FIC: The Ash Chronicles: The Methos Story 2/?

["Julie Burnham" <kerothyn@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

all disclaimers/notes apply from the first part. For a recap, Ash belongs
to herself. Her sister(s) belong to me (with the exception of one or two of
them). Everything else is borrowed lovingly. I asked the guys of the band
mentioned if I could use them, but I haven't gotten a reply back yet. The
lead singer's on his honeymoon, and he's the one that checks the mail. I'm
sure they'll say yes (I am, after all, Cookie Girl).

--


The next morning proved nothing for Methos. Toxicology came up negative,
and the autopsy came back normal except for the cancer. Even the test for
digitalis came back negative. ‘At least I know who it’s not,’ Methos
though. Then again, Ash’s sister(s) was/were never on his list of suspects.
The more Methos thought of it, the harder it became to figure out if he
should use singular or plural when discussing Ash’s sister(s). He shook his
head to clear it.

"What about the security tapes?" Joe asked. "We could at least see who was
going in and out of her room besides you, Old Man."

"I don’t know how useful they’ll be, but we can check." He picked up the
phone and dialed. "Hello. This is Adam Pierson. May I please speak to
someone in security?" There was a pause as his call was transferred.
"Hello. This is Adam Pierson. I was wondering if there was any way I could
get access to copies of some of your security camera’s tapes. I’d like to
see everyone who entered Carolyn Marshall’s room from the time she was
admitted until the time her body was taken out. I’m conducting a private
investigation to make sure there was no foul play involved." There was
another, shorter pause. "Yes. I understand. Thank you. Yes, I’ll pick
them up then. Have a nice day."

Joe looked at Methos with one eyebrow raised. "So?"

"We’re picking up the tapes in two hours. Get your stuff ready because
after we pick them up and get Carolyn’s body, we’re flying to Pennsylvania."

"We don’t have tickets," Joe protested.

"I’ve got my own plane."

"What’s in Pennsylvania?"

"Lots of things," Methos said. "Amish, some mountains, and Ash’s place.
That’s where we’re taking Carolyn. I thought I mentioned this."

"Oh, right," Joe said. "You never told me you could fly."

"I also never told you I like cherry Kool-Aid but you’re not complaining
about that. It’s not like you ever asked."

"Is... Ash expecting us at a certain time?"

"Not really. She should be back before we get there, but I’ve got a key
just in case."

"She’s not there now?" Joe asked, incredulous.

"She said something about having some business to take care of in
California. She didn’t say what kind of business, but I’d imagine it had
something to do with a reincarnation. Her sister probably woke up. It’s
not like she was fighting, oh, a Morah demon."

"What’s a... never mind. I’m sure I don’t want to know. You believe in
reincarnation?"

"Completely. I’ve seen it. Ash’s sister keeps getting reincarnated. She
can’t stand to be without her, so her sister keeps coming back. If she’s
back, she’ll probably help chant. Long ago, she was an Amazon, so she knows
the chants in the original."

"This just keeps getting more interesting."

"I think," Methos remarked, "that the phrase you’re looking for is
‘curiouser and curiouser.’" He sat down. "Go get packed. I’ll meet you in
the lobby in ten minutes."

Joe turned and walked out of Methos’s suite. "See ya then, Old Man."

"Dress warm. It’s gets chilly in the Allegheny Mountains." Methos shut the
door behind Joe. A single tear rolled down his cheek as he gathered his few
belongings that were with him and stuffed them into a duffel bag. He looked
down again at the envelope bearing his assumed name, and another tear joined
the first. He picked up a framed picture of Carolyn and himself that was
one of two of their momentos from their last trip to the Mediterranean. He
leaned down and lightly kissed picture-Carolyn’s lips as the first tear made
its presence known to the photograph. Methos turned his head and set the
framed picture in the bag with the rest of this things. He looked down and
wiped away the second tear that was ready to splatter. With one last look
around the suite, he walked out.

Dawson was waiting in the lobby as promised. Methos stepped out of the
elevator with his bag slung over his shoulder looking like a poster boy for
a toothpaste manufacturer. Anyone could see, though, that his happiness was
forced. He met Joe’s eye and walked out to his Range Rover.

