Title: Explosion 4/7
Author: Jadedragon
Email: blm55@bellsouth.net
Pairing: Buffy/Giles
Rating: PG 13
Disclaimer: The characters from BVTS don't belong to me (sigh),
they are the property of Joss, the WB, UPN and Mutant Enemy. I'm
just playing with them for a while.
Summary: Giles is trapped in a warehouse when it explodes and
believed to be dead.
Feedback: I'd love to know what you think. If you disagree
with something I would like to hear it, small flames okay, but
bonfires are not appreciated.
Notes: <> denotes thoughts
Boris looked around the crypt at the vampires and other demons that were now part of his group. Each day, more and more of the demon community were coming to join him.
His plans were well set and this time he knew that there would no interference from the Slayer and her Watcher. The news of the Watcher's death had elated him. That the Slayer was taking it hard, made him even more ecstatic. His goal was to take the Slayer's life, or possibly turn her. As strong as she was now, as a vampire, she would be practically unbeatable. She would be a Consort worthy of him. Still, he had to be careful; he didn't want to get too far ahead of himself. For over 150 years he had worked to acquire the volumes he needed to cast these spells. In three days, it would all come together, when the full moon was at its' peak.
He had to be vigilant; some members of his flock was not to be trusted. He had been pleasantly surprised, however, when Spike had shown up earlier that day. He had known Spike over 70 years and had never met another vampire that had killed not one, but two Slayers. Boris was quite curious to know why he had not killed this Slayer, but had not had the chance to discuss it with his new ally.
**********
Buffy slowly walked up the steps to the door. She had told her Mom to go home and get some rest. Joyce had stayed with her since Rupert had been killed and she knew that her mom needed a full night's sleep. Buffy, also, needed a full night's sleep, but knew that was impossible. She kept reliving the explosion in her dreams, trying to find some way to save Rupert. She would wake alone in the middle of the night, screaming his name and sobbing. Even though she was never alone for long, it was never the arms she wanted around her. Slowly, she opened the door and let herself in. She heard people talking in the living room and went to see if Angel had gotten back from Boris' lair.
"He was cursed by gypsies, cursed with a soul. He helps fight against the forces of darkness, including other vampires. He is a friend and my boss." Buffy heard Wesley explaining to someone.
"You work for a vampire?" a strange voice said.
"Yes, we are here to help fight Boris, to prevent him from uniting the demons and vampires and opening the Hellmouth. If you can't accept Angel's part in our endeavor, I suggest that you leave and let us get on with our work." Wesley told the strange woman.
Buffy entered the room and saw a woman, who looked to be in her late forties holding a crossbow on Angel.
`No!' She could not lose anyone else. Buffy ran forward to save Angel from the stranger.
**********
Callie was lowering the crossbow when she was hit from the side. As she fell to the floor, the crossbow was ripped from her hands. She looked up and was facing the young woman from the picture who looked very pissed.
"I don't know who the hell you are, but you can leave. Now! No one pulls a crossbow on my friends that includes Angel! Haven't I lost enough already?" she cried, her voice cracking with emotion. She turned to Angel. "Are you alright?"
"B-buffy?" Giles asked hesitantly.
She heard the beloved voice coming from behind Angel, who then moved to one side. She had to be dreaming; he was dead. She moved forward without realizing that she had moved.
"Giles? Rupert? Is it really you?" she asked as she moved forward, and collapsed in his arms. Her hard breaths changed to sobs as she felt his arms surrounding her.
"Buffy," Giles held the sobbing girl in his arms. He felt the love between them and wanted to remember her so badly. She felt so right in his arms. He held her tightly, leaning his head on hers. He saw everyone leave the room, leaving them alone together.
"Giles, how?" she asked as she looked into his eyes, tears of joy flowing down her face.
"Buffy, I don't remember. My memory was affected by the explosion," he told her.
"Do you remember me?" She asked fearfully.
"I remember a little, I know that I love you, I can feel it. Holding you is so familiar."
"Where were you?"
