William was a bizarre contrast. His punk look was almost completely at odds with his personality. The angry edge was still there but the cynicism and spite were gone. He was a great morale booster. Thanks to him the group had found shelter in an abandoned diner as well as water. The group had stocked up and moved on. Now they were eyeballing what looked like a hobo's camp.
"We can't just raid it, those people need food and water like anyone else." Buffy argued.
"If we don't we'll die." Kim snapped. A fissure had begun to divide the group, largely instigated by Kim.
"We aren't criminals Kim! We're refugees at best, we are not going to rob those people, we'll ask for help –"
"No. We're going to survive." Kim hissed.
"Why don't I go down and talk to them? If they refuse to help or offer violence of any kind then you ladies can save me." William suggested.
Buffy nodded, once again William had kept the two women from blows.
"So you can't get me back home?"
"Not yet. We're still trying to find a way. Look Xander, this is completely new territory, even for us. We aren't giving up, we won't but it's going to take some time."
"I understand that Dr. Magnus, look when I'm up and at 'em again I want to help you out, do some work around the Sanctuary, maybe be Henry's assistant I owe you."
"That's kind of you and I'm sure Henry could use the help."
"What about Tesla?" Methos asked. He was on a treadmill, Magnus was insuring his stamina and heart were still good.
"He's off the grid, I've sent messages and made it known I need his help but I haven't heard back yet."
"Typical, the one time the psychotic little bugger could be of use. " Methos grunted.
"Wait, the Tesla?" Xander asked. Tesla wasn't normally someone Xander would have an interest in, but since his best friend – Willow – was a hyper nerd and Nikola Tesla had popped up in popular culture often enough Xander had taken an interest.
"Why isn't he dead?" Xander asked intrigued.
Methos arched an eyebrow at Magnus.
"You didn't tell him anything did you?" Magnus chided Methos.
"I told him enough." Methos grunted and picked up a book he'd been reading. Magnus clucked her tongue and peeled off her rubber gloves.
"Have you heard of vampires?" Magnus asked.
"So you lot are lost in the desert?" The cop asked.
"That's right officer, we didn't mean any harm, we were just looking for help."
"And you ended up lost in the desert after getting chased into an underground tunnel by a gang of motorcycle toughs?" The cop asked dubiously.
"Yes sir." The group chorused.
The cop had been checking in on the hobo camp. A courtesy check encouraged by the nearby cities and the county. No one wanted a pack of angry hobos showing up at town hall. He'd seen the twenty or so people and been curious and concerned.
"Right, well, tell you what I'll have my people come on out here and we'll see what we can do for yeah." He grunted and radioed for backup and a paddy wagon or three.
"Xander Harris, he's a nerdy looking guy with one eye! You can't have had too many of them just appear in the desert!" Buffy growled at the cop. He had overseen the arrest and booking of each of the strange youths and was now arguing with their ringleader.
"And I'm tellin yeah lady, we ain't got no reports of no one named Alex, Alexander, or Xander Harris – any spelling – in our database. As a John Doe, a perp, or a victim. Far as we know the kid don't exist. Now you wanna file a report, be my guest."
"Look, just… forget it, thanks for your time." Buffy sighed.
"Think Buffy, if Xander and Methos made it to civilization what would they do?"
"Find the Sanctuary, talk to that Magnus woman."
"Right, now let's do the same. Our lawyers should be able to get us out of here pretty quickly. The officer didn't have any proof of vagrancy and we all kept our mouth shut. Once we're cut loose we'll head to the Sanctuary." William said gently.
Buffy blew out a breath and nodded.
Sure enough within eight hours they were all free and clear. Buffy managed to sweet talk her lawyer out of enough cash to get them all bus fair to the first major city near Magnus' Sanctuary. No easy feat, it had required sweet talking, flirting, and finally a deadly serious promise.
"Thanks again Larry, I'll get it back to you one day, soon." Buffy insisted as the Lawyer started handing bus tickets out.
"Just keep your nose clean Ms. Summers." The Lawyer said kindly.
He watched the girls and their ringleader and lone male companion troop onto the greyhound and waved goodbye.
He sincerely hoped she would keep her nose clean. The Buffy Summers he had found in a database search was dead, had been for almost ten years, killed in a freak fire at her school something about bad wiring in the gym during a dance. Whoever that girl was if the cops ever got to her again and did their jobs competently she'd have a lot of uncomfortable questions to answer. _
Henry was freaking out, which usually meant things were on the verge of catastrophe, The Big Guy and Xander were frantically trying to lockdown the steam system before the newest abnormal inhabitant of the Sanctuary could use it to vacate and invade the steam pipe heating system of the city. Thus causing at best chaos and vast expense.
