BTVS Fan Fiction: Part 4
Frau Hunter Ash
Rating: R
# # #
Buffy closed the oven door with a frown as she dashed towards the door. Willow and Tara were upstairs helping Dawn with her homework and Buffy knew Xander and Anya were planning a night out.
The Slayer blinked, staring at the stranger at her door.
“Olivia?” she squeaked.
“Hello, Buffy,” Olivia smiled but looked nervous. “I’m sorry to bother you but Rupert isn’t answering his door or phone. Is he out of town or something?”
Buffy frowned and opened the door wider. “Please, come in, I’m sorry. You just surprised me. I, uh, didn’t know you two were still an item.”
Olivia entered the house with a suitcase and carry-on case.
“We were very involved once he returned to England but we, well,” Olivia hesitated, glancing at the Slayer. “We hit a bad patch when he returned here. I’ve had a bit of time to think about it and I wanted to see him.”
“You came all this way to fight with him?” Buffy asked with her eyebrows rising. “You want some coffee or tea? I keep good stuff around for Giles.”
“Coffee would be good and I’m not here to fight with him,” Olivia smiled, setting her packs down. “I find I miss him more than I can deal with. I want to try again.”
“Take him back to England?” Buffy asked, trying not to sound panicked.
“No, I know his place is here with you,” Olivia said softly. “I’m willing to try and make it work with him knowing that you come first.”
Buffy frowned as she poured the coffee for both of them.
“I don’t think that’s true anymore,” Buffy said slowly. “I know it was a shock when I, uh, came back but I’m kinda settling into being here again and doing adult stuff.”
“Buffy, you’ll always come first in his life,” Olivia shook her head, accepting the coffee cup. “When he was fired from the Council he stayed with you. He can’t walk away as long as there’s evil to fight. In England he continued researching and occasionally going out to fight vampires or demons.”
Buffy blinked in surprise. “He did? He’s a Watcher, not a fighter.”
“And his fighter was gone and Faith is in prison,” Olivia pointed out. “He felt he had to do something. Rupert still doesn’t quite believe that he’s redeemed himself for his reckless youth and that he didn’t want to let you down.”
“Giles could never let me down!” Buffy protested. “Listen, he’s been through a rough time lately. We didn’t quite click for awhile and then he got hurt. Giles is just now recovering, we’ve been trying to give him some quiet time and not stress him out.”
“He’s alright?” Olivia asked anxiously. “How badly was he hurt.”
“He was stabbed protecting my little sister from being ra… an assault,” Buffy said softly. “He’s home and resting. Olivia… I know we didn’t hit it off when you were here but I’d like to try again.”
“I’d like that very much,” Olivia smiled. “I’m glad that you’re… back. Rupert was shattered when you, uh…”
“Died,” Buffy supplied. “Wasn’t fun on my end either. I was kinda messed up when I came back and hurt everybody. I’m not sure how to fix that with Giles. He’s kinda retreated from everyone.”
“Then let’s get him back,” Olivia said firmly. “I’m not going to demand he return to England, it’ll be his choice where we live. I can get work anywhere in the world. You’re his family and that can’t be replaced.”
Buffy felt tears coming to the surface. “I messed up so bad after coming back. I drove almost everyone away and turned to the wrong… person.”
“We’ll get your friendship back on track with Rupert,” Olivia said softly. “Is he home?”
Buffy frowned, checking the roast in the oven. “He should be. He hasn’t been at the shop since the attack and Dawn sees him every morning. Let me get Willow or Tara to watch dinner and we’ll go over there.”
Buffy was surprised to find Willow working on the computer with no sign of Tara and Dawn. “Hey, Will, where is everyone?”
Willow pulled her headphones down and shrugged. “Giles called and asked them to drop by the shop. Something Tara ordered came in. What’s up? They should be back in time for dinner.”
Buffy frowned. “Anya said earlier today that Giles hasn’t been back to the shop since the attack and Olivia says he’s not answering his phone.”
“Buffy?” Willow asked, joining Buffy’s frown.
“I’m not sure, just… I’ve been out of touch with him,” Buffy said softly.
“Well, he hasn’t seen any of us much since the attack,” Willow said thoughtfully. “Could the demon have…”
“Have what? He got stabbed protecting Dawnie,” Buffy pondered. “Giles killed the guy, the host, the demon is trapped in limbo.”
“What about when Egyhon skipped to Jenny?” Willow frowned. “He… could Giles be?”
