Title: Illusion of Reality 3?

By: David A. Knapton

E-mail: Don't know let's go with 12A/PG-13 for now.

Disclaimer: I own neither the characters from Buffy or Voyager just the idea!

Feedback: If you want, I like it but it's not vital for me to continue my stories.

Notes: This is something that had been bouncing around in my head for several days; I needed to get it out before it did too much damage! I am now in a position to continue this story now so I thought I'd repost the first three parts again.

Pairing: As the two shows.

Notes: Set after BtVS episode 'Into the woods' but before 'The Body'. Voyager is set after Starfleet have made contact with them. Oh I've decided that Dawn and the gang already know she's the 'Key'.

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"It's Glory."

"So you're telling us that we have to go up against a god and try and kill it," said Buffy slumping into her chair. 'I just knew they were going to be trouble.' she gave Tom and B'Elanna the type of look she usually reserved for vampires just before she attacked them.

"Well as hard as it may be for you to realise, you did in the original program and you did win, even though not all of you survived," supplied the Doctor looking at Buffy.

"B-but that wa-ssn't real," stuttered Tara.

"No, but when the Q made everyone real the original program was used as a template, although things may develop differently, everyone in the original program will generally think and act as they would have if this situation had never occurred. Not because they have too, but because they have no reason not too! That will be our advantage you seven know the truth," smiled the Doctor.

"Ok that makes sense, maybe you should give us some background on what would have happen and how we defeated Glory," mused Giles taking off his glasses to clean them.

"Well first you must understand that some or all the things I tell you may still happen especially where it involves outside forces," the Doctor pointed out before getting down to details. "Right lets see you Giles went to England to try and get help from the council, they ended up sending a delegation to test Buffy's worthiness before giving you all the information they had, well that mainly revolved around the fact that Glory is a hell god."

"Well I'm glad we no longer need to involve them," smiled Buffy.

"Well yes I'm aware how you feel about them but it does mean Giles will have to rely on the shop for a living as he will not get reinstated as your watcher," smiled the Doctor seeing the frown on Giles face. "Anyway let me see at the same time the watchers turned up a group called the Knights of Byzantium also made an appearance their avowed purpose is to destroy the Key."

"Why do they want my sister dead," asked Buffy wrapping her arm around Dawn's shoulders when she let out a quiet sob.

"The Key's purpose is to destroy the barriers between dimensions and allow Glory to return to her own dimension, of course the Key would not really do that but we will have to make sure Dawn is kept sa..."

"But Doc if I remember correctly the Knights did find out and attacked," put in Tom.

"Yes they did but you are jumping ahead now can I continue?" asked the Doctor looking around the people sat at the table at their nods he went on. "Alright as Tom said the Knights did attack after one of there number that had certain enzymes removed from his brain causing a mental illness to manifest itself, now certain groups of people such as those suffering like this fellow have the ability to see the Key as it truly is.

"Anyway this Knight saw Dawn and even though he was delusional the other Knights found out Dawn is the Key and attacked. That came later though after several other problems arose," he stopped to turn his gaze at Willow and Tara. "Now I don't wish to cause you any distress but when Glory became annoyed at the lack of success her minions were having in locating the Key, she sent them to spy on you all. Her minions thought that Spike was the Key and took him to Glory who pointed out that he was a vampire but she did decide to try and torture him for information..."

"God if Spike turns out to be the one to tell Glory, I swear I'll stake him this time," interrupted Buffy getting up and beginning to pace.

"Spike did not tell her, although she hurt him very badly he would not tell her..."

"Too bloody right I wouldn't, Dawn's one of the only two people in this damned town that doesn't treat me like a monster," stated Spike entering the shop via the training room.

"Spike news-flash you are a monster," growled Buffy spinning on her heels, "You're not welcome here get out."

"Well yeah okay I am a monster, but Dawn's my friend, if Glory is coming after her I'm staying," stormed Spike crossing his arms across his chest, before turning to the three strangers, "What's with the costumes mug some bellboys?"

"No Spike you might say they're from the future come to help destroy Glory," sighed Giles, he was starting to get tired of the fighting between Buffy and Spike whenever they were in the same room, a cold shiver went down his spin, 'My god their like an old married couple who should have been divorced years ago.'

"Buffy, Spike is important in the battles with Glory. At the time of his capture all of you though Spike would tell Glory and went after him, attacking her minions and eventually getting him out, although it was a close run thing. She continued to get her minions to watch all of you, until she eventually came to the conclusion that you Tara were the Key, she found you alone and after she realised her mistake she attacked you, 'sucking out your brain,' I believe you have started calling the cause of the delirium."

Willow felt Tara squeeze her hand and let out a whimper, she gathered her girlfriend in a hug, tears running down her cheeks she turned to face the Doctor, "When is this supposed to happen?"

"You need to understand the program does not really have that much detail on the timeline, but not for sometime if I had to guess. Well after the attack you Willow used magick to try and take revenge, for about five minutes you were hurting her but as you got tired you were in danger of getting yourself killed, if Buffy had not arrived just in time you would not have survived. That night you and Buffy, along with Dawn, were in your dorm room looking after Tara when Glory attacked, that was when Tara in her delirium pointed out that Dawn is the Key, with the help of Willow's magick you Buffy were able to escape with Dawn if only barely. That was when you decided that you could not beat Glory, Buffy and told everyone to pack and run, you got Spike to get a camper and all eight of you left town that was when you were attacked by the Knights," The Doctor paused to allow them time to absorb everything he had just told them.