"Crap hand me that big ass wrench would yeah?" Xander grunted hauling at a long disused shut off valve's manual wheel. It was rusted shut. He slipped the handle of the massive wrench through the wheel and used the extra leverage and his body weight to bust it loose. He grunted in satisfaction as it closed.
"That's the last one Henry." He said over his radio.
"Good the little bugger should be trapped in the fourth floor showers now. Thanks, I'll let you know when we need you, better get back to those repairs Magnus requested."
"On the way boss, hey Henry?"
"Yeah Xander?"
"How'd you last so long without some help?"
"You'll never know." Henry grunted. Xander laughed and he and The Big Guy picked up their tools, Big Guy grunted and scratched at his furry face as Xander locked the door to the maintenance room behind them.
"That was close."
"No argument." Xander agreed.
Buffy was exhausted. Fighting Kim's idiocy and keeping the group together was wearing her out. Without William, Kennedy, and William the group would have splintered weeks ago. As it was they were barely holding together. This was their second day in the city and they hadn't turned up any sign of Magnus, Methos, or Xander.
"We're running out of time William." Buffy murmured as they readied for another day.
"I agree, we need to find something concrete, today." William sighed.
Buffy divided the group into teams of odd numbers, each time would then further divide into any number of evenly numbered groups with one central runner that would report in hourly to Buffy.
"Okay guys, same routine as yesterday, anything comes up before the hour mark, send the runners regardless. Word has to have gotten out by now, if they're here they'll find us or send word." Buffy declared and gestured for the group to break up. Kim was mercifully silent.
Buffy watched the angry young woman leave with her clique and felt a mixture of anger, shame, and frustration. She should have been able to talk Kim into line not allowed things to degrade to this point. Sad suddenly and fully aware of her exhaustion, battered clothing and body odor she scowled and turned to follow William to the rendezvous for the runners.
"Xander Magnus is asking for you." Will said entering Xander's nook of Henry's work area. Xander looked up from what he was tinkering with.
"Oh? Another groundshaking development?" Xander asked. Magnus' idea of momentous news versus everyone elses tended to be a bit different.
"No idea she looked excited."
"Right, lead on." Xander said standing and putting his tools down.
Magnus was speaking with Methos in a low urgent voice when Xander and Will arrived.
"What's up?" Xander asked.
Methos handed Xander a folder. Xander opened it revealing several candid CC TV photos, he let out a strangled noise of surprise and quickly paged through the photos.
"Where are they?" He demanded.
Will studied the photos over Xander's shoulder. They showed a tattered looking bunch of young women and a blonde man.
"We're tracking them down now, we wanted you to make the first contact, safer that way." Magnus said. Methos looked tense.
"Methos?" Xander asked.
"There's a good chance they'll think I took you against your will or did it deliberately, I'd rather not get beheaded by a pissed off Slayer before I have a chance to explain a few things." He pointed out.
"Right, okay where are they?" Xander asked squaring his shoulders.
"I would like Ben to act as your backup if you've no objections? Will would you accompany them? You may be able to answer any questions about us."
Will nodded, the trio of men trooped out. Magnus watched them go with fear in her heart. If these women were as powerful and dangerous as Ben had described then it was entirely possible all three would die shortly.
Buffy was crouched behind a dumpster. She was tired, shaky with hunger and for the moment content to let William watch for runners while she took a moment to rest.
"Buffy!" William hissed. She got to her feet and peered around the dumpster. William was looking down at the entrance to the alley.
"What is it?"
"I think it's Xander." William said.
Buffy hurried forward, sure enough Xander of all people was standing at the entrance to the alley.
"Xander!" She shouted. His head shot up and his face split in a wide grin. She nearly bowled him over as she raced to him and hugged him fiercely. William followed more cautiously.
"Buffy! What are you doing here?"
"Long story, Xander meet William." Buffy said happily.
Xander studied Spike/William. He had dark roots. Weird. He looked like Spike at first glance but he was…kinder, somehow more human.
"William?" Xander asked extending a hand. William took it and shook it firmly.
"What about the demon?" Xander asked Buffy.
"Trapped in our world, along with mine." Buffy said.
"Wait, you're normal?" Xander asked in shock.
Buffy nodded.
"Not to interrupt Xander but I'm sure they'd like a good meal and a shower?" Methos said from behind Xander. Will was at Methos' elbow.
