AUTHOR: Tisienne Blue

E-MAIL: tisatko@msn.com

DISCLAIMER: All characters except Serena belong to their respective studios/producers/creators; Serena is mine.

NOTES: This is an X-over fic for Natty's b-day (I warned her that I tend to write long fics; she didn't seem to mind...), and is a
crossover btwn: Buffy, Angel, Highlander, and Pretender. For my purposes, the totally suck fifth season of Highlander never
happened.

DISTRIBUTION: Charity can, as always, have this, just cuz she's the best... list archives and anyone I've said yes to before,
too... otherwise, just ask!!!

FEEDBACK: please...

DEDICATIONS: for Nat, of course... also to: TC, KFlowers, Mitch, Gem, Janet, Serrenissma, Ali, Caroline, and Kitti-- thanks for
the feedback, luvs...*G*

&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*

The oldest immortal sighed to himself as he watched the special report on the news. People were, for some reason, suddenly
attacking the people around them, and he had a sinking feeling that he knew exactly what that reason was. He hadn't thought
that it would be beginning this soon, but... he'd been wrong before, and probably would be again, so... He sat up straight in the
ladder-backed chair and reached for the phone, swiftly dialing the number he'd memorized within moments of getting it from the
redheaded witch. He frowned to himself when he heard the ringing continuing... he'd been sure that the girl and her vampire
would be at home, but perhaps they'd gone out? No, he realized, a slight chill racing down his spine, Angel was too badly
wounded for that, and the girl would never have left him alone. Whatever was going on, he had a bad feeling about it.

He shook his head, and dialed a different number after hanging up. "Serena Johnson, please." he said strongly when the phone
was answered, remembering the name she was using at the moment, and pulled his boots on while he waited impatiently for the
line to ring through. "It's Adam," he said to the man who answered, "I need to talk to Serena." He cursed creatively at hearing
she wasn't there. "Well, where is she, Jarod?" he demanded harshly, his eyes widening when he heard the man's response.
"Shit." He paced in place for a moment, restrained by the phone cord. "All right. Something's wrong. I don't know what, but... I
can feel it. Be in the lobby in ten minutes." He stood stock still for a moment before almost exploding. "I don't CARE what she
told you! If she went to the gypsies, then... I don't know, but... There IS something wrong at Willow's, and damn it, I can't do
this alone! I don't have anyone else to help me, so Be. In. The. Lobby. In. Ten!" He flung the phone down and ran for the door,
grabbing his coat on his way out.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Serena stared, unbelieving, at the blond vampire sitting in the chair nearby. She didn't know why she was so surprised; after all,
they were both immortal, for the most part... it was fairly reasonable to assume that they'd run into each other eventually, but
still. She supposed that her shock was due to the fact that she'd seen him die, and some part of her had been convinced that
whatever it was walking around in her brother's skin, it wasn't him. Unfortunately, that conviction was being thoroughly tested
by his very behaviour.

Spike sat quietly, nursing his throbbing head. He hadn't known the little witch had that much raw power, but... obviously, she
DID! That had been shocking enough, but to discover that the one who'd stopped the Spike-bashing session was Serena? He
shook his head slowly, his eyes locked on the silent redheaded form of his sister. He didn't understand how she could still be
alive and looking almost exactly the same as she had when he'd last seen her! He was, of course, putting aside-- for the
moment-- the question of just how she knew Red and Paingel, and what she'd meant when she'd said that SHE'D happened to
the magnificent poof. That could wait, after all. Right then, he just wanted to know... "How?" He stared intently at her,
elaborating when she didn't reply. "How, Serena? How are you still bloody living? You're not one of MY kind, so... HOW?"

The redhead sighed, wishing she were anywhere else right then. Hell, she'd even rather be in the bedroom with Willow and
Duncan, trying to get Angel settled comfortably. "I'm immortal, William," she finally said, cringing at applying the much-loved
name to the vampire. Even if he WAS still her brother, he'd... changed, and William just didn't suit him any more.

Spike sighed, knowing just what she was thinking. She'd always been clear as vodka to him. "I... I don't go by that anymore,
Serry. It's Spike now... just Spike." He was still staring at her, but he just couldn't help it. He hadn't seen her in over a hundred
years, and... It was almost frightening that she looked almost exactly the same, but... "Damn, Serry, you look good for an old
broad!"

