Title: Season of Change 10/?
Author: Katy Hart
Disclaimer: Joss and company own them. I’m just changing things for the better.
A/N: I know it's been forever since I've updated this and for that I sincerely appologize. I hope everyone enjoys this part. Also, I know have a websie, with much thanks to Rainne, you can read all my fics at http://www.geocities.com/go.quest/. Now, on with the story.
Buffy’s Diary Jan 23 98
New Watcher in town. Faith and I were laughing and talking about last night’s patrol on our way to the library to tell Giles about it. We walk in and there he is, suit and tie (not tweed, how surprising) and awkward as all get out. He smiled a mile wide when he saw both of us. Giles introduced him as Wesley Wyndam-Pryce. Nice name. Only Wesley I’ve ever heard of is in Star Trek (and I really should thank Xander for letting that bit of info sneak into my brain.)
Giles assured us that he’d checked and double checked to make sure Wes was not evil. Faith was still a little unsure, but Wes’ eagerness was a little infectious. He reminded me a little of how excited Giles was in the beginning. Kind of cute, but not really my type. I prefer my men in tweed, so it seems.
Giles is still a little nervous around me, but tried to convince me it was all due to the big bad unknown out there. Not sure I believe him. For now, I’ll just sit back and enjoy watching the new Watcher. Should be fun.
From the Personal Journal of Rupert Giles January 23, 1998
It came today. I am unsure whether it was planned to coincide with Mr. Wyndam-Pryce’s arrival or if it is just coincidence. It was an ordinary brown parcel. The postmark of London would not be unusual, I receive parcels from friends all the time. It was the return address that marked it as extraordinary. The seal of the Council rather prominent and unmistakable right there in the corner.
I expect that in a few days I shall receive a call from the operatives that will have set up the place where Buffy will be expected to face a vampire, devoid of all her inherent Slayer powers. And I am the one who is expected to betray her. It has been this way for centuries. Do I dare be the one to break with tradition? Do I dare defy everything that I have been taught, all that my life has been leading to?
I will do it. I will let Buffy know about this. Even if I did not love her, I would still let her know. She has always been the rebellious one in our partnership, defying the rules and still triumphing in the end. Whatever happens, I know this is correct path for me to take. No matter what punishment the Council may visit upon me, it will be worth it to know that Buffy still trusts me.
From Buffy’s Diary Jan 24 98
Giles called me into his office after school today. Showed me a box, explained what was in it and what he was supposed to do. I was speechless. Then he calmly explained that he didn’t want to give me the drugs. That he was willing to risk his job, his life because he felt it wasn’t right. Seeing the look of hope on his face gave me butterflies and I think I fell a little in love with him (or maybe more in love, yes, I’m hopeless, falling in love with my Watcher.) I think he was going to say something else, but Wes and Faith interrupted.
Faith is going to be 18 in about four months. I don’t want her to go through this….thing. Wesley stuttered and stumbled and babbled on about tradition and rules and regulations, but I asked him if he could really subject anyone, specifically Faith, to experiments without their permission. He wilted. I think the bond between him and Faith is starting to take hold.
I said I’d take the drug, but train extra hard with Giles. We’ll show those idiots at the Council who they’re really dealing with. I get to tell Xand and Will what’s going on too, so they can help with patrols and all that. Mom, well I’m not sure yet, but it might be better if she was out of town for a few days. Don’t need her to get all worried or over protective or anything.
From the Personal Journal of Rupert Giles January 24, 1998
Buffy was extraordinarily selfless today, volunteering to take the drugs even after I explained the effects to her. She hopes to prove the Council wrong, prove that the Cruciamentum isn’t needed. I never felt more proud of her, or loved her more, than I did right then.
The call came shortly after I came home. I was surprised to hear the voice of Quentin Travers, head of the Council. It is unusual that he would bother himself with such a routine thing as the Cruciamentum. But he claims I am to close to Buffy, a father’s love. He couldn’t be further from the truth of course. I lied my way through the meeting, giving a token protest to validity and need for the test in this day and age. Quentin seems adamant about administering the test.
