A/N: Apologies for this chapter coming up so late. I had spent the entire week proof-reading someone else's Masters thesis. So I got kinda tired of looking at Word and took a break after that. Spent the whole of yesterday finishing this after a few rewrites. Hope you enjoy this chapter which is the second to last in this arc.
Room 214, Stevenson Hall, 2215 hours.
"Hey" said Buffy after all the lights had turned back on after Willow was almost kidnapped by the commando's they had seen before around campus, especially on Halloween, "sorry about that, I should have been here sooner. You alright?"
"It was like they also knew to get me" said Willow as she looked at Buffy, "it was weird. They caught Spike and then one of them told another commando, 'she needs to be taken as well, we have our orders'."
"Are you sure that's what they said?" asked Buffy, "those exact words?"
"Yea" said Willow as she pulled a pillow to her chest while sitting on the bad before her voice broke, "first Oz leaves me, and now this."
"It's alright, Will" said Buffy as she sat next to the redhead, "listen, how about we go to my house tonight?"
"Nah" said Willow, "it's already getting late."
"You sure?" asked Buffy as she reached for her phone, "come on….. movie marathon, and I can get mom to bake us some cookies?"
"I just feel like sulking" said Willow.
"Come on, Will" said Buffy, "how about the Bronze? I'll call Xander and Anya."
"Must Anya come?" said Willow.
"She and Xander are pretty much joined at the hip, Will" replied Buffy.
"Sure" sighed Willow.
Just then, the phone started to ring and Buffy picked it up.
"Hey mom" said Buffy, "guess what? We were just talking about you."
"Buffy" said Joyce as she looked at Willow who was sitting in front of her, "is Willow with you?"
"Yeah" said Buffy as she looked at her best friend, "What's up? You wanna talk to her?"
"She…. She's there?" asked Joyce as she looked at the older Willow at her house in shock.
"Is everything ok mom?" asked Buffy, "you sound a bit….. off….."
"No" said Joyce as the Willow who was sitting in front of her smiled and signalled that she would be in the kitchen with Dawn so that Joyce could have some privacy, "I just had a bad dream."
"Mom?" said Buffy as her voice reflected her worry while Willow looked on in concern, "whats going on?"
"Nothing, dear" said Joyce as she made sure she could see the Willow in her house, and Dawn, go into the kitchen, "any plans for tonight?"
"I'm just going to the Bronze with Willow and the others" said Buffy.
"Don't stay up too late" said Joyce.
"Yes, Mother" said Buffy as she rolled her eyes, while Willow smiled.
"Alright then" said Joyce
"I'll come by for dinner tomorrow before I have to patrol" said Buffy, "I'll bring Willow with me."
"Tomorrow?" said Joyce as she watched the Willow in her kitchen hugging Dawn, "sure."
"Alrighty" said Buffy as she put the phone down.
The Summers Residence, 2220 hours, 3 hours elapsed.
"Willow" said Dawn as they entered the kitchen, "how did they know I was here?"
"Tracker" said Willow as she looked inside the kitchen cupboards for any hard liquor when Joyce came in after having talked with Buffy, "they embedded one into your shoulder blade."
"Joyce" said Willow as she looked at Buffy's mother, "do you have any hard liquor in the house?"
"I had some when I found out about Buffy being the Slay…" said Joyce when she suddenly held her hand over her mouth, "I really wasn't…. supposed to say that."
"It's ok" said Willow as she glanced at Dawn who was looking away, "she's the Slayer in my reality too."
"Oh" said Joyce, "then you should know that….."
"Sorry Joyce" said Willow as she walked towards Buffy's mother, "I really need that liquor for this emergency surgery."
"Huh?" said both Joyce and Dawn.
"I need to get the tracker out" said Willow as she looked at Dawn.
"Can't we go to a hospital or something?" asked Dawn as Joyce went to the dining room and came back with some scotch.
"Sure, if you want an armed response in a building full of sick people" said Willow as she took the bottle and then looked at Joyce again, "do you have a razor sharp knife?"
"Ummmm…." Said Joyce as she opened the drawers in the kitchen and handed the redhead a box cutter.
"Thanks" said Willow as she turned to face Dawn and started to remove items from the island in the kitchen, "I need you to lie down on the island here, I just need to see it and then I'll pull it out."
"Wait" said Joyce, "this is ridiculous, you can't cut into her."
"They're tracking her" said Willow while she looked at Joyce and poured some of the liquor over the knife, and handed the bottle to Dawn.
"Take a sip" said Willow as she smiled at Dawn, "I know you're over twenty one but still, whatever you do, don't tell Buffy."
"Really?" smiled Dawn, "I can drink?"
"Just this once" smiled Willow as Dawn gulp down some of the scotch, and then coughed.
"Like I said, the tracker's in your shoulder blade" said Willow as Dawn handed the bottle back to Joyce and hopped onto the island, "which is why I need you to take your shirt off."
"That's why you want to operate on me, huh?" said Dawn as she grinned from ear to ear while taking off her shirt.
"That's the fastest time I've ever seen anyone get tipsy" smirked Willow, "you're worse than Daniel."
"Oh I have such a story to tell Faith" said Dawn as she lay down onto the kitchen island, "you saw me in my bra. She'll be so jealous."
"Oddball" said Willow as Dawn smiled and closed her eyes.
"Faith?" said Joyce as she grabbed Willow's hand just as she was going to make a cut, "you know Faith?"
"Yes" said Willow as she looked at Joyce.
"Do you know what she did to Buffy? What she did to Angel? She killed that poor man" said Joyce as she opened her eyes wide.