"I came to in Oregon, near Callie's cabin. That is the woman who was holding the crossbow on Angel. She was; we were surprised to find a vampire here helping. There is so much I don't remember. Callie, Sunshine and Karl have helped me over the last few days to try and find out who I am. I've remembered my education, knowledge, that type of information, but I haven't gotten my personal memories back. I need your help with that," he pleaded.
"Rupert, I'll help you with anything. You are my life. When I thought you had died, I didn't want to live without you. Only the baby gave me the strength to try and continue. Do you know about the baby and our marriage?"
"Wesley told us about the baby and he also told me we are married."
"How do you feel about that?" she asked, so wanting him to remember her.
"It's right. We are meant to be together, that much I know, I can feel it. I'm happy about you being my wife and about our child. I want to recover my memories, of you, of the four young people I met earlier, Wesley, and Angel."
"Love, not all of these memories will be pleasant. We have a long and somewhat sordid history."
"You will be here to help?"
"Of course. I'll always be here for you. I love you, Rupert," she told him as she kissed him gently and laid her head on his chest, tears of joy falling from her eyes.
They sat there, simply holding each other, as close as possible.
**********
Everyone else had gone into the library where Cordelia was just getting off the phone with Gunn. Angel introduced Cordelia to Callie, Sun and Karl before he laid out the plans of the sewer system where he had been scouting. He called Xander and Wesley over to show them the area that he had searched and the others followed.
"Angel, Gunn said he'll be here tomorrow with 7 of his crew to help with the assault. Did you find where Boris is hiding?" Cordelia asked her boss.
"I've found his lair," Angel assured her and the others. "I saw Boris and managed to get into his chamber, where I found these. I believe the spells he plans on using can be found in them." Angel told them as he pulled several books from his coat.
"How were you able to get so close without being detected?" Wesley asked.
"Willow and Tara found a spell, in the manuscripts that Giles left, to hide someone from detection. They weren't sure that it would work on me but it did."
"Angel, can I see them? I want to help." Sun asked.
"Any help will be greatly appreciated. Willow and Tara are witches, get with them and they can let you know the plan we're working on."
"Angel, I'm sorry for the way I acted, I haven't been near a vampire in over twenty years and you surprised me. I want to help if you'll let me." Callie apologized to the vampire.
"I want to help too, it sounds like you have your hands full," Karl offered.
"We can use any help. Boris wants to open the Hellmouth and destroy the entire human population, starting with Sunnydale."
"We're on a Hellmouth?" Callie asked, incredulously.
"Yes, the old high school library was located directly over it. Boris has made the tunnels that the Master used, the first year Buffy was here, into his new lair. It will be hard for Buffy to go there, but I know her and she will face her fears and join us."
"Her fears?"
"Callie, she died there when she was just 16, Xander and I found her and he was able to perform CPR and bring her back. She then defeated the Master and closed the Hellmouth," Angel told the woman who had held a crossbow on him.
"She died?"
"Yes," Angel answered her.
"Was another Slayer called?"
"Yes, how did you know?"
"Angel, I was raised by the Council to be a Slayer but managed to escape. Sun helped me to fake my death so another would be called."
"You're a Slayer?"
"Was a Slayer. I left that life many, many years ago. That is why your being a vampire affected me like it did."
"How old are you?" Wesley asked astonished.
"I'm 58."
"No slayer on record has lived that long. How did you manage, even after faking your death?" Wesley continued.
"I've lived mostly in small towns and Sun taught me magick. I was able to hide my identity and have lived a fairly quiet life."
"Buffy and Rupert will be very interested in talking to you and Sun to learn those secrets." Wesley informed her.
"Did someone call us?" Buffy asked as she and Rupert joined the group. "Why is she still here?" she asked angrily, when she spotted Callie.
"Buffy, meet Callie, the Vampire Slayer."
"What? How old are you? How?" she asked, shock written on her face.
"Buffy, I'm 58. My story is a long one and right now it sounds like we have a vampire and demon nest to defeat. I will tell you my entire story, but later, after we defeat Boris. I'm sorry for attacking Angel but I was scared. I haven't seen a vampire in over twenty years. I've lived in isolated areas where the population is very sparse to stay away from them."
