The L World Part 12: Live and Let Die
The L World
This is a crossover between the worlds of Highlander, Stargate SG-1, Buffy and Torchwood. It’s technically an AU as I have resurrected Richie, and there are three pairings: Duncan/Richie, Methos/Jack Harkness & Xander/Spike.
Disclaimer: I don’t own any of the shows involved or any of the characters, and I’m not making any money out of them, I’m just doing this for the love of the shows and the love of Richie. All rights and ownership belong to whoever actually owns them, I’m just having a party in their flat and promise to clean up after myself.
Warning: This story contains non-graphic same sex relationships, so don’t read it if that sort of thing offends. There’s also the occasional bit of bad language, but I try to keep it to a minimum (except when Spike’s around).
Rating 15 for violence and language
For those late to the party…
Richie is back from the dead and he and Duncan have become lovers. Daniel Jackson, Jack Harkness and Xander Harris are all new Immortals and Jack O’Neill is a ROG named Angus McNeill. They have discovered that there are several Goa’ulds on Earth who have taken Immortals as hosts. Anyone who takes the head of one of these inherits the genetic memory of the Goa’uld along with the Quickening. Daniel, Methos and Xander have all recently taken the head of one and it was discovered that Richie and Duncan also did at some point in the past. They have found out that there are at least four more, and discovered that they all work for governments, two in the US. Daniel has been captured and is about to get a lesson in pain.
Phew! Got that? Then on with the show…
12. Live and Let Die
“What do you mean disappeared? Where is he?” Jack demanded
“I don’t know sir.” Sam replied, nervously, she had never seen her former CO so angry.
“You’re his Watcher dammit, it’s your job to know where he is.”
“It looks like he was shot while he was sleeping and taken away somewhere.”
“That means two things. One: he was taken by mortals; he’d have known an Immortal was coming, and two: they know he’s Immortal.”
“How do you know that sir?”
“Because Carter, if they had simply killed him and dumped the body he would have found his way back by now. This was a kidnap and you don’t shoot people you want to kidnap unless you know they’ll recover.” Sam looked at Jack and mentally kicked herself for not realising the same thing. Something in her look must have impacted O’Neill because his face softened. “Don’t worry Carter, we’ll get him back. We always do.” He smiled, and she smiled back.
“Yes sir.” The moment hovered between them, the electricity almost as palpable as a Quickening. Then, it was gone, and they were both all business, O’Neill throwing out orders like he’d never been away from SG-1.
“Now, I presume that the SGC is following the usual lines of enquiry?”
“Yes sir, we only reported him as missing, we left out the getting shot part and cleaned up the apartment before they could send any forensic teams. So far everything is coming up a blank. I’ve been covertly following my own lines of enquiry with the additional information and resources I have but I’m still coming up empty.”
“Okay. Get on to Joe Dawson and apprise him of the situation. Maybe somebody else’s Watcher has spotted something. I’ll contact Adam Pierson and use him as a backdoor to Torchwood. I’m sure Captain Harkness will be able to help us with this on the QT.” Sam smiled.
“I get the feeling that Torchwood Three doesn’t get much attention anyway, I think it’s considered a bit of a backwater, a babysitting job.” She said, packing her laptop into her case and standing up.
“Try telling that to Harkness and the million or so Welshmen that witnessed the rift opening.” Jack smiled at Sam as she saluted him. “That’s not necessary any more; I’m out of the military. Dead remember?” She chuckled and lowered her hand.
“I guess old habits die hard sir.” Jack chuckled and shook his head. Sam offered her hand in a handshake but instead Jack pulled her into a brief hug. Startled, Sam took a moment to regain her composure, and she looked at Jack, confused.
