A/N: I don't own Twilight or BtVS; they are the property of Stephanie Meyers and Joss Whedon respectively. I just like to ponder what would happen if the two worlds collided.

Chapter 38: Echoes of Urgency

Giles, his shock palpable, muttered in disbelief, "Good heavens..."

The air in the room hung heavy with tension after Jasper's solemn revelation. Giles' muttered exclamation of "Good heavens" echoed in the stillness, underscoring the gravity of the situation.

Feeling a sense of urgency pressing down on him, Jasper spoke up, his voice hurried and tense. "We need to contact Carlisle. Now," he insisted, his eyes darting between Giles and Willow.

Willow furrowed her brow, her expression reflecting a mix of concern and uncertainty. "Are you sure, Jasper?" she asked gently, her tone tinged with caution. "It's only been less than a day since we last spoke to him. Do you think it's wise to reach out so soon?"

Jasper nodded fervently; his conviction unwavering. "Yes, I'm sure," he replied, his voice adamant. "Given what we know now, we can't afford to wait any longer. Alice's well-being may be at stake, I must contact Carlisle."

Giles, recognizing the urgency in Jasper's tone, nodded in agreement. "He's right, Willow," he said solemnly. "We must act swiftly and decisively. Alice's safety must be our top priority."

With a sense of urgency hanging thick in the air, the three of them hastily sprang into action. Jasper hurriedly settled into his armchair, his hands trembling slightly with anticipation. Willow positioned herself at his side, her calming presence a comforting anchor amidst the storm of emotions swirling around them.

"Take deep breaths, Jasper," Willow urged softly, her voice a soothing melody amidst the chaos. "We need you to reach that state of catatonia, just like last time. It's the only way to establish a clear connection with Carlisle."

Jasper nodded; his jaw set with determination as he focused on following Willow's instructions. With each unnecessary inhale and exhale, he felt the tension slowly ebb away, replaced by a sense of calm resolve.

Meanwhile, Giles held the cordless phone in his hand, its weight a tangible reminder of the urgency of their situation. His fingers hovered over the device, ready to answer the call the moment it rang. His expression remained grim, his mind racing with the gravity of their circumstances and the uncertainty of what Carlisle's response might bring. His pulse quickened with each passing moment; the weight of responsibility heavy on his shoulders. He knew that their communication with Carlisle was their best chance at finding answers and guidance in this tumultuous time.

And then, suddenly, the phone rang, its shrill sound slicing through the silence of the room. With practiced ease, Giles answered the call, bringing the device to his ear as he waited anxiously to hear Carlisle's voice on the other end.

"Hello?" Giles answered, his voice laced with urgency.

"Hey, G-man! It's Xander," came the cheerful voice from the other end. "Just calling to let you know I'm on my way over, do you need me to grab anything while I'm out? Maybe some more pig's blood for Mr. Marble?"

Giles's grip tightened on the phone, his frustration boiling over at the unexpected interruption. "Xander!" he exclaimed, his tone dripping with rage. "This is not the time for your bloody jokes! We are in the middle of something of utmost importance!"

There was a moment of stunned silence on the other end of the line before Xander's voice came back, sounding chastened. "Uh, sorry, Giles," he muttered, his tone contrite. "I didn't realize. I'll... I'll be right over."

With a frustrated sigh, Giles ended the call, his anger simmering just beneath the surface. The interruption had only served to heighten his anxiety, adding another layer of complexity to their already precarious situation. "Bloody hell," he muttered under his breath, his frustration boiling over. "The Watcher's Manual seriously needs a revision."

Willow shot Giles a pointed look, her expression urging him to keep his voice down so as not to disturb Jasper. "Giles, please," she whispered softly, her tone gentle but firm. "Let's focus on Jasper. He needs our support right now."

Giles nodded in acknowledgment, swallowing his frustrations as he turned his attention back to Jasper. The vampire remained deep in his state of stillness, his form almost unnaturally serene. Even his unrequired breaths seemed to still, the quiet of the room enveloping them in a blanket of solemnity.

With a heavy heart, Giles pushed aside his anger and anxiety, channeling his focus into supporting Jasper through his ethereal communication with Carlisle. Once more the tension was shattered by the sudden ring of the phone; his heart leaped in anticipation as he swiftly answered the call.

"Hello?"

