Title: Explosion 6/7
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

Finally, everything they planned had come down to this, the night of the full moon. Everyone was as ready as they would ever be. Willow, Tara, Sun and Wesley cast the spell of invisibility on the group before they entered the sewage system on their way to Boris' lair. Buffy, Callie and Angel led the way with Wesley, Gunn and Xander bringing up the rear. Slowly they made their way toward the chamber. The gathering, of vampires and demons under Boris, would take place at 1:46 a.m., the apex of the full moon. Once they were within a half-mile of the chamber, they rearranged and got into their groups. This was done in complete silence, as had the entire trip.

Buffy reached out to grab Rupert's hand and squeeze it as she joined the others in her group. Buffy put her fears and emotions on hold as she had to concentrate on the matter at hand; once Boris was defeated, everyone could breathe easier and get on with their lives.

The trip had been uneventful. Angel had chosen a back way, which would not meet up with the main route until they were within a 100 feet of the entrance to the chamber. They did not see a single demon or vampire until they joined the main tunnel. There were not many there, only 5, which were quickly taken care of. Cautiously they entered the chamber and saw only 30 to 40 demons and vampires. Quickly and with great stealth, they made their way to their appointed positions. On the dais at the north end of the room where the platform that Angel had seen in his earlier investigations was located, sat Boris on what appeared to be a throne made of bones and skulls

**********

Boris looked over his minions. The gathering was smaller than he expected, but those he saw were strong and vicious, just the start he needed to draw others to him. He sensed something, it was the same feeling that he had the last time he had dealt with a Slayer, only stronger. He called Spike to him.

"Spike, I sense the Slayer, very close. Take five of my followers with you and patrol the area. Of course, kill anyone you find, except for the Slayer, she is mine. Her blood will be the crowning achievement for this night, strengthening the spells."

"Sure mate, but I don't need but one helper, I'll take Minton. We'll get everything cleaned up in no time." Spike assured him. <I hope the Slayer knows what she is taking on. Minton's an idiot and will be easy to kill. > Spike thought to himself as he left the chamber to try and find the group to help them. Spike had information to give Angel and the others. He had spoken to his sire and been recruited to go undercover.

As Boris watched Spike leave, he wondered why he would choose Minton to help him. Minton, though strong, was dim witted. Boris wondered if Spike was as loyal as he had been led to believe. Boris waited for the right moment, before he reached for the book containing the first of the spells he would cast to open the Hellmouth and release the demons residing there. As he opened the ancient text, he realized it was not the right book. He looked at the next one, then the next. These weren't the books he had spent years searching for, these were books anyone could find and use. He had been tricked, by Spike who had placed the books by his throne, but before he could order another of his captains to pursue, all hell broke loose.

**********

As Spike left the chamber with Minton, he bumped into something that felt like a warm body, he didn't see anyone but he smelled Willow. They must have used the invisibility spell, he thought. Spike went about 100 feet from the chamber in to a tunnel heading away from the main one. There he quickly killed the young vampire and went back toward the entrance. A hand he could not see stopped him.

"Spike, Angel said that you would have information for me," stated a low voice from the figure that he couldn't see.

"Xander? That's some spell."

"Spike, I don't have time to play. Did Boris realize that the books were changed?" Xander asked quickly in a low voice.

"Nah, he never even went back to them. He just had me bring them to his `throne' and set them on the table by him. He doesn't know that they've been changed."

"Good. You better stay here; the attack will begin in a few minutes. If Boris happens to escape, you can tell him that one of us killed the vamp with you and you can stay with him."

"Don't you need help? There are only 8 you." Spike asked concerned.

"No, there are 20 of us and Giles is back."

"Back, `e's alive?"

"Yes, I have to go. We'll explain later." Xander told him as he returned to his group to begin the assault on the vampires and demons.

It took only moments for the groups to get into position. Willow, Tara and Wesley started their spells at the same time Sun quietly started the incantation to silence Boris. Holy water was sprayed over the group of vampires and demons, the suddenness of the attack creating havoc. Vampires screamed as holy water rained on them causing immense pain and panic. The barrage of crossbow bolts and fireballs caught both demons and vampires by surprise, killing some, wounding all that were hit. The tips of the bolts had been dipped in curare and holy water. The curare would act as a tranquilizer on vampires and poison on many demons. In the panic that ensued, most of Boris' followers were quickly dispatched, much to the Scooby's' relief.

Boris watched as his small army was attacked. He started to cast a spell to discover who was attacking when he felt the Mute spell that had been cast upon him. He looked around trying to discover where it came from and saw nothing. Then unseen assailants hit him from the back and front. As he tried to defend himself, his army was totally decimated; none escaped the spells, holy water, crossbow bolts and swords. Boris had never felt such strength in the two beings that were fighting him. He fought viciously, but made no headway. He was caught off guard when a third fighter rammed a stake through his heart. Just before he disintegrated, he looked up and saw Angelus had killed him.