“Scram! Daniel won’t be found by you standing around here!” Sam grinned in apology and headed back to her government issue SUV. Jack walked over to his telephone and punched in 44 followed by the area code for Cardiff and Methos’ number. He just hoped that the old guy hadn’t abandoned his student yet. Given the relationship between them, he somehow doubted it, but one could never tell with Methos. After what seemed an interminably long time the phone was answered by a very grumpy and sleepy Methos.
“This better be good.”
“Bon journo bastard.” Angus MacNeill’s posture and voice changed subtly as he temporarily shed Jack O’Neill’s persona.
“Oh, Angus, it’s you. What the hell do you want?”
“That’s a nice way to greet one of your oldest friends.”
“If you don’t want me to fly over there and couple you to the mains via your nipples I suggest you cease being so unbearably chipper and tell me why the buggering hell you are calling me at…two in the a.m.”
“Oh crap, sorry. I forgot, you’re seven hours ahead aren’t you? I’m sorry, but this is important. Daniel is missing.”
“So? From what I understand that’s a regular occurrence for you.”
“Well…yes it is. But this is different, this is about us.”
“Us?” Methos said, being purposely obtuse, “Oh us! Well he probably lost his head, it happens a lot.” Angus sighed. He hated dealing with the old man when he got like this.
“That’s a possibility, but we believe it’s the other kind, the kind we’ve been looking for?” Angus’s voice was dripping with sarcasm, he knew that Methos knew exactly what he was trying to say and was just being obstinate in pretending otherwise. Tired of the game, Angus snapped, “Dammit Methos is this line secure or not?”
“Well, there’s no need to get snippy. Yes it’s secure; it has to be so Jack can contact Torchwood.”
“Well you could have said something earlier.”
“You didn’t ask.” Angus muttered something under his breath in Gaelic before continuing.
“Daniel has been kidnapped, probably by those snake-head Immortals, and we don’t know where he’s been taken. We need Torchwood’s help in locating him.” Although there was a saccharine coating on his voice, Methos could tell that Angus was seething so he listened without interruption, “Also I’d appreciate help from all of our little group when we go to rescue him because we can’t use SGC personnel beyond SG-1. Who knows what we might find.” Methos silently cursed himself for getting involved in this mess in the first place before replying,
“Fine, I’ll tell Jack and we’ll be on the first available flight to Seacouver. I’ll make the necessary calls to the rest of ‘our little group’” he emphasised this last part with all the irony he could muster, which was a lot, even at two in the morning. He hung up the phone before Angus could say any more. He stomped back to the bedroom and called out, “Jack, bloody well wake up! You’ve got work to do.”
Back in Colorado, Angus stared briefly at the receiver before replacing it in its cradle. He shook his head, smiling, and by the time he had finished Jack O’Neill was standing there again. He picked up the receiver and dialled Richie. He was sure Methos would contact them eventually, but he wanted to tell Daniel’s former teacher himself.
“Mac, I’ve got to go to Colorado.” Duncan looked up from the chess board at Richie, the unspoken question clear on his face. “Daniel’s in trouble. I have to go help him.”
“Well I can understand why you would want to Rich, but surely the military can handle it?”
“No, it isn’t a military thing. Nobody outside SG-1 knows what’s going on. It’s the Immortal Goa’uld.” Duncan nodded and stood up.
“Then I’m coming too. This affects all of us and SG-1 will probably need all the help they can get.”
“Thanks Mac. I’ll pack some things for us. Could you call Xander? He and Spike are in LA at the moment. Like you said, we’ll need all the help possible, and I’m sure they’ll want to be involved.” Richie grinned, “Spike is always looking for a good fight.” Duncan grinned back at him and walked over to the phone.
The Staybridge Suites didn’t often get last minute bookings for conferences, but they happened to be fairly empty this weekend and able to accommodate the delegates of the Burns International Committee on Nuclear Energy. The delegates were an interesting group, most of which did not look like scientists, but the concierge didn’t question General O’Neill when he made the booking (Although, if he had, he would have discovered that the good General had been dead for several months).