"Uh, yes, it's Carlisle," came the familiar voice on the other end, sounding slightly puzzled. "Is everything alright, Giles?"

Relief flooded through Giles as he realized it was indeed Carlisle on the line. "Yes, everything's... well, not quite, actually," Giles replied hastily, his words tumbling out in a rush. "We need your guidance, Carlisle. It's urgent."

There was a pause on the other end of the line before Carlisle responded, his tone growing more serious. "Of course, Giles. What's happened?"

The Watcher hesitated for a moment, unsure of where to begin. But before he could respond, Carlisle continued, his voice tinged with concern. "Alice was insistent that I call you immediately," he explained. "She said she heard snippets of Jasper's conversation while he was in his... state. She seemed quite anxious about it."

Giles's heart sank at Carlisle's words, realizing the gravity of the situation. "Yes, well, Jasper's concerns are not unfounded," he admitted, his voice heavy with worry. "We fear that Alice's well-being may be at risk, and we need your help to understand what's happening."

As Giles listened intently to Carlisle's response, Willow, who had risen from Jasper's side, walked towards him with a determined expression. She gestured for Giles to put the phone on speaker. Giles nodded in agreement, quickly activating the speaker function on the phone before placing it on the table in front of them. Willow took a deep breath, her demeanor calm and composed as she addressed Carlisle.

"Carlisle," she began, her voice steady, "could you please tell us the date today?"

There was a brief pause on the other end of the line before Carlisle responded, his tone curious. "It's the 22nd of November," he replied, a hint of confusion evident in his voice. "Why do you ask?"

"Thank you, Carlisle," Willow repeated, her voice remaining calm and composed. She then addressed Carlisle once more, her tone measured. "And Carlisle, could you please tell us the date when you last called Sunnydale?"

Giles, sensing Willow's line of questioning, couldn't contain his curiosity any longer. "What in the bloody hell are you getting at, Willow?" he blurted out, his frustration evident in his tone.

But Willow raised a hand to silence him, her attention focused on the phone as they awaited Carlisle's response. After a moment, Carlisle's voice came through the speaker, his tone thoughtful. Seven days ago, the 15th," he replied, his voice tinged with realization. "Why do you ask?"

A sense of realization washed over Giles and Willow as they exchanged a meaningful glance. The confirmation of a one-week gap between calls added a new layer of complexity to their understanding of the situation. It was clear that time in Sunnydale operated differently than that of the world Carlisle resided in, a fact that could have significant implications for their understanding of Alice's visions and their efforts to protect her.

As the weight of the new revelation settled over them, Giles managed to rein in his panic and frustration, his expression now tinged with embarrassment. Clearing his throat, he addressed Carlisle with a tentative tone.

"Um, Carlisle," Giles began, his voice slightly sheepish, "during this one-week gap... how has Alice been?"

There was a brief pause on the other end of the line before Carlisle responded, his voice carrying a note of concern. "She's been... unsettled," he admitted, his tone somber. "Her visions have been more frequent, more intense. It's clear that something is troubling her deeply."

Giles listened intently as Carlisle's response echoed through the speaker, a knot of worry tightening in his chest. "And her mood?" Giles pressed; his voice edged with concern. "Has she been... managing?"

Carlisle's response came after a moment of hesitation, his tone still tinged with bewilderment. "Her mood has been... variable," he replied cautiously. "But overall, she's been coping as best as she can, given the circumstances."

Giles hesitated, his mind grappling with the weight of his next question. "Would you... say she's been... despondent? Gloomy?" he stumbled over the words, his concern palpable in his voice.

Carlisle's response was swift but still tinged with confusion. "No, I wouldn't say that" he replied, his tone measured. "Alice has been managing as best as she can, but she's certainly been under a great deal of strain."

A faint attempt at levity crept into Carlisle's voice as he continued, "Now, if you were asking about Edward, well, that would be a different story altogether."

Feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on them, Willow couldn't hold back her concern any longer. "But, Carlisle," she interjected, her voice blunter now, "is she... suicidal?"

There was a brief pause on the other end of the line, Carlisle's response hesitant. "I... I can't say for certain," he admitted reluctantly. "But her mental state has been fragile, and the intensity of her visions has taken a toll on her."

As Carlisle's hesitant response lingered in the air, a voice unexpectedly joined the conversation. It was Alice, her words carrying through the conduit that had been opened, allowing her to better assess Jasper's thoughts.

