This is only a test...

[willow_25]

Fade Away Again, Interlude: Giles

 

A/N: This needs edits, but I figure y’all are just as likely as I am to catch any errors.

 

 

 

I’d spent the better part of two days in my office, researching the likelihood of a pending apocalypse. So far I’d found little outside of a reference to a period of prosperity that I wasn’t even sure I had dated correctly. Still, the reports kept rolling in of bizarre disturbances around the world. It was beginning to seem that every Slayer outpost was having some problem. The latest reports included thing like vampires spontaneously combusting and Slayers being located and then abruptly vanishing.

 

After I received the fifth report in two days regarding Buffy; that she seemed distracted and was not acting like herself, I couldn’t discount the complaints. I spoke to Buffy yesterday and she’d seemed fine, but she and I have not been on good terms for quite a while. Certainly those who see her everyday are more likely than I to notice a problem. With all the reports of strange activity we’d received recently, this was no time to allow our emotional distance to keep me from helping Buffy.

 

Asking Dawn or Andrew for information would do no good; Dawn’s attitude towards me has become increasingly distant of late. Andrew only speaks to me about work; since he came back to London he avoids personal conversations so obviously it is almost amusing. He would likely know what traumas Buffy might be suffering, but I would still have to go to Rome myself to get any information.

 

“Alan!” I called, cleaning papers off my desk surface as I waited. Now that my decision was made, I would waste no time. When Alan appeared in the doorway, I handed him my notes on the research I’d been doing. “Finish these up for me, will you, and get those letters ready for me to sign when I return. I have to go to Rome and see Buffy. Please keep on top of things here and inform me if there are any developments. I’m heading home to fetch clothes now. Oh, and call the pilot and tell him I need him ready to go in less than two hours.”

 

Alan nodded, shuffling through the messy stack of papers I’d handed him. “Very good, sir. Would you like me to notify the Sin…Er…Buffy of your impending arrival in her city?”

 

“No, that won’t be necessary. I wish to observe her; I don’t want her prepared enough ahead of time to conceal anything from me.” Finished straightening up, I locked my desk and left my office, Alan trailing along in my wake. He followed me the entire way out to where my car and driver waited outside the building, asking questions the entire way. I applaud the fellow’s attention to detail, but sometimes his energy just makes me feel tired.

 

I went directly to the Slayer Center upon reaching Rome, and found Buffy working with a group of girls on hand to hand training. To my eye she looked much as she had the last time I observed her during a training session; a bit short with the girls, but she was teaching them. She certainly seemed in better health. I didn’t see any problem, and began to believe I had flown across Europe for no reason at all. When Buffy released her students I announced myself to her, but she shrugged off my attempts to talk with a quick ‘later, Giles,’ and hurried off.

 

That was when three of the other Slayers approached me to find out what was wrong with Buffy, and if I was here to fix it. I’ll admit that I was stunned; how was it that these girls who had barely known Buffy for months could see that there was something wrong with her while I, who had known her for years, couldn’t detect any abnormality?

 

I decided it was imperative that I get Buffy alone to speak with her. This proved more difficult than I had expected; it seems Buffy had relocated her office since the last time I visited Rome, and by the time I found it Dawn had joined her.

 

“Still nothing, huh?” Dawn’s voice echoed out into the hallway through the partially open doorway.

 

“Not even. I’m worrying myself sick, here. You’d think one of them could spare me a phone call; even if it was Wesley; as long as I got some kind of information I’d feel better.”

 

“I’m happy to live under the assumption that they’re out having a post-fight party, and will call when they get rid of the hangovers.” Dawn said.

 

Buffy chuckled. “It’s okay to say that you’re freaked, you know. I mean, here I’ve been all big with the sharing lately, you’re all like; ‘yeah, I’m not worried’, except that I can totally tell that you really are, and it’s frustrating that you’re not letting me help you.”

 

Dawn was silent for a moment, then responded so quietly I barely heard her. “I don’t want to put any more pressure on you right now. It’s kind of obvious to everyone that you’re upset…Do you have any idea how many people have asked me what’s up with you? I’m sure that once we hear something I’ll be a basket case and give you plenty of opportunity to coddle me.”

 

“I so don’t coddle you!”