"Aren’t you going to check-out?" Joe asked.

"I don’t have to check out. I don’t have to check in. We have an
understanding."

"So you milk these mortals for all they’re worth?"

"No, Joe. I did a rather large favor for the owner of the hotel a few years
back. And I pay rent. When people are after your head, you have lots of
names and lots of addresses. Ash has a home in every major city on the
planet. But then, she’s used to angry mobs coming after her. Lots of
immortals have planes. It’s nice to have someplace to go to in one if the
need arises. Isn’t that right, Amanda?" Methos turned around to see his
suspicions confirmed as a very short, very blonde-haired woman stepped out
of the shadows in the parking lot.

"Quite true," the thief said.

"What are you doing following me?" Methos asked, the scorn evident in his
voice.

"I wanted to make sure you were okay. Ash told me about Carolyn. I’m
sorry. I wish I could turn back time so that you could have saved her."

"Well you can’t. I really must be going. I have some things to pick up at
the hospital, and none of it’s recreational. I’m sure you have no clue what
else I could be doing." Methos smiled an "I just lost a Grammy but they’re
turning to me for a reaction shot" smile.

"Okay then," Amanda said. "Goodbye Methos. Dawson, I’ll see you later."
She walked back into the shadows.

*

Los Angeles International Airport was crowded. It was always crowded. This
wasn’t a surprise for the two women walking through it to get to the door
that led to Ash’s hangar. They walked in front of the door as it was
opening and Willow caught her first glimpse of her sister’s plane. "I was
right?" she asked. "Why keep it at a civilian airport when it’s clearly
military technology?"

"I don’t trust the military. They lost their chance during the Vietnam War.
Actually, nowadays, I don’t trust any organized group. Individual people,
maybe, but not big groups. When you’ve lived as long as I have, you learn
things about people and committees. No committees are to be trusted. They
are as smart as their stupidest member. You’ll note that in my memoirs for
me won’t you?"

"Of course dear. You’re such a people person and an optimist," Willow said
with a smile on her face. "Are we going now?" She swung her bag around her
knees.

"Get in. I just want to double-check everything. Trust no one and all
that." She walked around the plane, checking things. General
checking-things type activities. No one could tell really what she was
doing, and Willow assumed it wasn’t vital to the plot since Ash was checking
for anything wrong. After a little bit, she stopped, grunted, and got it.
"It’s not that I don’t trust and love you, but don’t touch anything. This
baby’s armed to the teeth."

"I expected nothing less from you. Just don’t use them. We’re staying in
the country and I don’t think we’re going to run into any Republican
nominees for president. That I wouldn’t mind." The redhead grinned.

"Meow!" Ash exclaimed.

"Wow, that’s my second meow ever."

"What was the first?"

"‘What’s Xander’s number? Oh yeah, "1-800-Im-dating-a-skanky-ho"!’"

"Who was he dating?"

"Cordelia. You haven’t met her, have you? She works for ‘tall, dark and
brooding’ in LA."

"Oh. Yeah, I have. That about sums it up. The kind of person I’ve always
hated."

"Don’t I know it. I was president of the "We Hate Cordelia" club. Xander
used to be the treasurer."

"I sense resentment."

"Are we getting off the ground?" Willow asked anxiously.

Ash started up the plane, and soon they were off. "Got a favorite radio
station?" she asked.

"Yeah...." Willow answered suspiciously.

"I can get any radio station in the world in this. It’s got a modified ‘net
hookup. What’s your favorite station?"

"WDBR. It’s 103.7 in Springfield, Illinois," Willow told her.

"They play Mr. Opporknockity, right?"

"Yeah. Those guys are awesome. Well, after Dingoes."

"I’ll take your word for it. I’ve never heard Dingoes." Ash turned the
station to DBR. It was playing Meatloaf’s "I Would Do Anything For Love
(But I Won’t Do That)." Ash shook her head and murmured something about
Miami and Michigan.

"Mind if I sing along?" her sister asked.

"Go ahead. You singing Meatloaf’s part or the woman’s part?"

"Woman’s."

"Perfect. Wanna duet?"