Buffy felt a chill run down her spine. “He’s not answering his phone or the door.”
“He won’t see anyone except Dawn and isn’t getting better,” Willow added, jumping to her feet.
“Dawnie,” Buffy whimpered and dashed down the stairs with Willow right behind her. “Olivia! Come on, Giles might be in trouble!” Buffy shouted and stopped at the front door. “Where? His place or the shop?”
“He told Tara the shop,” Willow pointed out as Olivia rushed to join them.
“You two follow me in the jeep, I’ll cut through the alleys,” Buffy instructed as she tossed her keys to her best friend. “Call Xander and Anya.”
“What’s happening?” Olivia demanded as Buffy disappeared.
“Come on, I’ll explain on the way. Can you drive on the right side of the road while I call Xander and Anya?” Willow asked as she pulled Olivia towards Buffy’s jeep.
“Yes, I’m in the States frequently,” Olivia answered, taking the keys.
“Then you drive and I’ll talk,” Willow said, biting her lip.
# # #
Buffy found the back door of the Magic Box ajar and pulled it open roughly. She blinked in the dim light, her eyes quickly going to a figure huddled against the far wall. She could hear sobbing and recognized Dawn’s voice.
“Dawnie?” Buffy called as she entered the back of the shop.
“B-Buffy, l-look out!” Dawn cried, looking up.
The Slayer turned instinctively, raising her arm. Buffy yelped and fell back against the wall in pain as something very hard hit her forearm and she heard something snap inside. She tried to grab the object flashing over her head again but couldn’t raise her arm and twisted to take the blow on her collarbone, falling to her knees.
“Giles! No! Please!” Dawn screamed.
Buffy rolled backwards, kicking out and snapping her attacker in the knee. She saw Giles stumble backwards with a yelp of pain. Her mind quickly took in his ragged appearance and was dismayed. It looked as if her Watcher hadn’t slept or eaten in a week. His was dressed in jeans and a t-shirt and both hung on his frame.
Another thing that wasn’t normal about Giles was his eyes. They were magic black, like Willow’s had been when she took on Glory after Tara had been injured.
“Giles, don’t do this! Fight it!” Buffy pleaded as she leapt to her feet.
Dawn appeared out of the shadows and jumped on Giles’ back, hitting and kicking.
Buffy moved forward to try and help but hesitated, seeing Tara near the sofa on the floor, unmoving.
Dawn’s yell of surprise and anger brought the Slayer’s attention back to the immediate situation. Buffy saw her sister tossed over Giles’ shoulder, hitting the floor hard. Buffy jumped for her Watcher but the demon-possessed Giles brought the bat up in a backhand motion, catching Buffy across the temple and dropping her to the floor, stunned.
# # #
Xander skidded to a stop in the alley behind the Magic Box and blinked as Anya ran into him. The backroom of the Magic Box was glowing in an eerie light and lightning like flashes. The young couple could see Giles pinned to the wall about five feet off the ground, held there by crackles of energy coming from Willow’s hands.
Below the Watcher was a sobbing Dawn, Buffy and Tara lay nearby shaking their heads.
Both Buffy and Giles were bruised and bloody and Xander was trying to ignore his mentor’s ripped t-shirt and unzipped jeans as Dawn pulled her shirt closed and her skirt down.
“Get Dawnie out of there!” he yelled at Anya and rushed towards Willow as energy bolts continued to shoot at Giles and the Watcher screamed, blood streaming from his nose.
“Willow! You’re killing him!” Xander shouted as he ran up to his friend. He was afraid to grab her for fear of hurting her, Giles or himself. The magical energy was dancing around her and sparking like static electricity or lightning and it frightened Xander. So did her magic black eyes and angry expression.
“Good! You know what he tried with Dawnie? He hurt Buffy and Tara!” she yelled back as Giles yelled in pain again, his head snapping backwards.
“That’s not Giles and you know it! It’s a demon, like when Jenny was possessed!” Xander protested. “Please, Will, you won’t like yourself if you do this!”
Buffy stumbled over to her sister as Anya pulled Dawn to the sofa. Tara moaned and sat up against the piece of furniture.
“Dawnie, you okay?” Buffy asked anxiously.
“Y-yeah, he… he tried but… but didn’t…” Dawn stuttered. “It… that’s not Giles, is it?”
“No, Dawnie,” Buffy said softly as she pulled off her shirt and handing it to her younger sister, leaving the Slayer dressed in a tank top. “That’s not Giles, the Succubus got him.”
