Set during Bad Girls:

Crossing the street towards his house Methos felt it. A headache or rather a buzz and he knew what that meant. The headache was a sort of early warning detection system for finding others of his kind. He gritted his teeth trying to remind himself that this nothing town was meant to the opposite from Paris which was a hot stop for immortals. Looking around hoping to see his student Xander he alas saw a woman getting out of a car further down the street. She almost laughed shaking his head as he looked at her curiously trying to size her up.

"You think you were the only immortal hiding within the watchers?" the woman asked Methos who couldn't help but simply smile at the question.

"I did wonder at times," Methos unable to help himself but chuckle a little. "It was the perfect hiding place. So, I figured there must be one or two immortals like hiding out there." He sized up the woman again as once again as one cannot be too careful. She had dark long black hair, sharp features and slender if alethic build. She didn't match the description of any immortals he was familiar with but for all he knew she could be a thousand years old. "I don't think I am familiar with you."

"And you wouldn't," came the reply from the woman. "I've only been an immortal for over a decade thanks to some little kids with a knife trying to get my purse one night. My name is Elizabeth Gray." She regarded Methos for a while. "You are Adam Pierson who spent many years researching Methos the oldest living immortal in known record. I bet that means." She trailed off and judged his expression. It was grim face and gave nothing away… which told her everything she needed to know. "I always thought you were a myth."

"What are you doing here?" Methos cut her off still keeping his stone face expression on his face.

"Here on official watcher business," Gray replied. "After his trial the watchers are keeping a close eye on the actions and movements of Joe Dawson. You didn't think we would sit back and say all is forgiven?" Gray enquired to which Methos considered made sense. "I was sent out to double check Dawson's movements… I had no idea it would lead this to you."

"Well, I have no quarrel with you," Methos declared to Elizabeth. "So, you can just pass on by."

"Not a chance," Gray said stepping forward. Methos rolled his eyes, not another newbie to deal with! He thought to himself. Don't tell me I am going to be picking up another student! He wasn't about to open an immortal training school anytime soon, training Xander was enough… more than enough frankly. "Not now that you have confirmed what I had as a suspicion on… it's here isn't it? You're looking for it too aren't you?" Gray said sounding eager.

What an earth was this woman on about? Methos wondered still easiest way to find out was to keep her talking. "Come on inside," Methos gestured keen to learn more.

XXXXXXX

For the second time Xander found himself sipping coffee watching someone eye his immortal teach with suspicion. This immortal Gray who Methos claimed he had never met which she had confirmed was nonetheless very interested in him particularly on his reason for being in Sunnydale. "It's here, isn't it?" Gray repeated her question again over coffee eager to get Methos talking again.

Methos simply shrugged. "I don't know what you are talking about."

Gray gritted her teeth at his reply. "Don't worry you can tell me. From what I understand it can cure all of us!"

Methos's eyebrow raised at that answer and then after moment he groaned as he came to the realisation of what she was talking about. "Not another one," he muttered under his breath before leaning forward slightly at the coffee table. "Please don't tell me you believe in that Nikita's stone rubbish?" He asked the woman who made an angry face and slammed her coffee cup down hard.

"Errr…. Hello? For those of us not in the know what is Nikita's stone?" Xander asked looking at the two immortals keen to keep them talking rather than swinging swords at each other.

"It is a gem that will grant mortality to an immortality," Gray replied. "I've been researching it for years and my work has lead me to believe it is here." She sounded convinced and total fixed her belief.

"It's a fairy tale," Methos dismissed bluntly. "A simple creation made up to give immortals hope that they can become mortal, but it doesn't exist." She reminded him of so many who had searched and searched for the stone. Wasted decades and letting life passing them by.

"It does exist!" Gray said forcefully. "I've been looking at it for years."

"So have others!" Methos replied shaking his head. "I amuse you have heard in some immortal tales it is Nikita's gem or was it diamond? Or a dagger? Or a book? Or hairpin? The point is there are so many different versions of it, and I have met far too many suckers like yourself who believe it to be real and they have never come across it! No one has actually held whatever the object is in their hands! It is just superstition and nonsense," Methos replied shaking his head.

