AUTHOR: Tisienne Blue

E-MAIL: tisatko@msn.com

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

RATING: A hard R eventually...

NOTES: This is an X-over fic btwn. Buffy, Angel, Highlander, and Pretender... it's for Natty's b-day. In my world, the suck ass
fifth season of Highlander never happened.

PAIRINGS: W/A; Ser/Jarod...

DISTRIBUTION: Charity can have it (fic goddess that she is)... also list archs and anyone I've said yes to... otherwise, just
ask...

FEEDBACK: gets you a dedi...

DEDICATIONS: for Nat, cuz it's her b-day fic... also, Mystra, for listening to me ramble... And: Neva, Kitti, Teri, KrySiEGrL, and
Gem... thanks for the feedback, luvs...*G*

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

"All right, Adam," the tall redhead said quietly, pulling the oldest immortal aside as their group left the apartment building, "What
aren't you saying?"

Methos stared silently out at the light traffic in the street for a moment. "I don't know what you mean..." he finally said.

"Oh, bullshit." Serena told him, her eyes fastened on his bland expression. "I know you better than that. There's something
you're still keeping to yourself about this whole legend thing, and I want to know what it is... NOW!" She stared at him fixedly,
her eyes narrowing when he didn't reply. "I MEAN it, Methos!"

The immortal sighed, finally meeting her eyes. "Fine," he said flatly, "But not here." He glanced around them at the others. "It's
not something that can be helped."

Serena followed his gaze and made a quick decision. "All right," she said, sounding slightly dangerous, "You're coming back to the
hotel with me." She started down the street, stopping when she realized that he wasn't beside her. "Well?"

"What about Jarod?" he asked. "I don't want to have..."

The redhead shook her head. "O... K..." She walked back to their group and tapped her man on the shoulder. "I have to talk to
my teacher for a while, J," she explained when he turned his eyes to her, "Can you give us a little while?"

The pretender glanced quickly between Serena and Adam, suppressing a shudder at the look he saw in the redhead's eyes.
Whatever was going on with her and Methos, he really didn't envy the much older man. "Sure, Ser," he finally said softly, one
arm snaking around her waist and pulling her close, "But don't be all day about it, OK? I kind of have some... plans for us... for
later."

Serena caught a quick breath, smiling at the heat she saw in his eyes. "Oh, yeah," she said silkily, one hand trailing up and down
his muscled back, "Ummm... no more than an hour, OK?" She leaned in closer, flicking his earlobe with her tongue before pulling
away. "Maybe Duncan'll tell you what we found out from the gypsies..." She grinned when the immortal in question nodded, and
she pulled away from her lover. "Good. So I'll see you guys." She turned and walked quickly away, this time dragging the
reluctant Adam behind her.

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

She woke suddenly, still laying on the couch, and glanced at the mantle clock in a panic. She knew what she had to do; she'd
seen it! Some might have said that it was just a particularly odd dream, but Willow knew better. It had been a vision, and it had
answered a question she hadn't known enough to ask.

She glanced at Angel's door, and sighed in relief when she saw it still closed. He had to still be talking to Spike, which meant
that she wouldn't have to explain what she was up to or anything! And it was just as well; she was reasonably sure that he
wouldn't have let her do what she was about to do, and... she didn't know if she could have let him stop her!

She stood, as silently as she could, and went into the kitchen, brightening when she saw the wadded up towel, covered in the
vampire's blood, still sitting in the corner of the counter. She'd almost thrown it away after she'd finished cleaning up once she'd
gotten him settled, and she was incredibly glad that she'd become distracted and hadn't gotten around to it. As upsetting as it
had been, she really thought that she just might have to thank Serena for running Angel through; after all, if the woman
hadn't... Well, best not to think about that right then.

She snatched up the towel, and the paring knife she'd used on herself once before, and rummaged through the cupboards for a
moment, unsurprised when she found everything she needed. After all, it wouldn't be much of a vision if it told her she had to do
this within the next hour, but required things she didn't have on hand!

