![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Entry tags:
Out of the Storm, Part One --Crossover--Insanity
Title: Out of the Storm (Otherwise known as the "Crazy Ass Crossover Crack!fic of Doom")
Fandom: Hold on to something: Angel/Buffy/Firefly/Stargate SG-1/Supernatural Along with Original Fiction by both Authors
Characters/Pairings: Um...Yes. We have those. See cut to character sheet for more info.
Rating: I think we'll go with R for this bit
Summary: We are clearly insane, and have chosen to share the insanity with you. See, there's this tavern that exists somewhere in the collective unconscious between our brains. The insanity storm drove all these characters into the tavern...and now we get to play with them. Come on in. Check all foods and fluids at the door. Please buckle up for safety...and watch the floors...they're a little damp.
A/N & Warnings:
from![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-syndicated.gif)
amara_m This is likely my fault. I'm okay with that. This started as a place in my head where I sent characters to talk out stuff that wasn't working in a fic I was writing...then I had multiple fics going at once...and chaos erupted...then evil!Sam came....and well...there you are... I'm serious about the beverage and food warnings. If you choke to death or soak your monitor, don't blame me.
from![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
wandereringray Oh yes, definitely Am's fault, I was dragged kicking and screaming...okay you're not buying that are you? *laughs* This is weird, seriously weird shit and I am starting to fear for our sanity. But believe me, if we didn't write this, we'd probably be out there killing people. So it's all good. I second the food and beverage warning, people. We're also not responsible if your co-workers want to know what the hell you're laughing at.
"So, have you seen this crazy shit?" Dean Winchester leaned back against the bar, pointing with his beer.
The room around them was warm, insulating from the storm raging outside. A large stone fireplace dominated one wall, the blaze coloring the faces gathered around it. His brother turned from his contemplation of the deeply scarred wood on the bar and ran green eyes over the motley collection of people escaping the rain in this unusual place.
Nearest the fireplace a warrior stood, his Government Issue fatigues seeming slightly out of place in the rustic, and vaguely antique place. His skin was dark and a gold symbol shone in the firelight on his forehead. His dark eyes seemed to watch warily, then rose up to meet Sam's. A ghost of a smile passed his lips and he inclined his head in Sam's direction and Sam decided to look elsewhere. There were other warriors in the room…different from hunters, some of them in fatigues, others dressed strangely.
"Check it out." Dean's eyes tracked a woman moving from the bar toward a group of rough looking guys in the corner. She was tall and she moved with a grace reserved for fighters and lovers.
"Dude, she would eat you for lunch." Sam quipped, his eyes skipping to a red head giggling with a dark haired girl on the floor near the rag tag group. "Now, that is more my speed."
As if sensing his words, the dark haired girl looked up at him, then elbowed the red head. Sam flushed as she smiled, dropping his gaze and burying his sheepish smile behind his beer. Her name is Kaylee. Sam heard it in his head and looked up, surprised when the dark haired one laughed at him, her eyes sparkling. I'm River.
Sam raised his glass in acknowledgement and downed half his beer. "This place is weird," he said aside to his brother.
"Yeah. What's with the army?" Dean pointed in the direction of the two men sprawled on one of the couches near the fireplace.
"Air force."
"What?"
Sam looked at him. "Dude, they're air force."
Dean made a face. "Whatever, military is military."
The door opened suddenly, wind and rain gusting in with three newcomers who seemed dressed more for the desert than Cincinnati. "We are still in Cincinnati, aren't we, Dean?"
"Your guess is as good as mine." Dean said, his eyes watching the cautious entrance of the three. The first man stood nearly as tall as Dean, his hair neatly hidden beneath a turban of dark russet. What they could see of his skin was dark, and his eyes were sharp as he scanned the room.
"General, perhaps we should find other shelter," Mason said to Corral, her hand light on his arm, her voice soft. She let the scarf that hid her face fall, and it was obvious that her skin was not as dark.
"This is all there is Masso. The horses can go no further. We will be fine."
"I've been in places like this before, Mason. Don't worry." The final speaker was the other man, his robes white and trimmed in fur. His head was barren, his blond hair cropped close to his head, his skin golden from the sun.
It was easy to see there was no love lost between the two men as they moved further into the bar. "There is a table in the back." The blond pointed and the woman nodded, gliding in the indicated direction.
"Where do you think they're from?" Dean asked, leaning over to signal the bartender for another beer.
"Not far, if they're on horses." Sam said, turning back to watch the red head who was weaving through the collected air force officers toward the bar.
"Dude? You understood them?"
"What? You didn't?"
"Freak."
"I smell trouble."
"No, I'm pretty sure you smell wet wool." Daniel Jackson pointed to the wool blanket spread out by the fire to dry.
"Those two by the bar, they're trouble."
"Those two by the bar?"
General Jack O'Neill nodded with enthusiasm. "Don't trust 'em."
"Sir, they look like two young men who came in out of the rain, just like we did." Samantha Carter chuckled and took off her dress jacket as she warmed.
"Maybe to you."
Daniel chuckled. "And I suppose you think the crew of misfits over there are trouble too?"
"The woman holds herself with honor and is quite beautiful." Teal'c offered. His eyes met the tall woman's and a connection seemed to flare between them, both of them nodding in respect.
Jack followed Teal'c's eyes and he shuddered. "Yeah, Go get her T."
"I have no such intention, O'Neill. I was only observing."
Daniel chuckled and turned to look around the room. "This place is weird, even by our standards."
"What is this place?" Kathryn laid a hand on Ana's arm before the teenager could slide her pistol out of its holster. :Easy, Ana. Just take it easy.:
"Who knows, but it's better than getting blown away in that storm." Michael shrugged off his coat and headed for the bar, Jamie right behind him.
"There's other military here, but not ours." Ana hissed as she scanned the room with sharp eyes. "And most of these people's thoughts are bouncing around for the world to hear."
"Don't pry, Ana." Kathryn murmured with a smile. Her gaze caught on the women behind the bar and she blinked in surprise. "Okay, that's something you don't see everyday." She kept a hold on Ana's arm as she headed for the bar after the guys.
"It seems we are in for a busy night." Moira said as she smiled at the young woman by the door.
"Interesting." The older woman moved past her daughter to put away the extra glasses she had brought up from the cellar. "It seems the storm outside has gotten stronger. We would do well to ensure the windows are fastened and enough wood has been brought in to get us through."
Leonard wrapped long arms around Moira from behind, pulling her close to him and kissing her cheek. "I shall see to it, Mother."
"That one knows." Moira said, pointing with her eyes to the girls by the door.
Amara smiled. "Does she?"
Moira's eyes turned to hers, that distant, odd knowledge shining in them. "She does."
Amara nodded. "It is to be a strange night. Many will seek shelter. But we are safe here, Moira. We have been here far longer." She waited until Moira nodded. "See to them. I will bring up more supplies."
Serene scooped a hand through her soaked blonde hair as Drex shook himself like a dog beside her. She rolled her eyes at him and started for the bar after a brief internal debate between that or the fire. Her step stuttered when she suddenly registered her surroundings. "What by holy?"
Drex ran into her from the back and swore. "Serene, stop gawking." He laughed at her and pressed a hand to her back to propel her forward.
She shot a dirty look over her shoulder at him and then met the gaze of the tall man at the bar.
"Dude, look, she's checking me out."
Sam looked at his brother, then at the girl. "Blonde. Figures."
"What?"
Sam shook his head. "Blonde. Nine times out of ten, Dean."
"What?"
"Nothing." Sam turned as the red head named Kaylee stopped near him, setting her glass on the bar. When neither of the women behind the bar approached right away, Sam turned to her. "Hello."
"Hey." She seemed a little nervous, but somehow, Sam just found it charming.
