Aug 31 - Memories
Title: Day 31 - Memories
Author: acswatwst (acs)
Rating: FR-18
Crossover: BtVS / Dr Who / Stargate
Word Count: 2505
Disclaimer: This is a derivative work. All BtVS characters and concepts belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, Fox Television, and others. The BBC owns all things Doctor Who. The Stargate and and related things belong to others.
Author's Note: Cutting it very close here. This should be a lot longer, but time and word limits say no.So.. The end. For now.
Summary: Adult Joyce gets a present from Missy. It goes about as well as you'd expect.
Joyce looked around her gallery and sighed. It had been a month since that encounter with a mad scientist. She still isn't sure what the point had been, other than some vendetta against an seventies rock band. But she'd enjoyed spending time with Sam and had even picked up several small paintings and a handful of unique pieces of jewelry for the gallery that would bring a tidy sum.
Whatever the mad scientist had hit her with during that last chaotic rush to escape his clutches had caused strange flashes, almost like bits of memory, since. Nothing painful or debilitating. And never more than a second or two at a time. But certainly very distracting. She'd been lucky so far. None of these flashes had happened while she was driving or talking with someone.
She'd promised Sam that if they continued or got worse, she'd let her doctor friend Janet look at her. Though, how she was going to explain a sudden trip out of town to Buffy and Dawn she hadn't quite figured out.
The phone rang, reminding her where she was and that she had things to do other than brood.
"Hello?" Joyce said, grabbing it.
"Hi," Sam said, the sound of her voice bringing a smile to Joyce's face.
"Hey, you," Joyce said. "You're back." She knew better than to ask her where she'd been for the last few days.
"Yup. How are you doing?" Sam asked. "Still having flashbacks?"
"Still," Joyce said. "Nothing I usually recognize. They just happen too fast. But you remember that strange woman we ran into on the way to the airport?"
"The one with Romana? Missy?" Sam said.
"Yes, her," Joyce said, walking into her office in the back after waving at her assistant, Andrea. She sank onto the loveseat in her office. "I've seen her several times, in these flashbacks."
"So, do you think they're memories?" Sam said.
"Of what?" Joyce asked. "Things I'm remembering?"
"We don't know what that mad scientist's ray gun was really for," Sam said. "It didn't knock you out like some people."
"It knocked me off my feet," Joyce reminded her. "I think I still have bruises from that."
"Janet is willing to look at you up at the Mountain," Sam said. "Maybe it's something simple."
"That's enough about me," Joyce said, deflecting. "What have you been up to?"
"Janet was jealous of our vacation, even with the mad science," Sam said. "She wants to go on our next trip."
"We don't plan on excitement," Joyce said, grumbling. "It just seems to happen."
"We're two for two," Sam said. "Two estate sales and two near death experiences."
"Maybe next time we can run into Romana without being in trouble," Joyce said. "I'm sure she knows all sorts of places to take a vacation that are safe."
"The last time I saw her, things seemed a bit exciting," Sam said.
"You've seen her since the Espresso Pump?" Joyce said, surprised.
"That Missy caused some kind of problem with her TARDIS," Sam. "Romana and a friend showed up looking for a doctor. But there wasn't much Janet could do."
"She told me to cut back on the Starbucks," Joyce blurted out. She pulled the phone away from her face and stared at it. "Where did that come from?"
"Yes, she did," Sam said. "What are you remembering?"
"Nothing," Joyce said, frustrated. "Just that. So Romana was there with me?"
"Yes," Sam said reluctantly.
"It must be a future me," Joyce said. "I don't remember meeting Janet."
"Possibly," Sam said.
"And it wasn't a future me, was it?" Joyce said, frowning. "Why don't I remember?"
"I can't say," Sam said. "Time travel can be very headache inducing if you try to think about things like that too much. But you didn't seem to recognize me. And Romana gave her usual vague answer about Time when I asked."
"At least you tried," Joyce said. "I wonder if these other flashes are related. The next time Romana shows up, hang onto her and call me."
"I'll try," Sam said. "How are the girls doing?"
"Okay," Joyce said, easily recognizing a change in topic. "There's really something strange about this town. Buffy is even more protective of her sister and me. She walks Dawn home whenever I can't pick her up, and she's here almost every night when I work late."
"That's sweet of her," Sam said.
"It's not really normal for a teen, though," Joyce said. "I remember being rebellious at that age. I couldn't wait to get away from my family."
"I don't," Sam said.
"Military father," Joyce said. "Bet he ran a tight ship."
"Air Force," Sam said. "So, not a ship, but yes. Not much opportunity to rebel."
"You still turned out well," Joyce said. "Some of us don't need to rebel. Buffy, though, this is something else. She'll tell me eventually. I hope."