"Yes, I know everything" said Willow as she looked at Joyce, "Finch was an accident, it happens in the line of work she used to be in….. it happens in my line of work too. Professor Worth was someone she deeply regrets killing as well, I know because she still has nightmares about it. I have to calm her down sometimes, but she knows now that what she did was under someone else's orders. Plus, she's seeing a counsellor for it and some other issues, she's much better now. I know about Angel too because, I was one of the people who encouraged Buffy to go after Faith so that she could save Angel. I supported the idea that Faith should die so that Angel could live. Now please let me take this tracker out or else we'll have another wave of gun toting maniacs."
"Mom" said Dawn, "please, trust us. Willow already proved to you that we're from an alternate reality."
"Damn it" said Joyce as she grabbed the bottle of scotch and took a sip, "don't you need anaesthetics?"
"No" said Willow, "I've shut down the pain center of her brain, she won't feel a thing."
"Dawn?" said Joyce as she looked worriedly at the brunette who was lying still and looking straight ahead.
"No pain, mom" smiled Dawn.
"Please" said Joyce, "don't call me…"
"OK, Mrs. Summers" said Dawn as she closed her eyes as Willow glanced at the back of Dawn's head, and then at Joyce who immediately regretted saying what she just said.
"I'm sorry" said Joyce as she walked towards where Dawn was looked at and kneeled down, "I didn't mean…"
"Its alright" said Dawn softly as she turned her head and looked the other way.
"You said you shut down the pain centers of her brain" said Joyce softly as she slowly got up and looked at Willow, "what did you mean by that?"
"I'm a telepath" said Willow as she glanced up at a surprised Joyce, "don't worry, I didn't listen in on your conversation with Buffy."
"Alright" said Joyce, "I didn't mention anything about you or Dawn to Buffy. But I should tell you that she's coming here tomorrow for dinner."
"I see" replied Willow as she spread the skin and flesh above the tracker, "we'll be out of your hair tonight."
"Why?" said Joyce, "you can sleep here. Do what you have to do tomorrow."
"Can't" said Willow, "I read the soldiers minds, they know I came through the device as well. They've seen my face, which means that the Willow of your reality is in danger too."
"She'll be safe with Buffy" said Joyce, "and if the Buffy of your reality is the same as mine, then you know she'll be looking out for Willow."
"Willow" said Dawn, "she's right, you know."
"Yeah" said Willow.
Joyce looked on as Willow put a hand over the cut and the tracker just shot out from inside Dawn and landed onto Willow's hand. She then saw Willow make a run for the upstairs restroom.
"Dawn" said Joyce as she faced the brunette.
"I'm sorry for coming" said Dawn, "you look just like her, everything about you is the same… but Willow's right. You aren't her, I was just a fool."
"Done" said Willow as she came down the stairs after she had flushed the toilet, "it's in the sewer system now, would love to see them chase it."
"Can you close me up, please?" said Dawn softly.
"Sure" said Willow as she put her hand over the cut and concentrated.
Joyce looked in surprise as she saw a white light coming from Willow's hands as she saw the cut close up by itself.
"Done" said Willow as she reactivated the pain receptors on Dawn's brain.
"Stings a little" said Dawn as she got up and put her shirt on again, "so tracker free?"
"Yea" said Willow, "I read their minds and found information on only one."
"Willow" said Dawn as she suddenly looked at the redhead, "How long have we been in this reality?"
"A little over three hours" said Willow as she looked at her watch before looking at a worried Dawn.
"What?" said Joyce as she held Willow's hand, "why does Dawn look worried?"
"If I don't get back" said Willow turning to face Joyce, "I'll die."
"What!" shouted Joyce, "why?"
"There can't be two of me in the same reality" said Willow, "think of it this way, this universe already has a Willow; then I came here, which makes me the invader. The universe is trying to right an anomaly… i.e me… by getting me out."
"She'll die" said Dawn.
"Dawn" said Willow, "The same will happen to you."
"I know" said Dawn, "I can't stay either…. Makes sense though, why no one can remember me."
Willow: "The monks haven't created you yet."
Dawn: "Yeah."
"What are the both of you talking about?" said Joyce.
"It's complicated" said Dawn.
"We've got the time" said Joyce.
"Joyce, I'm sorry if I'm being blunt" said Willow, "but will knowing about Dawn make your feelings towards her any different?"
"I don't know, Willow" said Joyce, "you have to understand that all these things about alternate realities, a daughter that I don't have, you joining the Air Force and doing God knows what….. it's too much information for me to take."
"I'm sorry" said Dawn as she looked at Willow, "I made a mistake coming here."
"No" said Willow, "Even before I left Sunnydale, Buffy's been telling you to follow your instincts and that's what you did. You did good."
"Thanks" said Dawn before she turned and looked at Joyce, "I guess it's time we went."
"No" said Joyce as she stood up and grabbed Dawn's hand, "the both of you are staying here."
"Joyce" said Willow, "you'll be in potential danger."
"You said you fixed their minds" said Joyce, "they wouldn't know where they went to and that they couldn't find Dawn."
"I know" said Willow, "but…. Look, I leave this to Dawn."
"Willow" said Dawn, "I am actually kinda tired."
"See" said Joyce, "the both of you should stay. I don't know what it's like in your reality but Buffy and Willow of this reality used to have sleepovers. She even has some of her clothes here."
"I remember" smiled Willow at the thought of all the times Buffy, Xander and her would spend in the Slayer's room just having fun and eating cookies.
"Then stay" said Joyce, "it's not like you'll be able to do anything right now."
"Dawnie?" said Willow as she looked at Dawn, "you ok with this?"
"Yeah" said Dawn as she looked at Willow before looking at Joyce.
"Alright" said Willow as she walked out the door, "I better bring the car inside the garage."