"I'm Sam. This is my brother Dean."
"Kaylee. I mean, I'm Kaylee."
"A pleasure to meet you Kaylee."
Daniel frowned as he came back from the bar with fresh drinks for Jack and Sam. "What is it?" Jack asked, still on edge.
Daniel shook his head. "Nothing. I-I don't recognize the language." He handed Jack his drink, then thumbed over his shoulder at the trio in desert robes. "It's not Sumerian, although it bears some resemblance to the most modern…but it's kind of like Egyptian too. Or some combination of the two."
Jack and Sam both stared at him like he was crazy. Jack opened his mouth, then closed it again, looking at Sam. "I got nothing."
"They'll find it, Sydonic, don't worry." Qasim kicked his legs out and rubbed his hand over Rashieka's arm. The elf grumbled and went back to his beer. Cagila shared a grin with Rashieka and then the female elf went back to scanning the tavern.
It was a strange place, this refuge from the storm that has unexpectedly pummeled them on their journey. They'd been separated from Thane, Tree, Mágli and Tera in the abrupt darkness and had stumbled across this tavern in their hunt.
"The drink's not bad." Mikhail leaned back in his chair and sipped at his beer. "Odd, but good."
Cagila settled her eye on the two men by the fire. One was older, skin bronzed from the sun. The younger of the pair had blue eyes behind the wire-wrapped glass on his face. He caught her eye and gave her a friendly smile.
"What are you doing?"
"Exploring." Cagila replied as she pushed herself up from the table.
"Cagila, we don't know these people." Sydonic frowned and she laughed.
"Well all the more reason to introduce ourselves. Relax Sydonic, we're going to be stuck here a while and I don't feel like sitting around staring at each other suspiciously the whole time." She strolled across the room, well aware that there were other eyes on her as she sank into one of the other chairs by the fire. After a brief debate she decided Illingish was her best bet. "I am Cagila Shadrian."
There was a moment of surprised silence and then a smile spread across the younger man's face. "You speak English! I'm Daniel Jackson. This is General Jack O'Neill. We're explorers from a place called Earth." He was babbling and Cagila noticed the amused smile on the older man's face as he returned her nod.
"I speak Illingish, Daniel. Though it is apparently close enough to your language." She pulled her blonde hair from her face and watched both men's eyes widen in surprise as she tucked it behind her ear.
"You've got ... you're an..."
"Elf." She laughed. "I take it that's a rarity."
"Legend only." Daniel's eyes were bright now, dancing with delight. "Jack do you realize what this means?"
"No, but I'm sure you're about to tell me."
"So, you from around here?" Sam asked, aware that it was terribly cheesy and he was slightly buzzed from the three beers he'd downed since they'd been forced off the road by the storm.
Kaylee smiled kind of lopsidedly and shook her head. "Not sure where here is, 'xactly." She glanced over her shoulder at the corner where the dark haired one was giggling and at least one of the men in the party was staring at Sam. "We was supposed to find work, but storm grounded us. Cap'n's always one for a drink, so here we are."
Sam nodded, though he wasn't entirely sure he understood her. "Cap'n?"
She smiled, and it was like the sun had dawned in the room. "Yeah…that one there, in the back, all frowning this way? That's our Cap'n, Malcolm Reynolds."
"What's he captain of?" Sam asked, because he was fairly certain Malcolm Reynolds was not wearing any standard military uniform he'd ever seen.
"Serenity." Kaylee said, as if that explained everything. She took her drinks from the woman behind the bar and smiled at him. "Nice to meet you, Sam."
There was a commotion at the door that drew all the eyes in the room. Four hooded figures stumbled in, the smallest of the group falling to the floor as the door slammed shut behind them. Dean reached down to help and found himself looking first into a pair of green eyes very like Sam's, and then at about three feet of steel.
"Whoa!" He backpedaled, hands raised. "Just helping, dude..." He trailed off and blinked a few times as the newcomers removed their sodden cloaks. The guy with the sword had to be seven feet tall, and the red-head at his side wasn't far behind. She was tattooed with some crazy pattern in blue ink and watched him closely with a clear green gaze. "Just helping."
"Tree, it's all right." The tiny woman wrung out her long black hair. "He was just being kind." She gave Dean a smile that widened as she looked over his shoulder. "Rashieka and the others are here." She grabbed the blond man's hand and tugged him past Dean without a second glance.
Dean stayed where he was until the giant put his sword away, those golden eyes never leaving his. The man scooped a hand through his toffee-colored hair and said something to the tattooed woman in a foreign language that made her grin as she hung up her cloak on the pegs by the door. He glanced back at Dean and headed for the table without a word as Dean blew out the breath he'd been holding.
Dean watched them go until Sam's arm hit him in the chest. "Dude, he's got a fucking sword."
"Yeah, genius, I saw that."
"It was a big damn sword."
"Yeah. I think I need another beer."
"Moira, stop staring and see to the young ones."
Moira's eyes followed the dark gaze of her mother to the farthest corner of the bar, away from the growing crowd in the main hall. "How many more?" she asked, watching as the groups circled each other warily. The newest arrivals were mostly children, though two or three of them had the air of worldliness about them.
"It is hard to say, the storm is heavy." Amara turned smoky green eyes to the door as even more came to join them. They made her nervous. "See to the young ones, I'll see if I can make more our guests more comfortable."
"I will kick your ass Spike."
"Oh, yeah, I'm scared."
"Stop it." Buffy pushed the hood of her soaking wet hoodie back off her head and scanned the bar. "Both of you." She added as Angel looked like he would protest.
"B? You checkin' this?" Faith pushed wet hair out her face, her eyes marking out the potential dangers in the room.
"Oh yeah. Not much with the liking of this."
Angel hovered over he shoulder, his eyes narrowing as he searched the room. "Oh." He stood back up, his eyes watching the dark haired woman approaching them.
"Oh?" Buffy turned to look at him, but he shook his head as the woman stopped.
"This is a haven. There is to be no violence here."
Buffy opened her mouth, then closed it and looked at the two vampires at her back. They had both gotten quiet, their eyes on the woman. "Yes, ma'am. We're only looking to get out of the rain." Angel said, his hand on Buffy's shoulder.
The dark haired woman smiled. "Then you are welcome." Her dark green eyes snapped to Buffy's. "And you?"
"I'm…umm."
"A Slayer. I know." Her eyes moved to Faith's. "Two Slayers in fact."
"Okay, how'd you know that?"
The smile faded and the look on her face without the upturn of the lips was spooky. "I have seen my share. If there is trouble I will remove you."
Buffy's eyes swept over the slight form and a smile bubbles on her lips. She's pretty sure the woman wouldn't stand a chance against two Slayers and two Vampires in a fight. "I'm not going to cause any trouble….don't stress about it."
"Buffy. Let's just go sit down." Angel said, squeezing her shoulder a little.
"Ponce." Spike shot over his shoulder, but Buffy noticed he gave the woman a wide birth as he passed. He eyed the two lanky lads leaning against the bar, and stopped dead when he spotted the military uniforms by the fire. "Well, if this isn't a party."
Faith threw a leg over a chair and sat. "I think I like it here."
Daniel was practically jumping with excitement as he watched more and more people come in from the rain. "This place is like a…what? Crossroads…a place where worlds come together."
"A what?"
"Take a look around you, Jack. These people are…amazing."
"Down boy." Jack laid hand on his arm.
"Elves, Jack.. Elves and…I don't know what else."
"It still looks like trouble to me." Jack said, sipping on his beer. As one of the desert people approached. He smiled rather oddly as the blond man stuck out his hand.
