Chapter 29

Disclaimers: I do not own Buffy, MASH, Stargate, Charmed, NCIS, Bones. 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.

And a HUGE DEBT of gratitude to DavidEmpey. He has graciously volunteered to help Beta. Any mistakes found they're all on me.

TIMELINE: Before Chapter 11 of SG-1 Comes to Sunnydale.

I need to Thank everyone who has recommended me, AleLupe, AnFan, asaloth, Bluesnowman, borgrabbit, Cutiepie, docfeng, grd, Greywizard, hamishog, Iron Druid, MasterRahl, missinglink, nils, Oddshot, Pattisue, Questara, RafMereC, RedCalypso, Truthmaker and winiepoo. Thank you all so much for the recommendations.

Sorry for the delay. This is not abandoned. But I think this part of the arc will be finished in 3-5 chapters. Next week I will try to put in another update. But it may be a little longer between posting.

Also Please leave a review if you like the story. It really is encouraging, at least to me.

Chapter 29

Hawkeye had been many things during his life: a surgeon, a father, a drunk, and something of a prankster. By the end of nineteen-fifty-four, he had already had three children, in two years, twin boys and a girl. He lived a good life, he thought he had been a good Father and Husband. It wasn't until nineteen-eighty-five that he even learned he might have another child. At fifty-four years old he had found out that one of his girlfriends from before Korea had shown up in Maine, with a baby. It had been right at the time when the Army had declared him deceased, his Dad had been dealing with the information of his son's death, and had never really talked about it. Hawkeye wasn't even sure what had happened.

By the time everything had been cleared up, Hanna Rosenberg had already left town. Hawkeye only learned of her visit because one of his Father's friends who was in her eighties and suffering dementia had told him the whole story as if it had happened yesterday. Which to be honest for her it might as well have been yesterday.

It took almost three years to track down Hanna and her Son. Hawkeye wasn't sure what he should do. "Do I go up to the man and say, 'Hi, I think I'm your Father?' Somehow I doubt that will go over well," he had thought.

Ira Benjamin Rosenberg was living in California, a little town called Sunnydale. Hawkeye had decided to move. His own children were grown and had their own families. He needed to see if this was his son and if he could connect with him. He was surprised that at almost sixty-years-old it was very easy to get a job at Sunnydale Memorial Hospital. Still, he moved anyway. Hawkeye was even more surprised at who the head nurse for the night shift was: Nurse Kelly. He hadn't seen her since the war ended. And she had really aged well: she didn't look a day over forty, when he knew she had to be close to his own age.

Kelly had shown him the ropes, of the new hospital. Hawkeye was appalled at the lack of staffing on the night shift for the emergency room. He started making sure he was assigned to the shift so that people would get the care they needed. During the day he watched Ira, his wife Sheila and their little girl Willow. Willow looked a lot like Hanna; her eyes, she had Hanna's eyes. Willow also reminded Hawkeye of his own mother; Willow had the same red hair and nose as his mother.

Hawkeye also began to see a disturbing pattern with Ira and Sheila, they were leaving town often overnight or for a day or so, and Willow was left alone at home. After a year of watching Ira, Hawkeye knew he needed to do something. He hoped to introduce himself to his son and if nothing else he could see about taking care of Willow when her parents had to leave.

Hawkeye knew he didn't have much time left, he had been feeling ill. His own check-ups showed that he had cancer. Best case scenario, he would be dead in a year or two. Still, he would do what he could to know his son and granddaughter. As he was getting changed in his office at the hospital he smiled at the image in the mirror. Today was the day, he was going to introduce himself to Ira. He smiled again, "I just wish that I could have more time with Ira and his family."

Hawkeye was surprised to see a man with a deformed face appear. He said, "Wish Granted." Hawkeye felt a strange lethargy come over him. He fell to the ground. As Hawkeye sat up he saw something was different. His hands were young again. He looked down as he stood and saw his aged body on the floor. Hawkeye couldn't believe it. He was dead. But he seemed to be a ghost. Hawkeye also found that no one could see him. He could see them, through. He was pulled to Ira's house.

It took awhile for Hawkeye to understand everything. He had wished for more time with his Son and Granddaughter. He got his wish, but they couldn't see or hear him. "This is Hell," Hawkeye said. Gradually Hawkeye learned to drift farther away from his family. It was just too painful to see but never touch. He could hear them but never speak to them.

Wandering Sunnydale as a ghost, Hawkeye learned the truth about the small town. So many things made sense now. He saw Willow grow into a young woman. Hawkeye was in the hospital watching over her when she cast the soul curse. Ira and Sheila spent more and more time away from home. Sometimes she would be alone for weeks at a time, and Hawkeye couldn't let her know he was there for her.

Then there was tonight, Ira and Sheila had both shown up at the Hospital, looking for Willow, worried about not being able to find her. Hawkeye knew she was fine. He had seen her and Tara, her girlfriend, recently. He still followed Ira and Sheila to see what would happen. He hoped his son would finally learn what was the most important things in life.

When he followed Ira into the Summers house he felt a tingle come over him. After being dead for so many years, he was familiar with magic, at least to a small extent. Hawkeye had even learned how to see it when he put his mind to it. Not that it really helped him, but it did allow him to know which places around Sunnydale were best avoided. So Hawkeye was very surprised when Faith, pointed to him. He responded the only way that made sense.

"You can see me?" Hawkeye exclaimed.

"Well, ya," Cordelia said. "I mean that should be obvious even for a ghost. Otherwise, why would Faith be pointing to you?"

"No one's been able to see me for years," Hawkeye said. "I've been stuck always able to watch, never able to say anything."

"Eww, gross," Buffy said. "You're some kind of a peeping tom pervert?"

