TITLE : WHEN WILL YOU SEE ME ?
PART : 5/?
AUTHOR : Catherine
DISCLAIMER : Joss owns all
FEEDBACK : Absolutely, Please. Love it
THE NEXT MORNING
Giles knocked at the Summers'. Last night at The Bronze, when he met Buffy, it had been painful. She had been hurt and angry, but, he thought, he had also seen much that had been very intriguing for him. She's definitely not as she usually is,* he thought.
Joyce opened the door and found Giles lost in his thoughts.
"Mr. Giles?"
"Hum, Oh, hello, Joyce."
"Hello, do you want or need something?" She knew that several of his books had been here since the summer, books used now to find the sense demon.
"In fact, I would like to talk with you, if it's possible?"
"Well, yes, if you want. What do you want to talk with me?"
"I think it would be better if I came inside. May I?"
"Oh, sorry, of course."
Giles entered in the house. For some reason, he was uncomfortable with Joyce (not because of their "past"; they talked a long time ago about it. The thing was now settled, for the Buffy's sake, and they now had a generally friendly attitude), but, in that moment, Joyce seemed very…cold toward him.
They sat in the living room, until Joyce broke the silence, by attacking him as she asked, "So, may I ask what you want to talk about? I'm sure you're not here just to appreciate my living room!"
"No, in fact I would like to talk about Buffy." *Am I dreaming or is she being very sarcastic?* thought Giles.
"Yes, I'm sure. So, what do you want to know my daughter?"
"Well, it's more about her strange attitude."
"Her…strange attitude?"
"Yes, towards me first, and, well, then last night. Did she tell you what happened?"
Joyce shook her head, so Giles added "She didn't seem her usual, but was actually a little disturbed. And, when I asked about college or patrol, she changed the subject. In fact, the others did too. And…we had a little quarrel, about-"
*Oh really,* thought Joyce. She didn't believe her ears. This man was sitting here, and was talking tranquilly about Buffy's strange attitude.
"So, you went to The Bronze." It was more a statement than a question.
"Yes-"
"Alone?"
The question, and tone, surprised Giles; he blinked his eyes several times and said "I beg your pardon?"
"I asked you if you went to the Bronze, alone."
"Joyce, with all due respect, I think it's none of your business!"
"You think so."
"Yes, I think so."
"So, I concluded you were with this 'Olivia'."
"Joyce." It was surrealistic; he didn't understand why Olivia's presence was important, but felt defeated, so he told her, "Yes, I was with Olivia," and added, "Again, I think it's not of your business."
"Wasn't she here the day Buffy went to your apartment before…her fight, a few days ago?"
"Joyce," he began to polish his glasses, "What's the link with all of this? Is this because of Olivia? Because my private life doesn't concern anyone!"
"Was she there?" she asked again.
"Yes, she was there. Sorry if I disappointed you!" he snorted, and added, "But I remind you that I am a man; even if Buffy doesn't know or see me like that!"
"Oh, you're so wrong! Buffy always se…"she stopped, and calm searched for her words, before saying, "knew that you're a man. Believe me." Blinking her eyes, she continued, "It's for that reason you refused to help her with the demon? Because of your ego? How were you able to do that?"
"How? Joyce, I think you underestimate Buffy. I didn't help her as I should have, and I already excused myself to her. But she beat the demon, and won the battle."
"No, she didn't," whispered Joyce, with tears. "What? Joyce, what did you say? But she's here!"
"Yes, but she lost the battle, and the demon, in fact…won."
"Joyce, when a demon won, generally the slayer is…well." He couldn't finish his sentence.
"It's right when it's a 'normal' demon but not when it's a …how did Willow call him? Oh yes, a 'sense demon'."
"A 'sense demon'?" Giles was under the shock; he couldn't believe what Joyce was saying him. *It's a nightmare! It's not possible!* he thought.
Recomposing himself, physically and mentally, he spoke. "But they are extremely rare and powerful. Magic is their weapon, and, if I remember correctly, they steal…Wait a minute!"
Giles stopped; he was now in total watcher-mode; *If it was a such demon,* he thought, *he has stolen one of her senses. Well, she heard; she felt Willow's hand; she smelt because I heard her comment about Olivia's perfume; and it's not taste--even if she has been able to simulate her mocha's taste, from the physiological viewpoint, taste is not dissociated from sense of smell. So, there is only one possibility…No, it's impossible… On the other hand, it would explain Anya's comment! But, I can't believe it! It's impossible!* Giles was overwhelmed with worry by a such realization and the implications of his thoughts. A part of him refused to totally believe.
"Joyce, what are you trying to tell me? That Buffy is…is…" he couldn't finish.
"Blind, Giles, the word is `blind'," said a voice from the shadow of the stairs. "Wow, for a man who speaks what, five? Seven languages? You don't know the word!" Buffy said, coming in the living room.
"Bu…Buffy!?!"