He spoke, though his words made little sense to Jack. He tilted his head and tried again, in a different language. The third try, made Daniel's face light up. He responded in kind, and after a few minutes of excited talking, Daniel looked at Jack. "This is Terry Gilden. He comes from a place he calls…" Daniel looked back at the man and asked a question, then smiled. "Ga'ven, if I've got it right. Apparently it's a desert culture."
"Apparently." Jack said dryly.
"He's here with the woman, Mason, and her companion, General Corral."
Jack perked up and looked at the two sitting off to the side. "General?"
"Don't like it." Jayne groused and slid lower in his seat. "Some of these people ain't natural."
Mal remained silent as he sipped at his drink. Jayne was right, but he wasn't about to agree with him. Something told him keeping the peace in this particular bar was a very good idea.
A very good idea indeed, Cap'n.
Mal glanced over at River and the girl smiled. "You got something to say, little Albatross?"
"Not much. There's a lot to be seen here." She glanced across the tavern at a foursome in military uniforms just enough like the Alliance's to make Mal twitchy. A black-haired girl who was barely River's age watched them closely and Serenity's captain had a distinct feeling something passed between the pair.
"Danger?"
"Everything's shiny." River returned the girl's nod and gave Mal a bright smile. "This will be fun."
"Can I offer you something warm?" Moira asked as gently as she could. The knot of children looked as though they might bolt at the slightest word.
"We ain't got no money, lady," the oldest of them said, pulling wet hair over her shoulder to braid. "We just wanted out of the rain."
Moira smiled. "None required, I assure you. With a night like this no one should be out. Hot chocolate perhaps?"
The littlest face lit up and the though of chocolate. "I will have Leonard bring you blankets to help warm you…and the chocolate when it is ready."
"Thanks."
Moira nodded and headed back to the bar. She was stopped by a delicate hand on hers when she re-entered the main hall. She looked up, surprised by the soft brown eyes that met hers. "Pardon me." Moira recognized the traits that had once been her own, the ones that drew her attention to the girl who apparently led the rag tag crew of street kids.
She smiled and nodded. "I was wondering after the children." Her eyes tracked to the blond who was in turn watching her. "They…if they have need of anything."
Moira smiled. "I have everything covered."
"I'm Inara. We need to take care of one another, particularly in such odd circumstances."
"Welcome Inara. Be at ease. They will have all that they need."
Inara smiled soft and let her eyes sweep over the kids again. "To start so young. It's uncivilized."
Moira followed her gaze. "I was younger than the girl…but it was long ago." She sighed, then looked up as voices raised in the main hall. "It's going to be a long night."
Tera curled in the crook of Thane's arm with a satisfied smile. Her hair was dry again, her clothes on their way to that end. She glanced again at the pair in the corner. The woman met her eyes and then looked away with a shy smile. The man in the russet turban was very ill at ease, his hand straying back to his side as though taking comfort from a weapon hidden beneath the robes.
"Strange company." Thane murmured in her ear and Tera nodded.
"A strange storm that lead us here."
"I don't like this." Tree grumbled and Sydonic nodded his assent.
"Be at ease, l'oáute." Mágli smiled as she nudged his arm. "There will be no danger here." She gestured to the man and woman behind the bar and the tiny brown-haired woman who'd just greeted the most recent arrivals. "They will see to it."
"I would agree." Tera slid from Thane's embrace, the pull from the strangers in the corner too now too strong to ignore. "I will return." The table watched as she crossed to the two desert travelers and bowed low.
Serene assessed the two young men at the bar as she approached. They were attractive. The shorter with bright hazel eyes and an easy slouch. The taller of the two had deep green eyes and while initially she'd deemed him the more harmless of the two, something in her gut whispered that was probably not the case.
She gave them a slightly distracted smile and turned back to Drex. "Where are we?"
"I have even less of a guess than you, Inspector." He spread his hands with a grin. "I don't suppose I should remind you the irony of you asking me that question?"
Serene smacked him in the shoulder. "Hush and buy me a drink."
"Explain to me why we're here again, love?" Chaucer relaxed in the corner booth, one arm draped over Jefferson's shoulders.
"Curiosity more than anything." She grinned at him and then went back to watching the tavern. "This is the craziest thing I've ever seen. This should be a lot of fun."
"This is not the first time that I've thought your idea of fun and mine are not similar." Chaucer laughed out loud and squirmed away when she pinched him in the ribs.
"Just watch, General. Just watch." She had a smile of smug amusement on her face as she brought her drink up to her lips.
"I wouldn't."
"Don't worry yourself over it."
Jayne's eyes tracked the swaying hips in red leather as the dark haired girl moved from the table she was sharing with three others…his look was hungry. River rolled her eyes and left the area with Kaylee in tow. As the girl got close enough, he snagged her around the hips, pulling her into his lap. "Hey baby, wanna—"
He "oofed" as her elbow hit his cheek and her foot bit into his instep, and then she was up and threatening him. "Hey…little lady…don't—"
"What! What did you call me?"
"Faith." The tall dark guy from her table was at her side.
"No, Angel. He started it."
"Walk away."
"No."
"Just lookin' for some fun."
"You want fun? Maybe I should rearrange your face…you know, for fun."
"Faith, we don't want trouble."
"You think you could?" Jayne was standing now, towering over Faith and Angel held up his hand.
"Let's just calm down."
"Apologize."
"What?" Jayne looked at her like she was insane. "Why? Whatcha gonna do?"
Faith's fist was faster than Angel's arm, but he caught her before she'd hit him a second time. "My nose! She broke my gorram nose!"
"Buffy? A little help?"
"Come on Faith. No point bloodying the poor man any more than that."
"B—"
"It isn't worth getting kicked out into that rain."
Faith fumed for a minute, then stepped back, releasing battle readiness with a nod. "Okay. But if he touches me again…"
"If he tries again we'll take him outside and teach him some manners together, okay?"
Daniel was practically giddy. It made Jack chuckle. He was rambling to no one in particular about languages and derivations and cultural identity. Jack sipped at his beer and regarded the room from their place near the fire. His drinking had slowed when unfamiliar military types started showing up, and the tension in the air had increased with the arrival of sword guy.
"Are you listening to me?"
Jack blinked at Daniel. "Listening? Yes. Hearing or understanding? No, not really." Daniel sighed in frustration and Jack just shook his head.
"Carter?"
"Yes sir?"
"What do you make of them." He pointed to the group of young people who seemed too young to actually be military, but he was fairly certain he recognized the stance, the way they held the room and watched him in return.
Carter frowned. "Not sure, sir. They're young."
He nodded. "Or I'm really old."
Sam sat on the floor near the fire with River and Kaylee, laughing as River made some joke that he didn't understand. His eyes flashed up at Dean, but he was busy chatting with the blond girl who'd come in with the two tall guys and the brunette.
"So what is it you do, Sam Winchester?" Kaylee asked, her entire face a smile that made Sam see stars.
"I hunt. Uh…" He could kick himself.
"He's a hunter, Kaylee. Hunts the bad stuff."
"What? Like Reavers?"
"Reavers?"
River turned to him, her eyes narrowing. Sam started when images flashed into his head. "Ow. Hey…okay, enough."
"Sorry." River ducked her head and offered a smile in apology.
"No…'s okay." Sam rubbed at his head. "Never saw a Reaver before…but yes, we hunt things like that."
"Noble cause." River said solemnly. "But how do you know?"
Sam cocked his head at her. "Know what?"
"When evil is evil…and when it isn't?"
Sam frowned at her. "Evil is evil."
Not always. She looked at the woman behind the bar. "There is more here than meets the eye, Sam."
The door blew open, crashing into the wall and drawing every eye in the room. Tall and dark, a man stumbled in, throwing the door closed behind him. Sam started as the man straightened out and pushed wet hair out of his eyes. "That's not…good," he whispered. River took his hand.
