Title: Texas Tea (9 of ?)
Authors: Mrsdrake and Ladyforash
Rating: FRAO
Pairing: Giles/OFC
Summary: Giles travels to Texas.
Disclaimer: These are not my characters. They belong to Joss, Twentieth Century Fox, UPN, WB & Mutant Enemy. This is purely for fun.
Jessie belongs to Ladyforash.
Spoilers: Takes plase after season seven.

Jessie was the first to waken from their nap. Luckily, they had spread the blanket under the shade of the tree, so it wasn't too hot. Giles was snuggled in her arms, his head resting low on her stomach. She smiled down at him and gently ran her fingers through his hair.

She didn't know how much time passed as she watched him and combed her fingers through his hair. He looked like a little boy as he slept. He looked so relaxed. That made her smile. She felt a fierce urge to protect him always. She got the impression that he had been alone for a long time, just like she had been. She was going to make sure he was never lonely again. Even when they had to part, and be oceans away from each other, she'd always be in his heart.

She knew things were not going to be easy when they got back to the ranch. Her father would insist on a sit down. Jessie didn't care. She was determined to make sure that Rupert only dwelled on the good things. Her father would point out all the negatives, all his worries, all his fears. As Jessie gently touched his face, there was only love and tenderness in her heart. That's all that mattered. The love she felt was bigger and more powerful then her father's fears.

As they napped under the tree, Giles dreamed.

He saw Jessie and himself lying under the tree, sleeping peacefully. He watched as Jessie moved to hold him closer as they slept; he could almost feel it. All around them, it was quiet, as though the world had stopped to let them rest. Turning, he saw Rom and Nero watching over them. The horses seemed to glow from within, their eyes shining bright. He smiled at them, knowing they were protected. Movement in the grass caught his attention, and he looked down. A scorpion was venturing near the blanket. Before it reached the edge, Nero's hoof dropped on it.

"Thank you," Giles said.

Nero bent his head as if to say "You're welcome."

Giles walked towards the horse, but stopped as he became dizzy. He closed his eyes as he found his balance.

When he opened his eyes, he was lying on the blanket with Jessie looking down at him.

He smiled up at her. "Tell me about your family. What do you know about your mother, your grandparents, your aunts and uncles?" She looked confused by his question. "I'll explain. I promise. I just need to know about them."

Jessie didn't mind the question. It only made sense that he'd want to know about her, just like she wanted to know about him. She sat up but kept his head in her lap. As she cradled him, she kept running her fingers through his hair and down his sideburns, his unshaven cheeks and chin.

"My mother left when I was a baby," she said softly. "My pa doesn't say too much about it. From what I've heard from others, gossip and such, she was...uh..." Jessie blushed. "She was a whore. That's what they called her. And she drank a lot. After having me, she just couldn't take the responsibility, so she left with some cowboy. Everyone says it's a real pity that she drank because it messed her up. She used to be the best horse trainer ever, but...she wasted it all." Jessie was quiet for a moment, frowning. "It's just been me and my pa forever. I never knew my ma's kin, and I don't even know if she's still alive or not. My Pa was an orphan. He never knew his family."

It was a sad tale, but Jessie wasn't depressed about it. Not anymore. It made her independent and strong, and she was glad for that. But it also made her realize how precious love was.

Giles had his theories about what had happened to her mother, but he wasn't ready to voice them all yet.

"Jessie, do you ever feel like someone is watching over you? Protecting you?" he asked quietly.

Jessie frowned in thought. "I don't know," she finally answered. "I've always felt like I had only myself and the horses to depend on. I had Pa, but...we don't always get along, and..."

Jessie turned the thought over in her mind. "When I'm on Romulus or Nero and we're just riding together, I never feel alone. I never feel alone when I'm with one of them, like...they're always there for me. That they would protect me." Jessie blushed. "That probably sounds silly though."

"It's not silly at all." He sat up and looked into her eyes. "I had a dream about us. We were sleeping here. There was a scorpion near the blanket. Nero killed it to protect us." He took her hands in his. "I don't think it was just a dream."

He took a deep breath and waited for her to laugh at him.

Jessie held his hand and gave him a look that illustrated that not only did she believe him, but that it made complete sense. "One time I was riding on a desert trail west of here. I was on Romulus. I got off of him to stretch by a creek bed, and didn't notice the rattle snake sunning himself on a large rock. Rom saw it though. He reared up and came down on his front hooves, taking the snake's head clean off. He saved me."

Jessie squeezed Giles' hand and then stood up from the blanket. She went over to where Nero was. First she patted his neck and kissed him between the ears. Rom came over for attention, rubbing his nose against her shoulder. She laughed and hugged him too. Then she searched the ground and saw the crushed scorpion. "It's here, Rupert," she said softly.

Giles knew it would be, but he went to look with her. He took Jessie's chin in his hand and turned her to face him. "I believe your mother sent them to watch over you."

Jessie blinked. "What? But...my mother...she left. She just...left me and Pa." Jessie turned to look at her horses and then turned back to Giles. "Watch over me? But why?"

Giles sighed and pulled her back to the blanket. They sat down, and he placed his arms around her. "Not everything in this world is the way it seems. There are things we can't see. Some of them are good; some aren't." He waited to see if she would call him crazy or push him away.

Jessie leaned her head against his shoulder and sat close to him. Her hand wandered down to his side where that huge scar marred his skin. Her fingers rubbed against it gently, as if they had a mind of their own.

"Some bad things have happened to you," Jessie said softly. "And you're not just talking about...ghosts on the Travel Channel are you?"

She leaned in and kissed his neck. "Tell me what haunts you, my love. I'm here now, and I'll help you. We have each other now to fight the badness."

Giles realized that she wasn't ready to hear the truth just yet. "I've lost people I love to things you wouldn't believe. I know how it can be. Your father lost your mother, and he's afraid he'll lose you too. He couldn't protect her, and it would kill him if something were to happen to you. That's why I think she's watching over you."

Jessie didn't know if she believed that about her mother. In her mind, her mother abandoned her a long time ago. That wasn't love, and that's not how you protected somebody. She didn't say those things to Rupert, however. She saw the seriousness in his gaze, and she believed he spoke the truth as he knew it. That was enough for her. She believed in him.

Jessie ran her fingers down his cheek. "Nothing is going to happen to me. And just because I love you, that doesn't mean that Pa will ever lose me. I'll make him see that, don't worry. But..." Jessie stammered now. She wasn't sure how much she should say. She didn't want to push him or presume anything. Jessie didn't want to pressure him in anyway. "If the time comes, and you want me with you, whether here or in England...that's where I'll be. I belong with you now. We can watch over each other. If you want that, I mean."

He kissed the top of her head. "I know you don't believe everything I do, but I need you to make me a promise. I don't want you to go anywhere after dark without Rom or Nero with you, and never invite anyone into your home after dark, even if you know them. That way I'll always know you're safe."

"I promise," she said softly. She took his hand again and squeezed it. "I believe in you." She kissed his hand gently.

"Now, what do you say about some breakfast? I'm starving!" Jessie gave him a grin.

"That sound wonderful," he said as his stomach growled loudly. They both laughed at the sound.

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