesn't matter anymore."
Landry glared at Dr Lee, "It doesn't?" he asked slowly, wanting to know if this could possibly give him grounds to plead temporary insanity, at this rate he was going to strangle Dr Lee and any annoying scientists that happened to jump into his path.
"No sir, I just ran another scan on the device and it's kaput. It's power source has run out. I even tried to trigger an activation just to be sure…and nothing," Dr Lee explained.
The General sat down with a sigh, finally it was over. "Next time, when I call you into my office, give me the good news the minute you walk in," commented Landry dryly.
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Infirmary a few hours later
Dr Wesley Wyndam Price was lying unconscious on one of the Infirmary's beds; he was restrained as all the others had been; only this time, several extra SFs were temporarily stationed in the infirmary until he awoke. So now, there were a total of four SFs responsible for securing the infirmary.
The General had rationalised the extra security as a precaution against what he could do when he woke up, the example of what his wife, little defenceless peaceful Fred, had done before she was sedated fresh in his mind.
The nurses kept a close eye on him so that when Wesley first began to twitch, they notified Dr Lam immediately. Thankfully he didn't awaken till Dr Lam was ready and the SFs alerted.
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Wesley's eyes suddenly snapped open and he blinked repeatedly trying to clear them. He was feeling very disoriented.
He shook his head trying to clear it, he could barely think straight. An effect of the blood loss, an idle part of his mind mused.
His eyes cleared and he looked about him in disbelief. It looked like he was in a hospital…hadn't he just been in Cyvus Vail's apartments? Wait, could it be…but Illyria had said that the wound was mortal? Had she been wrong?
He snorted at that, Illyria was never wrong, no matter how blunt the words came out, and she never lied. So what was going on? And for that matter where was Illyria in the first place he couldn't see her anywhere.
He noticed two gruff looking soldiers standing at the door and he tried to get up in alarm. His alarm turned into trepidation when he couldn't, he looked down to find himself restrained.
Considering the events of the previous hours and Angel's plan, Wesley without hesitation jumped to the wrong conclusion.
One; Cyvus wasn't dead…at least he didn't appear to be.
Two; Illyria was nowhere to be seen, and she wouldn't just abandon him-at least not willingly.
Three; the Senior Partners were known to have ties with some parts of the military, ergo…
It was time to escape…and fast.
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Dr Lam was still several paces away from Dr Price when his eyes snapped open, but before she could do anything Dr Price said in a firm commanding tone, "Release."
She stopped in her approach as the restraints holding Dr Price suddenly undid themselves and Dr Price jumped out of the bed.
She suddenly found herself looking into the eyes of a man who appeared, much to her uneasy, more than slightly unhinged…and worst of all enraged.
She rapidly back-pedalled away from him as two SFs rushed him, in an attempt to restrain him.
She didn't see what happened next, the SFs were obscuring her view, what she did see was that a few seconds later, on of the SFs came flying by her and smash into the bed opposite Dr Price's with enough force to knock the wind out of the unfortunate SF. He fell to floor with a dull thud and tried to regain his breath.
She watched in muted disbelief as Dr Price grappled with the other SF for a few more moments before finally getting the upper hand and getting a vicious hand lock on the embattled SF. Using the leverage he had gained Dr Price turned the SF around and viciously slammed the SF's head first into the bedside table, once, twice and thrice, before smashing the SF's head into the wall once more for variety. Dr Price let the now unconscious SF drop to the floor, hitting the bed and table on his way down. Dr Price turned and approached the other SF that had almost managed to regain his bearings. Dr Price then brutally punched the unwary SF, sending him to join, his companion.
In the short time it took Dr Price to deal with the two SFs the infirmary had cleared of as many people as possible leaving behind a few patients in their beds, Dr Lam and the final two SFs.
At that moment, some very helpful soul pushed the alarm button and alarms started ring through the infirmary, causing Dr Price to re-evaluate his surroundings. He looked at the last two SFs that were guarding the door, who stood there, sidearms out and aimed at Dr Price preventing his exit.
In response Dr Price's eyes narrowed and he gave the SFs the once over before starting to chant in some language Dr Lam didn't know, though she thought it sounded like Latin to her ears.
"Hold it right there, Dr Price!" barked one of the SFs.
He stopped chanting and stared balefully at the SF that spoken. "I don't think so," he said with confidence bordering on arrogance colouring his tone.
He raised his hands palms out and pointed at the two SFs.
Dr Lam could only watch in mute horror and amazement as strange golden whirling energy bolts, that God knows came from where, flew from his hands and struck the unprepared SFs.
The SF's flew backwards out the door of the infirmary and struck the far wall with bone rattling force. They slumped to the floor, their bodies unmoving.
Dr Lam turned back to face Dr Price and froze as she found herself looking into the unwavering barrel of standard SF sidearm. She followed the arm back to the owner and found Dr Price coldly looking back at her.
She swallowed fearfully.
"Now Doctor, perhaps you could show me the nearest exit?" Dr Price released the safety and cocked the gun as he finished speaking. His tone left no room for negotiation.
Her lip trembled as she thought, what kind of person is he now?
Dr Price cleared his throat, "Do not make me repeat myself," he calmly stated as his stare intensified.
"Dr Price, I assure you, you're among friends here," she tried to reassure him.
"Oh really?" he retorted in a light tone, though Dr Lam could see the steel in his eyes. "Then why did you have me restrained to the bed?"
Dr Lam thought quickly for a reason that would satisfy this new Wesley, "That was for both you're and our safety. We didn't know how you would react when you awoke…" she paused and looked around her at the unconscious SFs. "Though on second thought maybe that wasn't such a good idea."