Evil.
Sam stood up, River and Kaylee coming with him as he turned to face as familiar as his own…probably because it was his own.
Tree's hand automatically locked on Mágli's wrist when the woman started cursing. Even with his head start he still had to put some muscle into it to keep her at the table. "What is it Mags?"
"Evil." She hissed the word, green eyes flicking around the room, but always coming back to the man by the door. "Unholy and unclean."
The man grinned, almost as though he'd heard her and Tree frowned for the baby face was at odds with the blackness of his eyes. "Let's round it up." He glanced at Qasim and then across the room at Tera wanting to call her over, but the slight Kamardi shook her head and Tree stayed silent.
"Oh shit." Kathryn's drink fell from her hand and shattered on the floor, taking the silence with it. Jamie and Michael both jerked around at her words and their hands moved to their weapons.
"At ease, Luna." Jamie cautioned in a low voice. "Let's just wait."
Ana turned with casual ease. "Well I didn't think he'd have the guts to show up." She shoved herself away from the bar and sauntered over with a wicked grin. "Hey Sammy." He frowned down at her as she circled. "You look a little lost."
She could feel him testing, feel the shock when he realized that she's not easy prey and that she's not the only one in the room. Ana's grin widened when he pushed harder anyway. "You're in the big leagues now, Sammy. Not so sure what to do with yourself when you can't just push people around at your leisure?"
This new Sam snarled, his lip curling in displeasure. "I'm looking for my brother. I don't want any trouble." His eyes cast about the room, coming to rest on Dean. The girl with him tensed, half stepping in front of him.
Dean's hand reached out for her arm. "Take it easy." His eyes darted between Sam and Sam. "This is some crazy shit." He felt a presence behind him and glanced at the tall, dark friend of Buffy's.
"Buffy?"
She glanced around them as the room shifted, warriors gathering, readying for a fight. "Easy, Angel. No matter what your friend wants, this is going to get ugly."
"Yeah. I get that."
Sam stared at his double, at the sneer as the small woman circled him. Sam started to step toward him, but River was in front of him. You aren't ready for him.
He looked at her and shook his head. "He is me."
She nodded, her eyes not leaving the new Sam's face. "He is evil."
Hi eyes turned toward River, then narrowed when he spotted Sam behind her. His lips twisted in a nasty grin. "Do all of you hide behind women? How sweet. Don't think it will matter."
"There will be no killing here." A calm voice said from behind evil!Sam and he turned.
Evil!Sam towered over the petite woman who apparently ran the bar. "Do you think you could stop me?" He pushed at her and she took a step backward.
She waited a beat, then stepped forward. "Boy, you don't begin to know what evil is." Amara looked into his face and let the Change come over her. "I come from evil spawned in the dark before the light dared show its face. Trust me when I tell you there will be no killing in this place."
His eyes narrowed and he leaned forward. "Vampires don't scare me bitch."
"Maybe they should." A voice behind him said and he turned. The room was slowly arraying against him. Maybe he'd underestimated things. He scanned the minds in the room…and didn't like what he saw. The little one nearest him wasn't necessarily the most powerful, but she was strong, confident. The others, still at the bar and watching…they were a threat.
A low growl rumbled in his throat. The room was moving…mind-workers and warriors, vampires and…his face twisted in disgust as he recognized what the blond and brunette were…Slayers…But not everyone in the room was powerful. There were tender minds here…innocents. He could smell them.
"Kaylee." River whispered it, her hand snaking out. He's got her.
Sam looked up, watching in disbelief as Kaylee stepped closer to his double. "Kaylee. Don't." Sam reached for her, his reach a little longer than River's.
Evil!Sam's eyes snapped to his. Take her place. Come to me.
Sam snorted and shook his head. "I don't think so." Sam's hand closed on Kaylee's shoulder. "Whatever it is you're doing, stop."
"Make me."
"L'oáute, release me." Mágli's voice was low, deadly serious and Tree complied without protest. "Whatever happens, you will stay in your seat. This … thing is not to be trifled with. If you are told to fight by anyone but me, do not move. Is that understood?" She didn't wait for an answer as she left the table.
"Child." Mágli smiled and cupped a hand to Kaylee's cheek as she stepped between the girl and the evil one. Her eyes met those of the double, and she saw the concern in them. "Fear will play against you here." She said to him and watched as he took a shuddering breath and nodded. "Sleep child." Kaylee's eyes fell closed and Sam caught her as she crumpled.
Mágli turned with a smirk on the evil thing and looked it in the eye. She crossed her arms over her chest and stared. "You are picking a fight in the wrong place. The one you're looking for isn't here."
The woman with the blue tattoos was as tall as he was, and evil!Sam's eyes narrowed as she put the pretty innocent girl to sleep with just a breath of air, severing his connection with a finality that stung. Then she turned on him, clear green eyes meeting his and a half smile on her face that made his blood churn.
He forced a smile, slipping a hand around behind him. "Well I guess I should go then."
"You should." Her eyes never wavered from his. "But you won't."
"Damn right I won't." The knife struck cleanly across her pale throat, opening the skin and letting the blood flow. He heard the shrieks, the cries of outrage as the woman sank to her knees, hands oddly at her sides and not trying to stop the flow of life from her body. He smiled as the horrible choking gurgle filled the silence. "Nobody fucking tells me what to do, bitch." He glanced over his shoulder at the shocked face of the vampire. "No killing here, huh?"
:Hold, all three of you.: Kathryn didn't react as the red-headed warrior dropped to her knees in front of the stranger and bled out onto the polished hardwood floor. :Jamie, the people by the fireplace. Michael, the warriors across the room. I'll keep watch on the ones here at the bar. Ana-:
:Staying right here.:
Kathryn sighed quietly as she smiled at the determination in Ana's tone. The young sniper was a match for the stranger, but she wasn't stronger and Kathryn could feel something swell inside him as he licked the blood from his knife. That wasn't truly Kathryn's concern though. Protecting those who couldn't protect themselves was. :That's fine, Ana. Just ... stop teasing him, huh?: She felt the younger woman's sulk in her head and had to muffled her laughter.
"Christ!" Dean swore under his breath as he watched something that looked like his brother but was most definitely not, kill the tall redhead with a smirk. He looked over at Sam, his Sam, still holding the unconscious Kaylee in his arms and gaping at himself in horror. "This is fucked up."
"No doubt." He realized he'd spoken aloud when Buffy muttered back at him.
It wasn't Sam, it couldn't be. Options rolled through his head: demon, shapeshifter, another fucking skinchanger? His eyes met green so dark they were almost black and Dean leaned against the bar as a wave of dizziness swept over him.
Not a shapeshifter, Dean. Can't you recognize your own brother? The voice in his head was soft, seductive and accompanied by a feeling of lust so strong that Dean gasped.
"Dean?" Buffy grabbed one arm, her pal Angel grabbing the other as his knees gave out.
Come over here, Dean. The voice was soothing, compelling; but as Dean tried to move the pair holding him tightened their grip. Green eyes flashed with fire, Angel and Buffy went flying, striking opposite walls of the tavern.
Dean's body started moving forward of its own accord and he heard the laughter in his head from the evil!Sam as he tried to fight. No point, big brother, you gave yourself willingly to me once. No point in trying to fight me now.
Suddenly, Mágli's arm shot out, fist driving into evil!Sam's crotch with enough force to fold him over double and drop him to the floor. His hold on Dean broken, Dean stopped abruptly and fell on his knees.
"Dean!" His Sam yelled and rushed over. Sam laid Kaylee down next to Dean. "You okay?"
"This really is some crazy shit." Dean repeated for the third time that night and let his head drop forward into his hands. It didn't stay there long, however, as the door to the tavern burst open and two more figures came in. "What now?" Dean groaned, blinking his eyes in a futile attempt to clear his vision.