“Will, please! Don’t kill him!” Xander begged as Anya and Buffy joined him.
“Look at his arm, that’s not Egyhon’s symbol,” Anya said forcefully. “That’s the sign of Lilith, Queen of the vampires, incubi and succubae. If that demon is one of her acolytes it’s very hard to get rid of.”
Olivia whimpered as she helped Tara stand up and took in the sight of Dawn, realizing what the demon inside Giles’ body had attempted with the young teenager. “Help him! It’s not his fault!”
Willow’s expression changed from anger to a frown of confusion. The energy bolts stopped ripping through the Watcher and his head dropped forward onto his chest, still pinned to the wall.
“Will, please, let him down, we’ll fix this,” Xander begged.
“We can’t get rid of the demon without killing Giles!” Willow countered.
“Let him go, Willow!” Olivia demanded. “Now!”
“Will, please,” Buffy begged.
Willow felt Tara come up behind her and slumped back into her lover’s arms, the energy disappearing. Giles dropped, Buffy barely stopping him from hitting the floor face first. She managed to turn him over with her one good arm.
“Xander, get the handcuffs from the weapons closet and some rope,” she said softly. “If the other attacks are like this, the demon has him totally.”
Xander nodded and ran to grab the restraints as Anya grabbed wash clothes and ice packs for almost everyone.
# # #
Olivia gently brushed the hair back from Giles’ forehead as everyone debated what to do with the unconscious Watcher.
Dawn tied a sling around Buffy’s neck as Willow held Tara in her arms, checking her lover’s skull for blood.
“What happened, Dawnie?” Xander asked softly as he cleaned Giles’ face of blood.
“Tara and I walked in and he… he hit Tara with the bat,” Dawn said slowly, her eyes wide as she watched Giles in Olivia’s arms. “He was… trying to hurt me when Buffy came in. T-the demon l-laughed at me and Giles… said it was perfect. G-get him out of the way and feed on me.”
“You need that x-rayed, Buff,” Willow said with a frown. “And Tara too.”
“What do we do with him?” Buffy countered, pointing at her Watcher.
“Leave,” Olivia said firmly.
“What?” Xander asked, looking up at the gorgeous woman.
“Leave me with him,” Olivia said calmly.
“Olivia, we’ve dealt with this stuff before,” Buffy said slowly. “You haven’t.”
“And you don’t know what to do with him. I have an idea and only I can handle this,” Olivia sighed, stroking his hair. “If not…”
Buffy nodded. “If not, I’ll take care of it. He’d want that.”
“What? You kill him?” Xander squeaked. “How does that help?”
“Because I won’t ever let go him,” Giles’ voice answered and Xander fell back onto the floor in surprise. “I’ll either get him arrested, killed or drain him myself.”
Buffy’s eyes narrowed as the bound Watcher sat up, frowning at the handcuffs holding his wrists behind his back and the rope binding his legs.
“A demon dedicated to Lilith, right?” she asked bitterly.
“Yes, one of her special children,” Giles/Demon nodded. “And he’s the most delightful one I’ve found in ages!”
Olivia drew back from her lover’s body, her face reflecting her shock and dismay.
“Let him go! Your plan is shot, you won’t get another chance at a kid,” Buffy snapped.
“Then I’ll come to him and drain him or I’ll stay here and you’ll be forced to try and kill him,” the demon countered. “A perfect ending for his pathetic life. How many times has he given up at a chance for love for you, Slayer? He waited too long to make up with his Jenny, he ran from Ethan when things got dangerous and he never told you how things could have developed between him and Olivia, did he? How he let the dark beauty there slip from his fingers, all so he could be your Watcher. Without love your pathetic race has no hope and nothing to live for.”
“He’s loved! Giles knows all of us love him,” Dawn yelled.
“Not the kind of love he needs, brat,” Giles-Demon smirked. “There are some that can live happily without it, he’s not one. Your Giles is more sensitive and passionate then any of you have ever noticed.”
“Get out,” Olivia ordered softly. “Leave me alone with him.”
“Olivia?” Buffy questioned softly.
“Leave us,” Olivia repeated.
Anya helped Xander up and they both aided Willow in getting Tara to her feet. “We’ll take Tara to the hospital, you join us… after,” Willow said gently to Buffy.
The Slayer nodded as she wrapped an arm around Dawn’s shoulders, leading her sister towards the door.
Olivia turned to the demon inhabiting Giles’ body.