"Sure" said Joyce as she looked at Dawn.
The Initiative HQ, 0000 hours, 4 hours and 40 minutes elapsed.
"How the hell could you lose them?" said Maggie as she looked angrily at Riley and the rest of his team.
"Sorry ma'am" said Riley, "we searched everywhere but we couldn't find the Dawn girl."
"How is that possible?" said Maggie, "you had the monitoring equipment for the tracker, it couldn't have been difficult to find her."
"I'm sorry ma'am" said Riley.
"And now" said Maggie as she turned on a monitor, "the tracker is in the Sunnydale sewage system. Willow must have met with Dawn and taken out the tracker and flushed it down one of a few thousand toilets in Sunnydale, how the hell can none of you remember where you were?"
"I'm sorry, ma'am" said Riley, "but I really have no excuse."
"We were unable to capture the Willow who came through that item, unable to capture our own Willow, lost hostile seventeen and now we lost Dawn" said Maggie, "we are not having a good day people."
"No, ma'am" said Riley as he looked straight ahead.
"Professor Walsh" said Dr. Angleman as he ran over to Maggie while carrying a folder.
"Yes?" said Maggie as Dr. Angleman whispered into her ear.
"After having increased our patrols, we found what we were looking for" whispered the doctor, "two of them in fact, excellent specimen's for implantation."
"Good" smiled Maggie before looking at Riley and his team, "I'm giving you all another chance to redeem yourselves."
"We found them, ma'am?" asked Riley.
"No" said Maggie, "we've found another dangerous demon somewhere on the north side of the city, it's known as Polgara. Get your team together; you'll be going out immediately. This thing needs to be caught before it can do damage. And it can do a lot of damage, Dr. Angleman will brief you once you've geared up."
"Yes, ma'am" said Riley as he and the others followed Dr. Angleman for their briefing.
'This is what I call luck' thought Maggie to herself, 'once I get the Polgara's arm, we can attach it to Adam and then order him to find the Willow who came through the Mirror and Dawn. Riley and the others can bring in our Willow, and then we'll put the both of them down and transfer the required brain material onto Adam's brain. He'll be the ultimate super-soldier."
The Summers Residence, the same time.
"Have you called the people you needed to call?" asked Joyce as she sat on the armchair as she looked at Willow and Dawn, who had her head on Willow's lap and was in a deep sleep.
"Yeah" said Willow, "I told them everything about my situation. They should be here in five hours or so."
"I see" said Joyce as she looked at the sleeping form of Dawn.
"If I'm dead in your reality, is Dawn staying with Buffy?" asked Joyce.
"It's a little complimcated" said Willow, "but for now she's staying with me while getting her double major in psychology and linguistics in Colorado Springs."
"Really?" said Joyce as she widened her eyes in surprise.
"Yeah" said Willow, "Buffy's real proud of her, so are the others."
"How about you?" asked Joyce, "how's your life gone?"
"In my reality, I left Sunnydale about eight or nine years ago and joined the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs" said Willow as she brushed her fingers through Dawn's hair, "graduated with my Bachelors in Science, completed my Masters and now I've got about four months left before I finish up my PhD."
"I'm impressed" smiled Joyce, "what are you doing your PhD in?"
"Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering" said Willow, "with a little bit of biology thrown in."
"I see" said Joyce as she looked at Willow, "you're doing Psychology in this reality."
"So was I" said Willow, "but a friend of mine inspired me to follow my interest in tech and get into engineering after I went to Colorado Springs."
"Must have been a good friend" said Joyce.
"Yea" said Willow as she looked at Joyce, "but you can't tell anyone that I was here, or what I told you."
"I understand that" said Joyce, "you know I've been keeping Buffy's secret."
"Yea" said Willow, "I need you to do me a favour."
"Huh?" said Joyce.
"After I leave" said Willow, "get a check up done; MRI, CAT scan, everything. Then during your follow-up, insist that they search for any aneurysms. Write it down somewhere if you have to."
"The tumour?" asked Joyce.
"Yes" said Willow, "after you died, I mean after the other you died… Buffy and the others fell apart emotionally, I heard things got harder and harder for them."
"You mentioned you weren't there" said Joyce, "why did you leave Sunnydale?"
"I needed a change" said Willow, "I used magic in a way I shouldn't have and it hurt everyone. So I left that same night."
"No one stopped you?" asked Joyce, "I know that Xander and you were close but….."
"I didn't tell anyone I was leaving" said Willow, "I couldn't until later…. after I arrived in Colorado Springs."
'Sorry Joyce' thought Willow to herself, 'I can't tell you the truth, at least not yet."
"I see" replied Joyce, "Xander and Buffy must have taken it especially hard."
"Yea" said Willow, "but eventually I know I did the right thing by going out on my own. I have a fantastic job, met new friends and basically having the greatest experience anyone could ever ask for."
"No regrets, then?" asked Joyce.
"None at all" said Willow.
"You said you're not practising magic" said Joyce as she leaned forward, "but that thing with healing Dawn… it looked magical."
"I realized that I have my own abilities" said Willow, "it's genetic instead of magic, at least for what I can do now. Throughout high school and freshman year in college I practised magic, only to later learn that I had abilities that were already genetically hardwired into me that I didn't know about. Talk about ironic."
"Must have been a surprise" said Joyce.
"Yeah" said Willow as she leaned back on the sofa, "well, you should get some sleep. I'll nap here for awhile; don't want to wake up Dawn. The people I called should be here in a few more hours. They can explain to you what I do."
"Which reminds me" said Joyce, "what could be so important that I need clearance to know about?"
"If I told you now" said Willow grinning, "it will ruin the surprise."
