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A New Kind Of Pride	By : pixel2817 Category: AtS/BtVS Crossovers > Slash - Male/Male Views: 2345 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own BtVS, AtS, or The Sentinel. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 1-prologue
- 2-Chapter One
- 1
- 2
Chapter One

(Spring 2007)

Wesley splashed water on his face and raised his eyes to his reflection. He scrubbed at his stubble, realising that he was going to have to shave soon, as he was looking even scruffier than usual. The case they were working had them all on edge, six bodies in the last four weeks and despite working every hour they could, they were no closer to finding their killer.

Wandering back out to the squad, he arrived just in time to see their lieutenant storming out of the captain’s office. Exchanging a quick glance with his partner, they headed over to see what had her so riled up.

Kate was fuming, Gunn and Wes could both see that, and she was muttering under her breath as she started to gather together the files on her desk. She looked up at her best detectives and sighed, they were going to hate this. Wes especially, he always had a tendency to over-empathise with the victims, but this case had really gotten to him. Well if she was honest it had gotten to them all, the bodies had been so brutalised, so violated, worse than any other case she’d worked.

Waiting wasn’t going to make the news any easier for them to hear, so she started to talk, “The captain got a call from someone in Washington, we’re being pulled from the case. They’re sending some sort of specialist team to take over.”

Wes was shocked into silence, his work was the only real thing that mattered to him, and they were going to take that away. He couldn’t bring himself to believe it, there had to be a way for them to keep the case.

Gunn was furious, how could they be pulled from a case they’d dedicated themselves to solving? The last two bodies had been found by some kids from his old neighbourhood; and they’d been severely traumatised by what they’d seen. This case was personal as far as he was concerned, no way were they giving it up. “What the hell are some jokers from Washington gonna know about an LA murder, come on Katie you can’t let them do this to us.”

“You think I didn’t fight them? It’s been designated a Federal case, that means it’s out of our hands.”

That got Wes’ attention, “If they’ve made it Federal, could that mean there’s mean other deaths out of state?”

Gunn dismissed the idea, “We ran the stats through VICAP, we didn’t get any hits remember?”

“Maybe they know something we don’t?” Wes didn’t like the idea, he’d worked damned hard to be accepted here and took his role as the units unofficial profiler very seriously. But if he’d missed something, he had to know. “VICAP isn’t infallible, maybe we should take another look?”

“Or maybe you should just hand over the files and let the experts get to work.” They all turned to get a look at the woman who’d spoken. She certainly didn’t look like any Fed Wes had ever seen. The leather pants and tight tee looked more like clubbing gear and the man with her was no better, his battered jeans and shirt making him look out of place.

Then as the woman reached her hand out for the files, he saw it, the clear shape of a pride tattoo on her arm. He couldn’t help but take a step back, wanting to get away from her. She saw the direction of his stare and a feral grin spread across her face, she was beautiful and deadly, and Wes could only watch in shock as she let her beast rise just enough to colour her eyes. She was a Sentinel, the first one Wes had been around in almost ten years and he had no idea what to do.

Wes let his mind open just a little, trying to see if she was a threat, but the only thing he felt from her was amusement. The man at her side was another matter, as Wes probed gently at his mind he struck an impenetrable shield. He had to be a Guide and a powerful one if Wes couldn’t make it past his shielding. He wanted to scream and curse, he’d spent ten years doing everything he could to avoid the world of Sentinels and now it had landed right in his lap.

“Faith,” the man’s voice was a sultry southern drawl and Wes watched in fascination as he gave the Sentinel a quick sharp slap on the butt. “Boss man said we’re supposed to be playing nice, remember?”

“Oh come on Linds, I couldn’t resist, he’s just so…...edible.”

Wes only barely noticed Gunn and Kate coming up to flank him, they might not know what had him so spooked, but they were ready to deal with any threat to one of their own. The interaction between the Sentinel and Guide bewildered him, it had almost seemed like the Guide was in charge, but that went against everything Wes knew of their world.

Lindsey gave Wes a long look, letting his appreciation show in his eyes, before turning back to Faith, “Pretty as he is, we’re here to work. Or did you forget the big pile of bodies we’re dealing with?”

Faith practically growled her answer, no longer even trying to hide what she was, “Not like I’d forget losing two of our own. But there’s not much we can do ‘til Xan finishes up with the brass.