"No," Hawkeye said. "I really only watched them." Hawkeye pointed to Ira and Willow.

"Excuse me," Joyce said. "But I don't think we've been introduced. I'm Joyce Summers, these are my daughters, Faith and Buffy." Joyce continued introducing everyone else. "And who are you?"

Hawkeye straightened up. "Dr. Benjamin Franklin Pierce, but please call me Hawkeye. And I already know almost everyone here. I've seen you for years."

"Ok," Buffy said. "Why are you being all stalkery?"

Hawkeye sighed, after so many years of not being able to say anything he had given up ever talking to his family. "I wasn't stalking anyone," Hawkeye explained. "I was following my son and granddaughter."

"What?" was the almost universal outcry.

"Dr. Pierce," Giles said. "Could you please explain that in greater detail?"

"Only if you call me Hawkeye," Hawkeye grinned. He knew how stuffy Giles was, it reminded him of Charles in a lot of ways. Hawkeye went through his entire story when he explained what happened the day he became a ghost, the Scoobies gasped.

"It appears, Dr. Pierce, that you became a victim of a vengeance demon," Giles said. "And unfortunately it is much too late to try and reverse the effects of your W-I-S-H."

"Yeah," Hawkeye said. "I figured that out when you ran into Anyanka the first time. Like I said I've been following my family for years, I had a front row seat for most of your little adventures. And if a ghost could have gotten drunk I would be setting up my own still again!" Turning to the children, "You all take too many damn risks, I about died worrying whether or not you would survive! From now on try and be more careful!"

Willow and Tara started laughing first soon they were joined by Xander and Faith. Before long everyone except a stunned Ira and Sheila were laughing at Hawkeye. "Yo, pretty hard for you to die from worry since you're a ghost and all," Faith snickered.

Hawkeye through his hands into the air, "Not the point," Hawkeye said. "I may be dead, but I don't want any of you joining me anytime soon."

"So you're my Father?" Ira asked. Ira had heard the entire outlandish tale, being told by a ghost no less. And Hawkeye's first name, Benjamin, it fit with Ira's own theories. Even Hawkeye's stories about how his mother had tried to contact him only to learn that Hawkeye was reported dead in Korea made sense.

Hawkeye looked at his son, "Yes, I am. And I would have preferred meeting you while I was alive. But it seems that wasn't going to happen."

"Do I have any brother's or sister's?" Ira asked.

"Two brother's twin boys, and one sister," Hawkeye said. "All of them younger than you. I may have played the field, but I never cheated, while married. And the one married woman I knowingly slept with. Well, we were under heavy artillery fire, trapped in a deserted village, and she had just found out her husband was cheating on her. Plus she ended up being a very close friend before the end of the war."

"So I have an Aunt and two Uncles," Willow asked . 'Do I have any cousins?"

"Yes," Hawkeye said, "But I haven't seen them since I died. I don't even know if they're still alive." Hawkeye leaned against a wall. "I'd like to know if they are alright, and you should meet them," Hawkeye pointed to Ira. "They'll be shocked, but they're your family."

Ira was feeling shocked. He had a family, and his father was a ghost, who had been watching him for years. "I think I need to go," Ira said. "This is just too much!"

"Dad," Willow said, "Please, I know it's weird. But, please don't go," Willow pleaded.

"Willow," Ira said. "I need time, time to think. I promise your mother and I will stay here in Sunnydale for now. But I need time." Willow nodded and hugged her mother and father before they left.

"Willow," Sheila said, before leaving. "Tomorrow night, you and Tara will come for dinner."

"Yes, Momma," Willow said. "I'll call you tomorrow."

Hawkeye was torn: follow his son or stay? "I think you should stay for now," Joyce said. "When someone first learns the truth about Sunnydale, it's very hard to accept."

Hawkeye nodded, "I suppose that's true. I know I wouldn't have believed it before dying."

"So," Tara asked. "What are your plans now?"

Hawkeye laughed, "I have no idea," he admitted. "I mean, I'm still sort of stuck as a ghost. Hopefully, I can at least keep talking to everyone. You have no idea how hard it was just to watch, never able to help. I became a Doctor to help people. And I've been stuck for years unable to do that."

"Well," Buffy said. "More help is always of the good. So you're welcome to help us." Hawkeye nodded this was better than anything that had happened to him in years.

On a different plane of existence where the Powers that Be, or the Angels of Destiny as they were sometimes called, existed, a debate had been ongoing.

"Still no sign of Whistler," One of the beings said. "We know he was last in Sunnydale checking on our pawns. Then nothing. We know he's not dead but we can not find him."

"We can't even see Sunnydale anymore," complained the second power. "Something has happened that has disturbed the entire plan. The pawns are mixed with each other. Pieces that were never meant to come into contact with each other are now mingling together. The Slayer has been corrupted. I don't think we'll be able to redeem the spirit."

The Angels of Destiny had been around for longer than the Earth. In the beginning, they guided the War against the old ones. They directed the Ancients and the other races. As those races got older and tried to avoid the Angels' direction, the Powers gradually killed them off or sent them down paths that would destroy them.

The powers had modified the early life form that would become the Goa'uld. They foresaw the problems the Furlings would cause, so they took steps to have them destroyed. The Ancients were encouraged along the path of ascension. They took themselves off the board when they ascended. The Asgard had their clones develop a lethal flaw. And the Nox were encouraged to retreat into themselves, leaving the rest of the universe alone.

By now the Powers ruled all of the lesser beings. They had been charged by the creator with watching over the plan. Over the millions of years they had been in control, they changed from watching the plan to directing the plan. They supplanted and destroyed most of the old gods. They were no longer needed for the plan. True some were still around, but they didn't dare interfere because they knew that the Powers would destroy them if they did anything that upset their plans.