"Like vampires?" Xander pointed out now eager to join in the conversation looking at his teacher who rolled his eyes.

"Don't you start," Methos told him. The last thing he needed was his student to get the idea of becoming mortal in his head. It had taken a long time for Xander to accept his immortality status so the last thing he wanted was to see him take steps backwards on it.

"Whatever," Gray said not understanding where vampires came into mix. "The point is why else Methos, the oldest immortal in living history be here in this town? You are looking for it aren't you?" The woman said almost hopeful and desperate, and her question caused Xander to look at Methos expectedly for an answer.

"Nope not interested," Methos shrugged. "I'm just here to get away from people like you," Methos countered.

"Stop lying!" Gray growled at the man getting to her feet. "The stone can cure us of our immortality and make us mortal!" She then changed her impression from anger to one of fear and shame before continuing. "You understand… I don't have much time. I have been immortal for nearly two decades and I'm not aging. I have a husband who is getting suspicious asking about children or when I'm going to get grey hairs. I work for an organisation that knows about immortals, so it is only a matter of time before they work out what I am. I need this stone. It is a gift, and it is here! I'm going to find it with or without your help!"

Xander felt sympathy for the woman. She was in the same place he was constantly lying to her friends and loved ones about a secret and a condition she never asked for. She never wanted to be an immortal and yet it had been thrusted upon her. She wanted her mundane life with her husband not to be part of this game they were all bound to take part of. Methos however was far less sympatric in his reply. "Take my advice and give up before you waste your time." Ever the pragmatic one he added, "and think about giving up on the marriage too before that gets more complex that it needs to be."

Xander made a face at his teacher's reply and so did Gray before she simply stormed out of the kitchen and out of the house. "Did you have to be so cruel to her?!" Xander asked his teacher in complete disbelief.

"What she is doing to her husband is cruel," Methos countered. "She knows she cannot give him children, cannot grow old with him, cannot live in his world not really and yet she is staying in his world. That is cruelty!"

"But what if that stone is real and here?" Xander asked the far older man. "I mean there are all kinds of stuff here in Sunnydale that we keep finding. From the Master to that glove that shot lighting out that the evil watcher was after. It's all here despite it being a big old world out there. You can't know for sure."

"Yes, I do because I have lived longer than others have dreamed and I have never found anything more than makes me consider it a work of fiction," Methos stated firmly. "Like I told her it hasn't always been described as a stone for god's sake! There has never been a location recorded just some loose descriptions! Any detail written or verbal about it is small and vague. Immortals like her who struggle to let go of their previous life hear the story and then get hooked on it. They get bare the idea of immortality, so they embellished the story by searching for it and inventing clues keeping the lie alive for another hundred years until another one like them comes along. It is a vicious circle." Xander still conflicted so Methos made it clear to his student. "It does not exist Xander. Don't think about it anymore," the elder immortal told him firmly.

Xander huffed a bit but considered Methos would know what he is talking about. "Okay fine! I'm going to head to the library and check in with Giles. There is a new mini watcher in town and from Buffy said he is driving him crazy so that might be fun to see," he smirked at his teacher as he grabbed his coat.

"Have fun," Methos replied. "If you need me I will be at Willie's," he told his student casually.

"What Willie's as in Willie's?!" Xander said confused and in shock.

"Oh no I mean Willie's the singing choir group who meet on the Church on Market Street," Methos replied sarcastically before he added. "What do you think I do when you aren't around? It's nice place to grab a beer, good selection too, it's got a pool table and…"

"And it's fill of demons and vampires at every table!" Xander cried out in disbelief. "You want to tell me what you're doing going to a demon bar?"

"No pub is perfect," Methos shrugged simply. "Besides it's more like...neutral territory. It's a nice place plus most the regulars who go there aren't interested in fights or taking over the world. They won't admit it naturally, but I think they appreciate the break. Simply want to enjoy a drink while exchanging a few old war stories."

Xander considered that. "That's sounds kind of cool," Xander said sounded vaguely surprised before he had an idea. "Hey maybe I could join you sometime like hang out there with badass crowd and you know tell them my old battle stories!" He asked very eager almost picturing the scene in his head.