The vampire they have chosen for Buffy to face is a rather vicious, as he was when he was human. It seems he may have a complex about mother figures. I will suggest to Buffy that Joyce leave town until the test is over with. Now that I know her opponent I can go about training Buffy to better face him. I only hope that I can give her what she needs to succeed.
Buffy’s Diary
Apparently I rate a visit by the head Watcher. Go me. That only makes me want to work that much harder. I may be ‘unconventional’, but I’m good. Shouldn’t the results matter more than the way I get those results? The Council needs a serious attitude adjustment. And I’m the girl to give it to them.
From the Personal Journal of Rupert Giles
Buffy’s training goes very well. Even without her strength and speed, she is above average for a normal human. Perhaps this is why or how the power chooses a girl? Another question to be answered by those more qualified than I. Wesley and Faith are instrumental in helping out. The bond between them is growing quickly. Faith seems to understand now why I could not be her Watcher as well as Buffy’s. I know that Buffy never had the time to bond with Merrick, but I wonder if Faith had the bond with her former Watcher. Yet more questions for others to answer. I must return to Buffy’s training. I am beginning to believe that out plan will succeed.
Buffy’s Diary Jan 26 98
I survived. Barely. No one mentioned the vampire was nutso. Hell of a way to celebrate my eighteenth birthday. The place was creepy and dusty and just generally icky. Not somewhere I’d go even with my powers unless I knew for sure there was something living there. Bad thing was, vamp got loose, attacked the people that were supposed to be watching it. Including Travers, who was getting ready to be a midnight snack when I found the vamp.
Anyway, long story short, I used holy water to kill it. There was chasing and taunting and quipping but it came down to a simple glass of water. Vamp took pills, and I changed regular for the holy stuff. He drank it and poof, no more Mr. Bad Guy. Travers was all over me, thanking me and stuff, after I saved him.
He said I could have anything I wanted. Giles produced a list of demands we’d come up with at the beginning of all this. Travers hesitated, but I offered to tie him up again and leave him in the middle of Restfield cemetery. He caved. No more tests for Slayers and no more interference from the Council. Plus any help whenever we might need it, starting with any info they might have on who the current evil might be.
Giles was there and took me back to the library to patch up all the bumps and bruises. Until my Slayer healing can kick back in, band-aids will have to do. There was a really long hug, longer than unusual, from Giles. He held me like….well I don’t know, but it made me feel…loved. After he let go, he just looked at me. Giles doesn’t feel that way about me, does he?
Anyway, now we’re back to the regular awkwardness between Giles and me, not just what was going on before he told me about the test. Fun. But at least I get a small party, with presents, so there’s that.
From the Personal Journal of Rupert Giles January 26, 1998
Buffy performed admirably. The holy water was an inspired choice and points again to her great capacity for improvisation. Even Quentin had to admit it was ingenious. He is lucky that Buffy arrived when she did, or he would be dead.
When faced with the prospect of his own mortality, he gave in to our demands. Having Wesley and Faith, as well as the other children and Angel there to back up our claim helped a little. Quentin can’t seen to get it through his mind that a vampire would be willing to help. But then no one at the Council seems to have fully understood the implications of having a soul have to Angel.
Quentin has promised to get all available researchers on our current problem. He has also graciously agreed to send us more books and increased the budget we have to purchase training materials and weapons. Having two Slayers to protect the Hellmouth has its advantages.
When we were alone at last, I indulged myself in hugging Buffy, perhaps for a little longer than necessary. I needed to prove to myself that she actually was all right, that she really had survived this ordeal. She didn’t seem to mind, though I could have sworn that I felt her heart start beating faster. Why would that happen? Unless….no, she cannot feel anything for me, it’s not possible. Is it?
Now that I no longer have the specter of the Cruciamentum hanging over my head, the interaction between me and Buffy has returned to what we had before. This is still awkward and unsure to say the least. I must go now, I am on patrol with Willow and Oz. We are all contributing until the drugs are completely out of Buffy’s system.
Of course this has also seen the passing of Buffy’s eighteenth birthday. In the eyes of the law she is an adult now. Yet, I hesitate to say or do anything. Perhaps patience is the best course of action. Yes, I shall wait.