The Powers had been told to let the humans and other species have free will, it was part of the original directives. And for the most part, they did. But for the critical players, they had stopped allowing them the freedom to choose. It was too dangerous. If they chose wrong it could destroy everything. And sacrificing the choice of a handful of beings was worth it, it was for the greater good of everyone.

"We need more information," The third power said. "Right now we are operating blindly. Without information, we're no better than the creatures themselves, when it comes to charting the course. What do we really know?"

"The Wolf, the Ram, and the Hart," Two said. "The Wolf destroyed the Ram and the Hart has fled. Our seer has disappeared from the board. We can still send her visions but we don't even know if they are received."

"That's not true," One said. "The last vision was acted on. All of the woman survived and the demon was destroyed."

"How did it happen?' Three asked.

"We couldn't see the final battle," One replied. "However, the Dark Slayer was aiding the Seer. I was able to get small glimpses of her. She has been altered. She no longer holds the Slayer powers. She is something I know we have seen before but I can not recall it."

Two and Three nodded. While they were superior to the lower creatures, they were not Omniscient. "Show us," Three commanded. "Perhaps together we can determine what has changed."

One played out the scenes it had been able to capture. Two and Three watched. "She is Furling," Three stated.

"How?" Two asked. "We destroyed them for the greater good of the plan. There should be no way for her to have become Furling."

"How isn't important," One said. "We have to decide what we will do. Do we allow the Furlings to return? We don't even know if she is the only one."

"We destroyed them because of the threat they presented to the plan," Three said. "Are they still a threat? They will have none who can show them the knowledge that was lost. They are powerful, but power without knowledge is wasted."

"Perhaps someone has found the knowledge," Two said. "It would explain why we can not view so many of our pawns. They have obscured the pieces."

"If that is true," Three said, "we will find the one with the knowledge and remove them."

"We will assign our servants to watch those who can be seen. From observing them we may be able to determine who has the knowledge to block us. Then we shall move others to remove the threat from the board," One said. "It will be slower than our normal methods but right now it is the only way."

"What of our other moves," Two asked. "Is it wise to push them forward when we can not ensure the outcome? I propose we put those plans in abeyance, it should not take long to determine what is truly happening on Earth. Once we have removed the problem we can restart the plans."

"Acting without Knowledge would make us no better than the creatures we oversee," Three said. "For now, I agree, all plans will be halted until we know the source of the problem and determine how to remove it. But the enemy forces should be encouraged to continue building their power. It may be needed to deal with the threat to our plans."

Sokar, now that Ra was dead, was the only Goa'uld to still employ shields that prevented the Powers from manipulating them. Because he had absorbed the knowledge of the Source thousands of years previously, he knew the Powers would still try to control everything. He only needed to find the power of the Source, which had been stripped from the knowledge. Then he would be in a position to take on the Angels of Destiny.

The Powers hadn't even thought of Sokar in several millennium. Once the other Goa'uld had driven him out he didn't matter. They had successfully arranged for Ra's shields to be sabotaged and had directed him without his knowledge since before he had left Earth. The Goa'uld themselves were the Powers' own creation. They had needed something to use as a foil. Altering the primitive life form of the Goa'uld had worked much better than when they created the Wraith. The Goa'uld only needed one host to survive and they followed the Powers' directions. The primitive life form would have evolved alongside the Unas as a true Symbiote, both the host and the symbiote combined to create a great whole. However, for the Powers the current situation was preferable.

Only Egeria had even come close to seeing her species true possibilities. And that was after a Furling had taught her. It proved once again how the Powers were right to destroy the race. Unfortunately they had also had to remove Egeria from the playing field. They could only hope one day she would return to her assigned role in the plan.

Booth had been working, running his team that was taking apart Sunnydale PD piece by piece. They had gone through thousands of files mostly because the files were less than a single page long. All of them showed that the leaders of the SDPD knew what was happening. And rather than fight the darkness they helped cover it up. If nothing else they were guilty of aiding and abetting murder, thousands of times over.

Today, Booth would be interviewing some of the senior detectives. Stein was supposed to have been in earlier, and Booth was getting pissed. Turning to McGee he said, "I'm tired of waiting. Let's go see if he is at his house."

"Sure thing, Booth," McGee replied. Working with Booth was so much better than being stuck with Tony. Booth actually treated him with respect. "You driving?"

"Not this time," Booth said. "I still want to read more of Stein's files. We need to know why he kept going after Buffy Summers. Why did he single her out? It almost looks like he was told to try and harass her without really stopping anything she was doing."

Driving to Stein's house didn't take long. Knocking on the door produced no answer. "His car is gone," McGee said. "Do we wait?"

"Let's check the perimeter," Booth said. "See if we can find anything to give us probable cause." The two men circled the house. Once in the back yard, Booth pointed to the open backdoor. "I don't think Stein would have left his back door open. Looks like that's enough to enter."

"I'll cover you," McGee said. Booth carefully entered the house.

Once inside, Booth stopped, "You smell that?"

McGee nodded, "Something died here."

"Call for backup and a medical examiner," Booth ordered. Once Mcgee had called it in they moved forward searching the house. The smell got stronger as they approached the partially open bedroom door. Opening the door all the way, Booth quickly took in the sight. Two bodies, both male. Both had been dead at least a day.

"Isn't that Warren Mears?" McGee asked. Booth looked closer at the younger looking corpse.

"Looks like it," Booth agreed.

"We need to stay back then," McGee said before Booth could move closer. "If he was a goa'uld than the symbiote could still be here. We're going to need either Tok'ra or some Jaffa to help secure the scene."