"Right, uh Buffy, William you remember Methos? This is Will Zimmerman, he works with Dr. Magnus. We can take you to the Sanctuary."
"We have to wait for the others first." Buffy said and explained their situation. While they waited the quintet exchanged information.
Soon enough the runners arrived and raced back to their groups, Will contacted the Sanctuary and a bus arrived to take the entire group back. Will stood at the front with the driver while Methos and Xander took the opportunity to address the group. Xander did most of the talking.
"We're going to a safe facility, the Sanctuary, they're good people and they can help us get back home."
"There are a great deal of non-human beings at this place, NONE of them are demons and none are to be assaulted or molested in any way, remember we are going to be in their home, not the other way around. Please keep this in mind." Methos added.
"Right, no slayage girls. Any questions?" Xander asked not really expecting any.
"Yeah, what the hell is going on? Where the fuck are we?" Kim demanded.
"This is my world, you lot don't exist here, s'probably why you don't have your abilities and why Spike is different."
"Why isn't he just dead? If the demon was keeping him undead then why didn't he just turn into dust or a mass of dead meat?"
"We don't have all the answers, we might never have them all, we're concentrating on finding a way between worlds and locating your reality so we can get you all home again." Methos grunted. Will spoke quietly to the driver and they pulled into traffic curtailing further grilling.
Xander was grateful Methos had warned the group about the Sanctuary residents. The Big Guy met them at the main house and assigned rooms. The girls were nervous but cooperative, as soon as Magnus arrived and mentioned showers the nerves were replaced by eager glee.
Methos watched them file off to their quarters, chattering and excited, relieved for some kind of security. He kept a hard eye on Kim. Buffy, Willow, and Kennedy stayed behind.
"We need to talk." Buffy said to Magnus.
"Of course and as soon as possible but certainly it can wait until you've had a chance to get something to eat and some fresh clothing. We will also need to examine you all to check for infections or injuries. Some of our guests are susceptible to human illnesses."
"You don't get to turn any of us, including William into lab rats."
"Back off Buffy Helen would never do anything like that – "
"It has to be clear Methos." Buffy said softly.
"It's alright Ben, Ms. Summers is correct in her desire to clear the air. The people we see here are the most desperate kind. They are hunted and haunted by a society that is unable and unwilling to accept them, most of the people out there would rather kill them on sight than take a moment to realize that they're people like us. I understand your concerns and you have my word that all of your people will be treated with dignity and respect and receive the best care possible."
"Thank you." Buffy sighed and she sagged slightly in relief. She then allowed Xander to shepherd her and the others off to get cleaned up and fed.
"They're going to be a drain on your resources. I can make my reserves available to you." Methos offered. Magnus smiled tiredly.
"That is very generous Ben." It wasn't a no or a yes. Methos smiled at her.
"Why do you insist on calling me by that dusty name?" He asked stepping behind her and rubbing her rock hard shoulders. She sighed and leaned against him slightly.
"Because it reminds me of a gentler time Ben, a more joyful time."
Methos sighed and draped his arms over her shoulders, half embracing her.
"Don't spend too much time in that past Helen. Life is here and now."
"How do you do it?" She asked turning to face him and leaning against his warm chest.
"I take time, I mourn, and then when I'm ready I love again … in time." He said gently. He held her for a moment.
The love he'd had for her still lingered, warm coals in place of a raging bush fire. If she wanted him he would have her but he was not ready or willing to venture his heart and soul so casually again. She looked up at him and smiled.
"I'd like you and Will to be on hand when Buffy's people come in to be examined. I think your presence will reassure them, Xander as well."
"Of course, anything for the cause. What do you hope to find?"
"I've been running molecular scans on Xander's samples. There are some anomalies but not enough to indicate anything specific. I'm hoping that if I have more samples I can reach some solid conclusions."
He released her and slipped his hands into his pockets.
"Do you really think you can get them home?"
"I don't know yet. I have the heads of all the Sanctuaries working on it as well. Ideally these new samples will point us to a specific investigatory direction."
"Right, well I'll be in the mess then, making sure our little darlings leave something behind."
Methos said with a smile. At times he could smell the grief on her the raging despair roiling just under her calm façade. She'd lost her entire family her lover, their child, the hope for a future. Will and her work might fill some of that chasm but it would never heal, possibly scab over, maybe even scar but it would always be there. It took all his strength to stand there, hold her, share that grief, lest his own pain and loss over the centuries come cascading back.