There was a knock on her office door. Looking up she could see Buffy waving through the glass walls. "And there she is," Joyce said.
"Okay," Sam said. "Call me if Romana drops in, and I'll do the same thing. Maybe she'll be able to tell us what is going on with your memories."
"You don't need an excuse," Joyce said, smiling. Getting up she went to the door and let Buffy in while still talking with Sam. "You're welcome to call any time."
"Hi Sam," Buffy shouted across the room. "Time to let your main squeeze hang up. She has hungry children to feed."
Joyce involuntarily blushed at Buffy's antics. "I have to go," she said. "Talk with you later."
"Later, babe," Sam said, laughing.
Hanging up the phone, Joyce turned to Buffy. "That was rude," she said, stalking towards her laughing daughter, arms stretched out. "I think I could do with one less daughter."
Dodging her, Buffy ran around Joyce's desk and plopped into her chair, twirling around, laughing. "You know you love me," Buffy said.
"I'm not so sure right now," Joyce said, stopping in front of her desk. "What do you and Dawn want for dinner?"
"Dawn wants the usual," Buffy said. "I'll eat whatever you order."
"Okay," Joyce said, shoving a stack of papers into her valise. "Let me lock up, send Andrea home, and we can go."
----~~~~----
Dawn met them at the door, brimming over with excitement. "Mom! You're back! And you brought her with you," she said, frowning.
"What has your sister been eating?" Joyce asked, looking at Buffy. "She isn't allowed candy before dinner."
"Wasn't me," Buffy said, shaking her head. "She was like that when I picked her up from school. Must have been something at lunch. Glad I'm not going to her school. Must have been crazy."
"Go wash up, and set the table," Joyce said, while putting away her valise in her office.
"Mom!" Buffy protested. "It's Dawn's turn."
"Like that?" Joyce gave her a look. "We'll end up with four forks. Each. And soup bowls."
"Okay," Buffy said, sighing. "But I get first pick when the food gets here."
"Fine," Joyce said. "Now go." Turning, Joyce went up to her room to change into more casual clothes. Getting a feeling that something was out of place, she looked around and noticed that her Great Aunt's jewelry box had been moved from one side of her dresser to the other. Opening it, she didn't see anything out of place, so she closed it and put it back where it belonged.
After changing into jeans and an old sweatshirt, she went downstairs, just in time to intercept Buffy paying the delivery boy for their dinner.
"What'd we get?" Dawn said, bouncing around them, as Buffy carried it into the kitchen.
"Tex-Mex," Buffy said, pulling cardboard boxes out of the bag and handing them to Joyce, who emptied them into serving dishes.
"Spicy, spicy, spicy!" Dawn said loudly. "Did you get my favorite?"
Joyce handed several dishes to Dawn and silently pointed her towards the dinning room.
----~~~~----
Sipping her iced tea, Joyce quietly watched Buffy and Dawn demolish their dinner.
"Mom?" Dawn said, pushing her empty plate away. "Can I have this?" She pulled a small object out of a pocket and held it up. A small gold locket dangled from a chain.
"Where did you find that?" Joyce asked, a strange feeling developing in her head.
"It was in Great Aunt Elisabeth's jewelry box," Dawn said. "Can I have it?"
"Could I see it, please?" Joyce said, holding out her hand.
Pouting, Dawn dropped it into her palm.
"Should have asked first before looking in it, Sticky," Buffy said.
"Sticky?" Dawn said. "I'm not sticky!"
"Sticky fingers," Buffy said, smirking. "What is it, Mom?" She said, noticing Joyce staring at the small locket with a strange look on her face.
"I don't remember," Joyce said, in a low voice, her vision fading.
"What's wrong with Mom?" Dawn said, sounding scared. "I'll put it back," she said, reaching for the locket's chain.
"No," Joyce said, tightening her hand around it, feeling like her voice was coming from miles away.
"Buffy! Do something," Dawn said.
"Mom?" Buffy said, crouching down next to her. "What's wrong?
"Not sure," Joyce said hoarsely. "Feels very strange. Like my head isn't big enough for what's in it." She tried to stand, grabbing onto Buffy with her free hand for support. "Need to go lie down."
"Come on Dawn," Buffy said. "Let's help Mom over to the couch." Together, they guided Joyce into the living room, and over to the couch. She collapsed onto it.
"Now what?" Buffy said.
"Sam," Joyce murmured, eyes tightly closed. "Need to call Sam."
Dawn raced into the other room and returned with the cordless phone. "What's her number?" Dawn asked Buffy. "I don't know her number."
"Yes you do," Joyce whispered, eyes still closed. "You… called… her… last… week."
"She wasn't home," Dawn said. "What if she isn't home now?"
"Gimme," Buffy said, taking the phone from her sister. "Her number's on the fridge. In blue with that strange squiggly symbol next to it. Go get it." Nodding, Dawn raced into the kitchen and back, a piece of paper in her hand.