 

“Please, you totally do.”

 

Before the conversation could devolve further, I knocked sharply on Buffy’s office door. After a second of blessed silence, Dawn opened the door for me, and led me towards Buffy’s desk with a poorly concealed eye roll.

 

Buffy sighed. “Yeah, Giles, what can I do for you?”

 

I slowly seated myself in one of the chairs before Buffy’s desk, taking the opportunity to discreetly look around the office, which was smaller but less spartan than the previous one. “Well, I’ve received several reports that there appears to be something wrong with you. Naturally I was concerned, and rushed here to help you with the situation.”

 

Buffy leaned forward, placing her elbows on the desktop. “Well, I appreciate your concern, and whoever else’s, but I don’t need any help, because I’m just dandy.” She leaned back again, crossing her arms defiantly across her chest as she slouched a bit in her chair.

 

“Y…Yes, well, be that as it may you have managed to upset several of your students. Would you care to share what’s got you so distracted?”

 

Buffy’s eyes narrowed, and I noticed that her arms were shaking, the muscles tensed and quivering as she held them against her body. Had she been shaking when I came in? Was it fear, or perhaps anger? “I have nothing to share with you, Giles.” She said calmly.

 

I took my classes off to clean them, drawing out the moment as I considered what to say to her next. I’d offered my support and she’d refused it. I made sure to mention that her students were being affected by her behavior, hoping to draw her out with guilt, but that had obviously been a miscalculation. Now that we were in a more isolated environment, I could see that my earlier assessment of her was grossly incorrect. There was obviously something wrong. If nothing else, Dawn standing sentry at her sister’s side, and Buffy allowing it, was cause for alarm.

 

What could have Buffy distracted and upset, that she wouldn’t want to speak with me about? “Buffy, have you been in contact with Angel? Is something going on in Los Angeles?”

 

Buffy shot out of her seat and began to pace rapidly. “Gee, Giles, I can’t imagine what in the world I could be concerned about more than Angel. We’ve been broken up for five years, I’m not speaking to him at the moment, and I have about a million other things going on, most of them things you’ve assigned me to worry about. Obviously, with all that stuff out there in the world, Angel is the first thing your mind jumps to.” She huffs and continues her pacing.

 

I can feel my brow furrowing as I consider her words. Somehow, she seems very unlike the Buffy I saw the last time I was in Rome. When last we visited, she was more…Docile, although surely that’s the wrong word to use for a Slayer. Buffy generally only has this type of energy and anxiousness pouring off her when there’s an apocalypse coming. Despite the volatility of our current situation, according to my research it seems unlikely that I missed the possibility of the world ending. “Buffy, stop that pacing this instant, you’re making me dizzy.”

 

Thankfully, she stops and throws herself back into her desk chair. Dawn is immediately by her side, rubbing Buffy’s hands and whispering to her older sister, whose face seems to have lost all animation as her thoughts turn inwards. A moment later, Dawn draws away and heads for the door. “I’ll leave you two alone. Buffy, call me…”

 

“First thing.” Buffy declares, giving Dawn a faint smile as the younger girl leaves, closing the door behind her. Buffy sighs as she returns her attention to me. “Listen, Giles…I appreciate the fact that you came all this way to check on me, I honestly do; but there is nothing you can do here. There’s not even anything I can do. I’m all bad mood-y because I’m waiting…Well, never mind what I’m waiting for, it’s not important. Having you here breathing down my neck and pumping me for information, or critiquing me for whatever thing you think I’ve done horribly wrong this time won’t help anything. So, just do us both a favor and head back to London where you belong, okay?”

 

I’ll admit I’m not entirely surprised by the attitude that I’m not wanted here, although her decision to express her distain in such harsh terms leaves me a bit rattled. Far more perplexing is the thought that Buffy is waiting for news that would have her this upset. “You’re not pregnant, are you?” I ask hesitantly.

 

Buffy grimaces. “That would be a wide world of no. I haven’t had sex in so…” She trails off, remembering that whatever was about to come out of her mouth would have mortified both of us. “Anyway, it’s been a while, so if I had gotten knocked up you’d have heard about it long before now.”