"Oh god no! People might think we're friends!" Methos quipped causing him to earn a dagger like glare from Xander who simply walked out of the house. Walking along the street and mentally lambasting his teacher for denying him the chance to do something fun like that. Walking along he felt a buzz go off in his head and looked around on alert. He saw a shadow move in the nearest alley. Cautiously, Xander proceeded forward walking into the alley. He barely had a chance to do anything but open his mouth as Gray moved out of the shadows holding up a gun equipped with a silencer and shot him. Xander promptly dropped to the ground, killed instantly.

XXXXXXX

Xander revived with a gasp and then looked around blearily. He took a moment to ponder the fact that he'd just awoken from the dead and not unconsciousness. Then he tried to move away from the chair he'd been slumped against but found himself tied to it with his hands behind his back. "I really didn't want to do this, but your damned teacher has left me no choice!" Elizabeth Gray said and Xander turned to see her at the side of the room. "All you need to do is tell me where the stone is or where he has been looking for and I will let you go."

She had gone full nuts on them after one meeting with Methos that had to be a record Xander considered eyeing the knife she was holding in her hand. "He was telling the truth he doesn't care about the stone, nor did he come here for that."

"Liar!" Gray yelled at the teenager. "Why else would the oldest immortal on known records come here if not to end his immortality!?" She spat at the boy.

"Because he doesn't see it as a curse like you or I," Xander cried out. "He sees it as a chance to learn, to experience and to simply live. He isn't interested in the game nor to gain any kind of power. He just wants to live."

"And so do I but not like this!" Gray yelled at him. "Lying to everyone! Knowing that the years are passing by, and I am stuck locked into this age! Knowing that the game looms like a shadow over me every step of the way! I read your file! Alexander LaVelle Harris, son of Anthony and Jessica Harris, attends Sunnydale High School where I bet you have some good friends who have no idea of what you really are." Xander's jaw tightened, and his eyes narrowed. "See we are the same! Tell me what your master knows, and I can help you!"

"He is not my master," Xander replied simply not willing to trust someone who had technically kill him and tied him to a chair.

Elizabeth growled in frustration at the teenager who was just as stubborn as his teacher. "There are two ways I can another way I can learn the information you know! One is by doing this!" She said slashing him across the chest causing Xander to cry out in pain. "Until you finally give in and tell me everything I want to know and the other… is by taking your head."

If Xander ever came across the asshat that invented the so-called Game, he'd gleefully stuff him headfirst down the Hellmouth and feed him to the tentacle monster that lived there. "You don't want to do that," Xander swallowed feeling very uneasy and very vulnerable tied up in this chair with a knife wielding psychopath in front of him threatening to cut off his head.

"Then tell me what I want to know!" She demanded.

"I don't know anything!" Xander exclaimed.

"We'll see about that," Gray said and plunged her knife into Xander's side causing him to cry out.

XXXXXX

Willow sighed as she flopped down on her bed sparing a glance at Amy the rat and then at a little bag she had shown to Buffy. It was meant to be a protection spell that was a present for Buffy to keep her safe while slaying. Failing that it Willow could use it as a protection spell to join Buffy on slaying. Sadly, Buffy had blown her off to go out with Faith saying it was too dangerous and Willow shouldn't risk her life. Willow put the little bag away in a drawer unable to help but feel hurt. It felt crappy to know that her best friend didn't think she could handle herself. Did Buffy not get it? That she and Xander felt compelled to help in every way possible because they cared about Buffy because she was their friend? She felt like venting to someone she grabbed her phone but remembered her boyfriend was setting up to play a gig at Sunnydale university and was likely busy. So, she decided to dial another number to her oldest friend Xander. True things between them had been a little strained since their smooches but he would still listen and understand as she ranted.

She then frowned as she tried to recall his new number now, he was staying at his Uncle Adam's place. Her frowned became harder as she tried to remember what the number was. When was the last time he had mentioned it? Drawing a blank she sighed. He probably forgot to inform the group. Same old Xander. Dialling the number to his parent's house she was greeted to Xander's mother after a few rings. "Hi there Mrs Harris," Willow said down the phone. "It's Willow do you have Xander's Uncle's new number I need to speak to Xander… his uncle Adam, Xander is living with him now… Adam… Adam!... Okay right," Willow replied trying not to sound too alarmed. "No sorry I guess I got mixed up. No nothing is wrong I'm sorry to bother you. I've really got to go. Hope to see you soon." She put down the phone more confused than ever before. Xander's mother told them he doesn't have an Uncle Adam. So Xander was living with a man who wasn't his uncle but he told them he was. So, who was Xander now living with?