She slipped daintily through the living room, and when she finally reached her own bedroom, she closed and locked the door, and
placed the items she'd gathered on the bed. Yes, she told herself, as she stripped and sat cross-legged on the mattress, this
was going to work... it had to.

She placed the bloody towel directly in front of her and arranged the other items in a loose semi-circle before her. She smiled as
she took a scant pinch of each of the herbs she'd selected and placed them in the bottom of the small stainless steel bowl, and
she began to quietly intone the words that she'd learned in her vision, dropping a lit match atop the small pile of spices.

She could feel the power building around her; feel it beginning to infuse her form, and she wondered-- as she picked up the knife
and placed it against her wrist-- how something so rarefied could be accomplished with such mundane components, but... she
put the thought from her mind as she let the sharp metal split her skin. After all, she realized, this wasn't something she'd found
in a book. For all she knew, it had been created specifically for HER, and would only work this once.

It didn't matter WHY, she decided, as her blood dripped onto the towel and mingled with her love's. No, it didn't matter in the
slightest.

She felt the power flow into her then, suffusing her entire being with light, and... she felt part of it leave her, flying through the
wall her room shared with Angel's. She felt it hesitate for a moment, swinging back and forth between the two vampires, before
it dove directly into the wounded one on the bed, and... suddenly, it was gone!

Or not really, she realized, hearing the sudden shout coming from the next room. She jumped up from the bed and threw on her
robe as she dashed out the door.

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

Spike didn't understand what was happening. One minute, he'd been sitting by the bed, listening to his ponce of a Sire trying to
explain why he'd done what he had to Serena, and the next... The next minute, he'd felt some sort of a... presence. He could
tell by the look in the older vampire's eyes that he felt it, too, but before either of them could say or do anything, it was...
gone, and Angel was arching in what looked like pain, yelling loudly.

He'd forced himself up from his chair, true face fully emergent, and glared harshly around the room, wondering what was going
to happen next. Something had attacked his Sire, and he'd be damned if he'd let it get HIM next!

He spun defensively towards the door when it flew open, and growled warningly before he realized who it was and relaxed a bit.
"Red!" he cried out, knowing how it must look-- his Sire in pain on the bed, and him, standing there in full vamp-mode, "I swear,
I didn't TOUCH him!"

Willow barely even glanced at the blond as she brushed past him. "I know, Spike," she said impatiently, stretching herself out
beside the dark-haired vampire who was just laying there breathing hard for no apparent reason. "Angel?" she said softly, her
fingers gently stroking his forehead, "Angel... I'm sorry; I didn't know it would HURT you..."

His eyes snapped open, their brownish-gold boring into hers. "What did you DO, Willow?" he demanded through clenched teeth
as the last of the pain passed through him and out of his body.

Spike watched as his Sire's long, muscular form relaxed, and almost smiled at the look on the other vampire's face before turning
and walking silently from the room. Red was in trouble; he just KNEW it... And whatever was going on between the nancy-boy
and the girl, he didn't think he wanted to be stuck in the middle of it. Besides, he reminded himself, he needed to feed, and the
odds were pretty good that the poof had some blood around... He glanced back once more at the frozen tableau before closing
the bedroom door and heading for the kitchen. Blood and beer would do, he thought.

Willow swallowed hard at the look she saw in Angel's eyes, but she'd meant what she'd said... she HADN'T known that her little
spell was going to hurt him. It had been intended to do the exact opposite, among other things. "I... I was trying to help you..."
she murmured, glancing tentatively at him from beneath her lashes. "I thought I could maybe make you feel better, 'cause I hate
seeing you all bleeding and sore, and... I'm sorry!" She closed her eyes for a moment, feeling horrible for causing pain where
she'd only meant to heal.