 

“I’m sorry to embarrass you, but I couldn’t think of any news you could be waiting to hear that would have shaken you so badly.” I’m tempted to clean my glasses again, but the absence of Buffy’s teasing is far worse than the teasing ever was. “You truly won’t tell me what’s wrong? I’m concerned about you.”

 

“No, you’re concerned about the Slayer, that I might not be performing adequately. Well, don’t sweat it, I’m still here doing my job. If I’m a little grumpy and weepy for a few days, everyone will just have to deal.” Buffy stood again. “Now, I’d say it’s been nice to see you, but we both know that’s a load of crap. So, goodbye, Mr. Giles, I’ll talk to you next week.” She held out her hand for a shake, and left with no other option I rise and take her hand in mine. I can feel the faint tremble in her fingers, and wish things between us were different. After barely a second of contact she drops my hand.

 

I clear my throat as I step away from Buffy’s desk. “I will spend the night here in the city. No sense heading back now. Please, let me know if you need anything, or if you just want to talk…”

 

“That’s not…Okay, Giles. Have a safe trip home.”

 

Being dismissed, I turn and leave the office, feeling worse than I did while wondering what disaster awaited me here. I’m no closer to figuring out what’s wrong with Buffy, though I now know something is definitely wrong. And, as Buffy pointed out, there is nothing I can do to remedy the situation. Whatever is wrong, she will not accept my interference in her life, not even to give me an explanation.

 

Left with nothing else to do, I take a tour of the building, popping in to visit two of the other Watchers on duty here. Neither of them has any clue what might be troubling Buffy, though they both agree that something has been going on in her life outside of the school for several weeks. Frustrated, and with nothing else to accomplish, I take myself off to find a hotel for the night.

 

A few hours later, after a quiet dinner and a shower, I’m resting in my rented bed with a book when the phone rings. Alan is on the other end, sounding somewhat anxious. “Mr. Giles, I wanted to appraise you of a situation…Sir, there’s been a disturbance in Los Angeles…”

 

“In Los Angeles? Whatever is going on?” Buffy said…Actually, she said that she wasn’t worried about Angel; she never said there wasn’t anything going on in his area.

 

“We’re not really sure. There was a mystical realignment in the city a few days ago, but the covens all said that whatever happened seems to have decreased the amount of evil in the world, so no one was inclined to investigate and I didn’t even bother you with it, didn’t want to get in the way of your research with such small nonsense. 

 

“Then, a portal to a demon dimension was opened, but before any of them could get there to check it out, it was closed. The covens say it must have taken an extremely powerful group of witches to open a gateway of that magnitude, or to close it. From what I understand, they’re not sure that what closed the portal was evil, just powerful and unknown. It’s made many powerful witches very nervous. 

 

“I’ve tried to reach some of the Slayers to go investigate, but haven’t had any luck. Either they went to Los Angeles on their own, or they’ve other things going on. I’ve looked over your research, hoping I can use the new information to narrow it down and actually find something. I wondered if, since Buffy has friends in the city, she might attempt contacting them. If you approve, of course.”

 

“Oh, yes, of course. I will speak to her and get back to you in a few hours.”

 

“Very good, sir. I’ll be waiting by the phone. In the meantime, I will continue to attempt contact with someone in the states who might have information.”

 

Before I have time for further comment, Alan’s rung off, and I’m left with a dilemma. I’ve attempted conversation Buffy once today with no success. If I go to her apartment to speak with her, will it even accomplish anything? Do I have a choice; if there are civilians and Slayers in danger, can I allow Buffy to continue to hide whatever information she might have from me?

 

Realizing my choice is really no choice at all, I drag myself back out of bed and into clothes. On the cab ride over, I consider the possibility that Spike is the source of Buffy’s concern. Distasteful idea from any angle, and unlikely. If it truly were him with Angel in Los Angeles, he’d have gone to Buffy. Much as I wish it were otherwise, Spike’s tenacity is matched only by his obsessiveness, and Buffy’s the focus of both. My thoughts chase one another in circles, and before I know it I’m ringing Buffy’s doorbell and hoping one of the girls will let me in. Buffy’s face is guarded as she opens the door, as though she doesn’t want me there but knows her protests would be in vain. Dawn’s presence is notable for its absence.