The emergency accommodation had to be found because everyone had decided to bring along a few friends for the trip. Methos and Jack had brought the rest of the Torchwood team because “It’s quiet in Cardiff and we might need back-up”. Xander and Spike had arrived with Giles and Angel in tow because “They wouldn’t take no for an answer” and Richie, Duncan and Joe had arrived closely followed by Amanda because she “Didn’t believe the excuse we gave her.”
So, a few phone calls were made and the group decamped to the hotel to freshen up before meeting in the conference suite for a full briefing. Amanda met the information about the Goa’uld with her usual cynicism. Richie, Duncan, Methos and Joe all failed to convince her they were telling the truth, so they decided the best course of action was to let her figure it out herself.
Giles and Angel had already been told most of the problem by Xander, who never was that good at keeping secrets, so they only needed to be brought up to speed on Daniel’s kidnap.
The Torchwood team were easy to brief on the alien presence, and it was deemed unnecessary for them to know about Immortals. “Besides,” Methos grumbled, “at this rate, put an article in the Enquirer and less people would know.” They suspected that their boss wasn’t telling them everything, but that was par for the course, so they just griped about it between themselves.
An hour after arriving at the hotel they all went downstairs to the conference hall. SG-1 were already waiting to brief them. From the minor arsenal sitting to the side of the room, it was obvious that they had found Daniel and were ready to make a move. Once everyone was settled, Carter stood up and addressed the room.
“I’m assuming that everyone now knows why we’re here, so I’ll get on with the briefing. Thanks to the intel provided by our colleagues from Cardiff, correlated with information the SGC already had, we’ve been able to pin down Daniel’s location to this warehouse here,” she pointed to a map she had stuck to the wall, “seven clicks out of town. Aerial surveillance has shown that there are currently six people inside the building and approximately ten more guarding the perimeter. Now although that puts the numbers apparently in our favour, we can’t be sure they don’t have more back-up nearby. This may be some kind of trap.” O’Neill stood up and took over the briefing.
“We’ve designated two teams based on the nature of the enemy, and what I know of your own individual combat experience. Team A, led by myself, will consist of Carter, MacLeod, Richie, Xander, Spike, Captain Harkness, and Murray here.” Teal’c nodded in assent. “Team B will be led by Colonel Mitchell and consist of the rest, except for Agent Sato and Dawson, who’ll be running surveillance. We’ll go in as soon as it gets dark, time is definitely a factor here. Team B will take out the rear perimeter guards then cover the entrances in case there are more undetected. Team A will simultaneously move in from the front and rescue Daniel. These people are armed and dangerous and are consorting with an enemy of this planet so treat them with extreme prejudice. We move hard and fast, I do not want Danny back a foot shorter understood?” Everyone nodded, even those of Torchwood who didn’t understand. “Okay folks, there’ll be two people carriers outside in forty-five minutes. Don’t be late.”
Team B fanned out in the darkness, and slipped around to the rear of the building. Silently, using zats, they disabled all the guards they could find. At the front of the building, Team A was simultaneously doing the same thing, although Duncan preferred his hands to the zat, as did Spike.
“B leader to A leader, objective achieved, over.”
“Understood B leader, move to second position.” O’Neill signalled to his team to follow him to the door. As they approached the warehouse all the Immortals felt the presence of at least one inside. Knowing they were detected, and hoping one of them was Daniel, O’Neill raised his rifle and signalled to Carter to pull the door open. They charged in to find Daniel slumped in a chair with a man stood over him, sword raised. On instinct, both Jacks opened fire, hitting Mr Smith squarely in the chest. Both Duncan and Carter spotted Mr Anker going for his sword and they opened fire on him as Richie and Spike took care of the guards.
Carter ran over to Daniel and examined him as the others fanned out to confirm that the building was secure.
“He’s dead, but only a chest shot, he’ll be back in a minute.” O’Neill nodded before indicating to Smith and Anker.