"Sure." Their voices complemented each other’s beautifully, and in almost
no time, or so it seemed to Willow, they had landed on a field in the middle
of nowhere. The only house to be seen was Ash’s, if it could be called a
house and not a mansion. The two Olympic-sized swimming pools in the
backyard were a nice touch. But then Ash had always been known to be
athletic. She had had the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse following her
every move, worshipping at her feet. Her landing of the plane was just as
perfect. Ash touched down right next to a very civilian-looking plane.
"You have two?" Willow asked.

"No. That one’s not mine. Someone must have gone shopping since I last saw
him."

"When was the last time you saw Methos?" the redhead queried.

"Let’s see, I saw Little Boy at your last funeral, so it’s been almost
twenty years. No wonder he’s gone shopping." They walked in the front door
to find Joe Dawson sitting in front of the fireplace drinking and staring
off into nothingness. "Hello," Ash said.

Joe turned his head to see a face from his past staring directly at him.
"Jade? Is that you?" Ash nodded. "I thought you died in ‘Nam."

"Sorry to disappoint you. I’m rather hard to kill. I’m sorry about your
legs, Joe."

"What are you doing here anyway?"

"I’m Ash."

"You...?" Joe bowed his head down and put a hand to his forehead. "Is that
your sister?"

"Oh, Methos mentioned me? I’m honored. Hi. I’m Willow." She held out a
hand for him to shake. He ignored her. After a painfully awkward moment,
she retracted her hand. "Yes, well, I’ll leave you two to catch up. Ash,
I’ll just settle into my room, all right? I’ll see you at dinner?" Ash
nodded, and Willow kissed her on the cheek. "Be careful. Love ya," she
whispered.

Joe raised an eyebrow. "What?" Ash asked.

"I don’t suppose you feel you owe me an explanation."

"For what?"

"You and Willow, dying, your friendship with Methos, I don’t know,
everything. How long have you known Methos?"

"Since he was pretty young."

"You’re older than him?"

"Yes." She paused. "I don’t expect you to believe me. But I also expect
you to not say a word to anyone. You’re possible the one Watcher I can
trust. Willow can tell you that I don’t even trust her best friend’s
Watcher, Giles."

"I don’t know of any Watcher named Giles. Who does he watch?"

"A girl named Buffy. And no, she’s not an Immortal. She’s a Slayer."

"A Slayer?"

"Of Vampires. Any other questions?"

"You and Willow?"

"A long story. And not your business."

"Dying?"

"Well, you know now I’m an Immortal. There was something I had to get back
to in the States. Willow’s predecessor got very ill. I can’t lose her. It
rips me apart the twenty years between the time she comes back and the time
she wakes up again. As I said, we’re complicated. Is Methos around here
somewhere?"

"I think he went upstairs."

At that moment, Methos was, in fact, upstairs greeting his old friend. He
had heard Willow’s movements in her room, putting stuff away, and so he came
in to see her. "Methos!" she exclaimed. "It’s great to see you." She
enveloped him in a huge hug. "I wish the circumstances were better. How
are you holding up?"

Methos sniffed. "It’s good to see you too. What’s your name this time?"

"Sorry," she said. "I keep forgetting people haven’t met my new body yet.
I’m Willow."

"Good to see you again. How are you adjusting to waking up?"

"I hate missing twenty years of my sister’s life. I’m doing okay. How are
you doing?"

Methos sighed and lowered his facade. "Terrible. She meant everything to
me." The two sat down on Willow’s bed, and she put an arm around him as he
lay his head on her shoulder. "I loved her completely. You remember
Jacinta, correct?" At her nod, he continued. "I loved Carolyn even more."
Willow gasped. "I didn’t think it was possible either." Tears started to
fall. "I loved her like you love Ash. Only she isn’t going to be
reincarnated. She’s truly gone." Willow began running her fingers through
his hair and kissing his head to comfort him, but she knew nothing she did
would really do the job. Only one woman could comfort him, and she was
dead. And Methos wept for the woman he loved so much but who was here and
gone in a blink of an eye. He wept until he fell backwards on the bed with
Willow into a blissfully dream-free sleep. Willow put her other arm around
him and joined him in slumber.

---


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