THE LIFE AND TIMES OF

JOSEPH DAWSON AND THE BLUE BOX

DANIELLE FRANCES DUCREST

Disclaimer: Doctor Who belongs to the BBC and others. Highlander: The Series belongs to Gaumont Télévision, Rysher Entertainment and Davis/Panzer Productions. Any copyright infringements were not intended. This story was written for entertainment and not for profit.

Spoilers and Timing: General and more specific spoilers are for the Highlander: The Series episodes "Brothers in Arms," "Methos," "Finale, Part 1," "Glory Days" and "Band of Brothers." There are also general spoilers for Doctor Who. The story takes place at various points in Joe's life and with various Doctors.

There is a cameo by an original character, Ron Calais, who first appeared in my story "An Immortal Life, Trials Past: Seacouver and Sunnydale, 1999, A Day in the Life" (though this isn't a Buffy or an Angel crossover). A Watcher named Gina and an Immortal named Harris are mentioned, and yes, they are also allusions to "An Immortal Life." Vicky Pfeifer is the Watcher for the de Valincourts and Mara Schoner is Grayson's Watcher, according to "The New Watcher Chronicles" CD. Ian Brancroft is Darius' Watcher.

Virginia, 1954 - Tenth Doctor

Chicago, 1967 - Pick a Doctor, any Doctor

Vietnam, 1968 - Tenth Doctor

London, 1970 - Third Doctor era

Paris, 1988 - Sixth Doctor

France, 1993 - Tenth Doctor

Summary: Highlander/Doctor Who, multiple Doctors. An odd sound filled the air, a cross between a car engine turning over and a piece of serrated concrete dragged across a slab of marble. It was unlike any sound Joe Dawson had ever heard, and it was a sound he would never forget.

Author's Note: This was going to be a drabble series. Really, it was.

Author's Note #2: I read somewhere, years ago, that actor Jim Byrnes, who plays Joe Dawson on Highlander, drives a car with customized accelerator and brake pedals adapted for use by hand. If anyone has any information on this kind of car, such as whether or not it exists and what the interior looks like, please let me know. I'd really appreciate it, thanks.

Author's Note #3: (Contains Spoilers for a scene in this story; you have been warned). I have mixed feelings about the likelihood of the scene in the hospital in Vietnam where Joe contemplates suicide. I keep thinking about the Highlander episode "Glory Days." In it, Joe finally admits to his high school sweetheart, Betsy, that he lost his legs decades ago in Vietnam. It takes him some time to admit it; at first, he doesn't want her to know. He still feels strongly about the loss of his legs even after all those years. Joe's prosthetics are mentioned only a handful of times throughout the series, but when they are, Joe strongly wishes he still had his legs and he sometimes feels ashamed of his prosthetics. At the same time, Joe is often portrayed as stubborn and prideful. Perhaps he did entertain the thought of suicide. Perhaps he didn't. I think it could have gone either way, based on what I've seen on the show. I don't mean to belittle this sort of thing in real life or offend people in any way. I do not condone suicide in any circumstances.

--

Chicago, 1967

Joe's hands wrapped around the back of Betsy's prom dress as he gently pushed her against a blue wooden wall. Her breath held a hint of the strawberries she'd eaten earlier. They kissed, and he could taste the strawberries on her tongue, too. It had never been his favorite flavor, but on her, it was the perfect touch.

An odd sound filled the air, a cross between a car engine turning over and a piece of serrated concrete dragged across a slab of marble. It was so close that they pulled their lips apart.

"What is that?" she asked.

"I don't-"

His reply turned into a surprised yelp as Betsy tumbled backward with a scream. He landed on top of her.

He scrambled off of her and asked her if she was all right. He helped her get to her feet and he glanced behind her.

An empty sidewalk marked the place where a wall had been just a moment ago.