Angel stared at the girl for a moment, almost shocked. Although, he realized, he shouldn't be... She was Willow, after all, and...
she wasn't the kind to just sit around while someone she cared for suffered. Hell, she'd proven THAT when she'd fed him the last
two times. And the fact that whatever she'd done had hurt him? Well, he knew she hadn't planned it. If she'd known what it
would do to him, he had no doubt that she'd have left well enough alone. A small smile creased his face as he gazed adoringly
down at her, fighting the impulse-- for almost an entire moment-- to kiss her pout away, and he leaned in to her, taking her full
bottom lip gently between his blunt teeth.

He grinned against her as her eyes flew open in surprise, and released her lip only so he could claim it again, along with the rest
of her mouth.

Her eyes opened widely for just a moment before snapping shut again. Angel was kissing her... His fingers were tangling
themselves in her hair, and his lips were on hers, and his tongue... gods, his tongue was sweeping slowly through her mouth,
taking hers in the most erotic dance she could imagine, and... Her hand slid down his side, coming to rest lightly against his
waist. She scraped his skin gently with her fingernails, giggling into his mouth when he groaned into hers. She wanted this, she
knew, almost as much as she wanted the things she could never have with him. But to touch him; kiss him; feel him hard
against her, his body yearning just as hers was, was... Well, as frustrating and tormenting as it was, it was still really, really
good, and... If she was going to face a God in just over twenty-four hours, she was for damned sure going to spend as much
time frustrated and tormented as she possibly could! She pulled away from him then, giggling at the way that thought just
hadn't sounded anywhere near as pleasurable as the reality would be, and shook her head slightly when he gazed questioningly
into her eyes. "Me... silly.." she breathed out, before reclaiming his lips with hers.

Angel sighed happily, and returned to his favourite past time... kissing his witch slowly, and deeply. His hands moved down her
back, stroking along her spine, and he groaned softly in to her mouth as she pressed herself tighter against his aching body. His
mind was spinning, just from the feel of her, and he was tingling... pretty much everywhere, and... it was good. Better than
good, even, when he lay back against the sheets, pulling her with him. He groaned again when her warm little fingers trailed up
his torso, the groan becoming a deep moan when she started to run her nails around his nipple. "Oh, God, love..." he sighed,
pulling away from her lips, "That feels so..."

The redhead stopped suddenly, looking into his eyes with concern. "Is it... am I hurting you?" she said timidly, wondering if he
still felt the pain from her spell.

"No..." he purred softly, his hand covering hers and holding it to his hard chest, "I wouldn't say 'hurting'... Unless you mean how
I'm gonna feel if you stop..."

"But..." Willow replied softly, brow furrowed slightly, "I'm gonna HAVE to stop, Angel... I mean..."

Angel smiled, and pulled her closer. "I know, Will... but not right now, and... not for a while yet, OK?" He pressed a swift kiss to
her confused lips before continuing. "I know we can't let this go too far, but... I just like to feel you touching me... I like
knowing that you ENJOY touching me, and..." he sighed, rubbing his thumb gently over her spine, "I really like being able to
touch you, too, so..."

She gazed consideringly at him for a moment, then smiled slightly. "All right, Angel," she said softly. She sat up suddenly then,
staring down at him in amazement. "Hey!" she cried happily, "Your chest is almost healed!"

He looked down at himself, surprised to see that the wound was less than half the size it had been earlier that day, and he
laughed as he came to a sudden realization. "That's why it hurt before!" He chuckled at her confusion. "Instead of getting the
healing pain over a matter of days, I got it all at once! THAT'S why it hurt so MUCH!" He laughed again, and pulled her back
down against him. "Thank you, sweetheart," he said smoothly, staring deep into her eyes, "Thank you for making me able to
enjoy this so much more..." He could see her trying to formulate a reply, and he pressed one large, cool finger to her lips,
shaking his head slowly. "No, love... enough talking..."

Willow smiled happily and kissed his finger quickly before moving closer to him, and pressing her lips to his in agreement. If the
healing had worked, then maybe the rest of the spell had, too... Of course, she wouldn't know until after she left to face
Sauverna, but... odds were good.