The Scoobies looked at Callie, dumbfounded. Buffy looked at her with hope, hope for a long life with her beloved and their children. Maybe, just maybe, her dreams could come true and she could have a normal life with the man she loved. She looked at Rupert with love and hope in her eyes.
"Callie, I'm sorry I overreacted. Please forgive me. I sometimes forget that Angel can scare people, I've known him for a long time and he's helped me ever since I've been in Sunnydale. We have an attack to plan, will you help us?" Buffy asked the older slayer.
"Buffy, I'd be glad to help in any way I can."
The next several hours were spent planning the attack, which would take place the night Boris, was to attempt to open the Hellmouth. Angel mapped the quickest way into the lair and made copies made so each could memorize the route. Once they reached the chamber where Boris would perform the ritual, they would separate into four groups, each going to a different point of the compass, north, south, east and west. Their entrance would be hidden by the same spell that had hidden Angel's reconnaissance.
The four groups would attack at the same time to catch the demons off guard. Hoping to increase their chances of success, each team would have one magick user and four fighters. One of the fighters would be armed with a supersoaker loaded with holy water to first spray over the demons. Willow would then cast a spell of Darkness that would blind the demons; Wesley and Tara each would cast spells that would attack the demons with balls of fire, while Sun would cast a binding spell of silence on Boris, each of these spells coming from a different point of the compass.
Once the spells had been cast, the rest of the fighters would attack with stakes, crossbows, and swords. The fighters would be protected as much as possible by protection spells cast on them before entering the lair. Sun would continue to attack Boris with a series of spells to isolate him and counteract the spells he would be trying to cast. Her part in the attack was crucial. She was the strongest magick user and the group depended on her to keep Boris' attention while Buffy and Callie made their way to Boris to kill him. If the two were successful in killing Boris, the group was sure that the rest of the demons and vamps would flee. The plan, though simple in essence, would be more difficult upon execution.
They had no idea how many minions Boris would have gathered around him at the full moon. That was a variable that would be subject to change, up until the time of the attack.
Buffy was worried about Rupert, but he insisted on being a part of the attack. He was needed, but he was still recovering from his injuries. It was finally decided that he would be a part of Xander's team and would be equipped with a Super Soaker and crossbow. Buffy planned to train with him over the next couple of days, also to train with Callie and Karl to ready them for the fight ahead. The others agreed that they all needed to train, so they decided to meet in the basement at 11 in the morning. They all headed to bed at 2:30 after making sure that everyone had a place to sleep. Sun and Callie shared the guestroom while Karl slept on the couch. Cordelia went to Buffy's room while Buffy and Giles went to his condo hoping that familiar surroundings would help his memory to return. Angel and Wesley stayed in the basement of the Scooby's house to further research and later would sleep on cots that had been set up for them.
When Buffy and Giles entered his condo he felt at home, he didn't really recognize anything, but felt a connection. He was frustrated that he didn't know the place he had lived for four years, but Buffy stopped him before he could get very far.
"Rupert, don't pressure yourself. Everything will be all right; you just have to be patient. Right now we both need sleep, I don't know about you, but I've not had a good night's sleep since the explosion." she told him as she caressed his face. "If it's alright with you, I just want to sleep in your arms, knowing that you're here."
"Buffy, I don't remember you." he told the lovely woman before him.
"I know. I also know that you will remember, and even if you don't, we'll create new memories. I love you, and I know that you love me. You have remembered me in your dreams, so that's a start." she told him as she led him upstairs.
"I just feel funny here alone with you, not remembering you."
"Love, I'm not going to attack you, I just want to sleep in the arms of the man I love," Buffy assured him.
They changed and soon were in bed, cuddled together. It felt so right, holding this young woman in his arms. He watched her as she slept, in wonder that she could love him, they seemed so different, yet so similar. He felt so much love for her and knew that she was the woman he wanted to spend his life with. Why couldn't he remember her? Giles drifted off to sleep with this question in his mind.
