Title: Texas Tea (32 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.
The drive to the airport was filled with silence. Neither Jessie or Giles wanted to say much. Giles saw tears in her eyes and knew that one wrong word could cause the flood to break free. His only comfort was knowing that they would be together again soon.
He directed Jessie to the area reserved for private planes and enjoyed the shocked look on her face. Finally breaking the silence, he asked, "Did you think I would subject you to normal airport security?"
Jessie swallowed as she turned the car to the parking area for the private planes. "I guess I knew you had money but...I never realized. Now I understand why Buffy was so protective."
"I don't own the jet myself. It belongs to the Council of Watchers. I allow all the Slayers and Watchers to use it when it's needed." He took her hand and squeezed it. "I would gladly give it all up for you."
Jessie tried to smile but it faltered. She had parked the car and now was turning, facing him in the seat. At his words she pulled him into a hug. "For 30 years I've had this hole in my heart, and you filled it. And now...Rupert...I want to be strong. I know you have to go, and I'll be coming there soon, but...I wish...I wish you didn't have to go."
"I know, Love. I know. If I didn't have things that needed tending at home, I would stay." He pulled back to look at her. "I will call you everyday. I promise."
Jessie wiped her eyes and nodded. "It will be a different time there, right? Like...you're eight hours ahead? I don't care when you call. Wake me up, anything...anything to hear your voice."
"Having Faith here will make it easier for you. I think you'll like her." He glanced at his watch. "She's probably waiting on us now. Ready?" he asked.
Jessie slowly nodded. "First...can I have a kiss?" she asked softly, her voice wavering just a bit. Once Faith got there, her time with Rupert would be mostly over. This was their last moment alone.
Giles took her face in his hands and kissed her. He tasted tears as they both began to cry.
Jessie put everything she had left in that kiss. Only when she needed to breathe did she finally pull back. When she did, she moved her fingertips to his face, gently wiping his tears away. "It's not goodbye, you know," she said softly. "We'll be together again soon, and then...it will be for always."
Giles let out a shaky breath. "I love you, Jessie." He kissed her softly. "The longer we stay here, the harder it will be to go."
Reluctantly, they got out of the car. Someone came to get his bags as they made their way though the security checkpoint.
Jessie took his hand after they passed through security. She was nervous to meet Faith. Rupert said that she'd like the girl. She hoped he was right. A week ago she hardly had a friend, and now she had Rupert, meeting his friends and family. She considered Buffy a new friend, and possibly Willow. Now Faith?
She was nervous though. Rupert had to feel how sweaty her hand was in his because of her fear. It was stupid, really, for her to be so anxious. It was easier to focus on that then Rupert's leaving, however.
Giles smiled when he saw Faith. When she saw them, she smiled and nodded at Jessie. "Hey, G. This your girl?"
"Faith, this is Jessie. Jessie, this is Faith." Giles took Faith aside for a moment. "Faith," he said in a whisper. "Jessie is having a hard time of this. She's really vulnerable right now." He looked her in the eye to make sure she understood. "If you go out patrolling, stay away from Jessie when you finish." He didn't actually think Faith would take advantage of Jessie, but with the residual magic still in the air, he didn't want to take any chances.
Faith nodded. "Got it." She wandered over to Jessie. "So, you live on a ranch. Got any cute ranch hands I could meet?"
As Giles stepped away, Jessie felt something breaking inside. He really was leaving!
Faith was another beautiful woman, Jessie noted. Rupert seemed to be surrounded by them, she mused. Her eyebrows raised at Faith's question. "Uh...most of them are already married, though I have to hire someone to take my place for Pa." She held out her hand. "It's nice to meet you, Faith."
Faith shook Jessie's hand. "I was joking about the ranch hands. I've got someone waiting for me back in England. He's recovering from an injury and didn't want me sitting on my ass watching over him. He told me to come here and help."
Jessie nodded and smiled nervously. "Rupert is just being a bit over protective," she teased, giving her lover a smile. "I was attacked the other night by a...vampire? It was a bit...disconcerting. Then he told me about Slayers and Watchers. I want to learn how to defend myself. I don't want to be a liability to him."
"He can be that way sometimes." Faith winked at Jessie. "He's only like that with people he really cares about. Must be why he lets me go out and risk my life every night fighting vamps."