Stepping back, Booth kept a watch on the corpses, "Call it in. Then we wait outside for the teams." Both men exited Stein's house from the front door. When the Medical examiner arrived, McGee greeted Ducky. Hodgin was with him.

"We think Mears is inside, but we're not letting anyone in because of the possibility that the symbiote is in there."

"Well," Hodgins said. "It's a good thing I'm here then. Since I already have one inside me Adriana and Kelmaa said no other symbiote would even try to enter. I can also tell you if the symbiote is still inside. Kelmaa and Adriana have been showing me how to recognize when another one is near. It will only work for a few feet. But if the thing is in there it will have to be inside one of the bodies. The symbiote can't survive long outside of the host without a liquid medium."

McGee looked at Booth for his decision. "Do it,"" Booth said. "Just be careful. I don't want to upset Bones by losing one of her best people."

Hodgins nodded and entered the house. He walked toward the master bedroom. Opening the closed door, he ignored the smell. Hodgins felt a sense of satisfaction run through him when he saw Warren Mears dead body. The hole through the forehead, blowing out the back of his head was the probable cause of death.

Hodgins looked over Stein as well. Harder to say what had caused the cauterized burns on the man's body. But Hodgins did not sense a Goa'uld in the room. Heading back out he went to Booth. "It's clear," Hodgins said. "Unless the symbiote died inside of Mears, it's not here."

"Yeah," Booth said. "And what are the odds that that was the case?"

"I'm not taking that bet," McGee said. "You saw the blood spray, someone else moved Mears body."

"So that means," Hodgins said, "unless the symbiote was unable to transfer hosts, whoever that someone is is now Warren's new ride."

"Poor Bastard," Booth said. "Let's get you and Ducky in there. I'll call Gibbs and let him know what we found." Booth paused for a moment. "Good work, Hodgins."

"Thanks, Booth," Hodgins said with a smile. He then grabbed most of the gear and followed Ducky inside.

"I still don't know how he can let one of those things stay inside of him," Booth said to McGee.

"I don't know," McGee said. "From everything the Tok'ra have said about them, I've thought about volunteering to be a host. I mean, if they're right, it's almost a type of immortality. And even if they're wrong the symbiote still has some great benefits. You'd be stronger, faster, and have much better health. Sounds pretty good to me." Both men finished walking back to the car.

"No thanks," Booth said. "Throw me the keys, I'm driving." McGee tossed the keys to Booth and they headed back to the Base.

Gibbs wasn't happy to hear that Mears was dead. Well, he wasn't happy to know the symbiote was unaccounted for. He was pleased that Warren Mears the original was no longer a problem. "Hodgins confirmed he couldn't sense the symbiote?" Gibbs asked.

"Yeah, boss," Mcgee answered. "We're going to have to wait for the autopsy before we can confirm it switched hosts."

"It switched hosts," Gibbs said. "My gut says it's still out there. We need to concentrate on finding out who was the third person in the house. Whoever they are is the latest victim. Once we have an idea, I want a BOLO out on them. We'll try and take them in alive. The Tok'ra can remove the symbiote and hopefully they'll be able to have a normal life."

"As soon as Hodgins and Ducky are done we'll see if we can turn up anything," Booth said. "I saw the detail on Hodgins, you need to tell them to work on not being noticed, Gibbs."

"I'm not letting an alien symbiote run around without someone watching the host," Gibbs said.

"I agree," Booth said. "But Hodgins has been a conspiracy nut for years. He's probably already spotted them."

"Even if he has," Gibbs said. "He hasn't tried to shake them. That either supports the Tok'ra's claims, or it means the symbiote is playing the long game. Either way, we'll keep watching."

McGee couldn't believe it. He hadn't even thought that they would be spying on the team members once the Tok'ra cleared them. "Is Todd being watched too?"

"She came to me and demanded it," Gibbs said. "She thought it was too much of a security risk otherwise. And I wouldn't expect anything less from Caitlin, so if the symbiote really is in control, it knows it too."

This is enough to give me a headache," Booth said. "It's one of the reasons I never wanted to go into the CIA. You can't tell who you should trust."

Gibbs nodded, "Agreed. But we play the hand we're dealt not the one we wish we had. Anything else?"

"The SDPD is useless. I think we could get most of them on aiding and abetting if we could bring the cases to court. The fact that we're talking about deaths caused by demons and vampires means most of them will get off scot free." Booth didn't look happy about it.

"Not necessarily," Gibbs said. "We're actually looking into a third solution."

"What, Boss?" McGee asked.

"Exile," Gibbs said. "They're thinking of rounding them up and dropping them on a habitable planet that currently doesn't have anyone living there. It's better than letting them go free, but not as good as charging them."

Booth snorted, "I don't know, I think it sounds about right. Most of these people would have a damn hard time surviving in the wild. If anyone asks I'm all for throwing them to the wolves, after all, that's what they did to the people they were supposed to protect."

"Noted. Now get back to work," Gibbs said dismissing them.

Before the day was over, it had been confirmed Mears had been the host of a symbiote. And the symbiote had taken over another host. It still took them several hours to match the prints found.

"We've got a match on the prints," McGee told Booth. Opening a folder he handed Booth a copy. "Meet Lisa Monroe, a fifteen-year-old runaway, originally from Texas. She ran away almost six months ago. I checked Stein's computer, he sucked at cleaning up after himself. She was picked up over a month ago and he wiped the report. According to Hodgins, she was living there for some time longer than a few days, based on the presences of an open tampon box. It was newer, and he is estimating that she went through at least two periods while in the house based on the number of tampons used."