Taking the piece of paper, Buffy dialed the number, watching her mother as it rang.
"Hello?" Sam said. "Joyce?"
"Sam, something's wrong with Mom," Buffy said. "She said to call you."
"What's she doing?" Sam said. Buffy could hear a strange noise in the background.
"Dawn found this gold locket in Mom's room," Buffy said.
"I didn't mean to do it," Dawn said, interrupting her.
Buffy glared at her sister for the interruption. "She found this thing, and Mom started acting strange when Dawn gave it to her," she said.
"Sam?" Joyce whispered.
"She wants to talk with you," Buffy said, handing the phone to Joyce.
"I remember everything," Joyce said, in a low voice. "It hurts so much. Not enough room in my head."
"I have a visitor," Sam said. "She just showed up. And Janet is here also. We can be there in five minutes."
"Please," Joyce said, whispered. "Not enjoying this experience."
"Hold on," Sam said. "We'll be right there." The phone went silent, and Joyce dropped it on the floor.
"Mom?" Buffy said. "Sam lives in Colorado. How is she getting here in five minutes?"
"Explain later," Joyce said, still whispering. "If my head doesn't explode."
"No exploding heads, Mom," Buffy said.
"No promises," Joyce whispered. "Head hurts."
There was a knock at the door. Buffy turned to her sister. "Stay here." She hurried to answer it.
"Buffy?" Sam said, standing on the porch, with a short woman, and a metal something next to her.
"You look like you, though Mom owes us a serious explanation" Buffy said, frowning. "Who's that?" She said, through the screen.
"I'm Romana," the woman said. "A friend." Another woman joined them before Buffy could decide to let them in.
"This is Janet," Sam said. "She's a doctor. She's treated your mother before."
"I gave her something for a headache, and gave her some advice she apparently didn't take," Janet said. "Wasn't much to treat."
"Okay," Buffy said, reluctantly opening the door. They entered, Janet in the lead. "You're not human," Buffy said when Romana passed her.
"No, but neither is Joyce, exactly," Romana said, in a voice only Buffy could hear.
"You all know about the ear thing?" Buffy asked. "Dawn doesn't. Mom doesn't want her to know."
"Mom has pointed ears now," Dawn said, grabbing Buffy's hand. "She's turning into an elf!"
Sam winced. "I think it's a little late for that being a secret," she said.
They entered the living room to find Janet examining Joyce. "I can't do much without my infirmary," Janet said. "Can we take her back to the Mountain?"
"No Mountain," Joyce whispered. "All my memories are back."
"K-9?" Romana said. "Assist Janet."
"Yes, Mistress," the metal dog said, going around the others, stopping next to Joyce.
"A robot dog?" Dawn said, excited.
"Apparently," Sam said. "He travels with Romana."
"Hey, K-9," Joyce whispered. "Long time no see. You got away from Missy."
"Yes, Miss," K-9 said, extending his probe. "Shock," he pronounced. "Artron energy. No permanent damage."
Janet looked at K-9 in surprise. "Wasn't that what happened last time I saw you?"
"It was a contributing factor," Romana said. "Though I don't know where she'd encounter artron energy here?"
"This artron stuff, what does it look like?" Buffy asked. "Is it that locket? She was okay until she opened it."
Romana sat down next to Joyce, and gently pried open her hand. "Where did you get this?" She carefully examined the locket, taking out her sonic to scan it.
"It was in Mom's room," Dawn said.
"Don't remember it," Joyce said. "Wasn't Aunt Elisabeth's."
"What did it do?" Sam asked. "She's been having memory flashes since we got back. But nothing like this."
"It's Gallifreyan," Romana said. She turned it over. "A parting gift from Missy?"
"She's crazy," Joyce said, shivering. "Tired."
"Let's get her into bed," Janet said. "She just needs to sleep it off." Janet and Sam helped Joyce stand and slowly walked her towards the stairs and her bedroom. Buffy grabbed Dawn and kept her in the living room.
"Let them get her into bed," Buffy said. "She's really out of it. You can ask her questions when she wakes up."
"But Mom's an elf," Dawn said, clearly unhappy with the lack of explanation.
"A Furling," Buffy said. "Not an elf. You know she thinks that kind of thing is silly."
"You knew," Dawn said, glaring at her sister. "Why did you know and I didn't."
"Mom will explain," Buffy said. "Right?" She looked at Romana and K-9. "About all of this."
"Yes, Miss," K-9 said.
"It's her decision," Romana said, shrugging. "She'll tell you what you need to know."
"But not everything," Buffy said. "Right?"
"Affirmative, Miss," K-9 said.
"Adults!" Dawn said, grumbling. She flopped onto the couch.