Once all the demons and vampires were taken care of, Wesley and Willow had cast the spell to nullify their invisibility. As they all looked around the chamber, there were no demons alive and the only vampires were Spike and Angel. Callie looked at the vampire who had appeared from the tunnel.

"Who are you?"

"I'm Spike, mate. You have pretty good moves for an old broad."

"Spike, William the Bloody?" Callie asked, she had been taught that he was one of the most vicious vampires.

"Callie, it's ok," Buffy reached out to reassure her sister Slayer. "Spike's a reluctant ally. He has a chip in his head and can't harm us." Buffy explained as Giles crossed the room to stand beside her. Spike, meet Callie, my sister Slayer."

"Another Slayer? Aren't two enough?" Spike asked as he turned to Giles. "Rupert, glad to see you're alright."

"I know you?" he asked the neutered vampire.

"`Ow can you forget me?" Spike asked, a questioning look on his face.

"Spike, Giles has amnesia. He hasn't remembered a lot yet." Xander said as he joined the others. "Lets get out of here, it's starting to smell."

"Let me gather these spell books and look in his bed chamber for any others that he might have and I'll join you on the surface," Angel told them as the others started gathering up the weapons they had used to demolish Boris and his minions.

The trip out was not as silent as the one in, but still they were careful of any wandering vampires or demons that might be milling about. As they reached the surface, the large group broke up in to smaller ones, each heading to the vehicle they had arrived in. Buffy and Giles were almost to the Citroen when two newly risen vampires jumped them. As she turned to fight them, she saw one hit Giles on the head, knocking him out. Buffy quickly dispatched the fledglings and went to Giles. She reached him as Xander, Callie and Willow came running to help. Callie examined him and when she couldn't get any response, said they needed to take him to the hospital, immediately. They quickly got Giles into his car and Buffy drove him to the Emergency room, Callie, Willow and Xander following close behind.

**********

Joyce paced the floor, waiting anxiously for the group to return, she was a nervous wreck. It was almost 3 a. m. and she had been pacing since they had left just after midnight. She knew that they probably wouldn't be back until at least 4, but she could hope. She had coffee and hot water ready whenever they got there and had also prepared bandages and other items that they would need if anyone were hurt. She prayed that no one would be seriously hurt, especially Buffy or Rupert. They had been very happy the last couple of days and she wanted them to be together. She finally realized just how much they meant to each other. Rupert had to get his memory back. Joyce knew that he had an appointment with a specialist the following week, who would try and help him to recover his memories. She was still deep in her thoughts when she heard the door open and as the group came in, the phone began to ring. She grabbed the cordless phone as she went to the door.

"Is everyone okay?" Joyce asked when she saw Angel, Cordy and Gunn entering the front door.

"Yes, only scratches and a bruise or two, nothing to worry about," Angel assured her.

Joyce then answered the phone. "Hello?"

"Ms. Summers, Giles was hurt, I'm here at the hospital with Buffy, Xander and Callie," Willow quickly told the Slayer's mom.

"Willow, is Buffy okay?" Joyce asked, going into mother mode.

"She's fine, but Giles was knocked out; they were attacked by two fledgling vamps as they got into his car. He hasn't woken up. She's with him and asked if I would call and let you know," Willow explained to her.

"We're on our way," Joyce told her as she put down the phone and grabbed her purse, telling Angel, Cordy and Gunn what had happened as they headed back to Angel's car.

When the others saw Angel leaving everyone followed him, wondering what had happened and where they were now heading.

**********

Joyce rushed into the Emergency Waiting Room and went immediately to Willow and Xander to find out more details of what had happened.

"Two fledgling vamps attacked them as they were getting into Giles car and he was knocked out. When Callie couldn't get any response from him, she insisted that we bring him here," Xander told her as Callie returned to the waiting area.

"They're taking him to get a CAT scan. He hasn't regained consciousness," she told the group. "Buffy stayed with him."

Everyone sat down waiting to hear the results of the CAT scan. A half hour later, Buffy came into the room tears clear on her face. "They're admitting him. He's in a coma and they can't find a reason for it," Buffy told the group, tears falling from her eyes, as her mother reached our and pulled her into her arms.

The doctor, who had just completed Mr. Giles CAT scan, stood back and observed the group clustered around the young woman. He had just read the report of Mr. Giles and knew that his daughter would need all the support of her friends to get through the next several days, especially if her father didn't regain consciousness within the next 48 hours. He had seen cases like this before and from what he had read in the chart, needed to find out more about the explosion that his patient had recently been involved.