"Right" said Joyce as she furrowed her eyebrows and looked at the grinning Willow before getting up, "I guess I'll see you in the morning then."
"Yea" said Willow, "good night, Joyce."
"Good night, Willow" said Joyce, "or should I say Dr. Willow?"
"Just Willow" laughed the redhead.
"Alright" smiled Joyce as she looked at Willlow and then Dawn before she went up the stairs.
Before she closed her eyes, Willow telekinetically grabbed her weapons that were now in a duffel bag and placed it on the sofa next to her. After ensuring that all the grenades, Zats and Intars were deactivated, she set an alarm on her watch and closed her eyes for a short two hour nap.
Sunnydale City Airport, Sunnydale, 0500 hours, 9 hours 40 minutes elapsed.
"Carter?" said Colonel O'Neill as he got out of the transport plane, followed by Major Carter, Teal'c and Daniel.
"Sir" said the Major, "I've done some research on this Willow Rosenberg."
"And?" asked the Colonel as he walked towards the airport terminal.
"She's smart, Sir" said Major Carter, "very smart."
"Smarter than you, Sam?" asked Daniel with a grin.
"Well, her SAT scores were much higher than mine" said the Major as Colonel O'Neill and Daniel whistled as Teal'c looked on.
"Great" smiled the Colonel as he looked back at Major Carter, "another egghead."
'Sir" smiled the Major, "its experience in the real world that counts."
"Ah" said Daniel, "well, she is from another reality where she's a Captain in the Air Force."
"So she says" said the Colonel, "Hammond asked us to come here and check her out, confirm her story and, if true, help her get back home."
"You do not believe her O'Neill?" asked Teal'c, "even after Dr. Carter came through the mirror."
"It's not that, Teal'c" said the Colonel, "in the two realities that we know off, no one has made mention of a Willow Rosenberg, that's my issue."
"Jack" said Daniel, "Dr. Carter also said that there are multitudes of alternate realities out there, even Sam agreed with her."
"Dr. Carter was right, Sir" said the Major.
"Anything else about our guest?" asked the Colonel as he tried to change the subject.
"She received offers to go to some of the top schools, Sir" said the Major surprised.
"And she still decided to stay in small town California?" asked the Colonel, "in a town that supposedly has demons and vampires, of which no one seems to know or do anything about?"
"Perhaps she stayed due to her familial ties" said Teal'c.
"Maybe" said the Major, "but all these things about demons, Sir?"
"You read the file" said the Colonel as he recalled General Hammond giving them all folders to review on the Initiative.
"Yea" said Major Carter, "research on demons being carried out by the Army."
"Is this common place among the Tau'ri, O'Neill?" asked Teal'c, "to conduct research on beings that you do not understand."
"Not everyone is like that idiot who wanted to cut you open when you first came here, Teal'c" said the Colonel, "according to the files, these people want to help."
"It could also be said that this group desire to conduct experiments on these creatures, just as that Colonel would have done to me if the President had not intervened" said Teal'c as he looked at Colonel O'Neill.
"If what the files say are true" said the Major, "they are helping to protect the planet as we are, except our threats are alien parasites and they are protecting us against the monsters of our nightmares."
"Still, Sam" asked Daniel, "what kind of research are they doing? Why?"
"Why are we fighting against the Goa'uld?" said the Colonel, "the answer would be the same, for survival."
"Yes" said Daniel, "then why conduct research? What is the Army hoping to gain? Like it or not Jack, these are still sentient beings we're talking about. If you think about it, they are aliens as well and if they do pose a threat to this planet then yes, we fight them. But why capture some and do research? Are they planning to let them go at some point? Maybe help them integrate into society?"
"I don't know, Daniel" said the Colonel.
"Perhaps Captain Rosenberg and Dawn Summers will know more about this Initiative" said Teal'c.
"Yea" said the Colonel as the group walked out of the terminal and headed towards their rental car.
"Sir" said Major Carter, "I also researched this Dawn Summers but, there's nothing on her. I tried every single database on Earth but still nothing. It's like she doesn't exist."
"Alias?" asked Daniel.
"Maybe" said the Major, "all I know is that, no-one by that name exists."
"Where shall we be meeting Captain Rosenberg?" asked Teal'c.
"Well" said Colonel O'Neill as he opened the door, "we're dropping our stuff at the hotel and then we'll be meeting her at the home of her best friend. The mother knows that they're from an alternate reality but she doesn't know about aliens, the SGC or the Stargate."
"Captain Rosenberg never mentioned it to her?" said the Major.
"Nope" said the Colonel as he started the car and pulled out of the parking lot, "hope this doesn't come back and bite us on our ass."
The Summers Residence, 00600 hours, 10 hours 40 minutes elapsed.
Willow was sleeping with her head hanging down and her red hair covering her face when suddenly she was startled awake by a knocking at the door. Looking around, she saw that Dawn wasn't sleeping on her lap anymore.
"Dawn" whispered Willow.
"Yeah" replied Dawn from the kitchen as she looked at the door.
"Who could that be at this early hour?" said Joyce as she slowly walked down the stairs as she saw Willow just in her black sleeveless undershirt and her regulation trousers stand up slowly and stretch.
"It's the people I called" said Willow as Joyce reached for the door and opened it.
"Ma'am" said the Colonel as he introduced himself and the others who were standing behind him, "my name is Colonel Jack O'Neill, this is Major Samantha Carter, Dr. Daniel Jackson and the quiet, but stoic fella is Murray."
"Umm…. Hi" said Joyce, "you must be Willow's friends?"
"Well…. I guess you could say that… relatively speaking" said the Colonel as he looked at the Major before looking at Joyce.