Caitlin had joined Booth and McGee since they had a new line on the symbiote, "So he was either using her for sex or keeping her for sex," Todd said. "He was a real piece of work."

"No signs of restraints in the house," Booth said. "My guess is, he let her stay, as long as she satisfied him. Once he was tired of her, all that he would have to do is drop her off in a cemetery at night. She'd be dead before morning and he'd never have to worry about anyone complaining."

Both McGee and Todd were sickened to realize they couldn't find anything to disagree with.

"Get a fresh BOLO out on her," Booth said. "McGee, I want you to take her photo check with the guards that are checking people leaving and entering Sunnydale. See if they recognize her. Todd, start going through the stuff we pulled out of Stein's house, maybe he'll have something that incriminates some of the other crooked cops. I'm going to try to talk to Zack, see if he can help us figure out where Mears might go."

"Booth," McGee said. "Do you want to wait for me? From the sounds of it I might be able to help connect with the symbiote."

Booth thought for a moment, "After you check with the guards come meet me, I'll see what I can do without you first."

Zack had finally recovered from the side effects of the serum. Andrecus, as he continued to insist, was his name, had bitched and moaned the entire time. The pain had been excruciating. "Really, Andrecus," Zack said. "You need to stop thinking of yourself as a Sith. You have none of the powers that a Sith or a Force user would have. And denying reality will ultimately result in your being forcibly removed from me. At which time you will either be killed or spend the rest of your life swimming."

"But I can't swim," Andrecus said. "I'd drown if they did that."

"I highly doubt that," Zack said. "From studying the symbiotes water seems to be their natural habitat. You would be fine, but never again could you interact with any humans."

"That's mean," Andrecus said. "I haven't done anything to them."

"You ordered them to bow down before you because you were Darth Andricus, Lord of the Sith," Zack pointed out. "It's not like they haven't seen the movies. They know what Sith Lords stand for. You need to accept the truth. Andrew Wells is dead. You're all that is left of him, but you're not him. You can be better than he was."

Andrecus wanted to argue, but Kelmaa had stopped by multiple times, and that Anise woman who had shown up. She was like a freaky Romulan, cold yet dangerous. "So you're saying I really am like the Trill. I keep the memories from my hosts, so as long as I live a part of them lives on?"

"We don't know yet," Zack said. "Use our connection, you should be able to see the conclusions I've already drawn. We might have different conclusions, but the basic facts are self-evident. It is a fact that the symbiotes are the same species as Goa'uld. It is also a fact, supported by available evidence, that the scientists here were experimenting on the symbiotes. They were trying to find a way to destroy the Goa'ulds ability to transfer genetic knowledge from one generation to the next. The evidence we have gathered up to know supports the theory that they succeeded in destroying the genetic memory of the Goa'uld. And right now, your identifying as Andrew Wells supports the theory that the blank symbiotes will imprint the mind of their first host. We do not yet know enough to guess whether or not you will imprint my mind as well."

"And if I do," Andrecus asked, "what if I just keep imprinting the minds of my host? What happens then?"

"Then, assuming you are permitted additional hosts in the future," Zack said, "you will need to be extremely careful of who you choose to bond with. Unless you plan to be like the Goa'uld and rape the minds of your host. Forcing them to watch as you steal their free will."

"No," Andrecus said. "And I said I was sorry about that. You don't need to keep bringing it up."

"Yes I do," Zack said. "It's obvious that you would like to forget it, but if you do then you are more likely to repeat your past actions. I am willing to work with you, to live life like the Tok'ra. But you will need to commit to living like the Tok'ra do. I think we have a great deal in common and would like to consider you as my friend."

"What do I need to do?" Andrecus asked. This last conversation had been repeated multiple times in the last few days. Zack had noticed, even if Andricus hadn't, that each time the symbiote was coming around a little more.

"Help us," Zack said. "Work with us to protect people. Your friend Warren Mears tried to kill Hodgins. If we hadn't found him when we did, and if there had not been a symbiote here, he would have died. Does that make Warren sound like the type of person you want to be friends with? A cold-blooded killer?"

"But what if he comes after me?" Andrecus asked.

"That what friends are for," Zack said. "When someone came after Dr. Brennan or Hodgins in the past we've all been there to make sure they are safe. Real friends will be there to help you."

"I'll think about it," Andrecus said.

By the time Booth arrived, Zack had been sitting in silence for several hours. Andrecus had retreated into himself leaving Zack in control of his body. "Hello Agent Booth," Zack said. "Why are you here?"

'Are you Zack right now or Andrecus?" Booth asked.

"Andrecus is thinking about some things," Zack said.

"I'll have to take your word for it for now," Booth said. "Can you wake him up? I need to talk to him."

"I'll try,' Zack said. Zack closed his eyes to try and communicate with Andrecus.

Thirty minutes later Zack was still sitting there with his eyes closed. Booth was bored, but there was nothing else he could do. He tried to be patient and wait, reciting in his mind the Serenity Prayer.

It was another thirty minutes before McGee arrived. "Hey Booth," McGee said. "What's going on?"

"Zack was trying to get Andrecus to talk with us," Booth said. "I've been waiting for over an hour for him to open his eyes. How'd it go with the guards?"

"None of them remembered seeing Lisa," McGee said. "They all have photos of her now so if we spot her they'll watch her and try to get back up. They'll make up some excuse as to why the check is taking so long. Worse case scenario they'll have to shoot her."

"Better than being stuck as Mears' puppet for the rest of her life," Booth said.

Zack opened his eyes. They could tell this was Andrecus by the white glow, " Zack said you wanted to talk to me," he said.

"We need to talk about Warren Mears," Booth said. "Earlier today we found his body."