"Ms. Giles, I need to speak to you about your father. I'm Dr. Breson," he said as he approached the young woman. When she didn't turn around, he touched her shoulder. "Ms. Giles?"

"I'm sorry Doctor, what did you say?" Buffy asked him, tears still in her eyes.

"I need to speak to you about your father."

"My dad?" Buffy shook her head in confusion, " What about Giles?"

"Mr. Giles, your father?" Dr. Breson asked hesitantly, had he made a mistake and approached the wrong woman?

"Rupert is my husband, not my father!" she told him in no uncertain terms.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Ah…we are moving him into a room on the second floor. He should be there in about fifteen minutes. Will you be staying with him?" he asked, clearly embarrassed by his mistake.

"Certainly. Can you take me to him?" Buffy asked, forgetting his mistake, more concerned with how her husband was doing.

"There are some papers that need to be completed then the nurse will take you to his room. I need to know more about his injuries from the explosion he was involved in," he informed her as he took her to the nurses' station to finish the needed paperwork for Rupert's admission.

"Dr. Breson, I'm Callie and I treated Giles for the injuries he sustained in the explosion. I'll be glad to answer whatever questions you have regarding them. I'm a registered trauma nurse and took care of him while he recovered," the older slayer told him.

Callie and Dr. Breson left Buffy to complete the necessary paperwork for Giles' admittance to the hospital. Callie answered the doctor's questions about Giles' injuries, telling him about the amnesia and his appointment with a specialist the following week. They talked about fifteen minutes before Dr. Breson felt that he knew everything he needed to help his patient.

Callie left the hospital after she finished discussing Giles' injuries with Dr. Breson. Everyone left to wait at the Scooby's for further information on Giles' condition. Joyce, who stayed with Buffy, said she would call and let them know whenever there was a change. The elation the group had felt over Boris' defeat was now forgotten as they waited for word on Giles' condition. Wesley, Angel and Xander told Spike what had happened to Giles since the explosion and explained about the older slayer who had hidden from the Watcher's Council for many decades with the help of Sun's magick.

**********

Buffy entered the room where Rupert was lying quietly on the bed, surrounded by machines monitoring his condition. He had to recover. She couldn't lose him like this, especially now. Boris had been defeated and now they could truly have a life together. Callie and Sun had assured them that the spells Callie had used to hide from the Council, could be used to help Buffy. Buffy sat beside the bed and held Rupert's hand as she thought about the future she wanted with him and their child. She now knew that it was possible to have a full life with the man she loved, if only he would awaken. She felt when her Mom entered the room and turned to her.

"Buffy, is there anything I can do?" Joyce asked her daughter.

"Mom, your being here helps, more than you know," she told her Mom as she turned back to the man she loved. "I can't lose him now. I'd give anything to have him wake up, even if her never remembers, just for him to be okay would be enough," she said as the tears finally fell from her eyes and her mother took her into her arms.

Joyce held her daughter as she cried. She wanted to make everything better, but there was nothing she could do but pray. Buffy had been through too much over the past week and she didn't know how she would survive if anything happened to Rupert. When she felt Buffy fall asleep, Joyce laid her head on the bed and walked to the other chair in the room and sat down to watch over daughter and son-in-law. When Dr. Breson started to come in, she stopped him and went into the hall to talk with him.

"Dr. Breson, I'm Joyce Summers, Buffy's Mom. How is Rupert?"

I can only discuss that with immediate family, Mrs. Summers," he told the woman in front of him.

"Dr. Breson, I don't think I made myself clear. Buffy is my only child and she has been through hell over the past week. If anything happens to Rupert, I'm afraid that it would push her over the edge. What is his condition?" Joyce demanded.

"We are doing everything we can, I assure you, but, Mrs. Summers, we don't know why he's in a coma. It could have something to do with the injuries he suffered from the explosion. I have a clinical neurologist reading his CAT scan to see if we can discover anything else. There is nothing more to tell you at this time."

"Mom, it's okay," Buffy told her as she closed the door to her husband's room. "Dr. Breson, is there anything we should do to help Rupert?"

"There's nothing at the moment," he told the young woman before him. "I'll have the report from the neurologist within the hour and I'll give you an update as soon as I get it."

As the doctor left, Buffy turned to her mother. "Why don't you go home, I'll be fine."

"I don't want you to be alone."

"Mom, I'm not alone, Rupert's with me. I just want to be with him."

"Okay, I guess that I can't argue with you, but I want you to call me as soon as you know anything. I'll be at the Scooby's." Joyce told her daughter as she turned to leave.

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