“Let’s tie these two up before they come back shall we?” Carter and O’Neill secured the prisoners. Jack Harkness sauntered back over to them, rifle over his shoulder.
“Well, I hate to say it, but that was a little too easy, don’t you think?” As if on cue, the heavy staccato of gunfire started outside. As the three ran to the door, Mitchell’s voice came over the radio.
“We’re under fire, I repeat, under fire, fifty more just appeared from nowhere. I think they had a teleport.”
“Tosh! Were you asleep or something?” shouted Captain Jack.
“No, Jack, they did just appear from nowhere. I had no warning at all.”
“Never mind that,” snapped O’Neill, “C’mon!”
As they reached the door, a stray bullet from outside hit Carter square in the chest.
“No!” yelled O’Neill as he caught her and lay her gently on the floor. He pulled open her vest and shirt, but the bullet was armour piercing and had entered her chest. He felt for a pulse then began CPR. He was dimly aware of the rest of the team running out to join the battle, and he could vaguely hear the sounds of that battle, but right now his entire focus was on her.
He was not going to lose her. Not here, not now. Not after everything they had been through, not when he hadn’t had the chance to tell her. He franticly pumped her chest pausing to listen for breath sounds. But there were none. He could feel hands pulling him away, hear a voice talking to him. He focussed on the voice,
“…there may still be a chance, let me try something.” Jack Harkness said. As he came back to reality, O’Neill realised he could no longer hear gunfire and wondered vaguely how long he’d tried to revive Sam. That thought snapped his focus back to Sam and he wondered what Jack was going to do. Jack was leaning in to kiss her and O’Neill didn’t see how Jack’s CPR would be any better than his. He was about to say as much when a bright white light began to emanate from Jack’s mouth and pass into Sam. O’Neill gasped and watched in awe at the miracle happening in front of him. Even with everything he had seen, this was new to O’Neill. The light faded and Jack withdrew, and Sam was alive and whole.
“That’s one hell of a kiss,” O’Neill whispered
“I’ve often said the same thing.” Methos grinned. They looked round to see that Methos, Daniel and the others were stood behind them. Captain Jack grinned sheepishly.
“Can’t everyone do it?” he grinned, before looking concerned, “Where’s Gwen?” O’Neill looked around too.
“Where’s Mitchell?” he demanded. The others looked down and Methos pointed out of the door. Getting up, they followed Methos’s finger and walked outside. The bodies of the fallen enemy littered the car park, but there had been hits to the good guys too. Duncan and Xander had both been killed, but they would be back soon enough. Cameron and Gwen were not so lucky. Mitchell had been shot in the gut, and was bleeding badly, but Owen was in full doctor mode and had managed to staunch the flow.
“A medical team is on route.” Mitchell gasped through gritted teeth. Jack turned to find Gwen. She was lying on the floor, Tosh cradling her in her arms. He ran over to her, but it was too late. Dumbstruck, he dropped to his knees and picked up her lifeless hand.
She had taken a bullet to the head, death had been instantaneous. Tears were pouring down Tosh’s face, but she looked hopeful as she looked to Jack.
“Can’t you help? Like before?” Jack looked at her. He didn’t think he could so soon after saving Sam, but he leaned forward to try anyway. He used every ounce of will he had to try and make it happen. For a second, a faint glimmer passed between Jack and Gwen, but it soon faded. He fell backwards, exhausted, and stared at Gwen, his tears glistening in the moonlight.
She was gone, and he couldn’t bring her back because he had helped a stranger. Owen had come over and he felt for Gwen’s pulse.
“I’ve got something.” He whispered. “It’s faint, but she’s alive. But the bullet is still in her brain, we need to operate immediately.”
The relief that she was alive turned Jack’s grief to rage and he stood up and turned back to the warehouse, pulling his sword out as he did. There were questions needed asking and he was going to get the answers.
The L World will continue in Part 13: Lost and Found