Note: Thanks again to Reg for his beta reading and input.
Chapter 4: Cover of Darkness.
Methos didn't stay around the Magic Shop after Buffy's theory of a new threat. Instead, he went back to his apartment.
"I have no rival, no man can be my equal!" Methos sang along with his favorite song from The Very Best of Queen, until the ringing of the phone interrupted him.
"Adam Pierson."
"Methos, it was nice of you to call." The voice on the other end of the phone said sarcastically.
"Joe, listen I've been meaning to call you."
"Really, I was under the impression you've been avoiding me."
"Why would I be doing that pray tell?" Methos asked taking the time to open the fridge and grab a beer.
"Might have something to do with that bar tab you've yet to pay."
The immortal wiped the beer from his mouth then knocked his hand against a wall.
"Oh sorry Joe can't talk. It seems that someone's at the door."
"Methos, don't you dare hang up on me."
"Bye Joe."
The oldest immortal smiled as he hung up the phone. Not paying his bar tab and seeing how annoyed Joe got was one of the little perks that made Methos life all the more worth while. He glanced over at the clock and its digital numbers said 4:45pm, Buffy would be done work soon.
Grabbing his trench coat and sword he left his apartment and hid his sword in his coat. It took him only a matter of minutes to get to the Magic Shop and already the majority of the Scoobies were assembled. Buffy had yet to arrive.
"Afternoon." Methos said with a nod.
Walking over to the table he glanced over at the textbook Dawn had spread out in front of her; Ancient History.
"What're you studying?"
Dawn looked at Methos and grimaced.
"The Bronze Age. It's pretty boring."
Child if you only knew, Methos thought to himself with a smile.
The bell of the door rang, and Buffy entered the store. The slight smell of fried food wafted in with her.
"So, what are we going to do about this new evil?" Xander questioned.
"Buffy said they were turning intellectuals so it only stands to reason that the places that we should investigate should be the university campus and the library." Methos suggested.
"Sounds like a plan," Buffy said in agreement. "Willow, you Xander and Anya check out the campus. Make sure to check out the campus library and the night classes. I'll head down to the city library and maybe swing by the new high school just to be sure."
"I think you're forgetting someone."
"No." Buffy said sharply to her sister. Then turned to face her watcher. "Adam, I want you to take Dawn home."
Dawn huffed and crossed her arms in annoyance and glared at her sister.
"I don't see why I can't help patrol with you. Everyone else gets to when they were my age. And…and Adam he's your Watcher, so he should be helping patrol too." The teen lightly tapped Methos on the shoulder then smiled.
" Hey we could check out the school."
"No." Buffy turned away from her sister before Dawn could attack her with that pleading, it's so unfair, look.
Methos, despite what Dawn may have thought didn't mind not having to go out patrolling. He had spent a long time trying to avoid fights, because each fight led to the chance that he might not survive.
The Slayer and her friends exited the building leaving the Watcher and Dawn alone. Dawn, with a huff, threw herself onto the chair.
"It's no fair."
***
The Scooby gang walked down Main Street together, they didn't have to split up until they got to University Avenue. Suddenly, Buffy stopped walking all together.
"Has anyone seen Spike?"
Anya turned to face The Slayer who was a few feet behind the gang.
"Oh he left town."
"Why?" The irritation was clear in Buffy's voice.
"He said something about going to see his Idol."
Buffy began to walk again and mumbled under her breath, "figures."
***
Methos and Dawn walked down the dark street lit by yellowish light coming of the streetlights. The young girl hugged her arms around herself and nervously looked around.
"Tell me again why we didn't take your car?" She inquired.
"My timing chain broke and bent the pistons in my engine."
Dawn sighed again, something that Methos noticed that she did an awful lot. They were coming down Revello Drive when Methos heard the echo of footsteps. He looked to see two men in suits walking at a brisk pace behind them. Grabbing a hold of Dawn's arm and thrusting her in front of him he snapped a command.
"Run."
She looked quickly at the men who were now running after them. They were running up the sidewalk when she heard the shot ring through the air, echoing in the empty street. Methos went down as the bullet ripped through his kneecap.
"Adam!" She yelled trying to pull him to his feet. The two men were closing in fast and now both of them had their guns drawn. They were close enough that Dawn could see their vampiric faces.
"Get into the house, now!" Methos yelled pushing her away from him.
She ran up the stairs and into the house. Turning around she saw the two men walk right up to Methos and emptied their clips into his chest. She screamed and dropped to the floor, too afraid and stunned to move out of the doorway.
The shorter of the vampires pointed his gun at the girl who looked up at him with large tear filled eyes.
"We're out of bullets. Besides she's unimportant." The taller said as he grabbed one of Methos arms. The shorter holstered his gun then grabbed Methos other arm. A dark van pulled in front of the Summers' residence and they tossed the body into the back. They disappeared under the cover of darkness leaving the girl, still stunned, in the doorway.