"Please, come in" said Joyce as she stepped aside and let SG1 into the house.
The Colonel was the one who entered the home first and took a quick look around before he saw a brunette looking at him from the living room, who was standing next to a red haired young woman standing at attention.
"Captain Rosenberg, I presume?" asked the Colonel as he and Major Carter approached her.
"Yes, Sir… ma'am" said Willow as she saluted the both of them.
"At ease Captain" said the Colonel as he and Major Carter returned the salute.
"And this" said Willow as she motioned towards the brunette standing next to her, "this is Dawn Summers."
"Please don't blame Willow for this mess" said Dawn, "it's my fault that we're stuck here."
"It's alright Dawn" said Willow.
"Before we go on" said the Colonel as he looked at Willow, "I need to know exactly what happened."
"Of course, Sir" said Willow, "but about Joyce, sir?"
"Ah" said the Colonel as he turned and looked at Joyce and then at Daniel and Teal'c, "could you fella's have her sign the NDA and then give her the information?"
"Sure, Jack" said Daniel as he turned to face Joyce, "Mrs. Summers, is there someplace we could talk in private?"
"Of… of course" said Joyce as she led them to the kitchen.
"Alright, Captain" said the Colonel, "we're waiting."
"Well" said Willow, "I think Dawn could explain it better than me, she was working overtime at the SGC."
"You?" said Major Carter as she looked at Dawn.
"I'm just a civilian consultant helping Daniel with translating Ancient texts" said Dawn, "I was staying late to finish some stuff up when I went for some coffee in the commissary. On the way back to his lab, I started to hear voices."
"You heard voices?" said the Major disbelievingly as she looked at Colonel O'Neill, "and you're sure you passed a psych exam?"
"Yes" said Dawn as she looked at Willow, who nodded at her to continue, "anyway, I followed the voices to a storage room. Thinking that maybe Willow and the others were playing a trick on me, I swipped my card through the scanner and walked in, only to notice a blue light."
"What?!" shouted Joyce from the kitchen as Willow and Dawn looked at each other and smiled, while Colonel O'Neill and Major Carter turned around to face the kitchen.
"Guess she knows about it now" said the Colonel as he looked at Major Carter before turning back to Willow and Dawn.
"As I was saying" said Dawn, "I knew the light was coming from the quantum mirror but I wanted to see what was going on. I mean, I've seen it before when the Willow from another reality came to attack my Willow so it fascinated me. Well, all I saw in the mirror was a white wall and then a long thin shadow, followed by shouts to stop before blue sparks hit something or someone before the mirror deactivated. I was torn between getting someone to come down to the storage room and wanting to try activating the mirror on my own to see what had happened. After comtemplating for maybe fifteen or so minutes, I put my hand on the outer shell and, to my surprise, the mirror activated."
"That's not possible" said Major Carter.
"I know, ma'am" said Willow, "I read the report of how a remote device was used to access the Mirror to get Dr. Carter home to her own reality. But this one is unique, it activates only when someone has the Ancient gene."
"Did you just say Ancient gene?" said Major Carter, "as in the Ancients? The creators of the Stargate network?"
"Yes" said Willow, "I have it too. Which is why I was able to activate it as well."
"You have it too" said Dawn as she looked at Colonel O'Neill.
"Huh?" said the Colonel.
"She's right Sir" said Willow, "the only way you were able to have the entire Ancient databse downloaded into your head was because you have the gene."
"That's what we only assumed" said Major Carter, "that only people with a certain genetic trait could access that database."
"Its true ma'am" replied Willow.
"Please, continue" said a surprised Colonel O'Neill as he turned to Dawn.
"Well" said Dawn, "I thought that maybe it was just a fluke so I touched the mirror surface. The next thing I know, I'm flying into a wall and then I blacked out."
"Willow!" said Joyce from the kirchen.
"Sir… ma'am?" said Willow.
"Go ahead Captain" said the Colonel.
"Dawn" said Willow as she looked ath the brunette, "maybe you could tell them the truth about the Initiative?"
"The truth?" asked Major Carter.
"There are something's the both of you should know" said Dawn as Willow walked into the kitchen.
"Willow" said Joyce in shock, "this is all a joke right? Aliens? Wormholes to other planets? Humans taken from Earth as slaves and hosts for alien parasites?"
"I remember that's what you thought about vampires and demons" said Willow smiling at Joyce.
"This is something different Willow" said Joyce, "you're talking about aliens here….. aliens... which one would you believe more?"
"It's all true Joyce" said Willow as she sat next to Joyce and looked at Teal'c and Daniel, "Aliens, off-shoots of early humans, the Stargate. Everything's true. That's why my… well, our work is classified as Top Secret."
"I'm trying to wrap my head around this" said Joyce as she brought her hands to her head.
"Might I suggest we drink some coffee?" asked Teal'c.
"Mrs. Summers?" said Daniel as she nodded her head.
"Joyce?" said Willow as she held her trembling hands and sat right beside her, "that holographic disguise, those weapons I have with me. They're all alien technology."
"Demons, vampire and now this" said Joyce, "its all so….."
"Screwed up?" smiled Willow.
"Yes" said Joyce, "at first all I had to worry about was vampires trying to kill me, and now I find out that a parasite could take over my body and use it just like a puppet."
"We….. I mean they've protected the planet just like Buffy's been doing against demons" whispered Willow.
"And you?" said Joyce.
"Yea" replied Willow, "I've fought in the front lines, flatlined a few times before suddenly recovering, watched people die, killed people myself…. I've had to grow up and look outside the confines of Earth."
"Are you happy?" whispered Joyce, "are you really happy?"
