This is dedicated to those of you who watch the shows.
I haven't seen any fics that cross Angel with David Boreanaz's new series, Bones, so considering how Fate or Powers seemed to 'butt-monkey' a few characters in different series, here goes. Don't worry…this isn't another series.
March 25, 2006
Booth, Harold and Jim had been able to loosen up after turning over the treasure vault to the teams of backup agents and authorized Treasury personnel; somehow the three men were able to come out of their shells a little bit. Even Bones had commented on the fact that eye sensitivity to the light aside, Harold seemed almost normal when around them.
And Blair fell in with the 'other squints' at the Jeffersonian, exchanging information and anecdotes with most, and hair-dye tips with Angela. A day and a half, and Ellison was seriously talking to Harold about his relocating; Jim thought he could find him a job somewhere.
The former soldiers walked and talked as they followed the academics into the convention center, an odd mix of people from all over the world to discuss crime, forensics, and other scientific methods to the art of law enforcement. An hour or two had passed, and luckily different variations of coffee and food were available so the non-brains and Angela were happy. Jim kept smiling in her direction, which she seemed amused by. Blair stopped to get a coffee.
WCI had set up a large but out-of-the way booth and were mainly at the convention so that an appearance would lend to their cover of the last three years --- an academy of self-defense and law enforcement training rather than military school status. Giles still shook his head as he watched two dozen Slayers head off in pairs to see and be seen. That left him with Willow, Buffy, Robin and two other Watchers to man the booth for the next couple of hours.
Willow enthused about the various programs, seminars and break-out sessions available over the next few days. Buffy smiled and was just happy that Willow was acting like the girl from years ago, the excited school hacker. Then she felt something very familiar but she couldn't put her finger on it; then she caught a glimpse of someone in the crowd she thought she knew, but couldn't quite place it was so sudden.
Willow recognized Dr. Brennan as she moved through the crowd, and began showering the woman with many questions as to things Giles couldn't keep up with. The Doctor looked somewhat confused at first, but then began speaking at a normal human rate to answer the questions. Hodges moved over and gave Buffy the eye before she shook her head and shifted to where he couldn't get at her. That was when Zack turned around to the military guys.
"Hey Booth, this looks like you guys' kind of place…a high school to create new FBI Agents."
"Funny man, Zack," the veteran replied, not noticing how some f the people in the booth stopped and looked his way.
Jim Ellison shook his head as Blair moved in front of him, "Move aside, lieutenant, I want to see what your pet brains have found."
'It couldn't be…' was the first response of Buffy and Willow, and again as the second voice chided the first. Both had been reported dead for almost two years. Then a man furiously sipping coffee moved into sight and sidled up to Dr. Brennan. Rupert Giles looked up from where he was discussing something with Robin.
"Good Lord…Andrew?"
Blair looked confused, "Sorry? No I'm Blair Sandburg, from Washington State. You have me confused with someone else."
Willow and Buffy stared at the somewhat taller man with the better-physique than two years ago. But even with the excessive change of hair color there was no denying it was Andrew Wells, though one that seemed competent and with social skills.
Buffy stepped forward, "Stop kidding around, Andrew. We haven't seen you in a couple of years, but—"
"So Chief, trying to avoid old flames," Ellison smirked as he stole Sandburg's coffee and downed half of it in a go. He turned to the cute redheaded woman and the nice-looking but pushy blonde. "Hi, I'm—"
"Xander?" the three Sunnydale veterans gasped in shock.
"No, I'm Detective Jim Ellison, Cascade Police. I was just going to verify that the Chief, here, hasn't been to DC the whole time I've known him, what, five years?"
Willow shook her head, "You don't remember us, either of you?"
Seeley Booth laughed at the discomfort of the two men that proved normal and squint could function as a real partnership, and slapped the back of his former commanding officer. "Looks like both of you must have been drinking, huh, Jim?"
"Angel," Buffy breathed in shock, catching the attention of the FBI agent. Something felt very familiar to him.
"Who are you people?" Booth demanded quietly, "Some weird acting guild?"
"Angel, it's me…Buffy, and that's Andrew and Xander. Are you saying you don't remember any of us?"
"Sorry, miss, but I don't. Now, I think we'll just move our group along so you can confuse the next bunch that comes by."
Ellison nodded, "Come on, Chief, Red's a hottie, but we have lots to see that doesn't involve your youthful sowing of wild oats."
"Booth," Temperance considered as they moved around to the next aisle. "I think the young women really believed they knew you. And why are all four of you rubbing your foreheads right in the middle?""