Giles woke to Buffy screaming and crying in his arms. He shook her shoulder to wake her and when her eyes opened and she saw him she clasped him tightly in her arms.
"Oh Giles, you are here. You're alive." She sobbed holding him so tightly, he could feel the cast cracking.
"Buffy, gently luv. My cast. Buffy." he gently coaxed her to release her death grip on him.
"Rupert, I'm sorry. I had a nightmare about the explosion. Please hold me," she pleaded with him. "Since the explosion I've been waking up from nightmares of your death, only this time you're here to hold me," she told him as she gazed into his eyes.
He took her into his arms and laid them back down. He stroked her hair with his good arm as he looked into her frightened eyes.
"I'm here and I'm not going anywhere. Sleep luv," he told her as he held her, stroking her hair as she fell back to sleep. He knew that her nightmares were especially frightening for her, because some of them foretold of future events, not always pleasant. Many were the nights she woke up from nightmares and needed to talk to him. In the past, before they had become lovers, she would come to his house, anytime of the night after such a dream, needing to talk, sometimes until the sun rose, others until she fell asleep on the sofa and he would cover her before he returned to his bed. He was almost asleep himself when he realized that he had remembered something of his past that included the young woman asleep in his arms. He went back to sleep with a smile on his face.
**********
Joyce let herself into the Scoobys' with the key Xander had given her after Rupert's death. She came to check on Buffy each day before she went to the gallery, wanting to be with her when she awoke. Joyce saw, all too clearly just how fragile Buffy had been since Rupert's death. She was so worried about her. Buffy seemed to have given up, only holding on because of the child she carried. Joyce knew that unless Buffy found something to hold on to, she would slowly slip away, never had she realized just how much Rupert had meant to her daughter until it had been too late. She had caused both of them pain by her not accepting their love when they had first come to her. Joyce thought about how selfish she had been as she fixed coffee. They must have been up late because usually someone was up by now and coffee was already made. Joyce was deep in thought as Angel entered the kitchen.
"Good morning, Joyce."
"Good Morning, Angel. Were you up very late last night?"
"We finally broke up about 2:30. Have you spoken to Buffy?"
"No, is she alright? What happened?" Joyce asked, fear in her voice. <Please don't let anything else happen to my baby, she has been through too much already.> She silently prayed.
"Joyce, it's okay. Wesley got back last night and he found Rupert...alive." Angel told her.
"He's alive? How? Why didn't he get in touch with us?" Joyce asked sitting down hard in a chair by the kitchen table.
"Wesley sensed a spell at the site of the explosion," Angel started to explain. "He had Willow and Tara help him and discovered that Rupert had cast a translocation spell to take him away from the explosion. Giles was able to transport himself to the mountains in Oregon. He didn't call because he'd lost his memory. He and Buffy are at his condo; we are a little over full here. The lady that found him and two of her friends came with them and will be helping us with our attack on Boris in four days."
"Is he alright, except for his memory?"
"His left arm is broken and there are minor abrasions and some burns, but he seems fine otherwise." Angel reassured her.
"This is the answer to my prayers," Joyce admitted to her daughter's former lover.
"Yes, I know. They love each other so much. That is the one thing that Rupert remembered and was drawn to, Buffy and love they share," Angel told Joyce, happy for Buffy, but for him it was bittersweet.
"Angel, when will they be here?"
"We planned to train today starting at 11:00. Everyone is still asleep, I just left Wesley in the basement."
"I have made a complete fool of myself in the way I acted when they told me of their love and how I treated them, especially Rupert. I acted like he had abused Buffy in the worse way, when all he did was to fall in love with my daughter and she with him. Angel, I was more accepting of you than I was of Rupert, and he's human. I hope he can forgive me, he and Buffy."
"Joyce, Buffy loves you very much. Tell them what you have told me and I think that you will be able to work everything out."
"Angel, I hope so. I want Buffy to be happy, and I know, now, with Rupert, she can be. The night of the explosion, I had been thinking of them and realized, too late, just how I had acted toward them. Love is so special, so very special, and I was too blind and selfish to see just how much they loved each other."