TITLE : WHEN WILL YOU SEE ME ?
PART : 3/?
AUTHOR : Catherine
DISCLAIMER : Joss owns all
FEEDBACK : Absolutely, Please. Love it
THE NEXT MORNING, AT THE SUMMERS'
After Buffy's return from the hospital, the gang was so tired that they all slept at her house.
Suddenly, a strange "Ow" from the kitchen woke up Willow. Half sleeping and thinking she'd have to find Xander to tell him to be quiet, she was surprised to find Buffy trying to make some breakfast.
"Buffy, what are you doing? You should be in your bed, taking a rest; the last evening was-"
"I'm fine, Will. Don't worry. It's just that I couldn't sleep. So I prefer to come here and make, well, try to make, my breakfast. I'm a little starved," said Buffy shyly.
"Buffy, but, please," Willow was speechless, and for her it was a big first! "Buffy, listen to me. You should have woken me or someone else. We're here; you can count on us. Buffy, you're not alone and you don't need to prove something."
"I know Will, it's just that…"
"That what Buffy?"
"That I must grow up and do things by myself without always ask help from the others. I must be capable of taking care of myself."
"Buffy, what are you saying? Are you silly? Buffy you can count on us; friends are here for that. We've helped each other since we've first known each other. And, as for 'I must grow up', I will say just three words : Look at Xander!" Willow was totally stunned by her attitude. "Buffy, I don't why you would think a such thing; because neither of us would say it."
"Giles said it," whispered Buffy.
"Whaaaat? Buffy, When?"
"Yesterday, when I went to his flat."
"Oh, I suspected something but I could never imagine this. Buffy, if you want to speak I'm here."
"I know it. Thanks, Will. It's just that it's so hard."
"Yeah, but I'm sure if you tell me, you will fell a little better after. And if you want, I promise you that I won't say a word."
"Humm, you, Willow? Keep a secret? You're kidding!"
"Ok, hard to believe, but I will make an exception, just for you. Again!"
The two thought about the promise of the last evening,
"So, you will keep that to yourself, right?"
Willow nodded, and Buffy waited, wanting to be sure. "Right?" Buffy asked again.
"Hum…" Willow had forgotten about 'her incapacity'. *It's true, she's… It's strange, if I didn't know, I wouldn't suspect it,* thought Willow; and it was the truth. Buffy had physically no mark of her blindness; her eyes looked the same as they had before the events of the previous evening. The reason was that her condition was due to the magic.
"Right Buffy, I will keep it to myself, I swear."
"Thanks." Buffy waited a moment, and said: "Willow, as you know, yesterday afternoon I stopped by Giles'." It was very painful for Buffy, and Willow guessed it, so she waited, and Buffy tried again "and there was a woman, Olivia, duh,"
"Oh!" whispered a stunned Willow.
"Yeah, a woman, and in Giles' shirt. So, when I wanted to speak about the demon, he told me that I must grow up and to learn to do stuff by myself, like research. Then, he was `busy' and wanted to take a rest, so he could have a private life."
Willow didn't believe her ears; it was so unlike Giles. "Oh, Buffy, how he could do that! I'm so sorry. Now I understand, but you could have told me. We're friends."
"I couldn't, it was so hard, and I felt so…" she was crying.
*She didn't cry when she learnt about her incapacity, but when it's about Giles it's an another story,* thought Willow. "Buffy, please. Calm down, I'm here, we're all here. Hey, we're a gang, and we will face this together. Like always, right?"
"Right," said Buffy.
After a moment and having recomposed herself, Buffy talked again.
"Willow, well, I want to ask you something."
"Anything you want."
"Well, I would like that we search about this demon first, but also that you could do a 'special training' for me.'"
"A `special training'? Buffy, what do you mean?" Willow was very interested.
"Well, to be bl…, you know," Willow put her hand on her arm. "Will, I'm always the slayer, and I must be able to fight. Giles told me once that I can feel things, people, and I have my spidey sense. I even did an entire training with a blindfold. So, I know, with work and patience I can do that." Buffy was full of hope but a little afraid that Willow didn't agree with her, and would not want to help her.
Willow thought, and seeing Buffy so expectant, she wanted to do something, and not cry herself. She said "Yeah, I'm sure everyone will help. It's a challenge I can't refuse, Buffy, and you're right to think like that." In fact, Willow was (a little) enthusiastic about the idea.
"We need Spike," they said together.
Buffy hugged Willow.
"Another thing, Will."
"Yes, Buffy?"
"Can you do breakfast, because I'm completely starved." At her comment, Buffy grinned, and Willow couldn't help but laugh.
Little by little, everyone woke up and went to the kitchen.
When they all were there, Buffy and Willow explained their the `special training' project, and, naturally, about the demon research.
Joyce was perplexed, "Honey, are you sure this is reasonable? I mean, I know you're the slayer, but for the moment you need a rest."
"Mom, I want to do something and not to cry over myself. I'm sure it will help me."
Despite the light mood, Dawn didn't believe the scene before her; even her mother acted like the situation was `normal.' "How could you do this?"
"Hum, what do you mean by that?"
"How could you do this, everyone, like it was nothing. Buffy is-"
"Dawn," Buffy didn't let her sister finish.
At that moment, Dawn understood what everyone, even her mom, had already realized. It wasn't easy, and Buffy didn't want to act like nothing happened; but like she said, she didn't want to pity herself. She was realist on her 'situation' and she didn't need someone to remind her of it. She wanted to be strong for the moment, but at some point, she would need the comfort of her family.
