TITLE: Sound the Deep Waters 3/5
AUTHOR: Crystal Paulk byron_wilde@yahoo.com
DISCLAIMER: BTVS belong to Joss Whedon, the WB, UPN, FOX and Mutant Enemy and 20th Century Fox Film Corporation. Manchild belongs to the BBC. Don't sue cause I have nothing.

Buffy was still standing on the sidewalk, looking for all the world like a stray kitten. A kitten with sharp claws and a devastating right hook. He approached carefully. "I thought you'd be long gone."

She snorted. "I didn't know quite where to go. My flight isn't till Friday and it seems I won't be going to Bath after all."

Giles rested his hand lightly on her shoulder. She stiffened and then moved instinctively into his embrace. They stood together for long moments. Buffy crying silently in his leather jacket, his fingers moving softly in her hair. He smelled so good. The oil in the leather mixed with this musky scent she knew was sandlewood. The smell of safety and warmth and Watcher.

"Buffy, luv. We need to talk."

Nodding, she allowed him to lead her by the hand into a nearby pub. Once seated, Giles with a pint of bitter and Buffy with a Pimm's and Lemonade, both hesitated to break the uneasy truce.

Buffy closed her fingers over his hand, turning the palm up. Large and warm. Spike's hands, like Angel's, had been cool to touch, skin smooth and unblemished. Giles' hand though had character. Fingers long and tapered. Strong. Crisp hairs on the back disappearing into his shirt cuff. Calluses on thumbs and palm from years of weapons training. A slightly crooked pinky where the bone hadn't knitted properly following his time with Angelus. Dozens of small scars, tiny lines cross-crossing the flesh of his knuckles. Absently she trailed her fingertips across his wrist, unaware of the effect her light touch was having on her Watcher.

"You have good hands," she said softly. "Keep me safe. I haven't felt safe since you left."

He shuddered. Angry, hurt, confused. Dwarfed in the overlarge coat she looked so vulnerable and lost. His heart ached. He loved her so very much, this Slayer, this young woman. He wanted nothing more but to wrap her in soft cotton and keep her safe from all that would hurt her. "Why?" he asked hesitantly. "I … I can understand Spike. Or at least loneliness. It can be a heavy burdon. One I'd hoped you would share with Willow or your sister."

Buffy snorted. "Dawn isn't even 16-years-old and in reality barely a year. The last thing she wants to hear is that her sister would rather be dead than coping with a house, bills and social workers. And Willow? She's so screwed up right now from the magic and losing Tara that she can barely carry on a conversation. Beating up on Spike. Fucking him. It was something. Made me feel something. Instead of numb."

"And James? Buffy, I'm not judging you, but you couldn't have known him more than a few hours before …"

"Fucking him," she said sharply. "God Giles. When did you get so self- righteous? You were out raising demons when you were my age. And I saw you on that candy. Remember? How much consideration did you give my mother before you screwed her on top of that police car? Huh?"

"Christ Buffy. We were drugged. Joyce, your mother, and I were drugged. Hell I broke into a store for a coat and a stupid hat and beat up a policeman. But what you did with James was downright dangerous. You knew nothing about him. He could have been a serial killer."

"Please, Giles. I'm the Slayer. I can take care of myself and I know all the rules. We used condoms and he was a perfectly nice man. And yes it was stupid," she admitted. "But it was good too. Good and normal and real. Like I said before, being with him had nothing to do with the freak show which is my life. And if I wanted to escape. Even for one lousy night what could be the harm?"

Still holding her hands between his own, Giles asked. "Is that so important to you? To be normal? I'd thought you'd given up on that idea a long time ago."

"Why?" she asked, nearly crying. "Because every time I try it ends in such total disaster? Cheerleading. Homecoming. My last boyfriend turned out to be a drugged out super soldier commando who hunts demons and on occasion lets vamps snack on him. And even my stupid one night stand was best buds with my Watcher. Nope, no normal for Buffy."

"James and I are hardly best buds," he said ruefully. "Just two old men who enjoy the theater and a fine whiskey."

"He's not old. And neither are you."

"That hasn't been your observation in the past. I believe your exact words were very old and very gross."

Buffy chuckled though her tears. "You're never going to let me forget that are you. I was freaked out okay. I walked in on my staid and stuffy Watcher and a gorgeous woman. I just never really thought of you as a man."

"You're not doing much for my ego, Buffy."

"I was eighteen, Giles. Come on. Sure you fought demons and all. But you were my high school librarian. I didn't know anything. I couldn't see anything beyond Angel."

Eyes narrowed he questioned. "What couldn't you see?"

"That you were brave. Braver than anyone. Braver than Angel, even because you were human and could die. But you still waded into every fight. You might get knocked down every time, but you never let that keep you from trying to protect me. That day in the library when you put the sword though the mayor I was so furious with you. He could have killed you."

Remembering his own cold fury and fear that day Giles nodded. "He threatened you. My family. I didn't even think about it."

"I know," she said gently. "But it was still stupid. Brave. But stupid." She flushed. "And kind of sexy."

He arched a brow, smiling. "Sexy?"

Buffy giggled. The first giggle he'd heard since forever. She hadn't had much reason to laugh in such a long time. "Fishing for compliments, Watcher? Yes sexy. I was always kind of jealous that the others heard you sing that night and I missed it. Anya couldn't shut up about it. And Willow would get this dreamy expression. Even Tara said you were hot."

He suddenly realized that instead of simply touching hands, he was stroking her fingers. Embarrassed, he tried to pull away, but she stopped him. "Don't. It feels good. Having you touch me feels so good."

Earlier he'd thought of her as a stray kitten, Giles revised that opinion. Though Buffy was certainly feline, she was no kitten. The sudden image of her pink tongue lapping at his cock flashed in his mind and then he saw her kissing James. He jerked his hands away, as if burnt.

Trying to hide her hurt, she took a long sip of her drink. "Sorry." She said, unable to look at him. "I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. I guess I better go now."

"Wait," he said, more harshly than he'd intended. He repeated softer. "Wait. Where would you go?"

"Back to the hostel I guess. My bag is still there and I'll see if they still have beds available. Do some sightseeing today, tomorrow. My flight's out the day after."

"Care for a tour guide? I could show you some of my favorite parts of the city."

Her smile. A real smile so much like the old Buffy was his answer. "Really. God, Giles that would be great. I wandered around some yesterday, but mostly just got kind of lost. I saw the river though and St. Paul's. That was pretty cool ..." her voice trailed. "But what about you. Your plans. I don't want to keep you from doing something important. I mean you weren't exactly expecting to entertain me."

Smiling gently at her. "I came in early this morning for a meeting with the Council. Like you, they are rather perturbed by my decision to leave Sunnydale. I was going to return to Bath after lunch, but I'd much rather spend the day with you. In fact, forget the hostel. We'll make other arrangements. That is if you don't mind."

"Mind. Are you kidding? That place smells like dirty socks and pee. Lead on."

Giles followed her out the door, pleased by the bounce in her step. He wanted to believe his presence had something to do with her happiness, but he suspected it was simply getting away from the Hellmouth and all her responsibilities. They still had much to discuss. But he resolved to let the heavy conversation wait till later. For a few days he could grant her wish. Let her be normal. Just a lovely young woman and her … her friend.

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