A surprised laugh burst from her lips then. "No one's called me 'Serry' since you..." She shook her head slightly, and forced
herself to say it, "Since you died. Jarod calls me Ser sometimes, but..." She sighed sadly, meeting his eyes. "I don't know how to
do this, Wil... Spike. I mean, you're my brother, but you're..."

"Not." he finished for her. "I know. I have a demon now, and a bloody chip in my head, so... Tell you later, pet," he said softly at
her questioning look. "So," he continued, after a moment, "Immortal. How'd THAT happen? And why'd you stick your sword
through my bloody ponce of a Sire? Oh, and who's this Jarod guy, while you're at it?"

Serena closed her eyes and began telling the story, starting with the first time she'd ever met Angelus. She didn't particularly
WANT to, but if she knew Wil... Spike, he'd find out anyway. Better to tell him ALL of it.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Willow smiled slightly at the Scotsman as he pulled his bleeding wrist from Angel's mouth. "Thank you, Duncan," she said simply,
meeting his eyes, "I just... can't."

Duncan nodded solemnly. After feeling his friend feed on him, he understood. It was an erotic sensation, even for him, and *he*
wasn't in love with the vampire. He could only imagine how dangerous it would be for the little witch. "No problem, Willow," he
answered as the small blue flashes closed the cut he'd given himself, "Glad I could help."

The girl watched, fascinated, as the tiny bolts of lightning played over the immortal's skin. "Wow," she said, at length, "That
was... pretty cool! Does that always happen?"

Duncan laughed, his head thrown back for a moment. "Yeah," he acknowledged, "It's how we heal."

The redhead's brow furrowed slightly as she thought about it. "Why?" she demanded. "I mean, why does it work that way? What
are you, exactly?"

The immortal sighed, and pulled a chair over. "I'm not really sure," he answered, sitting, "No one is. We... we're usually found, as
babies, and we grow and age much like any other person... until our first death, anyway."

"First?" the girl asked, fascinated.

"Yeah. After that, we're in the game, and we don't age any more. We try to live relatively normal lives; try not to let our heads
leave our shoulders, but... other than that, we're pretty much like any other group of people. Some of us are good, some bad."

Willow nodded, consideringly. "But... you don't know where you came from, or even why you're here, do you?" She sighed deeply
when the immortal shook his head. "It sounds confusing. And lonely."

Duncan wasn't sure of exactly why he was surprised by the girl's insight, but he was. "It can be, Willow, but it doesn't HAVE to.
Just like everyone else, we make choices about how we want to live. We can have lives, real lives with friends, and even family
of a sort, or... we can hide ourselves away, and hope that the game passes us by. It never works, but... there have been a few
of us who've tried to live on holy ground. It's the one place we can't fight, you see. It's... a refuge, of sorts, for my kind..." He
sighed then, remembering. "I had a friend once, Darius. He was a Priest, lived at his church. Didn't save him, though. Sadly, it
wasn't another of my sort that got him, but..." He sighed again. "Like I said, it doesn't work."

"You've tried it, haven't you?" Willow could tell, just from the way he was talking. "That's how you know. But, Duncan," she
continued, "If it HAD worked, you wouldn't be here. You wouldn't have Amanda in your life, or have gotten to know Adam, or
your friend Joe, or even Angel!" She stared straight into his eyes then. "So it sounds to me like you're right. Your kind DO have a
choice. You can live alone, in fear, or live in the real world-- with joy, and pain, and love, and heart-ache instead and run the
risk of dying, just like us mortals do every day... Sounds like a fair trade to me." She pulled her attention from him as Angel
finally began to stir, and didn't even notice when Duncan quickly and quietly left the room, a small smile on his face.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Methos and Jarod ran quickly up the steps to the third floor. It had been easy getting into the building; Jarod had pulled an odd
looking device from his pocket, and folded a small spikey thing from it... next thing, the door was opened.

"So what was that?" Methos asked between steps, hoping the man would keep it out of Amanda's sight... she was dangerous
enough as it was.

"Universal key," Jarod explained, keeping pace with the immortal. "I was a thief once."

The only thing that kept the immortal from laughing out loud was the fact that they'd reached the floor they wanted. He didn't
want to alert whoever might be inside the apartment to his presence. "Shhh..." he hissed, as they approached the door. He
could feel that there were other immortals nearby, and he pulled his sword, not quite willing to count on them being friendly. He
stood in front of the door for a moment before kicking it in and rolling into the room.