 

Once I’m inside, I feel the need to justify my presence. “I apologize for dropping in unannounced, but I received a disturbing call from London, and I thought you might be able to shed some light on a few things.”

 

“What things?” Buffy asks, her manner speaking of a distance and caution I am not at all used to seeing in her.

 

“Well, it seems that powers have been realigning themselves in Los Angeles, in a manner that several of the covens we work with considers ominous, or at least worrisome.”

 

“You mean evil is taking over LA?” Buffy pales, and sinks onto the arm of the couch.

 

“Not necessarily. According to what Alan told me, there seems to be a marked absence of pure evil. The question seems to be more about what unknown force could cause such huge shifts in power.” I focus all my attention on Buffy, trying to read her reactions. “You wouldn’t happen to be able to enlighten me, would you?”

 

Buffy tenses noticeably, but before she even opens her mouth to respond, the phone rings. To my surprise, Buffy bolts from her seat and grabs the phone with such force I fear for a moment she’ll crush it in her grip. “Hello?” Her voice is high and tense, and my worry increases. 

 

Dawn runs in, ignoring me completely as she makes a direct path to her sister. “Is it him? What’s going on?” Dawn attempts to lean against her so they can both hear the person on the other end, but Buffy pushes her away.

 

“Yes, this is Buffy Summers. Can I help you?” She frowns as she listens to whatever is being said. “So, everyone survived?” Buffy listens again. “Hold on a second, I want to put you on speaker so my sister can hear, too.” Buffy pulls the phone from her ear and turns to Dawn. “It’s one of the Slayers, Jezebel, calling to give us an update.”

 

“Why? What’s wrong with Spike? Where’s Willow? Or Angel or Wesley, even?”

 

I feel like the biggest ass in the world. We had been convinced that the rumors of Spike’s return to the earthly plain were just that after several months went by without contact…Then again, why would a vampire call the head of the Council to say he was alive. He’d naturally be more likely to call his sweetheart, or whatever Buffy was. Suddenly, the hints about taking time off for a ‘family vacation’ with Dawn made sense.

 

From the concern on the girls’ faces, something big has been going on, and Willow and Spike were involved. Willow does have tremendous powers, it is possible she was involved, likely even. How she came to be in Los Angeles without my knowledge is obviously a topic better left to another time.

 

Buffy and Dawn have taken the phone to the kitchen table, and huddle shoulder to shoulder while Buffy presses some buttons. “Can you hear us?”

 

“Loud and clear.” A female voice with a New York accent comes from the phone. “I wish someone you know could have spoken to you…”

 

“It’s alright, I know who you are. Now, tell me how Spike is. How everyone is.” Buffy seems to have taken herself in hand, and is no longer trembling and pale as she was earlier.

 

“Well, no one died on our side, which is amazing, really. Most of us are fine, just some cuts and lots of bruising. A few broken noses, collar bones, ribs. One concussion as far as we can tell.”

 

“And Spike?” Dawn presses this time, and if the news weren’t so dire I would find their determination amusing, I’m sure.

 

“Well…” She takes a deep breath, the force of it whistling through the phone. “He made it through okay the first two days. It was only at the end there…” Another breath. “Right when Willow was starting to reverse the portal the Senior Partners opened to send us a never-ending supply of demons, this giant-like thing was trying to escape the battle and move inta more populated parts of the city. Spike…William…He and my daughter both climbed up the thing, trying to slit it’s throat. They got it, at the same time as it was disabled and injured on the legs and arms. He managed to throw Laurie free, but…His legs were crushed when it fell on top of him. It took a while to cut the thing down to size so it could be lifted off, and then they had to carry him inside…Luckily, he was unconscious for most of it.” Tears are streaming down Dawn’s face, and Buffy is shaking again.

 

“So, he hasn’t regained consciousness yet?” Buffy asks in a shaky voice.

 

“No, but the Doc thinks that’s a good thing. The working theory is, the less he feels now, the more healed he’ll be when he’s conscious.”

 

“So, he’s still a vampire?” For some reason, this idea has calmed Dawn a great deal. “That’s good then; I’ve seen him heal from broken legs before; also, he healed from the broken spine Buffy gave him with no problem. So, he’ll be fine, right?”

