Date: Sun, 20 Jun 1999 02:38:32 -0700 From: "Laura K. Griffin" Subject: XOVER: Watcher's Choice 01/01 To: FKFIC-L@lists.psu.edu Disclaimer: FK and Buffy don't belong to me. I'm just borrowing them. Permission to Archive: www.fkfanfic.com, any Dark Perk page, any Buffy page. Watcher's Choice By Laura K. Griffin June 19, 1999 Detective Tracy Vetter was in a panic. She looked around, searching under and around everything on the dining room table; she hunted through the cupboards and drawers in the kitchen...even looking under *the sink*, as if that was a likely place to find what she needed so badly. "This can not be happening to me," she groaned. Glancing at the clock, it glared its ugly truth at her - she was going to be late. No doubt about it. And then the damnable doorbell rang. "What now?!" Tracy sighed as she walked towards the door. She peeked through the tiny hole in the front door and saw a very attractive, but unfamiliar, man standing there. He looked to be in his mid forties, short brown hair, round little glasses, and he was dressed in tweed. "Gotta be a librarian," Tracy snorted. He was even holding an old, leather-bound book in one hand. "Can I help you?" Tracy said as she opened the door a few inches. "Oh good. Y-y-your home. I was beginning to think I had the wrong address. I'm sorry if I've d-d-disturbed you on your way to work." The man was obviously British and sounded a bit nervous. "Uh...that's okay, but how did you know I was on my way to work? And who are you?" "I'm terribly sorry, Miss Vetter...you *are* Tracy Vetter, aren't you?" Tracy nodded as he went on. "I'm Rupert Giles. A watcher." He waited to see if there'd be a reaction. Tracy just looked at him, waiting for him to continue. "Mmm...can I come inside?" Tracy blanched. "I'm sorry. Of course. Come on in. Excuse the mess. I was searching for something." "Yes, I know. I think I can help you with that." Rupert Giles sat stiffly on Tracy's couch as the blonde detective looked at him curiously. "I find that difficult to believe, but I'm listening." Tracy sat on the chair opposite the tweeded gentleman. "There was a prophecy. I've brought it with me," he began as he opened the book that he'd brought along, "and I'm most certain that you are the one I've been looking for." "Prophecy? Are you some sort of priest or something?" "No, as I said, I'm a watcher. Currently I reside in Sunnydale, California and watch over the Slayer, the Chosen One." Tracy gasped in surprise. "The Slayer?! As in vampires?" Tracy's face was wide-eyed and horrified as she thought of Vachon and even Screed. She couldn't bare the thought of them being staked. "So you *are* aware of the supernatural and the existence of vampires. Good. So much easier when I don't have to explain everything." "I still don't get the prophecy thing," Tracy said as she glanced at the clock again. "It's right here: 'And she shall be a golden-haired Finder of Truth, Watchful in the Knight, and oppressed by the masses for her hair color and supposed perkiness...." Giles stopped reading and looked into Tracy's eyes. "Should I go on?" "Sure, why not? Sounds kind of interesting anyway." "It goes on like that for a little bit, describing you and your domineering father, your relationship with a young slacker vampire, and such. But then we come to the reason I'm here." The librarian continued reading from the text: "...And on this day, her coffers will run dry. Her source of power will be diminished. Her search will be in vain. Disaster will befall all she comes in contact with. Woe betide the creature who steps into her pathway." "Is that it?" Tracy said quietly. "Yes, but as you can see, it was of the utmost importance that I come to you today. Being the watcher, I have access to a many great volumes, and I was able to cross reference and come up with an answer to this prophecy." "You're saying that all hell is going to break lose if you hadn't come here today?" "That's exactly what I'm saying. The supernatural forces must be dealt with. They don't always sound l-l-like they make sense, but you have to ignore that. I'm sure you agree." He looked at her sternly and waited for her response. "So what's the answer?" Tracy asked him. Rupert Giles produced a small brown package from the inside of tweed jacket and handed it to her. "This is, of course, just an emergency supply, but it should work," he whispered apologetically. Tracy opened the package carefully and suspiciously. When she saw its contents, she actually giggled, then kissed Giles on the cheek. "Ohmygod! You really *are* a watcher! This isn't some kind of weirdo act or something!" Giles smiled at her, glad that she decided to accept his help on such short notice. "I have just enough time to make this before I go to work. You're a life saver!" Tracy gave him a quick hug before going to the kitchen, pulling out a big coffee mug, and making a steaming cup of the Taster's Choice instant coffee that the mysterious visitor had brought with him. And the cosmic forces of evil sighed in disappointment as the prophecy was diverted by the delivery made by the Watcher. ---End--- Anthony Stewart Head (Giles on Buffy) was also the Taster's Choice coffee guy way back when. Coffee, Ripper, and Tracy -- I knew I'd find a connection! Any and all comments to miltonsfire@pronet.net Flames will be used in a fiery ritual. -- Cousin Laura -- The Original Dark CERK Perk http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Portal/6866/Laura.htm "When life itself seems lunatic, who knows where madness lies." -- "Man of La Mancha"