"Sorry," managed Dawn.
"I know, Dawn. You're worried, and so I am."
All agreed with the statement, "But, what I feel, it's...I don't know how to explain, but I know there is a solution, and we must keep hope. I must keep hope. You understand, don't you?"
"Yeah."
"I don't want this demon to win."
"Yes, Buff, right. Hum, but, before the research and the training, can we eat something? Like a big breakfast."
"And Xander's stomach spoke," retorted Willow. At her comment everyone laughed except Xander who pouted.
After a good breakfast, the research began.
Several hours later, Anya grumbled, "We aren't finding anything. I'm sure Giles would know already. We must ask him about-"
"No, you promised, remember," said a determined Buffy.
"I knew this promise was a mistake," mumbled Anya.
"I think I know what this demon is," swallowed a hopeful Willow.
"Really, so what is it?" asked Xander
"It's a sense demon."
"A sense demon?"
"Yeah, it's extremely rare, very powerful. And as we know, magic is their weapon." She waited a moment and continued, "The bad news is that we can't find him by a locate spell. But, the good news is, if we can find him and beat him, Buffy will get back her sight."
"Great, so we have just find him and kill him. Not original, Will," grinned Xander.
"In fact, it's not too simple. It's not `we', but only Buffy, the victim, who'll be able to beat and kill him; because he stole one of her senses."
"Oh," and a silence filled the room.
Suddenly, Buffy grinned, "So, I was right about the 'special training'?" At her comment, everyone laughed.
**********************************************************************
Days passed, and Giles called several times, first to excuse himself and say he was sorry for his attitude toward her. She was his slayer and he had to help her. Buffy accepted his apologies but answered him, "Everything is all right Giles, don't worry."
She even wished him "A good rest", because she felt he deserved it.
For Giles, it was hard, and he suspected something had happened; his suspicious grew more and more when she always found an excuse to not stop by his flat after her patrol, whenever he proposed the idea to her in each of his calls.
After four "Everything's all right, Giles. Don't worry," from Buffy; he called Willow. To his surprise (or maybe not) she repeated exactly the same speech.
So, in desperation, he called Xander; but it was Anya who answered.
"Buffy ? She's fine...Yes, she fought the demon...Hum. Giles, sorry but Xander and I want-"
"I understand Anya. Bye," said Giles, exasperated.
"Bye Giles," said Anya, and they hung up the phone.
*I don't like this, I'm sure they're hiding something,* thought Giles.
Buffy followed Willow's 'special training' every day, with the help of all the gang, but, their research to find the demon was always unsuccessful.
Joyce was gladdened by Buffy's reaction (even if sometimes both she and the gang found it was a little pushed); however, she was a little worried by several things.
One, Buffy didn't go out;
Two, she controlled always her emotions, but;
Three, not at night. At night she was crying when she thought Dawn and her mother were sleeping, and she was crying even in her sleep;
Four, she was crying for Giles.
*I must do something,* and Joyce made a decision, *and for this, I need the help of the others.*
THE NEXT EVENING
"Hey guys, why won't we go to The Bronze tonight?" suggested Xander.
"Hum, it will great," sighed Willow, "What do you think Buffy ?"
"Duh," Buffy thought "Well, all right, if you have to go. Enjoy-"
"No, Buff, if we go, you go," insisted Xander.
"Sorry but-" Buffy began.
"Buffy, please," it was Anya. "I already can't have any orgasms, because we're always here or almost and your bath-"
"Anya, I think you lost your train of thought," said Xander. *Oh, with their expression, they understand!!!* thought a very uncomfortable Xander.
"Humm. So, Yes, already no orgasms and now no Bronze; I don't agree," pouted Anya.
"Honey, I agree with them."
"But Mom,"
"No, Buffy. Go to The Bronze and enjoy."
Buffy pouted, but Joyce added, "You'll go. Final word."
After several seconds, Buffy, who understood that she had no choice, accepted, but not without retorting, "I don't know why, but I think it's a conspiracy."
"You think?" teased Willow.
All were laughing.
When the entire gang left, Joyce called Giles.
"Hello."
"Hello, Mr. Giles."
"Yes?"
"It's Joyce Summers."
"Joyce? Is there a problem?"
*Yes, it is, and it's Buffy. She's blind!*
"No, not really. I called just to tell you that Buffy is at The Bronze tonight, with the others, and if you want to meet her…"
"Thank you. I don't know why, but she refused to see me. Have you an idea of why?"
"Well, yes. In fact, Mr Giles, it's that Buffy is-"
"Rupert, what are you doing?"
"Olivia, please, I'm on the phone. Sorry Joyce, you said that Buffy was..."
Joyce was so surprised *There is a woman. This would be the reason? Oh!*
"Joyce?" asked Giles.
Joyce, lost in her thoughts, managed to return her mind to the conversation, "What? Oh yes, Buffy. Well, Buffy is...is very busy. You know, college, slaying, friends, shopping...She's very, very busy. It's like a new life for her."
"I know," answered Giles.
*I don't think so* thought an angry Joyce, *how can he think that Buffy would forget him like that, and like he doesn't count for her, like he doesn't have a place in her life, new or not?*
"So, she is at The Bronze tonight?"
"Hum. Yes, she is." *Damnit, I told him that. If only I knew it before, I wouldn't have ever told him.*
"Thanks, Joyce."
"Yeah. Bye," spluttered a distract Joyce.
"Bye," Giles replied.