“And what do you have planned, bitch?” the demon taunted.
# # #
Buffy leaned against the door as Dawn looked at her sister anxiously. “What’s Olivia got planned?”
“I don’t know,” the Slayer admitted. “I just hope it works, whatever it is.”
“Is Tara okay?” Dawn asked, sounding small and insecure.
“She will be,” Buffy smiled. “We all get knocked on the head sooner or later around here.”
“He scared me!” Dawn admitted, biting back tears until Buffy wrapped an arm around her again, pulling her in tight. “He… he wanted…”
“I know what the demon wanted,” Buffy said softly. “That’s not Giles, Dawnie. That’s not Giles that did that.”
“I know but it’s hard! He said awful things!”
Buffy tried to fight down the anger and remind herself that it wasn’t Giles who had attacked her little sister, just his body.
# # #
“And what can you do the others can’t?” the demon asked as Olivia sat on the sofa next to the bound Watcher.
“Point out something you and Rupert don’t realize,” Olivia said softly. “You said he wasn’t loved like he needs to be. Rupert is if he’ll accept it. You lose, demon, he’s loved unconditionally by someone.”
Giles-Demon pulled back, startled. “You’re lying. You yelled and told him to never come back if he came back to Sunnydale for his Slayer. You’re just trying to drive me out.”
“I came here because I realized I can’t live without him,” Olivia said firmly, stroking Giles’ cheek. “I love him and I’ll live wherever he wants, Ru can do his Watcher duties, whatever it takes to have him.”
Olivia reached down and untied the rope around Giles’ legs and leaned up between his legs and kissed her lover passionately.
“It’s a trick,” Giles-Demon protested weakly. “He’s mine. He has no one to love him. The Slayer wants her vampires, the witch wants the witch and you want him to give up his life for you.”
“No, I’m willing to give my life for him,” Olivia smiled and unlocked the handcuffs.
The dancer squeaked in surprise when Giles-Demon tackled her to the floor, pinning her with his body. She screamed as her blouse was ripped open and struggled against him.
Suddenly she stopped and looked deep into her lover’s green eyes. “I love you, Ru. Even if you do this, I love you.”
Giles-Demon looked pained and raised his fist to hit her.
“I love you, Rupert, I know you’re in there,” Olivia said calmly.
Giles-Demon moaned and rolled off the dancer, clutching his head.
Olivia sat up and pulled Giles into her arms. “I love you, Ru, always. Don’t send me away.”
Giles clung to Olivia, weeping.
Buffy opened the door softly, her patience at an end and saw her Watcher crying in Olivia’s arms. The dancer looked up, her eyes gentle and nodded slightly to the Slayer.
“Go on to the hospital, we’ll be here,” she said calmly.
# # #
Buffy and the others knocked on Giles’ door firmly having found a note at the Magic Box from Olivia telling them that she had taken the Watcher home.
The dancer opened the door with a small smile. “He’s resting, please come in.”
“Olivia, is he… he he?” Xander asked and Olivia looked at him blankly.
“Translated, is Giles himself?” Willow asked with a smirk towards her friend.
“Yes, he’s back to himself,” Olivia nodded, opening the door for them. “I’ve coffee and tea made. Also some chips and soda on the table.”
The dancer took in the cast and sling on Buffy’s arm and Tara’s absence. “How is Tara?”
“She’ll be okay,” Willow sighed softly. “They want to keep her overnight just to be sure. Giles?”
“I confronted the demon with what it couldn’t stand,” Olivia explained as she poured a cup of tea for herself. “The fact that someone does love Ru unconditionally. It couldn’t stay in him after that. His tattoo is once again that damn Egyhon symbol.”
“How is he?” Buffy asked softly, glancing up at the stairs.
“Shaken, badly shaken,” Olivia sighed. “I made him eat and put him to bed. I don’t think he’s eaten in days or slept.”
“Not if the demon was draining him every night,” Willow nodded sadly.
“Can we see him?” Dawn asked shyly.
“He… Ru doesn’t want to see anyone right now,” Olivia said slowly. “He’s… ashamed and can’t face any of you.”
“That’s why we’re here,” Buffy said firmly. “We need to see him as soon as possible.”
“I agree,” Olivia smiled. “Thank you.”
“Olivia, I know we didn’t talk much before, especially since nobody could talk at the time with the weird Gentlemen and stuff but…”
“Will!” Xander smiled, cutting off a trade-mark babble.