It was a good entrance, Jarod thought, as he watched Methos tuck and roll. Unfortunately, it wasn't good enough, because
when the immortal bounced to his feet, he was met by the clenched fist of an apparently very angry blond man. He gathered
himself to leap into what promised to be a nice little brawl, but was stopped by the well-known voice of his own personal
redhead.

"Jarod!? Methos?! What the hell are you two doing?" Serena almost laughed at the sight before her. The oldest immortal, who
had just been knocked on his ass, was glaring up at her brother; Jarod, the man she loved more than anything, looked ready to
leap to Methos' defense, and Spike... Spike was staring at his own fist, wide-eyed, as the beginnings of a huge grin spread
across his face. "Well?" the redhead demanded, standing up and trying to glare at them both. "Spike," she warned, as the blond
stepped forward, clenching and unclenching his fists, "Don't even THINK about it!"

Spike growled slightly, but extended an open hand to the downed man. He'd hit a human, and the chip hadn't done ANYTHING!
"Sorry, mate," he muttered, unrepentant, as he pulled the taller man to his feet. "Thought you were attacking my sis." It would
take a while, he knew, before Serena would be comfortable with him, but... what the hell, they had forever, didn't they? He'd
just have to be careful around her, especially if the damned chip wasn't working any more.

Methos stared at the blond man, although... he'd called Serena sis? If it wasn't just a term of affection, then that would make
the blond... a vampire? "Uhhh... Serena?"

Jarod was staring back and forth between the redhead and the blond. It didn't seem possible, but then again, if Angelus had
turned her brother, then... maybe. "William?" he asked softly, meeting his woman's eyes.

Serena nodded slowly, and sighed. "Adam, Jarod, I'd like you to meet my brother... Spike." She grinned at the blond then.
"Spike, meet Adam, my old teacher, and Jarod..." She didn't notice the way her voice softened when she spoke her lover's
name, but Spike surely did.

He nodded shortly at the man who had trained her, and slowly circled the other one. He could smell her all over him, and he
wasn't entirely sure that he liked it. She was his sister, after all. Of course, he hadn't SEEN her in over a hundred and twenty
years, but still. "So, JAROD," he said dangerously, stopping in front of the man, "What are your intentions towards my sister?"

Duncan laughed from his spot by Angel's door. He'd heard the whole introductory speech, and he honestly thought he'd never
been more amused. If anyone had ever told him that he'd see a vampire getting protective over his sister, who was an immortal,
he'd have said they were insane, but... damned if he wasn't seeing it! "Knowing Serena," he said silkily as all eyes turned to him,
"I'd be more worried about HER intentions..."

"Which ARE," the redhead interjected, cutting off Spike's growl, "Strictly honourable..." She grinned at the blond before turning
to Jarod and winking. "Hey, J..." she purred, stepping into his always ready arms, "Missed you..."

Jarod smiled, his hands clasping behind her back. "Glad you're OK, Ser..." he replied softly, not objecting at all when she pulled
his lips to hers.

Duncan laughed and rolled his eyes at the young couple. "Well," he said quickly, "We might as well sit down. They'll be at it for a
while yet." He headed towards the kitchen. "Coffee?" he directed to the other two men, laughing again when the blond vampire
glared at the lip-locked couple and stated that he'd have a beer. "Fine, then... beer all around." He stepped into the kitchen and
was back in mere moments. "So," he finally said, looking at his old friend Methos, "Why are you here?"

The immortal smacked himself on the forehead, hard. "Shit. I have to talk to Willow." He took a large sip of his beer before
looking back at MacLeod. "It's started, Mac, and we don't even know who the 'companions' are yet!"

Serena sighed and pulled reluctantly away from her man. "That's not exactly true, Adam," she said slowly. She didn't want to tell
them, but... this was too important to keep to herself, and she saw that same knowledge in Jarod's eyes, too. "One of them..."
She sighed again, resting her forehead against her lover's shoulder. "One of them is Jarod, and I think... I think the other may
be... Spike."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The tall brunette grimaced tightly as the Captain announced that their take-off was going to be delayed for at LEAST another
hour. Somehow, she just KNEW that it was Lyle's doing, and she promised herself that when this was over, and she had Jarod
back at the Centre where he belonged, she and her alleged brother were going to go a few rounds... unofficially, of course! She
was sick of him, and his little games. He seemed to take great pleasure in undermining her, and if she was going to be honest
with herself, and she usually was, the only reason she even bothered to CHASE Jarod any more was so that she could show Lyle
up when she finally CAUGHT him.