Giles rolled his eyes. "Faith," he said in warning.
"Don't worry," Faith assured him. "I won't take her out drinking and dancing or to vineyards owned by evil priests. I'm responsible now. Remember?"
Before Giles could respond, she turned her attention back to Jessie. "So, Jess, I'm sure I can teach you a lot."
Jessie had to pick her jaw up off the floor. Evil priests? The girl must be joking, right? "Well, we do have some fun bars and restaurants here in Dallas. I could show you a few places. Do you like to dance?"
Giles groaned at the image of Faith and Jessie dancing together.
Faith laughed. "Sure."
Jessie glanced at her watch and frowned. This was one of those times she wished a flight would be delayed. She went over to Giles and nervously ran her fingers over the collar of his shirt straightening it. She wanted to touch him, but she couldn't look in his eyes because she was afraid she'd lose it again. So she pressed her fingers against the wrinkles in his shirt, and kept her eyes down. "Have a safe flight, honey. Call me as soon as you can. I...I'm going to miss you terribly, but I'm sure Faith will keep me busy."
In her mind, she already had tomorrow planned. She'd take Romulus and Nero out for a nice long ride. She'd help Pa with the other horses, mend some fences, and place an ad in the newspaper for a hired hand. Then maybe her and Faith could work out after supper? Her hands strayed down Rupert's chest and over his heart while she thought about the days coming without him. Alone in their bed. She wanted to cry.
"I know this is difficult, Love, but it's not forever." He kissed the top of her head. "Don't go out at night without Faith. She'll protect you. Even if you think you're ready, don't go out without her. Remember the story I told you?"
"I remember," she said softly. Jessie sighed and stepped back. It was always easier to be the one going then the one staying. She just had to focus on the time when she'd be joining him.
Giles looked at Faith, "Keep her safe. If anything happens to her --"
"Nothing will happen." When Giles looked about to protest, she added, "I promise. I won't let her out of my sight."
Giles hugged Jessie tight. "I love you."
"I love you," Jessie said firmly. She held him back as tightly as he was holding her. Then she saw an attendant out of the corner of her eye. The plane was ready. "It's time, Rupert." She let him go, wiping at her eyes. "Call me when you land, so I know you're okay?"
"I promise I'll call you when I land." He kissed the top of her head once more. He turned and left before he changed his mind completely.
Faith put her arm around Jessie's shoulder, something she rarely did. "He's got it bad for you. He's never been like this with anyone. He'll call. I know it." She suddenly remembered something and pulled a cell phone from her bag. "This is for you. Buffy sent it for you. It has all of Giles' phone numbers in it. His cell phone number is on the speed dial."
"Oh, thank you!" Jessie held the cell phone in both hands while she watched the plane take off. She assumed Rupert had the number programmed into his. Sneaky of them, but it pleased her greatly.
"I love him so much, Faith." Jessie wiped at her eyes again and then turned around. "Well, I suppose it's time I showed you the ranch. Pa will have supper waiting for us too."
"Good," Faith said. "I'm starving."
As they walked to the car, Faith asked, "So, what's it like being with Giles?"
Jessie didn't understand why everyone called him Giles, but in a way, she liked it. Because that meant she was the only one to call him Rupert. It was more special that way.
She blushed at Faith's question, unlocking the car. "It' amazing. I don't understand why Buffy didn't like it. I don't have anyone to compare it to, but...I'm still tingling from earlier."
As they climbed into the car, Faith laughed. "I didn't mean -- really? Tingling? Did he use magick? I've heard things from Willow's girlfriends about what magick can do."
Jessie gaped as she turned to look at Faith. "You mean that was real? Magic is...real?"
Then Jessie frowned. Had Giles been with Willow too? Had he been with Faith? How many lovers had he had?
"Yeah. Thought you knew. I haven't experienced it myself, not first hand, but I've seen what it does to people." She was quiet as she remembered Jessie's comment about Buffy. "I didn't know Giles and Buffy had been together. I didn't know Giles had been with anyone."
"Oh, I'm sorry. I guess..." Jessie blushed. She hadn't meant to divulge a secret. She'd have to be more careful. "Please don't tell them I told you. It was only once, and it didn't go well, from what I understand."
Hearing Faith say she didn't know Giles had been with anyone made Jessie feel better. Not that it mattered, she told herself. He was with her now. The past was the past.