"What?" Andrecus exclaimed. "Who killed him? How could this have happened?"

"It looks like he broke into one of the Sunnydale Police Detectives' houses, the detective shot and killed him and died at the same time," Booth said. "But we think he took a new host," Booth pulled out a copy of Lisa Monroe's picture. "She's a fifteen-year-old runaway and Warren is now stuck inside of her. She doesn't deserve that."

"What do you want from me?" Andrecus asked. He couldn't believe Warren was gone. Had Jonathan been right? If Zack was saying the truth then Andrew Wells was dead as well, because of Warren. And he was all that was left of Andrew Wells.

"We need to know where he might have gone," Booth said. "We know both of you had places you were hiding. Where would Warren hide?"

Andrecus pondered the question. Who should he be loyal to? Andrew had been loyal to Warren, Andrecus could tell Andrew had been crushing on Warren. Part of his loyalty had been because he wanted Warren sexually. Andrecus didn't feel the same, having never experienced sex while in a host. And Andrew had been a virgin. He really didn't see what the big deal was. The question was, who did he want to be? He had read about the Goa'uld. Kelmaa made sure that Andrecus could see that they would never accept him as one of them. And unless he wanted to die, his only real option was proving to the Tok'ra that he was worth saving, or at least allowing to continue living.

"If you'll get me a pen and paper," Andrecus said. "I'll give you a list of all the storage compartments we had. We used the names of people who had disappeared to rent them with."

"Did Jonathan know about them?" Booth asked.

"Warren didn't trust him enough to tell him about them," Andrecus said. "I don't think Warren will be very happy right now. He always talked about how women were meant to serve on their knees. If he really has taken this girl as a host, he's not going to be very nice to her."

Booth nodded as he handed Andrecus a pen and paper. "We'll keep that in mind. Hopefully, we'll be able to save her." Andrecus filled out the list ten storage container that Andrew had rented for Warren.

"If you can capture him," Andrecus said. "I'd like to talk to him before you extract him."

"If your information pans out I'll see what we can do," Booth said.

Warren Mears had spent most of his time after leaving Stein's house pondering his new existence. That and making Lisa relive her worst memories. The Bitch just didn't know when to shut up. And after stumbling into a memory of sex that she had enjoyed, Warren didn't want to think about that ever again. He wasn't a fag. And only a faggot or a woman would enjoy sex with a man. He was a man, even if he was in a woman's body.

He had hidden Stein's car close to the Storage locker where they had stashed the things they had stolen from the Initiative. He was currently playing with the hand thing. He had managed to get it to generate a concussive blast. But when trying to repeat the thing it wouldn't work. While he was concentrating on that, Lisa had started bitching again. She went on and on about how this was her body, and she just wanted to be let go.

"I swear to God," Warren said. "If I do find out how to switch bodies, if you don't shut up I'll make sure you're dead when I do!"

Lisa stopped talking, she didn't want to make the monster do anything else to her. "Please God," she whispered to herself. "Please get me out of this."

Neither Warren nor Lisa were expecting the door to the storage locker to burst open. Four Jaffa entered the room, Zat'nik'tel were armed and pointing towards the startled Warren Mears. "Do not move," Teal'c commanded. "Warren Mears, if you move you will be shot."

Shit Warren thought. They know! How do they know?

"Lisa Monroe," Teal'c continued. "We know that the Goa'uld has taken control of your body. We will assist you."

Lisa could have screamed for joy. Her prayers had been answered. Warren, however, realized that they would kill him. He started to raise the Kara Kesh to try and shoot the Jaffa, or at least bluff them into letting him go.

As his arm came up Teal'c saw the Kara Kesh, "Jaffa Kree," Teal'c said, as he fired his own Zat. The other Jaffa watched prepared to fire if they needed to. Warren jerked as the shot from the Zat hit him. He fell to the floor unconscious. "Gather her body," Teal'c commanded. "I shall inform Agent Booth that we have secured the Goa'uld."

Teal'c exited the building and went over to Booth. "Agent Booth," Teal'c said. "The Goa'uld Warren Mears has been captured. My men will bring out the body of Lisa Monroe now."

"She's dead?" Booth asked.

"Merely stunned," Teal'c said. "Warren Mears was wearing a Kara Kesh. He attempted to attack us with it. I used my Zat'nik'tel to subdue him."

"Once you've removed her, I'll have my people get everything from inside," Booth said. "Thank you for your help, Teal'c."

"It was my honor to assist you in fighting the Goa'uld," Teal'c said with a slight bow of his head. "My Jaffa will take Lisa Monroe back to the Initiative and place her body in one of the cells. When you return you should be able to interrogate her with Kelmaa and Adriana's help."

Booth nodded and moved into the now vacant storage unit to gather up everything that was inside. It was almost dark out so he had additional men tasked with watching the perimeter in case of Vampire attack.

Hawkeye had spent the entire day at the Summers house. They had quickly determined that people could only see him if he was inside of the wards. Cordelia had introduced him to Dennis, her own ghost roommate. Most of the day was spent talking to Willow. Hawkeye had been watching her for years, but he had never been able to tell her how proud he was of her. Or to tell her when she was acting stupid. He had talked about his own childhood growing up in Maine. And his love of Crabapple Cove. Even though he knew it wasn't the same anymore it was still his boyhood home.

Willow had enjoyed hearing about her other family members. She felt she had made the right choice in not doing the adoption ceremony. Hawkeye was incredible; sure he had a lot of stories about things he had done. But she could tell that overall he was a very caring man.

"So," Hawkeye asked, "Do you think Ira will be willing to get to know me?"