Continued Here, in the journal of my accomplice
Fandom: Hold on to something: Angel/Buffy/Firefly/Stargate SG-1/Supernatural Along with Original Fiction by both Authors
Characters/Pairings: Um...Yes. We have those. See cut to character sheet for more info.
Rating: I think we'll go with R for this bit
Summary: We are clearly insane, and have chosen to share the insanity with you. See, there's this tavern that exists somewhere in the collective unconscious between our brains. The insanity storm drove all these characters into the tavern...and now we get to play with them. Come on in. Check all foods and fluids at the door. Please buckle up for safety...and watch the floors...they're a little damp.
A/N & Warnings:
from
amara_m This is likely my fault. I'm okay with that. This started as a place in my head where I sent characters to talk out stuff that wasn't working in a fic I was writing...then I had multiple fics going at once...and chaos erupted...then evil!Sam came....and well...there you are... I'm serious about the beverage and food warnings. If you choke to death or soak your monitor, don't blame me. from
wandereringray Oh yes, definitely Am's fault, I was dragged kicking and screaming...okay you're not buying that are you? *laughs* This is weird, seriously weird shit and I am starting to fear for our sanity. But believe me, if we didn't write this, we'd probably be out there killing people. So it's all good. I second the food and beverage warning, people. We're also not responsible if your co-workers want to know what the hell you're laughing at."So, have you seen this crazy shit?" Dean Winchester leaned back against the bar, pointing with his beer.
The room around them was warm, insulating from the storm raging outside. A large stone fireplace dominated one wall, the blaze coloring the faces gathered around it. His brother turned from his contemplation of the deeply scarred wood on the bar and ran green eyes over the motley collection of people escaping the rain in this unusual place.
Nearest the fireplace a warrior stood, his Government Issue fatigues seeming slightly out of place in the rustic, and vaguely antique place. His skin was dark and a gold symbol shone in the firelight on his forehead. His dark eyes seemed to watch warily, then rose up to meet Sam's. A ghost of a smile passed his lips and he inclined his head in Sam's direction and Sam decided to look elsewhere. There were other warriors in the room…different from hunters, some of them in fatigues, others dressed strangely.
"Check it out." Dean's eyes tracked a woman moving from the bar toward a group of rough looking guys in the corner. She was tall and she moved with a grace reserved for fighters and lovers.
"Dude, she would eat you for lunch." Sam quipped, his eyes skipping to a red head giggling with a dark haired girl on the floor near the rag tag group. "Now, that is more my speed."
As if sensing his words, the dark haired girl looked up at him, then elbowed the red head. Sam flushed as she smiled, dropping his gaze and burying his sheepish smile behind his beer. Her name is Kaylee. Sam heard it in his head and looked up, surprised when the dark haired one laughed at him, her eyes sparkling. I'm River.
Sam raised his glass in acknowledgement and downed half his beer. "This place is weird," he said aside to his brother.
"Yeah. What's with the army?" Dean pointed in the direction of the two men sprawled on one of the couches near the fireplace.
"Air force."
"What?"
Sam looked at him. "Dude, they're air force."
Dean made a face. "Whatever, military is military."
The door opened suddenly, wind and rain gusting in with three newcomers who seemed dressed more for the desert than Cincinnati. "We are still in Cincinnati, aren't we, Dean?"
"Your guess is as good as mine." Dean said, his eyes watching the cautious entrance of the three. The first man stood nearly as tall as Dean, his hair neatly hidden beneath a turban of dark russet. What they could see of his skin was dark, and his eyes were sharp as he scanned the room.
"General, perhaps we should find other shelter," Mason said to Corral, her hand light on his arm, her voice soft. She let the scarf that hid her face fall, and it was obvious that her skin was not as dark.
"This is all there is Masso. The horses can go no further. We will be fine."
"I've been in places like this before, Mason. Don't worry." The final speaker was the other man, his robes white and trimmed in fur. His head was barren, his blond hair cropped close to his head, his skin golden from the sun.
It was easy to see there was no love lost between the two men as they moved further into the bar. "There is a table in the back." The blond pointed and the woman nodded, gliding in the indicated direction.
"Where do you think they're from?" Dean asked, leaning over to signal the bartender for another beer.
"Not far, if they're on horses." Sam said, turning back to watch the red head who was weaving through the collected air force officers toward the bar.
"Dude? You understood them?"
"What? You didn't?"
"Freak."
"I smell trouble."
"No, I'm pretty sure you smell wet wool." Daniel Jackson pointed to the wool blanket spread out by the fire to dry.
"Those two by the bar, they're trouble."
"Those two by the bar?"
General Jack O'Neill nodded with enthusiasm. "Don't trust 'em."
"Sir, they look like two young men who came in out of the rain, just like we did." Samantha Carter chuckled and took off her dress jacket as she warmed.
"Maybe to you."
Daniel chuckled. "And I suppose you think the crew of misfits over there are trouble too?"
"The woman holds herself with honor and is quite beautiful." Teal'c offered. His eyes met the tall woman's and a connection seemed to flare between them, both of them nodding in respect.
Jack followed Teal'c's eyes and he shuddered. "Yeah, Go get her T."
"I have no such intention, O'Neill. I was only observing."
Daniel chuckled and turned to look around the room. "This place is weird, even by our standards."
"What is this place?" Kathryn laid a hand on Ana's arm before the teenager could slide her pistol out of its holster. :Easy, Ana. Just take it easy.:
"Who knows, but it's better than getting blown away in that storm." Michael shrugged off his coat and headed for the bar, Jamie right behind him.
"There's other military here, but not ours." Ana hissed as she scanned the room with sharp eyes. "And most of these people's thoughts are bouncing around for the world to hear."
"Don't pry, Ana." Kathryn murmured with a smile. Her gaze caught on the women behind the bar and she blinked in surprise. "Okay, that's something you don't see everyday." She kept a hold on Ana's arm as she headed for the bar after the guys.
"It seems we are in for a busy night." Moira said as she smiled at the young woman by the door.
"Interesting." The older woman moved past her daughter to put away the extra glasses she had brought up from the cellar. "It seems the storm outside has gotten stronger. We would do well to ensure the windows are fastened and enough wood has been brought in to get us through."
Leonard wrapped long arms around Moira from behind, pulling her close to him and kissing her cheek. "I shall see to it, Mother."
"That one knows." Moira said, pointing with her eyes to the girls by the door.
Amara smiled. "Does she?"
Moira's eyes turned to hers, that distant, odd knowledge shining in them. "She does."
Amara nodded. "It is to be a strange night. Many will seek shelter. But we are safe here, Moira. We have been here far longer." She waited until Moira nodded. "See to them. I will bring up more supplies."
Serene scooped a hand through her soaked blonde hair as Drex shook himself like a dog beside her. She rolled her eyes at him and started for the bar after a brief internal debate between that or the fire. Her step stuttered when she suddenly registered her surroundings. "What by holy?"
Drex ran into her from the back and swore. "Serene, stop gawking." He laughed at her and pressed a hand to her back to propel her forward.
She shot a dirty look over her shoulder at him and then met the gaze of the tall man at the bar.
"Dude, look, she's checking me out."
Sam looked at his brother, then at the girl. "Blonde. Figures."
"What?"
Sam shook his head. "Blonde. Nine times out of ten, Dean."
"What?"
"Nothing." Sam turned as the red head named Kaylee stopped near him, setting her glass on the bar. When neither of the women behind the bar approached right away, Sam turned to her. "Hello."
"Hey." She seemed a little nervous, but somehow, Sam just found it charming.
"I'm Sam. This is my brother Dean."
"Kaylee. I mean, I'm Kaylee."
