Title: From Miles Away 11/18
Author: Adele
Disclaimer: The characters are the property of Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, Sandollar Productions, Kuzui Enterprises, 20th Century Fox Television, the WB Television Network, and whoever else may have a hold on them. I do not mean to infringe upon any copyrights.
Silently she approached him, circled his waist and leaned her head on his back. "I love you Giles," she said softly.
"Oh Buffy" he choked out, and then turned around to wrap her in a crushing hug. Tears fell from his eyes. Understanding he was too choked up to speak, she only held him tight and soothingly ran her hands over his back. Eventually he lifted his head from her shoulder. He placed his hands on either side of her face and looked intently into her eyes.
"I love you too, Buffy."
Neither noticed that Frederico was watching them from the window as their mouths merged in a passionate kiss. The intensity of their kiss rose, until they were interrupted by a discrete cough. They let go of each other's mouths, but Buffy remained wrapped in Giles' arms as they looked over to find Frederico watching them.
"I am sorry to interrupt, but my men will be here shortly. They just called."
Giles nodded, gave Buffy a final squeeze before he let her go. He walked over to the younger Watcher and placed a hand on his shoulder as he followed him inside. Buffy remained on the veranda in order to give them some privacy.
"I am very sorry for your loss, Frederico. Please, let me know if there is anything I can do for you." Giles said when they were inside.
He grabbed a pen and a piece of paper by the phone. "This is my phone and address in Sunnydale. Call me anytime - day or night - it doesn't matter."
He gave Frederico a pained look. "Some time ago I also lost someone very dear to me. Trust me when I say this, I know what you are going through. If you ever need to talk . . ." Frederico gave him grateful look. Giles softly continued, "You know, you should think about taking some time off. Come to Sunnydale. You should be around people who care about you and can help you. Sunnydale could always use a good man like you."
The younger Watcher looked thoughtfully at the piece of paper handed to him. "I might just do that," he murmured. He looked up at Giles again. "Thank you Rupert."
Giles merely nodded and squeezed his shoulder. Right now, he didn't know what else to say to comfort him.
*****
A couple of hours later, Buffy and Giles were seated in a cab on their way back to their hotel. Neither had spoken a word to each other since Frederico's colleagues had arrived. Both had just given their silent support to the younger Watcher and taken him back to his own apartment when Li Wei's body had been cared for. They had stayed with him until he had fallen asleep, and then silently locked themselves out of his apartment.
In the cab Buffy could tell Giles was still distracted and withdrawn, even though he held on to her hand as if his life depended on it. She worried that he was in shock, and wanted to get him back up to his room as quickly as possible. She cursed the slow downtown traffic of Hong Kong in her head.
When they finally reached their hotel, she led him by his hand through the lobby and into the elevator. Once the door closed she held his body close to hers and watched the numbers climb.
When the elevator reached their floor, she had to tug his hand lightly to get him to move. Just as they reached his room, he stopped and, for the first time since they'd hopped into the cab, he looked directly at her.
"Promise me you'll never leave me!" he begged in a whisper.
She hesitated for a second. She knew the odds were against her.
"Please, Buffy" he pleaded, "even if you have to lie."
Her heart nearly broke as she saw tears form in her eyes, and she had to swallow a couple of times before she was able to speak. She pulled him close to her body and whispered in his ear. "Giles, I'll never leave you - not even death can keep us apart."
He tightened his hold and walked her backwards until she hit the wall, then took desperate possession of her mouth. Heat shot through her body as their tongues battled, and she whimpered when he tore his mouth away from her.
"Buffy. . . I need you." He whispered his plea against her skin.
"You've got me," she replied huskily.
They stumbled towards his door; trying to keep their mouths connected with each step. After some fumbling, they managed to get the door open and almost fell into his room. Giles slammed the door shut, and managed to keep them upright until they reached the bed. They fell onto the sheets, tugging on each others' clothes.