"I think he will eventually," Willow said. "He's probably spent most of the day trying to convince himself that this was all a dream. Tara and I will probably have to spend tonight proving to my parents that magic and aliens are real."

"Even I have a problem believing in aliens," Hawkeye admitted.

"We may just take them up to the Bautarsteinn to get them to accept the truth," Willow conceded. "It's probably a good idea anyway, that way the Asgard can give them a physical. I think it might be best if you stay here while I meet with my parents since they wouldn't be able to see you anyway. Dad might be less uncomfortable if he knows you're not there."

"Yeah," Hawkeye admitted. "I can understand that. I'll stay here as long as it's alright with the people here. I'd hate to impose."

"Oh," Tara said. "Don't worry about that. If you had been evil you'd never have gotten through the wards. And really as long as you're not walking in on people taking showers or having sex," She looked right at Xander. "Then it should be fine."

"I thought you were going to let that go, Tara," Xander said.

"Not anytime soon," Tara said with a smile.

"Fine be that way," Xander said. "I'm going downstairs."

"I'll join ya," Faith said. "You can come down later if you want," Faith said to Hawkeye.

"Willow," Hawkeye began. "I've been watching you for more than half your life. And I just want to say, I'm proud to be your grandfather. You've helped save a lot of people. Hell, you've helped to save the world. And even though you've made mistakes, you're a good person."

Willow started to tear up. While she might not think of Hawkeye as a granddad yet, she really felt good about what he had said. "Thank you, Hawkeye," Willow said. "That means a lot to me."

"Willow," Tara said. "We need to go if we're going to be on time. Hawkeye, it's been really nice to talk to you. I hope you decide to stay around."

Hawkeye laughed, "I don't think I can go anywhere else. But as long as you'll let me I'd like to stay. I'd give you both a hug, but it's not in the cards for right now. Now get out of here and go convince Ira that this is real." Both girls nodded and left. Hawkeye sat down to think about how this day had changed his afterlife.

Willow and Tara arrived on time at her parent's house. Entering the house Willow could tell that Ira and Sheila were heavily into the Sunnydale Syndrome. Rather than argue with them Willow decided to try and force the knowledge into their heads. Touching the Asgard communication device she said, "Commander Baldur, would you please transport the four of us to a private room with a view of the Earth?"

Baldur replied shortly, "Certainly Willow Rosenberg." Before her parents could ask 'What is going on?' everyone was aboard the Bautarsteinn.

Sheila and Ira started screaming as soon as they realized that they were no longer in their house. When they looked out the viewscreen and saw the planet Earth below them they stopped screaming and just stared at it.

"Mom, Dad," Willow said. "I'm sorry that I have to do it this way. But I, we can't afford to let you keep going on in denial of reality. Welcome to the Bautarsteinn, it's an Asgard ship. And we are currently orbiting the planet Earth. Aliens, Magic, and Ghosts are all real. I'm a witch and part of an Alien species, which means at least one of you is an alien as well."

Both of her parents turned to her. The questions started flying back and forth. What did she mean? What did all of this mean? If she was a witch was she no longer Jewish? Willow managed to answer some of their questions and deflected others while getting Eir to scan them both. She then spent the rest of the night explaining Sunnydale and her life. She also explained how they were currently negotiating with the US and British about teaching advanced technology to Earth.

The talk wouldn't get done until early in the morning, when Willow requested sleeping quarters for them all so that when her parents woke up they would still be onboard the Bautarsteinn. She hoped that would be enough to finally convince them and break the denial.

Faith and Xander had gone downstairs and just hung out. They watched a movie with Hawkeye joining them. As they were getting ready to go to bed Faith grabbed Xander. "You're sleeping with me tonight, Xander," Faith said.

Xander felt his stomach drop, "Faith we can't. You promised Joyce no sex. And I don't want to break that promise."

Faith smiled, "I know, and we won't be having sex. But from now on you're sleeping with me. I want to go to sleep in your arms and wake up next to you. You're mine, so get your things and let's go."

Hawkeye laughed at Xander's expression. "I'd do what she says Xander. She reminds me of Margaret when she decided she wanted something."

"Who was Margaret?" Faith asked.

"She was the head nurse of the 4077th. A blond bombshell of a woman, and an incredible friend and an even better nurse," Hawkeye said. "Plus I think you'd qualify for her nickname."

"What was her nickname," Faith asked, eyeing Hawkeye.

"We called her Hot Lips," Hawkeye said with a smile.

Faith laughed, 'OK, I like it. If you want to call me Hot Lips it's cool." Faith left, dragging Xander behind her as she went upstairs. They left the TV on Nick-at-Night so Hawkeye could watch it. It was showing repeats from the sixties, so at least it was familiar to him.

Faith enjoyed the feeling of going to sleep with Xander holding her, she liked waking up with him even more. It just felt right and safe, and it really turned her on. She disengaged herself from him and went to the bathroom, coming out of the bathroom, she got dressed quietly and then headed downstairs. Her Mom was sitting at the table drinking a cup of tea and eating breakfast.

"Morning sweetheart," Joyce said. "How was it? As good as you hoped it would be?"

Faith stopped, "How can you know I slept with Xander last night?"

"Because I am an older and wiser woman," Joyce said. "Plus I'm your Mother, it's my job to know this kind of thing. I know you only slept with Xander because I trust both of you, so was just sleeping with him as nice as you thought it would be?"

Faith grinned, "It was awesome," she said. "He held me all night long. And when I woke up he was still there holding me."

"So I take it you don't plan on kicking him to the curb," Joyce teased.

"I'm never letting him go," Faith said.

"And what about," Joyce paused. "Your offers to Cordelia? Is that real as well?"