Buffy frowned as something occurred to her, "What about mum?" she asked looking at the Doctor.

"I'm sorry," said the Doctor returning the frown.

"You said that the eight of us run away, I assume that includes Spike, so what about our mum?" explained Buffy.

A sad expression on his face he began to explain, "Over the years since I was activated I have had to break bad news to many crewmen and women but never to family members," he sighed, "I'm sorry but your mother will die from a problem arising from her brain tumour, but I can assure you it will be quick, she will not suffer."

Dawn started crying as Buffy held her tightly her own tears standing in her eyes as something else occurred to her, "Your from the future right?"

"Well yes in a way I suppose we are from your future in that the program you come from was set around the end of the 20th century," nodded the Doctor not sure he liked where he knew this conversation was going.

"And your medical treatment is more advanced than our own," pressed Buffy.

"Yes many diseases that are fatal in this century are easily cured in ours," he definitely didn't like where this was going.

"So you can save our mother," stated Buffy.

Dawn finally cottoned on to what her sister was saying, "Yeah you could do that can't you?"

"No I can't do that the Prime Directive applies in this case," stated the Doctor.

"But you said that your Captain gave you leeway on what you could and couldn't do, besides don't you doctors take the hipocot oath," Buffy smiled as she saw the conflict of emotions cross the Doctor's face.

"Yes she did and it's called the Hippocratic Oath," he watched as she rolled her eyes at him and sighed, "Very well I'll see what I can do." Although he had only known this girl for a couple of hours he was coming to like her and knowing that in all likelihood she would still die in the upcoming fight, he would do anything he could to help her through this.

"Ok let's go then, I gotta get Dawn home anyway, you can fix our mum then we can make you dinner," she frowned. "Do we need to eat or even sleep if we're only these hologram things?"

The Doctor laughed something he rarely did as he stood up, "Yes on both counts and as long as I am part of the program so do I and strictly speaking you are not holograms but a Photonic lifeform, which I won't go into, all you really need know is you are real."

"But what about the rest of the details," asked B'Elanna.

"It can wait for an hour or so, why don't we all go to Buffy's home and continue the discussion there," suggested the Doctor.

"Very well," nodded Tom getting up. As they were walking to the door he turned to the Doctor, "I don't suppose you brought a couple of phasers with you Doc?"

"No Lieutenant, I suggest you have Lieutenant Torres teach you basic physics, they wouldn't be of use except on the two of you because everyone else is energy," answered the Doctor shacking his head.

"Okay Doc forget I said anything, put it down to the stress of our situation."

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"Muuummm," shouted Buffy as she led the others through the front door.

"Buffy I'm fairly sure your mother is not deaf, you don't need to shout," Giles pointed out a pained look crossing his face.

Buffy shrugged, "Sorry."

"What's wrong dear?" asked Joyce exiting the kitchen and entering the living room. Without saying a word Buffy and Dawn flew into her arms, "What's happened... Buffy... Dawn what's wrong?" she asked again, she could feel both her daughters crying quietly as she held them gently rubbing their backs.

"Joyce we need to tell you some things it maybe better if you sit down," Giles half smiled.

Joyce nodded as she went to lead her daughters to the settee.

But Buffy looked up shaking her head; "First the Doctor fixes the brain tumour thingy."

Frowning as she looked at her daughter she smiled, "Its ok dear they fixed it when I was in the hospital don't you remember," she said wondering if something had taken away her daughter's memory.

"No they didn't mum, we found out that if it isn't fixed you'll die," stated Dawn hugging her mum again.

Joyce turned a confused look at Giles, "Rupert would you please tell me what is going on here?"

"Joyce as hard as this is to believe Buffy and Dawn are correct, you might say we have all had a glimpse into the future and in that future you die..." He saw her pale so he hurried on pointing at a balding man about his age she hadn't noticed, "This gentleman is a Doctor who has the means to fix that."

"Please mum let him fix you, we don't what you to die," pleaded Buffy.

"Of course dear," Joyce smiled at Buffy before turning to the stranger, "What do you want me to do Doctor... I'm sorry my daughters and their friends haven't told me your name?"

"Yeah what is your name anyway?" piped in Xander.

"I have not got a name, it was felt unnecessary by my creators, when I was activated I requested the right to choose a name but have not found one I like yet," explained the Doctor.

"Would someone like to explain what is going on here?" asked Joyce frowning as she looked around the people that had just invaded her home, gasping when she spotted B'Elanna, "Buffy why have you brought a demon into the house?"

"Mum its okay she's not a demon she's from another planet," on seeing her mum's face she went on, "Please mum we'll explain everything later just let the Doctor fix you first," she pleaded.

"Mrs Summers if you will have a seat I'll check your present condition," smiled the Doctor trying to reassure his patient.

"Ok Doctor," returning his smile as she sat in a chair. After running the scan he took out a hypospray and gently pushing Joyce's head to the side and injected the compound into her neck.

Stepping away from his patient the Doctor nodded at her, "All fixed you'll be fine now."

"That's it? Wow I thought that it would take longer somehow," smiled Xander.

Willow slowly sat down in an armchair pulling Tara onto her lap, Tara could almost see the wheels turning in her girlfriend's cute head, she leaned in and planted a kiss on the top of Willow's head, "You've thought of a plan haven't you?"

Looking into Tara's eyes before planting a kiss on her lips and then turning to look at the rest of the people in the room a smile came across her face, "Yes I have."