XXXXXXXX

Elizabeth Gray wiped some blood off her knife looking at the young immortal on the chair. He was bleeding some parts of his body that hadn't fully healed yet and was panting in panic but still was holding out well considering she had been torturing him for well over a couple of hours. He was made of strong stuff it would seem. "You're doing well," she commented causing him to raise his head and shoot a look. "I'm impressed very noble and loyal of you to protect your teacher's secret like this."

"That's cause there is no secret," Xander groaned shifting for the millionth time.

"Oh please! The man is full of secrets! You think you know Methos? You don't know anything!" Gray taunted Xander. "You haven't heard some of the stories or legends that I have. Even if half the stuff is true it paints a very different picture of your teacher than I am sure you have created already." She got right up in his face grabbing his jaw forcing him to look at her. "Has he told you about the people he killed? His real past? You think he just pops up randomly in history?! No, he has done things! Things that are probably worse than I have heard and worse than you could possibly imagine! He is a killer!"

Xander glared at her in the eye. "If he is really the monster you make him out to be why would he want to become mortal? Why not kill for another thousand years?" He knew it wasn't the smartest thing to stir her emotions, but he was done being shouted and taunted.

Gray didn't answer merely push his face away. "I guess we will see what kind of a man he is!" she declared tossing the knife on the table and picking up a mobile phone that was there. She walked out of the room giving Xander one last glare. As soon as she had left the room Xander looked around the anything and everything that could get him out of these ropes. He saw his jacket and could see from the outline that his sword still inside. He had been carrying it around for months inside the lining of his jacket via a technique that Methos had shown him but it could be no use to him now hanging up on a hook like that out of reach. He then spotted the knife that Elizabeth had tossed on the table was not that far off the edge. Grunting he shifted and forced the chair that he was sitting in to move towards it while keeping an eye on the floor.

He leaned over to try to pick up the knife with his mouth and grunted in frustration as he struggled to do it. "Come on!" He growled as he tried again and managed to clasp it in his teeth. Cranking his neck back as far as it went, he prayed to whatever god was listening and let the knife slip from his mouth.

He managed to catch it barely.

A little more shifting and he begun to cut the ropes looking at the door as he did so as quickly as he could manage.

In the main studio Elizabeth dialled a number and let it ring. In Wille's bar Methos squinted as he examined a wedding ring. "I think it's a fake my friend," he announced.

A large demon with a strong, menacing build and thick, chalk white skin, a month fill of razor like fangs and demonic eyes looked outraged. "I assure you my mate had told me that I am her true love!" The demon growled at Methos.

"Look you can see for yourself if you hold it up to the light," Methos said displaying the ring and the demon leaned in examining the ring for himself. "If she has lied about a diamond ring, I wonder what else she has lied about," the immortal said pointedly knowing full well he was egging on the demon.

The demon seethed as he moved back snatching the ring away from Methos's hand with his own clawed one. "I will dine on her heart and body parts while painting the walls red with her blood!" He snarled thinking about his mate and all the doubts he had dismissed in his head.

"Umm… before you do that, I do believe we had an arrangement? I show you it's a fake and you buy the next round," Methos replied gesturing to the bar. The demon growled but fished into his body armour and produced some dollars onto the bar. He then picked up his battle axe and left to go kill his mate for lying to him while Methos sipped on his newly bought beer. He then felt his phone go off in his pocket. Pulling it out he didn't recognise the number and answered it carefully. "Who is this?"

Elizabeth Gray's voice came on the other end. "I have something of yours that might help you be more cooperative in my search for the stone."

Methos rolled his eyes, not this again! "How did you get this number?" the woman won't take a hint.

"I work for the watchers," Elizabeth explained simply. "Tell me everything I want to know," she demanded over the phone.