“Uh, yeah,” Willow blushed and smiled shyly. “I think you, uh, well… you got Giles back because you love him so I guess you’re gonna be part of the family now. Welcome to the Scooby Gang.”
Olivia sighed with relief. “Thank you, all of you. Go up and see him, one or two at a time. He’s at the end of his wits right now.”
Buffy and the others looked at each other, as if by psychic powers and both Willow and Xander nodded to Buffy and Dawn.
“You two first,” Xander urged.
Buffy took Dawn’s hand and walked up the stairs slowly, wondering if they could reach her Watcher. It felt like too much time and distance was between them after her death. Now with his attack on Dawn, she knew Giles would rather drown in a bottle of Scotch than face them.
Giles was lying in his bed on his back with the covers pulled up to his ribs. Buffy winced at how gaunt he looked, the bruised eyes and bruise forming along his jaw. Willow’s attack had left the Watcher badly battered and hurting, Buffy could tell.
“How did he get this bad without us seeing it?” Buffy asked softly, more to herself than to Dawn.
“None of us paid attention the last two weeks,” Dawn responded. “I made him breakfast but he was in the shower most of the time. I guess he wasn’t eating after I left.”
“From now on, I’m not letting my friends drift away anymore!” Buffy said firmly. “No more getting distracted by Spike! First off, spending more time with all of you, including Giles.”
“Sounds good,” Dawn smirked, moving closer to the bed. “You’ve been totally space cadet material since… well… and Spike is cool.”
“Spike is a pain in the ass and I don’t want him hanging around unless it’s for a fight,” Buffy said firmly.
“Fighting you or bad guys,” Dawn giggled. “You two always fight and then disappear.”
“Not any more,” Buffy muttered. “I haven’t been with him in two weeks.” The Slayer turned her attention to her Watcher and sat down on the bed next to him and Dawn moved to the other side. Buffy took Giles’ hand and squeezed it softly.
“Giles, wake up, okay?” Buffy asked softly.
Giles moaned and opened his eyes slowly. After a moment his eyes widened and he started to pull back only to find Dawn on the other side.
“I, uh, I… I’m not up for visitors right now,” he stammered, sitting up in bed and pulling the blankets to his chest.
“That’s okay,” Dawn said softly. “I, uh, we… we wanted you to know we love you and glad that you’re back.”
“And you better get that tattoo altered soon,” Buffy smiled. “We’re not leaving you and we’re not letting you drift from us again. Promise.”
“I was… was thinking that I might return to England, actually,” Giles said softly, looking down at his hands.
“Only if you really want to,” Buffy said firmly. “We want you here, we love you and I want you as my friend and my Watcher.”
“How could you? After this?” Giles asked, pulling his hand back from her.
Dawn sighed and raised his chin until his eyes met hers.
“Giles, you scared and hurt me but that wasn’t you, I know that,” she said softly. “We heard the demon and it laughed at me. That wasn’t you. I want you here, honest.”
“Olivia is willing to work things out here if you want to stay,” Buffy added. “Please don’t run, Giles. I tried running twice, remember?”
“Twice?” Giles asked, glancing at his Slayer. “After Angelus and when?”
“After I came back from the dead,” Buffy smiled sadly. “I ran away from life. I ran to Spike when I should have run to my friends, especially you. I made a mistake. I shouldn’t have been looking for darkness and death. I should have followed my advice to Dawnie.”
“Which was?” Giles asked.
“Live,” Buffy smiled, glancing at her sister. “It is the hardest thing to do. I didn’t follow that when I came back. I’ve got so much to show Dawn and so much to do and I need all of you in my life. Giles, I love you and can’t lose you.”
Giles glanced down at his hands being held by the two girls and nodded after a moment.
“I don’t want to lose any of you either,” he said gently. “I love you all. It killed me, what that demon did to me. Olivia said she’d stand by me and stay.”
“So will we,” Dawn said firmly.
“I’ll stay,” Giles whispered.
“Okay, that’s great,” Dawn grinned. “Xander and Willow wanna say the same thing.”
Giles sighed and shrugged. “Send them up,” he smiled.
“You recover quick and we’ll take you to Reno to get that tattoo changed,” Buffy grinned.
“Reno? Isn’t LA closer?” Giles asked with a puzzled look.
“Yes, but you can marry Olivia faster in Nevada,” Buffy smirked as Dawn giggled. “And then get back to work, Watcher type.”
Giles blinked and then blushed a bright red.
# # #