Two of their own? As they had come down from Washington, that confirmed Wes’ suspicions that there’d been more deaths than they’d thought. He tried to get a surreptitious look at Faith’s tattoo, so he could see which pride they were from. Lindsey saw what Wes was trying to do and pulled up his own sleeve, showing a mark that Wes didn’t recognise.

“It’s an old Celtic rune, means re-birth. Xan figured it was appropriate for Sanctuary, seeing as we were starting out new.” Faith’s voice was full of pride as she explained the meaning, though Wes could hardly conceal his shock.

Pride Sanctuary had sprung out of nowhere about five years ago, made up of loners and exiles, it was said they welcomed anyone. They didn’t associate with the other prides, and unusually for any group of Sentinels, were said to be as at home in the human world as they were within the borders of their pride’s lands.

“How many did we miss?” Gunn got straight to the point, angry at the implication that they hadn’t done enough.

Lindsey produced a stack of files and started arranging them on the desk. “We’ve got twenty seven confirmed kills, but they’re spread over eleven cities so far, so it’s not that surprising nobody put it together before us.”

Kate looked at the first few files and then shook her head, “The methods are too different, the bodies in Seattle were burned, the ones in Washington were covered in acid and ours were dismembered, I’m not seeing a connection here.”

Wes was about to agree with her, when he saw the smug look in Lindsey’s eyes, there was something there, and it must be obvious. He glanced at Faith and was surprised to see her wink at him, before directing his gaze down to her tattoo. Wes quickly looked back at the reports and there it was in black and white. Whatever method the killer used to kill, one thing stayed the same; the skin on every victim’s right arm was always destroyed. The right arm, where a pride tattoo was located.

“They were all Sentinels?” Wes enjoyed the look of surprise on the other Guide’s face; Lindsey obviously hadn’t expected them to work it out.

“Nearly right, nineteen Sentinels and eight Guides. All six here in LA were Guides, so we think they’re his new focus.”

“So how did you put it together? Ain’t no way you figured out what was going on just from the files.” Gunn directed the question at Lindsey, but it was Faith who answered.

Pulling two files from the top of the pile, she showed them the pictures inside. They showed a pair of young women, their remains barely recognisable as human; their faces and limbs eaten away by acid. “Rhona Stevens and Vi Levinson, they were both Sentinels out of Sanctuary. They went into the city for a concert and never came back, we started a search right away, but it took us almost a week to find the bodies. They were buried up in the woods.

We were lucky to be able to ID them at all, but the local sheriff up there gets on fine with the pride and he let us into the files. We were starting from the idea that they were targeted because of what they were, so the matches started to come up pretty quick. You thought you were dealing with random victims, so the different MO’s threw you off.”

“They just let you take over the whole investigation?” Wes knew he sounded sceptical, but usually a pride’s authority stopped at the borders of their land, and he couldn’t imagine why they’d be allowed to operate out in the wider world.

“We’re not here to represent the pride, that’s just a bonus.” Lindsey sounded a little smug as he explained, “We actually do work for the Bureau; usually we deal with anything a little out of the ordinary, sort of roving trouble shooters.”

“Out of the ordinary, what are you, Mulder and Scully?” Kate wasn’t ready to let go of her irritation just yet.

“Not hardly, do I look like I’d be caught dead in one of her suits?” Faith looked positively insulted at the idea.

Wes let the by-play wash past him, all his attention on the files, more victims meant he had even more reason to stop this madman and if that meant he had to face the nightmares of his past, so be it. He knew that Gunn and Kate were watching him closely, and that they’d corner him as soon as they could, to check he was okay. They knew something of his past, knew he was a Guide; but neither really understood how bad it had been for him.

Out of the corner of his eye, he caught Lindsey and Faith both stiffening and turning towards the door, letting down his shields again, Wes sensed another Sentinel, one much more powerful than Faith. He kept his attention firmly on the desk, not wanting anyone to see the fear in his eyes.

Kate and Gunn introduced themselves to the newcomer, and Wes finally had to acknowledge his presence. Ignoring the outstretched hand, he looked up at the Sentinel, not even noticing the eye-patch marring the familiar face. He could hardly believe what his eyes were telling him, it couldn’t be him.

Then a soft voice broke the silence of the room, “It’s so good to see you Wes.”

He had to face the truth; the man in front of him was his old friend. His answer was nothing more than a pained whisper, but that was more than enough for Sentinel ears. “Xander?”

Tbc………….
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A New Kind Of Pride