"A pleasure to meet you Kaylee."
Daniel frowned as he came back from the bar with fresh drinks for Jack and Sam. "What is it?" Jack asked, still on edge.
Daniel shook his head. "Nothing. I-I don't recognize the language." He handed Jack his drink, then thumbed over his shoulder at the trio in desert robes. "It's not Sumerian, although it bears some resemblance to the most modern…but it's kind of like Egyptian too. Or some combination of the two."
Jack and Sam both stared at him like he was crazy. Jack opened his mouth, then closed it again, looking at Sam. "I got nothing."
"They'll find it, Sydonic, don't worry." Qasim kicked his legs out and rubbed his hand over Rashieka's arm. The elf grumbled and went back to his beer. Cagila shared a grin with Rashieka and then the female elf went back to scanning the tavern.
It was a strange place, this refuge from the storm that has unexpectedly pummeled them on their journey. They'd been separated from Thane, Tree, Mágli and Tera in the abrupt darkness and had stumbled across this tavern in their hunt.
"The drink's not bad." Mikhail leaned back in his chair and sipped at his beer. "Odd, but good."
Cagila settled her eye on the two men by the fire. One was older, skin bronzed from the sun. The younger of the pair had blue eyes behind the wire-wrapped glass on his face. He caught her eye and gave her a friendly smile.
"What are you doing?"
"Exploring." Cagila replied as she pushed herself up from the table.
"Cagila, we don't know these people." Sydonic frowned and she laughed.
"Well all the more reason to introduce ourselves. Relax Sydonic, we're going to be stuck here a while and I don't feel like sitting around staring at each other suspiciously the whole time." She strolled across the room, well aware that there were other eyes on her as she sank into one of the other chairs by the fire. After a brief debate she decided Illingish was her best bet. "I am Cagila Shadrian."
There was a moment of surprised silence and then a smile spread across the younger man's face. "You speak English! I'm Daniel Jackson. This is General Jack O'Neill. We're explorers from a place called Earth." He was babbling and Cagila noticed the amused smile on the older man's face as he returned her nod.
"I speak Illingish, Daniel. Though it is apparently close enough to your language." She pulled her blonde hair from her face and watched both men's eyes widen in surprise as she tucked it behind her ear.
"You've got ... you're an..."
"Elf." She laughed. "I take it that's a rarity."
"Legend only." Daniel's eyes were bright now, dancing with delight. "Jack do you realize what this means?"
"No, but I'm sure you're about to tell me."
"So, you from around here?" Sam asked, aware that it was terribly cheesy and he was slightly buzzed from the three beers he'd downed since they'd been forced off the road by the storm.
Kaylee smiled kind of lopsidedly and shook her head. "Not sure where here is, 'xactly." She glanced over her shoulder at the corner where the dark haired one was giggling and at least one of the men in the party was staring at Sam. "We was supposed to find work, but storm grounded us. Cap'n's always one for a drink, so here we are."
Sam nodded, though he wasn't entirely sure he understood her. "Cap'n?"
She smiled, and it was like the sun had dawned in the room. "Yeah…that one there, in the back, all frowning this way? That's our Cap'n, Malcolm Reynolds."
"What's he captain of?" Sam asked, because he was fairly certain Malcolm Reynolds was not wearing any standard military uniform he'd ever seen.
"Serenity." Kaylee said, as if that explained everything. She took her drinks from the woman behind the bar and smiled at him. "Nice to meet you, Sam."
There was a commotion at the door that drew all the eyes in the room. Four hooded figures stumbled in, the smallest of the group falling to the floor as the door slammed shut behind them. Dean reached down to help and found himself looking first into a pair of green eyes very like Sam's, and then at about three feet of steel.
"Whoa!" He backpedaled, hands raised. "Just helping, dude..." He trailed off and blinked a few times as the newcomers removed their sodden cloaks. The guy with the sword had to be seven feet tall, and the red-head at his side wasn't far behind. She was tattooed with some crazy pattern in blue ink and watched him closely with a clear green gaze. "Just helping."
"Tree, it's all right." The tiny woman wrung out her long black hair. "He was just being kind." She gave Dean a smile that widened as she looked over his shoulder. "Rashieka and the others are here." She grabbed the blond man's hand and tugged him past Dean without a second glance.
Dean stayed where he was until the giant put his sword away, those golden eyes never leaving his. The man scooped a hand through his toffee-colored hair and said something to the tattooed woman in a foreign language that made her grin as she hung up her cloak on the pegs by the door. He glanced back at Dean and headed for the table without a word as Dean blew out the breath he'd been holding.
Dean watched them go until Sam's arm hit him in the chest. "Dude, he's got a fucking sword."
"Yeah, genius, I saw that."
"It was a big damn sword."
"Yeah. I think I need another beer."
"Moira, stop staring and see to the young ones."
Moira's eyes followed the dark gaze of her mother to the farthest corner of the bar, away from the growing crowd in the main hall. "How many more?" she asked, watching as the groups circled each other warily. The newest arrivals were mostly children, though two or three of them had the air of worldliness about them.
"It is hard to say, the storm is heavy." Amara turned smoky green eyes to the door as even more came to join them. They made her nervous. "See to the young ones, I'll see if I can make more our guests more comfortable."
"I will kick your ass Spike."
"Oh, yeah, I'm scared."
"Stop it." Buffy pushed the hood of her soaking wet hoodie back off her head and scanned the bar. "Both of you." She added as Angel looked like he would protest.
"B? You checkin' this?" Faith pushed wet hair out her face, her eyes marking out the potential dangers in the room.
"Oh yeah. Not much with the liking of this."
Angel hovered over he shoulder, his eyes narrowing as he searched the room. "Oh." He stood back up, his eyes watching the dark haired woman approaching them.
"Oh?" Buffy turned to look at him, but he shook his head as the woman stopped.
"This is a haven. There is to be no violence here."
Buffy opened her mouth, then closed it and looked at the two vampires at her back. They had both gotten quiet, their eyes on the woman. "Yes, ma'am. We're only looking to get out of the rain." Angel said, his hand on Buffy's shoulder.
The dark haired woman smiled. "Then you are welcome." Her dark green eyes snapped to Buffy's. "And you?"
"I'm…umm."
"A Slayer. I know." Her eyes moved to Faith's. "Two Slayers in fact."
"Okay, how'd you know that?"
The smile faded and the look on her face without the upturn of the lips was spooky. "I have seen my share. If there is trouble I will remove you."
Buffy's eyes swept over the slight form and a smile bubbles on her lips. She's pretty sure the woman wouldn't stand a chance against two Slayers and two Vampires in a fight. "I'm not going to cause any trouble….don't stress about it."
"Buffy. Let's just go sit down." Angel said, squeezing her shoulder a little.
"Ponce." Spike shot over his shoulder, but Buffy noticed he gave the woman a wide birth as he passed. He eyed the two lanky lads leaning against the bar, and stopped dead when he spotted the military uniforms by the fire. "Well, if this isn't a party."
Faith threw a leg over a chair and sat. "I think I like it here."
Daniel was practically jumping with excitement as he watched more and more people come in from the rain. "This place is like a…what? Crossroads…a place where worlds come together."
"A what?"
"Take a look around you, Jack. These people are…amazing."
"Down boy." Jack laid hand on his arm.
"Elves, Jack.. Elves and…I don't know what else."
"It still looks like trouble to me." Jack said, sipping on his beer. As one of the desert people approached. He smiled rather oddly as the blond man stuck out his hand.
He spoke, though his words made little sense to Jack. He tilted his head and tried again, in a different language. The third try, made Daniel's face light up. He responded in kind, and after a few minutes of excited talking, Daniel looked at Jack. "This is Terry Gilden. He comes from a place he calls…" Daniel looked back at the man and asked a question, then smiled. "Ga'ven, if I've got it right. Apparently it's a desert culture."