Chapter 4: Cover of Darkness.
Methos didn't stay around the Magic Shop after Buffy's theory of a new threat. Instead, he went back to his apartment.
"I have no rival, no man can be my equal!" Methos sang along with his favorite song from The Very Best of Queen, until the ringing of the phone interrupted him.
"Adam Pierson."
"Methos, it was nice of you to call." The voice on the other end of the phone said sarcastically.
"Joe, listen I've been meaning to call you."
"Really, I was under the impression you've been avoiding me."
"Why would I be doing that pray tell?" Methos asked taking the time to open the fridge and grab a beer.
"Might have something to do with that bar tab you've yet to pay."
The immortal wiped the beer from his mouth then knocked his hand against a wall.
"Oh sorry Joe can't talk. It seems that someone's at the door."
"Methos, don't you dare hang up on me."
"Bye Joe."
The oldest immortal smiled as he hung up the phone. Not paying his bar tab and seeing how annoyed Joe got was one of the little perks that made Methos life all the more worth while. He glanced over at the clock and its digital numbers said 4:45pm, Buffy would be done work soon.
Grabbing his trench coat and sword he left his apartment and hid his sword in his coat. It took him only a matter of minutes to get to the Magic Shop and already the majority of the Scoobies were assembled. Buffy had yet to arrive.
"Afternoon." Methos said with a nod.
Walking over to the table he glanced over at the textbook Dawn had spread out in front of her; Ancient History.
"What're you studying?"
Dawn looked at Methos and grimaced.
"The Bronze Age. It's pretty boring."
Child if you only knew, Methos thought to himself with a smile.
The bell of the door rang, and Buffy entered the store. The slight smell of fried food wafted in with her.
"So, what are we going to do about this new evil?" Xander questioned.
"Buffy said they were turning intellectuals so it only stands to reason that the places that we should investigate should be the university campus and the library." Methos suggested.
"Sounds like a plan," Buffy said in agreement. "Willow, you Xander and Anya check out the campus. Make sure to check out the campus library and the night classes. I'll head down to the city library and maybe swing by the new high school just to be sure."
"I think you're forgetting someone."
"No." Buffy said sharply to her sister. Then turned to face her watcher. "Adam, I want you to take Dawn home."
Dawn huffed and crossed her arms in annoyance and glared at her sister.
"I don't see why I can't help patrol with you. Everyone else gets to when they were my age. And…and Adam he's your Watcher, so he should be helping patrol too." The teen lightly tapped Methos on the shoulder then smiled.
" Hey we could check out the school."
"No." Buffy turned away from her sister before Dawn could attack her with that pleading, it's so unfair, look.
Methos, despite what Dawn may have thought didn't mind not having to go out patrolling. He had spent a long time trying to avoid fights, because each fight led to the chance that he might not survive.
The Slayer and her friends exited the building leaving the Watcher and Dawn alone. Dawn, with a huff, threw herself onto the chair.
"It's no fair."
***
The Scooby gang walked down Main Street together, they didn't have to split up until they got to University Avenue. Suddenly, Buffy stopped walking all together.
"Has anyone seen Spike?"
Anya turned to face The Slayer who was a few feet behind the gang.
"Oh he left town."
"Why?" The irritation was clear in Buffy's voice.
"He said something about going to see his Idol."
Buffy began to walk again and mumbled under her breath, "figures."
***
Methos and Dawn walked down the dark street lit by yellowish light coming of the streetlights. The young girl hugged her arms around herself and nervously looked around.
"Tell me again why we didn't take your car?" She inquired.
"My timing chain broke and bent the pistons in my engine."
Dawn sighed again, something that Methos noticed that she did an awful lot. They were coming down Revello Drive when Methos heard the echo of footsteps. He looked to see two men in suits walking at a brisk pace behind them. Grabbing a hold of Dawn's arm and thrusting her in front of him he snapped a command.
"Run."
She looked quickly at the men who were now running after them. They were running up the sidewalk when she heard the shot ring through the air, echoing in the empty street. Methos went down as the bullet ripped through his kneecap.
"Adam!" She yelled trying to pull him to his feet. The two men were closing in fast and now both of them had their guns drawn. They were close enough that Dawn could see their vampiric faces.
"Get into the house, now!" Methos yelled pushing her away from him.
She ran up the stairs and into the house. Turning around she saw the two men walk right up to Methos and emptied their clips into his chest. She screamed and dropped to the floor, too afraid and stunned to move out of the doorway.
The shorter of the vampires pointed his gun at the girl who looked up at him with large tear filled eyes.
"We're out of bullets. Besides she's unimportant." The taller said as he grabbed one of Methos arms. The shorter holstered his gun then grabbed Methos other arm. A dark van pulled in front of the Summers' residence and they tossed the body into the back. They disappeared under the cover of darkness leaving the girl, still stunned, in the doorway.