"Yes" said Willow, "I'm helping to save the planet, and the galaxy. We may cut it really close sometimes but eventually everything works out. The Earth's still spinning on it's axis, isn't it."
"You're right" said Joyce, "but that girl who'd come by and visit Buffy, have sleep-overs, talks about boys…. What happened to her?"
"She's here" smiled Willow, "I still have the same fear of frogs, my voice still gets squeaky when I get all excited about some new technology we acquired and I still think about my days as a Scooby. But I'll never leave this life behind."
"Captain, Daniel, Teal'c" said the Colonel from the living room, "we need to talk."
"Teal'c?" said Joyce as she looked at Willow.
"Teal'c" said Willow as she pointed at the Jaffa who had just handed her a cup of hot coffee.
"I am a Jaffa" said Teal'c.
"Oh" said Joyce as her eyes went wide when she suddenly made the connection, "OH!"
"Indeed" said Teal'c as he smiled and gave a small bow.
Joyce looked on in surprise as Teal'c and Daniel walked into the living room before Willow squeezed her hand one more time before she herself went to the living room.
U.C. Sunnydale, 1000 hours, 14 hours 40 minutes elapsed.
"Phew" said Willow as she walked through the halls toward the psychology 105 class that Maggie was teaching.
"Everything alright, Captain?" asked Colonel O'Neill as he walked next to Willow, who was in her holographic disguise.
"Yes, Sir" said Willow as she looked at her watch again before facing the Colonel, "the last time I went to another reality, I had started to experience entropic cascade failure by this time."
"I see" said the Colonel as the both of them continued to walk down the hall.
"Yes, sir" replied Willow.
"So let me get this straight again" said the Colonel, "you're from an alternate reality where this whole thing here looks like your past?"
"I know it's hard to get the mind around it, Sir" said Willow, "but like Major Carter said, time doesn't run at the same speed in different realities. One reality could be running fast, and another reality could be going at a slower pace. I just happened to drop into one that's going slower."
"So" said the Colonel, "anything you can tell me about my future?"
"Sorry, Sir" said Willow, "I know it's an alternate reality and all but I'm afraid that if I tell you what's going to happen, then things may not go the way it's supposed to. Whatever happens, should happen because it happens for a reason. If I told you what had to happen, then either you would change it or not let it happen, leading to possible catastrophic events."
"Gak!" said the Colonel as he waved his arms, "all you had to say was 'no' Captain."
"Yes, Sir" smiled Willow, "sorry, Sir."
"Its fine" said the Colonel.
"Well" said Willow as she stopped, "there's one thing I could tell you."
"Which is?" asked the Colonel.
"Please consider locking your house door, or getting a dog or some kind of an alarm system. Trust me, it helps a lot, Sir" smiled Willow.
"Right" said the Colonel as he turned to walk again.
"Sir" said Willow as she grabbed at hold of his arm.
"Captain?" said the Colonel as he looked at Willow quizzically.
"The SGC will have losses" said Willow, "I can't tell you who or when, but there will be losses. On the other hand, there'll also be a lot of good as well, allies will be gained, and other alliances will be strengthened."
"That's cryptic" said the Colonel, "something to do with what you told us the Asgard did to you? You're sounding like an Ancient."
"No, Sir" smiled Willow, "just wanted to try and tell you that everything turns out ok, hopefully. Although I don't know what's going to happen in this reality after I'm gone, hopefully everything goes the same way it did in my own reality."
"Let's stop all this reality talk" said the Colonel, "we need to get the both of you back."
"Yes, Sir" said Willow as they continued walking towards the class.
In the class of fifty students, Riley was sitting at the desk behind Maggie as he looked at both Buffy and Willow. He noticed that Buffy seemed to be dozing off while Willow turned around and nudged Buffy awake when she started to make snoring sounds. He saw Buffy awaken with a start just as she saw Riley looking back at her and smiled.
He knew that Maggie had given him a job to do in watching Willow and, once the opportunity presented itself, abducting both her and the other one that came through the Mirror. But he also knew that Willow was Buffy's best friend and if she found out that he was involved in taking Willow, then there would be no chance of anything happening between them.
'It's only to ask her to join us' thought Riley as he looked at Maggie, 'but what if she says no? Would the Initiative let go of someone with telekinetic abilities?'
Riley then looked at the classroom door as it opened and looked on as two men walked in.
"Excuse me, Professor Walsh?" said Colonel O'Neill as he walked into the class with Willow in her disguise and walked up to Maggie, "My name is Colonel Jack O'Neill with the Air Force and this is Major Paul Davis from the Pentagon, we'd like to have a word with you outside."
"I'm sorry" said Maggie as she looked at the two men, "as you can very well see, I have a class right now. You would have to visit me during office hours."
"We need to talk now" said the Colonel as he stepped closer to Maggie and whispered into her ear, "it's regarding something the Initiative has that does not belong to them."
"Excuse me?" said Maggie as she looked at the two men surprised before turning to face Riley.
"Alright everyone" said Riley as he stood up and faced the class, "you'll all be getting off early today."
"This is great" said Buffy as she looked at Willow, "Thanksgiving break started early for us."
"Yea" said Willow.
"Come on Will" said Buffy, "cheer up, I was thinking about Thanksgiving dinner at Giles' place."
"Maybe I'll think about it?" asked Willow, "how about we go see Xander at the dig site? Anya's been bugging us to come along with her."
"Oh yeah" said Buffy as she brushed past Willow in her holographic disguise.
"Hey Buff" said Willow as she got out of the classroom with Buffy, "how about I meet you at the dig? I wanna ask Professor Walsh something before I forget."
"Alright" said Buffy, "I'll see you there."
"Sure" said Willow as she opened the door again and saw the two military men talking with Maggie.