 

Buffy is shaking her head. “Not guaranteed, Dawnie. It took Spike months to heal when I broke his back. Somehow, I don’t think he has months to heal from this.”

 

“We don’t think so, either.” The voice from the phone replies. “We think they’ll both be alive again sometime tonight. Well, some of us think that. Wes thought during the day today, but he was obviously wrong because sunset is in less than an hour and there hasn’t been the slightest change yet.” There’s a hint of smugness in that voice at having shown up Wesley in research that I can deeply appreciate.

 

The entire conversation has veered into territory I am startlingly uninformed on. What on earth could make anyone think that Spike would no longer be a vampire. Vampires don’t generally just change into other things. “Excuse me, but I would be interested to hear…”

 

“Not now, Giles, this is important.” Buffy snaps, and I subside into silence. “How is Angel? And Willow?”

 

“Well, Angel nearly lost his right arm, but Doc thinks he’s got it reattached okay; now it’s a waiting game to see if the tendons heal right before the transformation.”

 

“How’s Willow?” Dawn pipes up, stopping whatever response Buffy was about to make.

 

“Umm, well, we don’t know, actually. She didn’t really fight, much. She did this thing with a Warlock that I don’t really get, and then she was asleep, and then she did the thing where she reversed the portal, but she didn’t have enough energy left to close it, so she borrowed from some of the Slayers. A couple of them are still out, too. But, Willow’s hair turned all white, and most of it went back to normal but some of it didn’t, and who knows what that means. Also, when she was done with the spell she fainted and conked her head. We’re monitoring her as best we can. I called my mother; she’s a brain surgeon. She’s gonna try to get out here today to check everyone over; I really think Willow is the only one we might have to be concerned about, brain wise, but having another doctor around would be a bonus in general.”

 

Buffy and Dawn remain silent, trying to absorb all they’ve heard. I admit, I’m having problems myself. Willow’s health is my main concern, of course, but the talk about the vampires and some type of transformation has me stuck. “Excuse me, but this is Rupert Giles…”

 

“Some covens in Europe wigged at all the stuff going on in LA, they asked Giles to ask me to ask you to tell them about what went down.” Buffy cuts in. “Do you think you could send him some stuff, like maybe the prophecy research Willow was telling me you did?”

 

“Yeah, of course.” The disembodied voice is eager. “Just tell me where to fax or PDF it, and it’ll be there.”

 

“I really appreciate that.” Buffy replies.

 

Dawn chooses that moment to break in again. “So, what’s up with Wesley, and the rest of Angel’s team? Are they all okay? Can we speak to them?”

 

“They’re all fine. Wes is out at the moment with Connor, I think they mighta gone to see his folks; and after that they’re picking up Tommy from the airport. That’s one girl’s fiancé; he’s a little freaked that she took off to come help us, so he’s rushing out here to make sure she’s okay, even though he knows she’s okay because they’ve been on the phone at least three times since the fighting ended.” 

 

She chuckles. “Gunn is at the hospital. Some of his old gang of demon hunters were in the battle, shoring up the perimeter for us so no humans wandered into the battle and no stray demons got out into the rest of the city. A few of them needed medical attention. I don’t know where Lorne is; possibly dealing with Illyria; she left right after the battle ended, and just popped back up an hour or so ago. Umm, who else do you know, here? I’m not sure.”

 

“Is there a vampire named Harmony hanging around?” Buffy asks, sounding very much like she does not want to know the answer.

 

“No, never heard of her. I could ask, but I’m not sure who would know where she is.”

 

“Wesley would.” Buffy replies. “But, it’s not important; she was just the only other person I could think of that I know who was working with Angel. And if she’s gone, it’s kind of good riddance.”

 

“Well, so that’s that, then.” Suddenly, the voice sounds tired. “I’d better go check on Apple again, and call her parents, find out when they’ll be here.”

 

“Who?” Dawn asks.

 

“Oh, Apple is my Slayer. She’s got basically the same injury as Angel; something nasty tried to lop her arm off. The Doc has her sedated, and the arm sown up and all, but we can’t take her to a hospital, because how in hell are we supposed to explain that kind of injury to anyone? Her parents are frantic.” Her voice pitches lower. “I’m not doing too well myself.”