"If your plan to get me to talk is call me every few decades then I wish you all the luck in the world," Methos remarked about to end the call when Elizabeth spoke up again.

"I have your student," she said quickly before he had a chance to hung up. Methos's grip on his phone tighten as he moved away from the noise of the bar to be able to hear her better. The rules have changed now in their interactions. "If you want him back in one piece you will give all the information I need."

"I considered you simply misguided and delusional," Methos growled down the phone. "Congratulations you have now improved to desperate and seriously stupid. I mean you really wouldn't be so stupid to pull a stunt like this!"

"Tell me what I want to know, and I will release him," Gray told the elder immortal.

"No deal. How do I know you even have him?" Methos countered carefully as he stepped out of the bar.

"He talks a lot," Elizabeth said. "When he is not being tortured that. Complains a lot too. His sword is a simple design, very functional and easy to train with. Some immortals have the flashiest designs all to make them stand out I guess, look tougher than they are or maybe older than they actually are I'm not sure. But you just gave him a simple broadsword I guess to downplay his skill and not attract attention to him. I wonder does the great Methos use a similar type of sword?" She asked baiting him.

"You really are stupid," Methos commented. "You are so far off the cliff you can't even see the edge."

Gray did not reply for a minute or two before she spoke up again. "I am at an art studio on the university campus, Wilkins building," she replied and hung up the phone. That should get the old man off his ass and heading towards here in a hurry. Entering the small room where she had stored his pupil Xander she saw off unshackled from the chair and having just picked up his sword looking like a dear in headlights. Tossing the phone away and banishing her own sword Gray screamed and charged at the young immortal.

Xander brought his sword up in time to block the attack and cried out. "We don't have to do this! We don't need to fight!" Elizabeth didn't answer; she just swung his sword again. Xander was able to block it before reaching for Elizabeth causing the pair to grapple against each other causing them to trip and fall back out the door Gray had just entered.

They fell to the floor of the main studio. The pair reached for their swords as they moved off each other. "Please," Xander pleaded with the woman. "Don't do this." Gray sneered at Xander as they both raised their swords and threw an overhand cut. Xander parried quickly, reflexively. Gray cut from the other side, and Xander again parried. They moved, back and forth, until, realising he wasn't dead yet, Xander began to remember his training with Methos. He started to think, to act instead of reacting. He began to counter against her movements trading feints, thrusts and slashes as his body is learning the rhythm of the fight. The pair duelled each other battling each other across the studio swords clashing against each other. Elizabeth the more skilled and experienced with the sword thanks to a decade training with the watcher's society but Xander her match thanks to being trained by the oldest immortal on record.

Elizabeth the lighter swords fighter danced past a rather heavy swing from Xander and landed a slice on his inner thigh with her blade sending the young immortal off balance. Xander fell back on the floor dropping his sword and shuffled backwards as Elizabeth advanced towards him pushing paint cans at the British woman in effort to block the woman. Grabbing a glass bottle he threw it at Elizabeth's head causing her to cry out as he broke into tiny pieces. Xander rolled past her grabbing his own sword and raising up to see Elizabeth baring down on him blood running down the side of her face. Swords met again and the two clashed grunting as they each tried to gain the upper hand. Xander pushed her back rising up on his feet to meet her next thrust. He countered and the pair exchanged parries and thrusts as they both battled hard.

Elizabeth launched into a series of moves desperate to kill this immortal and Xander was forced to defend. But then he saw an opening exposed in her attack he stabbed her shoulder, and she cried out dropping her sword and without him thinking or pausing Xander's blade slides between Elizabeth's head and body and she fell to the floor, dead. Xander in that instant could do nothing but stare at the body that was before him. He had done it. Done the unthinkable and killed someone in cold blood. Sparks began to cry out around him. Little lightning bolts came out of Gray's corpse hitting the walls. The lights flickered and brightened as the energy increased. Getting hit with lightning bolts is an agony beyond anything Xander has ever felt before. The power, energy, and memories slam into him in overwhelming waves. Light bulbs all around him burst unable to cope with the electrical energy in the room as he cried out. Finally, he's left gasping for air and huddled on his knees.