She would never admit it, but... a large part of her admired what the escaped pretender was doing out there in the big, wide
world. He'd been wasted, behind the steel and glass walls of the Centre he'd grown up in, and... he was doing good things, for
good people, and seeing to it that the guilty were punished.

She was still going to bring him in, though.

She wondered sometimes whether it wouldn't be kinder to just kill him, but... Blue Cove wanted him back alive, regardless of the
fact that being locked up again, and forced to work sims would probably break him; drive him as batty as Angelo was. And Jarod
wouldn't be anywhere near as placid as the witless freak. But that wasn't her problem, she reminded herself, as she got up from
her seat and headed to the cockpit.

She stepped inside, ignoring Broots and Sydney both when they tried to stop her. "If you don't get this plane in the air in the
next five minutes," she informed the Captain, with an icy smile, "I'll send you home singing soprano. Now, MOVE IT!" She turned
and walked back out, grinning to herself as she reassumed her seat and the engines started up.

"Sometimes you just have to give the employees the proper incentive," she informed her companions, an amused smile fixed on
her lips.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Angel smiled slightly as he came out of the darkness. He almost thought that he smelled Willow, but he knew he had to be
wrong. After what had almost happened between them, there wasn't any way she'd be in his room. His eyes cracked open a slit,
and he knew he was dreaming. "Willow," he said softly to the apparition, "You shouldn't be here, love... not even in my
dreams..."

The redhead smiled back at him, lightly brushing his cheek with her fingertips. "But I AM here, my Angel, and it's NOT a dream."
She leaned down, pressing her lips briefly to his forehead. "Don't worry," she told him, when he pulled back from her touch, "I'm
not going to feed you. That's what almost got us in trouble the last time, and... I won't let it happen again." She smiled sadly at
the remorseful look in his eyes. "Don't do that, Angel, don't take it all on yourself like that. I knew what I was doing when I
asked you to drink me... If there's any blame here, it's shared between us, got that?"

He stared into her eyes, reading the truth of what she'd said. "All right, Will," he finally breathed, "But you STILL shouldn't be
here, especially alone..."

The redhead sighed, pressing her index fingers lightly to his lips. "Shush, Angel. I trust you, and... as long as you don't feed on
me, we're perfectly safe." She smiled again, then, at the slight kiss he gave her small digit, and lay down, curling against his
side. "See?" she said, resting one arm across his chest, "No danger here."

Angel sighed deeply, loving the way she felt against him. She was right, too. He still wanted to touch her, feel her small body
straining against him in passion, but without the blood, he could control himself. It wasn't EASY, but the benefits far outweighed
the cost. "All right, Will," he said softly, his arm slipping under her body to hold her close to his side, "But... this goes no further,
right?"

Willow sighed, reconciled to a future without the physical intimacy they both truly craved. "Well," she replied, after a moment, "I
can't promise that I'll never kiss you, and you'd better be planning to dance with me when we go out, but... yeah. No feeding
you, and no getting naked together. Got it."

He laughed softly when he felt her decisive nod against his chest. Eventually, he knew she'd get tired of being mostly platonic,
and she'd decide to move on, but until then... until then, she was HIS, and he was going to enjoy every bit of it. "Good," he said
silkily, pulling her even closer. He ignored the pain in his chest as he rolled slowly onto his side, facing her. "Now, I believe you
said something about... kissing?"

The redhead smiled happily. "Why yes, Angel, I believe I did!" Her arm raised from his chest and slid around the back of his neck
as she pulled his mouth to hers, and her tongue crept out to meet his in a slow, leisurely dance. She pulled away, her growl
matching his, when a loud knock sounded at the door, and she sighed. "What?" she demanded. She groaned slightly when she
heard Adam's voice, but responded. "Fine," she called out, "I'll be right there!"

Angel sighed and smiled at his girl. "It's all right, love... go. You know where to find me," he joked, his slight chuckle dying away
when she kissed him again, harder.

Willow smirked slightly, and pulled away from the dazed-looking vampire. "Hold my place," she murmured as she slipped from the
bed.

She was almost through the door before he could gather enough wits to respond, and even so, it wasn't a particularly original
comment, but... "Always," he said softly, loving the swiftly indrawn breath he heard her take. "Always," he said again, to himself
this time, as the door closed behind her.

End-- pt 15

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