 

Buffy nods. “Yeah, I get that. Most places aren’t like Sunnydale, where the doctors didn’t ask questions. Also…Well, that guilt that you’re feeling, that you took that girl and put her into the battle, and she nearly got killed because of you…” What sounds very much like a muffled sob comes from the telephone. 

 

“You can’t think like that. We were chosen for reasons that only the powers know; that girl must be something special to be there at all. And, who knows, if even one of you hadn’t been there, maybe things would have gone differently and you’d all be dead. You didn’t put her in this situation, she was called to perform a duty, and she did it. Yes, there is major suckage in the fact that she’s injured. But, you’re both alive, and maybe if she’d had a different Watcher, she wouldn’t have made it even this far.”

 

To my surprise, Buffy looks in my direction and gives me a faint smile. We stay there quietly for a moment, listening to the shaky breaths coming through the phone. 

 

“Okay, I better go.” The voice is far steadier than I had expected. “Thanks for…Well, just thanks. I’ll call again when someone wakes up; or, maybe I’ll have Wes call. He might like that. I understand he and William have gotten to be friendly the last few months.”

 

“Wesley wonder wimp and Spike?” Dawn’s voice holds all the skepticism I feel. “Seriously?”

 

“Stranger things have happened.” The Slayer replies, her voice sounding firmer by the minute. “Let me get a fax number or something to send you that research.” The information is communicated, along with e-mail addresses for Buffy, Dawn and Alan in London. “We’ll be in touch, you three take care.”

 

“You, too. Good luck with everything.” Buffy replies, and then all we can hear is the dial tone. 

 

I stand there feeling at loose ends, yet fueled with excitement. I have a new mystery to unravel, a mysterious transformation of vampires to learn about, and no impending doom to fear. Plus, at the moment Buffy seems better disposed towards me than she has been in months.

 

Finally, Dawn picks up the phone and stands. “I’m gonna go call Andrew. He’ll want to know Spike is okay.” Without a single word to me, she leaves the room again, and Buffy and I remain facing each other, not knowing what to say.

 

Buffy stands, and I assume I’m about to be thrown out again. To my surprise, she retrieves a bottle of wine, a corkscrew, and two glasses from the kitchen. “Have a seat, Giles.” She says, placing her finds on the table. “I’m sure you want to know what’s been going on, and it’s kind of a long story.”

 

With a sigh of relief, I sink into the chair across from her, and watch as she opens the bottle. Once she’s poured for us both, she drops back into her chair, and studies her glass for a moment before taking a sip.

 

“It started a few weeks ago, when I was out with the Immortal…”

Comments

[draconin.livejournal.com]

I'd pretty much completely forgotten that Giles and the rest knew nothing about what was going on so this was well timed and read really well in terms of showing his bewilderment. The one point was that I wondered if he might have been more distressed at Buffy's attitude to him - can't recall if this had already been established in early chapters? He seemed rather too sanguine about it.

I wonder if, from the POV of story flow, it might be worth inserting a few small interludes at previous points showing Giles first getting advised of the developing situation by the coven and so on. It sort of depends on whether you want it to be entirely set in LA or whether you're intending for it to encompass both ends eventually - more significantly than just a final coda set with Buffy & Rome I mean. Otherwise it's a bit jarring when, after multiple chapters in LA, it suddenly switches. Mind you, that may be because in RL it's been spread out a lot timewise. If I were reading it as one long fic that might not hold.

Anyway, didn't spot any typos or anything and enjoyed it as usual!

[willow-25.livejournal.com]

I've been operating from the POV that Buffy and Giles have been having issues every since LMPTM, and that they've developed a kind of uneasy truce for the sake of the baby Slayers, so after about 11 months of Buffy being distant, I figure Giles would be bothered but not surprised. That was kind of the point with mentioning Dawn and Andrew; their attitudes grew distant after they found out Spike was alive, to try and keep the information from Giles or for their own reasons.

I wanted the story's action to focus in LA, with updates from Rome to keep Buffy involved in the story. Maybe the transition is too jarring, but I thought that with the prophecy stuff it would help flesh things out to show that some aspects are coming true, inferring that others will also.

Maybe I'm being too subtle?