"Hey, Jazz, it's okay," Alice's voice echoed, her tone reassuring yet playful. "I'm not about to go all Emo like Eddie and run off to Italy. Knowing what's causing havoc with my visions helps."

"Thank goodness," Willow murmured with a sigh, her expression softening with relief.

Giles nodded in agreement, his features relaxing from their tense stance. "Indeed," he concurred, a faint smile touching his lips. "It's a relief to hear that you're feeling well Alice."

However, the concern still lingered, and Willow took a deep breath before posing the next question. "Alice, dear, how long can you go between calls?" she inquired gently, her voice tinged with concern.

The line remained silent for a moment before Alice's voice echoed once more, her tone thoughtful. "I'm not entirely sure," she admitted. "But now that I understand the situation better, I believe I can manage longer intervals without becoming too anxious."

Giles and Willow listened intently as Alice spoke. Her admission that she wasn't entirely sure about the duration between calls prompted Giles to explain their concerns. "Yesterday, after nearly two hours, Jasper was physically exhausted," he began, his voice carrying a note of concern. "We were wondering what you think would be a good schedule."

There was a brief pause before Carlisle's voice came through the speaker once more, his tone thoughtful. "Given Jasper's changing vampire physiology and the toll that Alice's visions seem to be taking on her," Carlisle began, "I would suggest a schedule that balances both their needs."

He continued, "Perhaps shorter, more frequent calls initially, with the option to extend the duration gradually as they both adjust. It's important to prioritize their well-being and ensure they don't become overwhelmed."

Giles and Willow exchanged a nod of agreement, grateful for Carlisle's insight.

As Carlisle's guidance settled over them, Willow's mind churned with another question. "Um, Carlisle," she interjected, her voice laced with curiosity, "could you tell us what time it is there in Forks right now? It's 1 PM here in Sunnydale."

Giles glanced at Willow, a puzzled expression crossing his features as he struggled to understand the relevance of her inquiry. "Willow," he began, his tone cautious, "what exactly are you getting at?"

Willow offered Giles a reassuring smile before turning her attention back to the phone, waiting for Carlisle's response. She knew there was a method to her questioning, a thread of thought that she was following, even if it wasn't immediately apparent to Giles.

After a moment of silence, Carlisle's voice came through the phone once again, his tone calm and understanding. "Yes, Willow," he confirmed, "it's also 1 PM here in Forks."

Willow nodded in acknowledgment, a satisfied smile spreading across her face as she glanced at Giles. "See?" she said, her voice tinged with excitement. "It's the same time there as it is here, despite the distance." With a spark of curiosity ignited by Willow's insight, she decided to confirm her observation. "Carlisle, just to be sure," she queried, "only about twenty minutes have passed here in Sunnydale. Was it the same in Forks?"

There was a brief pause before Carlisle responded. "Yes, Willow," he confirmed, his tone tinged with intrigue. "Only about twenty minutes have passed here as well."

A sense of realization washed over Giles as he connected the dots. The synchronicity of time between Sunnydale and Forks hinted at a deeper connection, one that transcended physical distance. It was a revelation that held profound implications for their understanding of the supernatural forces at work. As the implications of her discovery sank in, Giles felt a surge of excitement coursing through him.

"Well done, Willow," he praised, his voice filled with admiration. "Your keen observation has provided us with invaluable insight."

"Well, I guess the time of day doesn't really matter," she quipped with a laugh. "With the conduit opened, time between the two worlds runs on the same schedule."

Her words were met with a chuckle from Giles. Even Carlisle couldn't help but smile at Willow's joke, the tension of their earlier conversation dissipating into the ether.

"Carlisle, would 7:30 PM in eighteen hours be suitable for our next call?" Giles inquired, his tone earnest.

As Giles waited for Carlisle's response, Willow quickly chimed in, "That's about five and a quarter days later in Forks time."

"Absolutely," Carlisle affirmed, his voice tinged with reassurance. "I'll keep a close eye on Alice during that time to see how she copes."

Giles nodded on his end; his commitment unwavering. "And I'll observe Jasper as well, especially given the shorter duration of our call," he added, his tone serious yet determined.

With their plans in place and their concerns addressed, they bid each other farewell, confident in their ability to support each other and navigate the challenges that lay ahead.