"Umm…. Professor Walsh? Sorry to bother you but I was just wondering…." Said Willow as Maggie interrupted her.
"Miss Rosenberg" said Maggie, "I'm sorry I don't have the time right now. These Air Force officers have come for a consult about an issue with one of my training sessions. How about this? While I take care of them, maybe you could discuss whatever questions you have with Riley?"
"Sure" said Riley as he approached Willow, "how about we go outside to talk without bothering these gentlemen and the Professor."
"Alright" smiled Willow as she walked away with Riley.
Riley: "Alright this is the perfect opportunity."
'Huh?' thought Willow to herself as she saw Riley walk off with her counterpart.
Once the door closed after Willow and Riley had left, Maggie walked up to the Colonel with a scowl on her face.
"How dare you come into my class and almost reveal a state secret?" said Maggie, "are you aware of how much trouble you are in now?"
"I have clearance to know what you people are doing" said Colonel O'Neill, "the President himself gave us access, especially when you have an item that doesn't belong to you."
"I don't know what you're talking about" said Maggie, "now get out of this city or I'll take this up with the Pentagon."
"Listen lady" said the Colonel, "You are….."
"Sir" said Willow as she opened her eyes wide and looked at the Colonel, "I'll be right back."
"Huh?" said the Colonel as he looked confused at Willow who had just run out the doors.
"Shit" said Willow as she ran through the hallways, "serves me right for having a stupid code of conduct about my telepathy. I should have read that bastard's mind when he left with my counterpart."
Willow: "Dawn, where are you and the others?"
Dawn: "In the parking lot, why?"
Willow: "Riley has my counterpart. They should be heading your way, do you see them?"
"Oh no" said Dawn as she sat up in her seat and got out of the car.
"Dawn Summers" said Teal'c, "what is the matter?"
"They took Willow's counterpart" said Dawn as she scanned the area.
"Captain Rosenberg used her telepathy to contact you?" asked the Major as she got up as well.
"Yes" said Dawn.
"Then how didn't she know earlier?" asked Daniel.
"Willow has a code" said Dawn as he looked at Daniel, "in our reality, she told me that she sat you guys down and explained that her first rule was never to read anyone's mind without their permission. The second rule was to never think loud thoughts, especially if you wanted to keep them secret."
"Oh" said Daniel.
"Yeah" replied Dawn who was standing in the parking lot, in her own holographic disguise of a blonde woman.
Willow: "Dawnie?"
Dawn: "I see them. They're just casually walking our way."
Willow: "Can you….?"
Dawn: "Of course."
"Dawn?" said the Major as she saw Dawn hide an Intar the size of a nine millimetre weapon in the small of her back under her shirt.
"They're walking towards us" said Dawn as Teal'c stood up and stood next to Dawn, "Willow thinks that Riley's supposed to abduct Willow's counterpart once they're out of view."
"Thanks for walking with me, Riley" said Willow as they walked towards the nearly empty parking lot.
"I hope I answered your questions?" asked Riley as he scanned the area around him.
"Yes" replied Willow.
"I should thank you too" said Riley as Willow looked back at him confused, "you know, for everything with Buffy."
"Oh" said Willow, "but remember what I said, if you hurt her… I'll beat you with a shovel.
"Right" smiled Riley as he pressed a button on a small black box in his pocket.
"Are you heading back for Thanksgiving?" asked Willow.
"In a few days" said Riley, "I have some papers to grade for Professor Walsh's other classes. I'll be leaving after those are done."
"Oh" said Willow.
Just then Willow stopped as she saw a black van screech into the parking lot.
"Maybe they're filming for a movie?" asked Willow as she saw the van make a tight turn and head towards her.
"Listen Willow" said Riley as he slowed down his walking speed slightly so that he was behind her before he reached at her from behind with one arm around her waist and another hand around her mouth, "I'm sorry, we just need to talk to you."
"MMmmm…. Mpph" was all Willow could say while she struggled and twisted her body to get out of Riley's grip. Then she started crying as his grip started to get tighter and tighter as the van screeched to a complete stop in front of her. She looked on as the side door of the van opened as two commando's stepped out and reached for Willow's body.
"Hey" said Dawn as she held up an Intar alongside Teal'c, who activated his Zat, and pointed them towards Riley and the occupants of the van.
"Release her" said Teal'c.
"This is none of your concern" said Riley as he held on to Willow while the commando's inside grabbed their taser blasters and stepped outside with their weapons pointed at Dawn and Teal'c, "this is a national security matter."
"Funny" said Major Carter who came up from behind Riley and pointed her Zat at the two commando's with the blasters, "I was going to say the same thing."
"Don't" said Daniel as he pointed his Zat at the driver of the van who tried to reach for the gear stick, "I wouldn't do that if I were you, turn off the van. And raise 'em."
Daniel smiled as the driver turned off the engine and raised his hands.
"I've always wanted to say that" smiled Daniel.
"You" said Riley as he suddenly recognized Teal'c and Major Carter, "I've seen the both of you in that mirror, but no one else came through after… no, you must be from here… from this reality."
"Mmmm… mmmm…. Mppphhh?" said Willow who had her eyes wide open as she struggled to talk with her mouth covered.
"Release Willow Rosenberg" said Teal'c.
"Riley" said Dawn, "I know that deep down you're a good man, you don't want to do this. Think about what Buffy would say."
"How?" said Riley as he stared at the blonde woman who had the strange nine millimetre pointed at him.
"Let her go" said Major Carter, "then I want you all to put your weapons down."
"We have our orders, lady" said one of the other commando's.
"It's actually Major to you… not lady" said Major Carter as the commando's and Riley looked on in surprise, "now lay down your weapons, and release that girl. That's an order."