Angela suggested it was their psychic 'third eyes' making a connection to people they knew in past-lives, but Hodges asserted they were all part of a failed government experiment years ago and their minds were wiped or a chip was embedded in their foreheads.
Booth looked up as his head no longer felt pressured, "Let's forget about it and enjoy the rest of the convention."
Robin looked at his colleagues, then to where Dr. Brennan's group had disappeared, "Do you really think it was them? They all look much older than the two years they've been missing."
"I'd know Xander anywhere, and even if one's a coincidence, three aren't, and the man right behind them looked a lot like Gunn from when I was in LA," Willow quietly sighed and turned to Giles. "Giles? We need to have a simple spell. You can cast it; I don't have to, but we need a simple answer: Are they who we think they are?"
Giles looked at the young woman who'd been reined in greatly in magical castings as since the Slayer spell, each was always overpowered.
"I suppose, but we'll need to have someone keep track of them in the meantime. Willow, can you accompany me to the, the RV. Putting together the necessary materials will go faster that way, and we'll resolve this mystery quickly."
Buffy headed out and redirected some of the Slayers to keep tabs on the group. Even though he suddenly had two eyes again, it was still Xander, with Angel, Andrew and that Gunn guy she'd met very briefly after Sunnydale fell into the hole. 'What could make them look older?'
Willow and Giles had made the best use of their time, casting the spell several times because of slightly differing results.
"It seems when we asked to be shown the missing we seek, it is the four of them," Giles voiced aloud, "But when we ask for them by name, we get nothing. But when we ask for those we knew as, we get our original result."
"They don't remember who they are?"
"More like they aren't the people they used to be?"
"Giles, you're confusing me almost as bad as you would Buffy…"
"Hmm, sorry. But it seems that they used to be but aren't anymore."
"What if we cast a memory restoration spell on them? Would that restore previous memories and not replace ones they have?"
"Yes, and if they aren't able to regain those memories for some reason, it should just give them a brief moment where suddenly their memories are clear and immediate."
"I know it isn't the best time, but maybe get things ready, and when the Slayers let us know they're seated or something, do it so they don't get hurt?"
"Perhaps we might want to use a reveal truth spell instead?"
"Giles, you're still the researcher extraordinaire," Willow smiled, "I haven't used the lesser spell but I'm guessing it's less likely to have ill effects."
The four men with slight headaches sat down for coffee and to rest a minute, waving the others off to enjoy the interesting displays and talk 'brain' with others. All of a sudden the men's heads all felt a very intense pressure…then nothing.
Booth looked at his military friends, "Gunn, Xander? You two okay?"
"Yeah," both added, Jim sighing in discomfort, "For a bunch of guys that were reborn in their own lifetimes, well, not you … Dead Boy?"
"Don't call me that."
"I won't, it seems like something from childhood, and we're grown up. I don't even hate Andrew, here. You okay Chief?"
"Yeah, and I don't even feel like making a Star Wars reference…I guess since we've been doing the superhero and sidekick thing for five years now."
"And you like girls."
"And boy do I like girls. It proves the existence of heaven."
The men chuckled as the pain left their heads, Gunn smiling.
"Hell, I guess I might be staying in DC, Major. I suddenly have all that Wolfram & Hart legal info in my head again."
"Yeah, I can do a better job of fixing up my house, or talking to East African immigrants when I encounter them."
"You guys really have your old skills back? If you get degrees, you can probably get jobs with the Bureau."
"Don't know, Booth," Jim 'Xander' Ellison considered, then spotted two 'men' looking very much out of place observing them from across the way. They seemed a bit surprised as they walked over, no one else noticing them until Xander gestured to seats. "I'm guessing you can explain?"
"Yes I can," one simply stated.
"Please do."
"Your deeds were rewarded with regular lives; your former colleagues, however, cast a reveal truth; had they cast the stronger memory spell you'd have had excellent memories of your current life. Instead, both, but only the Truth." The 'man' looked over at Booth, "I was able to block all of the demon stuff out as technically it wasn't you."
"Thank you. I guess."
"So, dudes," Gunn began, then caught himself, "I mean, gentlemen, I'm guessing this is somehow tied to Angel's Wang Chung prophecy thing?"
"Yes. And once your own memories are done settling in, you'll learn the answers to that question and a few more." The two stood, but Xander cleared his throat and asked a question.
"So what does it mean I'm 'The One Who Sees?'"