"Apparently." Jack said dryly.
"He's here with the woman, Mason, and her companion, General Corral."
Jack perked up and looked at the two sitting off to the side. "General?"
"Don't like it." Jayne groused and slid lower in his seat. "Some of these people ain't natural."
Mal remained silent as he sipped at his drink. Jayne was right, but he wasn't about to agree with him. Something told him keeping the peace in this particular bar was a very good idea.
A very good idea indeed, Cap'n.
Mal glanced over at River and the girl smiled. "You got something to say, little Albatross?"
"Not much. There's a lot to be seen here." She glanced across the tavern at a foursome in military uniforms just enough like the Alliance's to make Mal twitchy. A black-haired girl who was barely River's age watched them closely and Serenity's captain had a distinct feeling something passed between the pair.
"Danger?"
"Everything's shiny." River returned the girl's nod and gave Mal a bright smile. "This will be fun."
"Can I offer you something warm?" Moira asked as gently as she could. The knot of children looked as though they might bolt at the slightest word.
"We ain't got no money, lady," the oldest of them said, pulling wet hair over her shoulder to braid. "We just wanted out of the rain."
Moira smiled. "None required, I assure you. With a night like this no one should be out. Hot chocolate perhaps?"
The littlest face lit up and the though of chocolate. "I will have Leonard bring you blankets to help warm you…and the chocolate when it is ready."
"Thanks."
Moira nodded and headed back to the bar. She was stopped by a delicate hand on hers when she re-entered the main hall. She looked up, surprised by the soft brown eyes that met hers. "Pardon me." Moira recognized the traits that had once been her own, the ones that drew her attention to the girl who apparently led the rag tag crew of street kids.
She smiled and nodded. "I was wondering after the children." Her eyes tracked to the blond who was in turn watching her. "They…if they have need of anything."
Moira smiled. "I have everything covered."
"I'm Inara. We need to take care of one another, particularly in such odd circumstances."
"Welcome Inara. Be at ease. They will have all that they need."
Inara smiled soft and let her eyes sweep over the kids again. "To start so young. It's uncivilized."
Moira followed her gaze. "I was younger than the girl…but it was long ago." She sighed, then looked up as voices raised in the main hall. "It's going to be a long night."
Tera curled in the crook of Thane's arm with a satisfied smile. Her hair was dry again, her clothes on their way to that end. She glanced again at the pair in the corner. The woman met her eyes and then looked away with a shy smile. The man in the russet turban was very ill at ease, his hand straying back to his side as though taking comfort from a weapon hidden beneath the robes.
"Strange company." Thane murmured in her ear and Tera nodded.
"A strange storm that lead us here."
"I don't like this." Tree grumbled and Sydonic nodded his assent.
"Be at ease, l'oáute." Mágli smiled as she nudged his arm. "There will be no danger here." She gestured to the man and woman behind the bar and the tiny brown-haired woman who'd just greeted the most recent arrivals. "They will see to it."
"I would agree." Tera slid from Thane's embrace, the pull from the strangers in the corner too now too strong to ignore. "I will return." The table watched as she crossed to the two desert travelers and bowed low.
Serene assessed the two young men at the bar as she approached. They were attractive. The shorter with bright hazel eyes and an easy slouch. The taller of the two had deep green eyes and while initially she'd deemed him the more harmless of the two, something in her gut whispered that was probably not the case.
She gave them a slightly distracted smile and turned back to Drex. "Where are we?"
"I have even less of a guess than you, Inspector." He spread his hands with a grin. "I don't suppose I should remind you the irony of you asking me that question?"
Serene smacked him in the shoulder. "Hush and buy me a drink."
"Explain to me why we're here again, love?" Chaucer relaxed in the corner booth, one arm draped over Jefferson's shoulders.
"Curiosity more than anything." She grinned at him and then went back to watching the tavern. "This is the craziest thing I've ever seen. This should be a lot of fun."
"This is not the first time that I've thought your idea of fun and mine are not similar." Chaucer laughed out loud and squirmed away when she pinched him in the ribs.
"Just watch, General. Just watch." She had a smile of smug amusement on her face as she brought her drink up to her lips.
"I wouldn't."
"Don't worry yourself over it."
Jayne's eyes tracked the swaying hips in red leather as the dark haired girl moved from the table she was sharing with three others…his look was hungry. River rolled her eyes and left the area with Kaylee in tow. As the girl got close enough, he snagged her around the hips, pulling her into his lap. "Hey baby, wanna—"
He "oofed" as her elbow hit his cheek and her foot bit into his instep, and then she was up and threatening him. "Hey…little lady…don't—"
"What! What did you call me?"
"Faith." The tall dark guy from her table was at her side.
"No, Angel. He started it."
"Walk away."
"No."
"Just lookin' for some fun."
"You want fun? Maybe I should rearrange your face…you know, for fun."
"Faith, we don't want trouble."
"You think you could?" Jayne was standing now, towering over Faith and Angel held up his hand.
"Let's just calm down."
"Apologize."
"What?" Jayne looked at her like she was insane. "Why? Whatcha gonna do?"
Faith's fist was faster than Angel's arm, but he caught her before she'd hit him a second time. "My nose! She broke my gorram nose!"
"Buffy? A little help?"
"Come on Faith. No point bloodying the poor man any more than that."
"B—"
"It isn't worth getting kicked out into that rain."
Faith fumed for a minute, then stepped back, releasing battle readiness with a nod. "Okay. But if he touches me again…"
"If he tries again we'll take him outside and teach him some manners together, okay?"
Daniel was practically giddy. It made Jack chuckle. He was rambling to no one in particular about languages and derivations and cultural identity. Jack sipped at his beer and regarded the room from their place near the fire. His drinking had slowed when unfamiliar military types started showing up, and the tension in the air had increased with the arrival of sword guy.
"Are you listening to me?"
Jack blinked at Daniel. "Listening? Yes. Hearing or understanding? No, not really." Daniel sighed in frustration and Jack just shook his head.
"Carter?"
"Yes sir?"
"What do you make of them." He pointed to the group of young people who seemed too young to actually be military, but he was fairly certain he recognized the stance, the way they held the room and watched him in return.
Carter frowned. "Not sure, sir. They're young."
He nodded. "Or I'm really old."
Sam sat on the floor near the fire with River and Kaylee, laughing as River made some joke that he didn't understand. His eyes flashed up at Dean, but he was busy chatting with the blond girl who'd come in with the two tall guys and the brunette.
"So what is it you do, Sam Winchester?" Kaylee asked, her entire face a smile that made Sam see stars.
"I hunt. Uh…" He could kick himself.
"He's a hunter, Kaylee. Hunts the bad stuff."
"What? Like Reavers?"
"Reavers?"
River turned to him, her eyes narrowing. Sam started when images flashed into his head. "Ow. Hey…okay, enough."
"Sorry." River ducked her head and offered a smile in apology.
"No…'s okay." Sam rubbed at his head. "Never saw a Reaver before…but yes, we hunt things like that."
"Noble cause." River said solemnly. "But how do you know?"
Sam cocked his head at her. "Know what?"
"When evil is evil…and when it isn't?"
Sam frowned at her. "Evil is evil."
Not always. She looked at the woman behind the bar. "There is more here than meets the eye, Sam."
The door blew open, crashing into the wall and drawing every eye in the room. Tall and dark, a man stumbled in, throwing the door closed behind him. Sam started as the man straightened out and pushed wet hair out of his eyes. "That's not…good," he whispered. River took his hand.
Evil.
Sam stood up, River and Kaylee coming with him as he turned to face as familiar as his own…probably because it was his own.