"Major" said Willow in her disguise as she ran towards them.
"We've got them, Captain" said the Major.
"Thank you, ma'am" said Willow as she walked towards Riley who was still holding onto her counterpart.
"Riley" said Willow.
"She called you a Captain" said Riley, "but from your silver oak leaves I can tell you're a Major….. what's going on here."
"Let her go Riley" said Willow.
"I… I…." said Riley as he saw himself surrounded.
"Ma'am?" said Willow as she looked at the Major, "with permission?"
"Granted" said the Major as the two commando's slumped onto the pavement and the driver slumped onto the steering wheel as Riley looked around in shock.
"They're sleeping" said Willow as she walked towards Riley in her disguise, "they won't remember a single thing from today, now let her go."
"Riley" said Dawn, "please."
"I know you, Riley" said Willow as she took off the mimic device on her chest.
"Mmmm…. Mppph?" said Willow as she looked at the man in front of her disappear to reveal a slightly older version of herself wearing a black sleeveless shirt, a vest, black trousers and boots.
"You" said Riley as she looked at Captain Rosenberg in surprise.
"I read the Initiative files in my own reality. I read how you disagreed with what the Initiative was doing, that you helped to take it down" said Captain Rosenberg, "You're a good man, now prove to me that this version of you is the same man as the one where I'm from."
"We just wanted to ask her to join the Initiative" said Riley as he released Willow.
"Dawn?" said Captain Willow as she glanced back at Dawn's disguise.
"Hey" said Dawn as she reached for Willow, "you're alright, just come with me."
"Indeed" said Teal'c as he put his hand on Willow's back and guided her away before she stopped and turned around to face Riley.
"How could you?!" shouted Willow as she walked towards a still shell-shocked Riley and gave him a hard slap on his face while tears were flowing down her cheeks, "I trusted you."
"I…. I…. was just following my orders" said Riley.
"And you didn't question them?" said Willow.
"Riley" said Captain Willow, "I read Professor Walsh's mind, I know what she had planned once she got a hold of both of us."
"Wait, Professor Walsh is in on this too? Not only that, you…. I mean I…. well, we…. Could read minds?" said Willow as she turned to face herself, "and you're from another reality? But I never did that kind of a spell again; you're not a vampire are you?"
"Sunlight" said Captain Willow as she pointed up at the sun.
"Oh" said Willow, "right."
"Captain" said Major Carter, "what did she have planned?"
"Ma'am" said Captain Willow as she looked at her counterpart, "she planned on putting the both of us under so that she could extract brain tissue to place into that Adam that Dawn told you about, Project 314. She intended to transfer the areas of my brain, and my counterparts as well, that controls these powers. After that was done, she intended to examine everything, and by everything, I mean our entire brains."
"As in?" asked the Major as she looked at Riley in shock.
"The both of us would be dead" said Captain Willow, "that's why I came running out of the classroom and contacted Dawn."
"Riley?" said Willow as she turned around and stepped back, "you were willing to go along with this?"
"No" said Riley as he looked at Willow, "all she told me was that she wanted to talk to you about joining the Initiative, that I had to bring you in whatever way possible. But she wouldn't do what she said, Professor Walsh isn't like that."
"What if I said no, Riley?" said Willow, "what would have happened if I had said no?"
"I don't know" replied Riley, "I really don't."
"My God" said Willow, "I don't believe this."
"Daniel" said Major Carter, "can you take Miss Rosenberg to the car?"
"Sure, Sam" said Daniel as he approached Willow, "please come with me."
"Willow" said Dawn, "let's get you out of here, huh?"
"Please" said Willow as she walked away.
"Willow" said Riley, "please; she wouldn't have done that to you."
"Bite me, Riley" said an angry Willow as Daniel, Teal'c and Dawn led her away to the car while Major Carter and Captain Rosenberg stayed with Riley.
Willow: "Colonel, we've got my counterpart. I'm telepathically sending you information on what Professor Walsh intentions were towards me and my counterpart. This is why I had to leave quickly to get my counterpart back."
"My people just rescued Willow Rosenberg from being abducted by the Initiative" said the Colonel as he glared at Maggie as he got the information telepathically from Captain Willow.
"How" said Maggie in shock, "how did you know?"
"That's classified" said Colonel O'Neill furiously, "now, should I go to the Pentagon to tell them that you tried to abduct an US citizen so that you could conduct illegal experiments on her, or do you just want to give us what we came for so that we can go on our merry way."
"Alright" said Maggie as she glared at the Colonel, "I'll take you to the Initiative HQ to retrieve your item."
"Oh" said the Colonel, "if you're thinking about going after Miss Rosenberg once we leave Sunnydale… well… let's just say that I really wouldn't do that."
The Colonel looked on as Maggie's eyes opened wide.
"We've talked to Captain Rosenberg from the other reality when we arrived this morning" said Colonel O'Neill, "we know exactly what she's capable of doing. Which is why I've called my superior, who called the President to request Miss Rosenberg be classified as a potential National Security asset."
"You can't do that" said Maggie, "she's an HST. She's dangerous."
"We'll be watching her" said the Colonel, "not you, not the Initiative. If she's anything like Captain Rosenberg, she has the potential to be smarter than you. Even if she doesn't work for us, she'll still be watched. We'll also be watching you, if anything about this goes to the NID… I'll make sure you get put into a hole."
"You can't…" said Maggie as the Colonel interrupted her.
"Miss Rosenberg will be under the protection of the President" said Colonel O'Neill, "you really want to piss him off?"
"Fine" said Maggie, "I'll take you to Initiative HQ."
"Cool" smiled the Colonel.
TBC.