He had everything about her flowing in his mind. Her thoughts, her memories, her experiences, and her skills were now a part of him. He curled up in a small ball closing his eyes trying to stop the images and moments from her life crashing towards the surface on his mind.

XXXXXX

Methos stalked down the halls very wary keeping a hand resting on his sword. He was coming close to the destination that Elizabeth had given him. He could be walking into a trap for all he knew but a quick check of the library proved that Xander was not there. In fact, no one was there which could mean there is some hellmouth business going on or that Xander had been kidnapped. Either way he had to check to make sure that Gray was not simply bluffing and really did have her teenager. Now your walking headfirst into traps old man he thought darkly to himself, and he called Gray the stupid one. He stopped momentarily when he noticed the walls.

There was a scorched marks on the wall.

A lightning bolt from a quickening.

He brought his sword out of his jacket and brought it up in a defensive stance. He carefully moved down the corridor before he came to the studio he was in question. Peering inside he saw his student in crouched position, his sword bloody lying before him and a dead body of a woman. He lowered his sword and carefully walked into the room stepping over Elizabeth's corpse bending down to be level with Xander who was holding his head in his heads.

"The first one is always the hardest," Methos told the teenager. "You're mind can't process having two sets of memories in one brain but it will learn over time. Focus on your memories. Your childhood, your friends, holidays, school, experiences that only you have had," Methos instructed his young pupil. "You will absorb quickenings easier as time passes. It will still be painful, still be overwhelming depending how powerful they maybe but the memories won't swamp you like they are now."

"I don't want to get used to it," Xander muttered to his teacher. "I killed someone."

"Who was going to kill you," Methos fired back at the teenager. "It is simple black and white. She attacked you; you fought back, and you killed her because you had to! There is no grey in this! No guilt required!" Xander uncovered his face with his hands but refused to look at Methos. "Look at me!" The elder immortal commanded, and the younger immortal did as he was told but glared. "There was no other choice in this matter and that is the end of it." He stood up and offered Xander his hand. The immortal took a moment before he clasped Methos's hand and pulled himself up.

As the pair left Xander couldn't let one detail out of his mind. He spun round to Methos. "I want to know about your past," he demanded.

"What?" Methos replied confused.

"Your past! I want to know about it," Xander told him.

Methos sighed. "It's late and you are confused." Stepping away from his student he was shoved back by Xander.

"I want to know about your past!" Xander repeated. "Elizabeth had studied about different immortals including you and told me that what I knew about you is barely anything and she was right! You might drop hints about your life but nothing big and now I want to know about the big stuff. Studies and texts she read don't paint a pretty picture but I'm betting that is just the watered-down version considering you are the one writing the articles! So, I want to know once for all who you really are!" He shouted getting in Methos's face.

"Your too young to understand," Methos dismissed. "Let's have this conversation again in a thousand years."

"I WANT TO KNOW NOW METHOS!" Xander demanded pushing the immortal back. "WHO ARE YOU? I DON'T WANT TO BE TRAINED TO BE A KILLER!"

"Fine! You want to know!" Methos hissed at the younger immortal. "Xander, I have lived for thousands of years! I have been a different man a hundred times over because there have been different times in my lifetime! I have seen things you couldn't possibly imagine and experienced events that have never been recorded in any book! I've seen explorers become conquerors! Politicians become dictators! Forests become farmland! Republics become empires! Religion used as weapon! rivers dry up! kingdoms be burnt to the ground! And I've been there for every single one. I've participated in mass killings, wars, and battles over anything ranging from power struggles, land, or water. I never said I was a saint Xander just a man. For better and worse! That's who I am!"

"Still not good enough!" Xander uttered. "I want details! When are you planning on telling me?" Xander demanded.

"When you become less righteous," Methos shot back. "I have made it clear from the start that this is your life now but still you have much to learn. I know you Xander. You see the world in the black and white. Saint or sinner. Well, I am sorry, but I have lived in a world of grey all my life and I am long past apologising for that." He moved past Xander and towards his jeep. "Get in the car!"

"I'm walking back to my parents!" Xander spat back to his teacher walking past his teacher who looked him in rage slamming the car door he opened.

"Xander! For god's sake!" Methos shouted in disbelief.

"I just need some time Methos!" Xander said as he continued to walk away.