"You know Truth from Lies. You might not know what the truth is, only that something is true. Because of your Primal-Sentinel abilities, you also know Demon from Non-Demon, and illusions don't exist for you unless you wish it."
"Okay, thanks," he replied as the two vanished from the Plane.
"How did you see them, Major?" Angel/Seeley asked, "I couldn't until they sat down."
"I'm the 'One Who Sees' and I guess they weren't invisible, but had some kind of an illusion of invisibility? So who are we and what do we want to do about it?"
Booth considered a moment, "Nothing, but I might check the files for signs of vampire and demon attacks…it might clear some things up and make things easier knowing again."
"Yeah, and the feelings I've had since coming to DC…maybe I'll see about relocating. And I already have a degree. And I'm a Captain of Detectives. So hopefully something can be arranged. If the Jeffersonian had an African mythology and demonology section, I'd go work with the squints. Chief?"
"If you move, oh best friend, then I'll see if I can. Maybe we'll publish 'The Sentinel' as a novel? Make some money and become PIs if all else falls through."
"I could go with that if something better doesn't show up for me," Gunn agreed. "If it makes money, I could afford to open up a legal clinic for the guys underground and the ones just as bad off up top."
The men leaned back and contemplated things. Jim smiled a Xander-like smile.
"So Booth…you and Bones?"
"Just good friends, at least for now. She's fun. And strange."
"In that case, if she's not seeing anyone, dibs on Red…"
Andrew tipped his head to the side, and looked incredulously, "I thought she was gay?"
"She dated Oz for two years…that means she's bi. And if she's gone and forced us to remember our sorta-past lives, the least she can do is have dinner, drinks and dancing with me…maybe a weekend in Florida or something."
"Oh yeah, Mister," a now-familiar voice from behind him smiled as arms hugged him from behind, "And at most what?"
"That would be up to you, beautiful."
"What makes you think I'm not seeing anyone, Xander?"
"Wishful thinking?" he replied, "And call me Jim. Apparently we'd been cast back in time as a reward, so we're like, Chief?"
"Reincarnated but parallel to our previous lives. Though we're older than our previous human selves. I'm actually twenty-nine. And Jim you're what? Thirty-two?"
"Thirty-five, Chief, like Harry and Booth," the cop corrected mildly, "But let's skip that for a minute. I think introductions on our side are in order. I'm Jim Ellison, Captain of Detectives and former US Army Ranger, whose fatigues seemed to get into the hands of one Xander Harris back in 1997. I'm from Cascade, Washington. The Chief, here, is Professor Blair Sandburg, Anthropologist and a consultant to the department. Harold King is ex-Ranger, one of my trainees in fact, just like Special Agent Seeley Booth here."
"You and Angel were in the Army together?" Buffy asked in amazement. Booth smiled before replying.
"No, Buffy, Major Ellison was my superior officer, though mainly in training."
"What's the difference?"
"We didn't sign up together as friends or anything, we were…co-workers. Only over time did friendship develop."
"Oh. Okay. So you work for the FBI?"
"I'm a Bureau homicide investigator here in DC. You?"
"Council stuff."
"Ah. Cleveland, right?"
"I was in Europe for a while, but now I split my time between Cleveland and London."
Willow turned to Xander as the conversation died out at that point.
"So you do police stuff? Like it?"
"Yeah, I do, actually. Though I might move to DC. Chief and I were here for this convention thing, but I might see what the job prospects are around here. What are you up to theses days?"
"Mmm, mainly doing research for Giles; sometimes set up a branch computer network for the Council, that kind of thing."
"Like it?"
"Yeah, but I finally finished my degrees, so without any real need for an over-powered witch, I'm thinking of setting up a computer consultant business; I've gotten my skills all back the last few years."
Buffy raised her eyebrows, "That sounds like someone's looking for an invite…"
"Maybe I need a break…and besides…WCI can always keep me on retainer."
Giles looked over at his reunited children and wondered what subtext he was missing.
"You, you're thinking of leaving us Willow?"
"Depends on a certain cop inviting an old friend to visit and catch up?"
Blair elbowed Ellison, causing the former Xander Harris to give him a look, "Even I caught that one Chief, so enough with the elbows. So, Willow, I'm here for the next few days, but if you'd like to fly over to Cascade, it'd be nice get to know you again."
"Why…Jim…I thought you'd never ask," she smiled innocently. "I'd love to."
The group shared a chuckle as the weirdness once again was accepted as the normal state of affairs.