"Mom," Faith said. "I love Xander. But I've always liked both men and woman. He's the first guy I've ever trusted. But yeah, if Cordelia decides she wants to be with both of us, I'd be willing to try and see if it works out. I know no matter what Xander would never leave me."

"And what if it was another woman?" Joyce asked. "I'm not asking to try and make it uncomfortable for you, Faith. I just want to understand what your boundaries are."

"Loving Xander," Faith said. "And see what comes. I think he'll let me decide what's allowed and what's not. Not that he's a pushover or anything. Just he want's me to let him know what's ok between us. At least right now."

"And what if Buffy wanted to join you?" Joyce asked. "And I'm not judging. You didn't grow up as sisters, so it makes a difference. It would be strange but I just want to understand your limits."

"We might not have grown up as sisters," Faith said. "But I don't think I'd be ok with sharing with Buffy, I love her, but I don't want to sleep with her anymore."

"I'm glad to hear that," said a relieved Joyce. "I'd have still loved you both anyway. But I prefer for my daughters to have different husbands. Although I did note the 'anymore' in that sentence."

"Buffy's hot," Faith said. "And before we became sisters I might have thought about getting with her. But since then it just doesn't click anymore, not like before." The mother and Daughter continued to talk while Xander slept.

Warren slowly came to. His head felt horrible. Opening his eyes he saw he was in a cell. But instead of the standard bars, there was a clear Plexiglas front. He sat up, slowly. How am I going to get out of this? Warren thought.

It was only a few minutes later that several guards appeared. "Warren Mears," The Jaffa said. "You will face the wall and not move while we restrain you. If you attempt to move you will be shot with the Zat'nik'tel."

Warren waited for the door to open and the guard to start towards him. He tried to rush forward and was shot with the Zat.

When Warren came to the next time his headache was even worse. When he tried to move he found out he was strapped to a gurney. "Let me go please," Warren said in Lisa's voice. "Please, I haven't done anything. Please just let me go?"

An older blonde woman came into the room, her eyes were glowing brightly, just like Lisa's did when Warren wanted them too. "Warren Mears," Kelmaa said. "You will drink this," she held out a pink concoction that looked like Pepto Bismol.

"Please just let me go," Warren said. "I don't know who Warren Mears is. My name is Lisa Monroe."

"If that is true after you have drunk this," Kelmaa said, playing along. They already knew the girl contained a Goa'uld. "you will be free to go." Kelmaa held the cup up to Lisa's mouth. Warren decided it was better to play along. Right now there was no way he could escape. At least not until they let down their guard. Drinking the liquid, Warren felt himself falling asleep.

Booth and Gibbs came into the room. "The symbiote has been suppressed,"Kelmaa said.

"Good," Gibbs said. "Lisa, Lisa can you hear me?" Gibbs shook Lisa as he tried to wake her up.

Lisa heard someone calling her name, "Five more minutes, please just let me sleep five more minutes," Lisa said. She heard someone laughing.

"Come on, Lisa, we don't have much time," Gibbs said.

Lisa opened her eyes and saw she was in a room with two men and a woman strapped to a bed. "Who are you why am I here? Did you get rid of the monster?"

"I'm Special agent Gibbs, this is Special Agent Booth," Gibbs said. "No, the monster is only asleep. Do you know it's name?"

"It calls itself," Lisa said. "Warren Mears. It's horrible. Please, please get it out of me?"

Kelmaa receded so Adriana could speak. "Has Warren Mears locked you in your mind and refused to let you control your body?" Adriana asked.

"Yes," Lisa said with a sob. "He did something to my head. He made me relive the worst things that ever happened to me. Again and again and again. Please if you can't get him out of me, kill me."

"Lisa," Gibbs said. "We know people who can remove him. We're going to get them to remove him from you. But you're going to have to be brave. Physically they're like he is. They have a human host that they share their lives with. What he's done to you, they consider it a crime, like rape."

Lisa gasped as Gibbs said that. "Will they really help me?"

Adriana bowed her head and Kelmaa took over, "Lisa Monroe, I am Kelmaa of the Tok'ra what has been done to you is a crime worthy of death. We will remove the symbiote from you and allow you to watch it's destruction if you wish."

"Oh please," Lisa said. "Yes please, get it out of me."

"I will be placing you in a deep sleep. When next you awaken it will be after we have removed the symbiote," Kelmaa said.

Lisa smiled and said, "Thank you," as tears fell from her eyes. Kelmaa took out a device and placed on Lisa's neck. "This will keep her asleep as long as required. I will ask the Furlings to transport her to the Stargate and take her to the Tok'ra for the removal of the symbiote. I realize you might wish to question the symbiote, but are you willing to risk the host's mind?"

"She's the most important part of this, besides we still have the other one if we need to know anything," Gibbs said. "Thank you for helping her."

Kelmaa nodded and went to contact the Furlings.

"There is a complication," Two said. When One and Three looked up, Two continued. "The pawn sent to the Pylean dimension. If we are to make use of her in the future, we will have to arrange her return. The death of the Ram has caused the situation to deteriorate much too quickly."

"Send a vision to the seer," One said. "If they do not move to rescue her we will be forced to send one of our servants."

"If this has occurred what of the other forces of the Wolf and the Hart?" Three asked.

"The Hart has retreated and sealed itself off," Two said. "The Wolf is consolidating its new power. The Circle of the Black Thorn may become a problem. Several of their members see the current situation as ideal for advancing their own agendas."

"Send warnings to their Seers," One said. "Make them believe that if they cause problems now, we will intercede directly."

"Intercession is not an option," Three said. "However, as long as they believe it is, the ploy should work. Have any of our servants brought new information?"

"Nothing yet," One replied. The three powers left to continue their work.