He went to the gym before the mess; spent some time with a practice sword trying to banish his dark thoughts.
John is dead. He told himself. Again and again. He had thought John was dead for decades. The fact that it was true now, real, verifiable…tore at him. He had loved him. He knew that, had accepted it at the time and since but…to lsoe another lover after rediscovering him again…
His blade broke. He stared at it dully. It was hardened oak. He had broken it. He stared at the broken end.
"Little angry?" It was Kim, looked like she was ahead of the game or Methos had lost track of time. Sweat dripped from his jaw. Probably lost track of time.
Methos straightened and regarded Kim with cold eyes.
"What are you doing here?"
"Was looking for you. This is your world right?"
He nodded.
"Teach me about it."
"It's not that different from yours." He said raising the broken practice sword and balancing it on his shoulder. He stared down at Kim, her hard dark eyes not flinching from his gaze.
"Yeah but I want you to show it to me." She crooned and stepped into his space. She looked up at him and wet her lips, shifting her shoulders to accentuate her breasts and narrow waist.
Methos laughed. He couldn't help it, an uncontrolled guffaw followed by breathless laughter. Kim's features narrowed and then twisted in rage.
"Fuck you freak!" She screamed and slapped him across the face. Methos kept laughing. Tears streaming down his face.
Kim let out a harsh wailing scream and tore her shirt to the waist. Methos stopped laughing and stared at her. She worked up tears and ran from the room.
"What the fuck?" Methos muttered and followed her.
She burst into the mess and screamed again.
"He tried to rape me!" Methos' jaw dropped.
"Lying little cunt, she came on to me, I laughed at her and she staged this!" Methos roared. Buffy intervened physically stopping Methos from moving toward Kim. Helen's face was stormy.
"Kim, if this is a lie –" Buffy started.
"It's not a lie!" Kim snuffled through tears.
"Magnus, you have excellent security, bring up the video feed from the gym." Methos requested, voice thick with rage.
Helen nodded at Will.
"I'll get Henry."
"No one else leaves this room, Buffy If you could release Ben I would appreciate it. No one is a prisoner until we review the evidence at hand." Magnus said icily. Buffy stepped away from Methos. No one was comforting Kim. It looked like she'd gained more enemies than friends with her antics over the last few weeks. Kennedy and Willow were glaring at Kim.
Henry arrived and Magnus gestured for the entire group to follow them. They ended up arrayed before several large monitors. Henry used his pad to bring up the relevant feed.
"Okay, this starts when Ben came into the gym, an hour before Kim arrives, I'll fast forward through most of it." Henry started the feed. It showed an upset Methos entering, warming up, and then breaking his sword. Kim entered and Henry paused the feed.
"This took place about fifteen minutes ago, the audio should be pretty clear but if anyone has a hard time hearing it, lemme know." Henry said nervously. He hated having all those eyes on him. Especially knowing they were slayers.
The feed started at normal speed. They watched as Kim propositioned Methos and was shot down, then tore her blouse and ran from the room.
"Lying bitch!" Methos snarled.
"You can't believe that!" Kim cried.
"It seems clear enough Kim, you've lied and accused him of a terrible crime. Why? Because he scorned you? Because he said no?" William demanded. His eyes gleamed.
"I..I.."
"You're done." Methos said icily.
"Dr. Magnus, do you have a place where we can secure her for now?" Buffy asked calmly. Kim rounded on Buffy and tried strike her. Buffy effortlessly knocked her down. She might not be a full slayer but she was still a skilled fighter.
"That's two counts of assault and one of false report of rape, wanna add to your tally?" Buffy asked. Willow and Kennedy picked Kim up by the arms.
"Will can you show them to the SHU?"
Will nodded and lead the prisoner and her guards away.
"Well, that was ugly and unnecessary. You are all our guests, please do not let this ruin our potential relationship. We want to help you return to your friends and family. Now, if there are no further questions I would like an opportunity to insure your health and possibly get some answers at our infirmary."
The group filed out following Xander. Methos was fuming.
"That's it?" He demanded.
"What more do you want?" Magnus asked.
"She accused me of raping her –"
"You've never raped a woman?" Magnus asked. Methos face froze, a mask of rage.
"I know your past Ben, as much as anyone."
"Then you don't know anything." He hissed.
A/N you may've noticed some editing of earlier chapters, largely for logic, spelling etc. These most recent have had that treatment in the interests of getting them out there for those you who've stuck around all this time. As always, notes, comments, gripes and so on feel free to pass 'em on :)