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

The tall brunette woman stood perfectly still, an air of barely restrained purpose surrounding her. She supposed it had been
lucky that Broots had been able to hack into whatever he'd hacked into in order to access the hotel's guest registry, and she
actually was a little bit in awe of the pathetic little man's abilities. Not that she'd ever tell HIM that; it was bad enough that
she'd admitted it to herself! It had been equally lucky that the hotel management valued Blue Cove's business enough to bump a
reservation so that she and her party could have a suite.

But all that meant, in the grand scheme of things, was that she was stuck here in the lobby, waiting for the absent 'Johnsons'
to return to the hotel. She had to make sure that she was on the right track, because all she'd been able to get from the desk
clerk was that the couple were both tall, and while the woman was a redhead, the man was, indeed, a brunette... The desk
clerk was under the impression that the couple was married, but she figured that after some of his other 'jobs', being a husband
would be a fairly simple pretend for wonder-boy.

Her gaze swept the lobby, and she froze as she saw the couple entering. They WERE both tall, and the hair matched up with
what she'd been told, but... the man certainly wasn't the Jarod she was looking for.

Serena entered the George V, still holding on to Adam's arm. Not that she thought he'd try to escape, but... better safe, she
figured. She could feel the eyes on them as they waited for the elevator, and scanned the reflected lobby in the mirrored doors,
finally spotting the woman almost hidden behind the plant in the corner.

She knew she didn't know her, but... she somehow seemed familiar. Tall; long-ish dark hair; sharp features; sweeping arched
brows... look on her face like she had a large stick firmly implanted in her ass. The redhead closed her eyes for a moment before
realizing just who she had to be, and as she saw the woman's reflection moving towards them, she quietly murmured to her
companion. "Adam, you're Jarod."

Methos stared at her for a moment, sure that he'd heard her wrong. "What?"

Serena sighed, meeting his eyes in the mirror. "You're JAROD. Just... just trust me..." was all she had time to say before the
woman was directly behind them.

The oldest immortal rolled his eyes, knowing that he'd do it; he'd be Jarod for the moment. After all, he'd never really been able
to tell Serena no, even while she'd been his student. But if he was going to be Jarod, he was going to have some FUN with it.
"Was it really necessary to announce that we were leaving to have sex, Serena? I mean, there are just some things our friends
don't need to know!"

The redhead almost laughed, recognizing exactly which little game he was playing, and damned if she was going to let him win.
"I told you before, dearest, they weren't going to let us leave, otherwise! We tried for almost an hour before I finally said that!"
She smiled slightly into his eyes. "I'm sorry, J, but... I just want to jump you before your little, ah... 'problem' rears its..." She
cut herself off, looking away from the false anger in his eyes. "Well, I was gonna say 'rears its ugly head', but... that's pretty
much exactly what HASN'T been happening, isn't it?" She smirked to herself while he struggled for an appropriate come-back,
and stepped onto the elevator as it opened.

"Yes, well," he finally replied, "Maybe if you weren't such a SLUT..." He stopped himself as the doors closed in the face of the
woman who'd been behind them, and turned to the redhead as he burst into laughter. "Oh, that was priceless, Serena!" he
chuckled, "But would you mind telling me what exactly the POINT was?"

The redhead sighed and stepped out onto her floor as the elevator stopped and the doors closed. "It's a long story, but... let
me break it down for you. AFTER," she reminded him, "You tell me what I want to know." She led him down the hall to the suite
she shared with Jarod, and unlocked the door, waving him in. "Well?" she demanded, crossing her arms and staring at him
expectantly after she'd locked the door behind them.

Methos sighed and crossed to the couch. He'd really hoped that he'd be able to distract her, but... obviously not. And she
wasn't going to like what he had to say, either; after all, she LIKED the little witch. He sat down, silently wishing that he'd never
even HEARD of the legend.

End-- pt 17

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