Dr Price raised a speculative eyebrow, "Just for a second let's imagine that a believe you, then where is Illyria? I doubt anybody other than Angel could have convinced her to leave my side and last time I checked Angel didn't have any friendly military contacts," he stated in a cold emotionless tone.
Illyria? Angel? Weren't those the names that Dr Burkle mentioned in her ramblings? Thought Dr Lam quickly, her mind racing with possibilities.
"Well? Don't have a retort do you?" he snorted derisively, "Fine, tell me where we are," he demanded.
Dr Lam swallowed, "You're in the Cheyenne mountain complex, under NORAD."
Dr Price blinked, "I'm in Colorado? And under NORAD!" he said in disbelief.
Dr Lam opened her mouth to respond, but the more SFs chose that minute to finally arrive in response to the alarms. Several SFs raced into the infirmary weapons at the ready, they quickly surveyed the room and once they saw the weapon held at Dr Lam's head they reacted.
All of them aimed at Dr Price, who quickly jumped behind Dr Lam. He wrapped his arm around her neck and pulled her close to him all the while keeping his weapon pointed at her head, unwavering.
"Stop!" she shouted frantically, thoughts of how the situation was so rapidly spiralling out of control at the forefront of her mind. "Stand down!" she repeated urgently, "He won't harm me!"
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General Landry thundered down the corridor to the infirmary, worry the overriding concern in his mind. Worry for his daughter, worry for Drs Price and Burkle, for those others under his command that had been so affected by the Ancient device. But foremost was for Caroline.
He reached the door to the infirmary and his adrenaline began to pump more vigorously as he saw two slumped SFs on the floor. He passed them and rushed in, he froze as he was confronted by a situation that was straight out of his worst nightmare.
Dr Price holding a gun and much to his amazement he looked like knew how to properly use it. But that wasn't the nightmarish part of it all. He was holding said gun menacingly at Caroline's head. His daughter's head.
Adding to the chaos of the situation were four other SFs that had reacted to the alarm. They were tensed, weapons at the ready and pointed at Dr Price and Caroline.
His paternal instincts took over at that moment, "Hold it! Nobody shoot!" he thundered.
Dr Price's eyes found his and Landry almost took a step back in surprise. A darkness shone there that hadn't existed before.
Dr Price spoke a moment later, "I'm guessing you're the man in charge?" his tone belittled the seriousness of situation.
"I'm General Hank Landry, the commander of this base," he answered.
"Well if you value the life of this woman, I suggest you release me," he threatened. He placed the gun at Caroline's temple just to show he was serious.
Landry's heart ached, "Calm down, there's no need to do anything rash." He turned to the SFs, "Lower, your weapons…now!" he bellowed when they were slow to respond.
He turned back to Dr Price, who nodded at him, "Very well, I…" Dr Price trailed off as his face suddenly became blank. It took Landry a second to realize what exactly was going on, but when he did, relief flooded through his body.
"Dr Price?" the general then said.
Dr Price for his part let go of Caroline and reeled back unsteady on his feet. He dropped the gun and it clattered to the floor.
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"Oh god…" Wesley murmured in horror.
He backed away from where he had been holding Dr Lam hostage and groped around for something to support him. His leg bumped into the edge of a bed and he finally allowed his legs to collapse as images of life he had never lived threatened to overwhelm his sensibilities.
Demons, Vampires, Hellmouths, Rogue Slayers…more blood than he could imagine flowing…no drenching his hands. Not to mention, Lilah Morgan-evil lawyer, the original super bitch, and HIS one time lover. How he had failed to save her in the end from the monsters and from Senior Partners.
And his Fred…oh god, Fred, he knew now why she was a blubbering wreck. First Pylea, then Illyria.
The sound of a gunshot echoed in his mind as he remembered the expression on Knox's face when he shot him in cold blood, without a second's hesitation. The sound as the body as it hit the floor and how satisfying it had been for him.
And then the end as Illyria held him close and pretended to be his beloved Fred, back from the abyss.
And through it all the false prophecy that would haunt him for the rest of his days, The Father will kill the Son.
He sucked in a deep breath trying to come to terms with it all though he knew that would be a long time coming.
The Dr Lam's voice cut into his contemplations, "Dr Price? Wesley? Are you okay?"
He raised guilty eyes to meet the doctor as he remembered how he held a gun to her head just moments ago, "I'm sorry doctor…I'm so sorry…" he murmured softly.
She shook her head, "It's okay you weren't yourself." She reassured him with a soft smile.
"No…no I wasn't," he repeated almost to himself, trying to convince himself that all he now remembered wasn't him, he hadn't done all that-it had been the other Wesley.
He steeled himself, he wasn't the Wesley that had lost everything he ever held dear to him in such a heart-wrenching manner in the blink of an eye because of Knox's whimsical infatuation with a person he could never have. Or bled to death alone, his part of Angel's master plan incomplete and heart broken in the arms of the creature that had consumed his true love's soul pretending that it was his dear lovely Fred.
He pulled his true memories close together and bound them to his consciousness, the laughter he and Fred shared whenever so called 'experts' from outside the SGC proclaimed theories that they had already disproved, the feeling of their first kiss, the feeling of joy that had consumed him when Fred had agreed to marry him and the sweet touches they shared while at work. He bound them all together with the strongest memories he had; the first time they had held their two children.
Dr Lam carefully watched the emotions that played over Wesley's face and she asked again, "Are you okay Dr Price?"
He mournfully shook his head, "No…no, I don't think I am…but I think I know how to help my Fred. I understand her now…I know what happened…what made her the way she is now…" he paused for a second before continuing, "And…and I truly wish I didn't!" he finished ominously.
Author's notes: Hope you enjoyed this! Don't forget to Review!
Next time: Wesley and Fred Part 2