Tree's hand automatically locked on Mágli's wrist when the woman started cursing. Even with his head start he still had to put some muscle into it to keep her at the table. "What is it Mags?"
"Evil." She hissed the word, green eyes flicking around the room, but always coming back to the man by the door. "Unholy and unclean."
The man grinned, almost as though he'd heard her and Tree frowned for the baby face was at odds with the blackness of his eyes. "Let's round it up." He glanced at Qasim and then across the room at Tera wanting to call her over, but the slight Kamardi shook her head and Tree stayed silent.
"Oh shit." Kathryn's drink fell from her hand and shattered on the floor, taking the silence with it. Jamie and Michael both jerked around at her words and their hands moved to their weapons.
"At ease, Luna." Jamie cautioned in a low voice. "Let's just wait."
Ana turned with casual ease. "Well I didn't think he'd have the guts to show up." She shoved herself away from the bar and sauntered over with a wicked grin. "Hey Sammy." He frowned down at her as she circled. "You look a little lost."
She could feel him testing, feel the shock when he realized that she's not easy prey and that she's not the only one in the room. Ana's grin widened when he pushed harder anyway. "You're in the big leagues now, Sammy. Not so sure what to do with yourself when you can't just push people around at your leisure?"
This new Sam snarled, his lip curling in displeasure. "I'm looking for my brother. I don't want any trouble." His eyes cast about the room, coming to rest on Dean. The girl with him tensed, half stepping in front of him.
Dean's hand reached out for her arm. "Take it easy." His eyes darted between Sam and Sam. "This is some crazy shit." He felt a presence behind him and glanced at the tall, dark friend of Buffy's.
"Buffy?"
She glanced around them as the room shifted, warriors gathering, readying for a fight. "Easy, Angel. No matter what your friend wants, this is going to get ugly."
"Yeah. I get that."
Sam stared at his double, at the sneer as the small woman circled him. Sam started to step toward him, but River was in front of him. You aren't ready for him.
He looked at her and shook his head. "He is me."
She nodded, her eyes not leaving the new Sam's face. "He is evil."
Hi eyes turned toward River, then narrowed when he spotted Sam behind her. His lips twisted in a nasty grin. "Do all of you hide behind women? How sweet. Don't think it will matter."
"There will be no killing here." A calm voice said from behind evil!Sam and he turned.
Evil!Sam towered over the petite woman who apparently ran the bar. "Do you think you could stop me?" He pushed at her and she took a step backward.
She waited a beat, then stepped forward. "Boy, you don't begin to know what evil is." Amara looked into his face and let the Change come over her. "I come from evil spawned in the dark before the light dared show its face. Trust me when I tell you there will be no killing in this place."
His eyes narrowed and he leaned forward. "Vampires don't scare me bitch."
"Maybe they should." A voice behind him said and he turned. The room was slowly arraying against him. Maybe he'd underestimated things. He scanned the minds in the room…and didn't like what he saw. The little one nearest him wasn't necessarily the most powerful, but she was strong, confident. The others, still at the bar and watching…they were a threat.
A low growl rumbled in his throat. The room was moving…mind-workers and warriors, vampires and…his face twisted in disgust as he recognized what the blond and brunette were…Slayers…But not everyone in the room was powerful. There were tender minds here…innocents. He could smell them.
"Kaylee." River whispered it, her hand snaking out. He's got her.
Sam looked up, watching in disbelief as Kaylee stepped closer to his double. "Kaylee. Don't." Sam reached for her, his reach a little longer than River's.
Evil!Sam's eyes snapped to his. Take her place. Come to me.
Sam snorted and shook his head. "I don't think so." Sam's hand closed on Kaylee's shoulder. "Whatever it is you're doing, stop."
"Make me."
"L'oáute, release me." Mágli's voice was low, deadly serious and Tree complied without protest. "Whatever happens, you will stay in your seat. This … thing is not to be trifled with. If you are told to fight by anyone but me, do not move. Is that understood?" She didn't wait for an answer as she left the table.
"Child." Mágli smiled and cupped a hand to Kaylee's cheek as she stepped between the girl and the evil one. Her eyes met those of the double, and she saw the concern in them. "Fear will play against you here." She said to him and watched as he took a shuddering breath and nodded. "Sleep child." Kaylee's eyes fell closed and Sam caught her as she crumpled.
Mágli turned with a smirk on the evil thing and looked it in the eye. She crossed her arms over her chest and stared. "You are picking a fight in the wrong place. The one you're looking for isn't here."
The woman with the blue tattoos was as tall as he was, and evil!Sam's eyes narrowed as she put the pretty innocent girl to sleep with just a breath of air, severing his connection with a finality that stung. Then she turned on him, clear green eyes meeting his and a half smile on her face that made his blood churn.
He forced a smile, slipping a hand around behind him. "Well I guess I should go then."
"You should." Her eyes never wavered from his. "But you won't."
"Damn right I won't." The knife struck cleanly across her pale throat, opening the skin and letting the blood flow. He heard the shrieks, the cries of outrage as the woman sank to her knees, hands oddly at her sides and not trying to stop the flow of life from her body. He smiled as the horrible choking gurgle filled the silence. "Nobody fucking tells me what to do, bitch." He glanced over his shoulder at the shocked face of the vampire. "No killing here, huh?"
:Hold, all three of you.: Kathryn didn't react as the red-headed warrior dropped to her knees in front of the stranger and bled out onto the polished hardwood floor. :Jamie, the people by the fireplace. Michael, the warriors across the room. I'll keep watch on the ones here at the bar. Ana-:
:Staying right here.:
Kathryn sighed quietly as she smiled at the determination in Ana's tone. The young sniper was a match for the stranger, but she wasn't stronger and Kathryn could feel something swell inside him as he licked the blood from his knife. That wasn't truly Kathryn's concern though. Protecting those who couldn't protect themselves was. :That's fine, Ana. Just ... stop teasing him, huh?: She felt the younger woman's sulk in her head and had to muffled her laughter.
"Christ!" Dean swore under his breath as he watched something that looked like his brother but was most definitely not, kill the tall redhead with a smirk. He looked over at Sam, his Sam, still holding the unconscious Kaylee in his arms and gaping at himself in horror. "This is fucked up."
"No doubt." He realized he'd spoken aloud when Buffy muttered back at him.
It wasn't Sam, it couldn't be. Options rolled through his head: demon, shapeshifter, another fucking skinchanger? His eyes met green so dark they were almost black and Dean leaned against the bar as a wave of dizziness swept over him.
Not a shapeshifter, Dean. Can't you recognize your own brother? The voice in his head was soft, seductive and accompanied by a feeling of lust so strong that Dean gasped.
"Dean?" Buffy grabbed one arm, her pal Angel grabbing the other as his knees gave out.
Come over here, Dean. The voice was soothing, compelling; but as Dean tried to move the pair holding him tightened their grip. Green eyes flashed with fire, Angel and Buffy went flying, striking opposite walls of the tavern.
Dean's body started moving forward of its own accord and he heard the laughter in his head from the evil!Sam as he tried to fight. No point, big brother, you gave yourself willingly to me once. No point in trying to fight me now.
Suddenly, Mágli's arm shot out, fist driving into evil!Sam's crotch with enough force to fold him over double and drop him to the floor. His hold on Dean broken, Dean stopped abruptly and fell on his knees.
"Dean!" His Sam yelled and rushed over. Sam laid Kaylee down next to Dean. "You okay?"
"This really is some crazy shit." Dean repeated for the third time that night and let his head drop forward into his hands. It didn't stay there long, however, as the door to the tavern burst open and two more figures came in. "What now?" Dean groaned, blinking his eyes in a futile attempt to clear his vision.
Continued Here, in the journal of my accomplice