Title: Betrayal
Author: LadyForASH
Rated: NC17
Disclaimer: You know that nothing belongs to me. Joss created it all. Please don't sue!
Feedback is a great motivator...
Giles pulled into Buffy's driveway and turned off the car with a sigh. Neither made a move to exit the vehicle. It was evening. Both had decided to take their time heading back to Sunnydale. Giles was trying to show his confidence and pride in Buffy, but inside he was concerned. The retreat had been fruitful and Buffy had made real progress, as well as had their relationship. She knew his feelings now, or at least was beginning to understand. But now they were back in Sunnydale, the scene of the crime, and the place of pain. The Hellmouth was aptly named, after all.
"Home sweet home," Buffy muttered. Then she looked over at Giles. "I guess this is where the test really starts."
Giles smiled softly at her. "You'll do fine, and I'll be here if you need me."
Buffy gave him a grateful little smile and then opened her door. Giles extricated himself from the car and wrinkled his nose. What was that smell? He turned to peer over his shoulder and saw Spike. He was leaning against the tree beneath Buffy's bedroom window with a cigarette in his hand. The smoke is what had caught Giles' attention. The ground beneath Spike's feet was littered with cigarette butts, evidence that Spike had been there awhile, perhaps night after night.
The vampire sneered at Giles. "About time you two came home." He pushed himself off of the tree and took a step towards the car. He smiled at Buffy. "Miss me, pet?"
Giles clenched his hands at his sides. "Leave off, Spike!" Just seeing the vampire again brought his temper to a boiling point. He knew Buffy would have to face the vampire eventually, but so soon?
"Oh, jealous are you?" Spike laughed but stopped when he saw the look on Buffy's face. It was a tired expression. She barely looked at him when she asked, "What do you want, Spike?"
"You know what I want, pet." Spike leered at her once again. Before Buffy could comment Giles was there. In two quick strides he reached the vampire and punched him in the jaw. Spike, more surprised then hurt, fell flat on his back.
"Giles!" Buffy ran over to the vampire but hesitated in helping him up.
Giles turned to look at Buffy. He was hurt that in even that small way, in the way she'd said his name, Giles knew she wasn't over Spike. Maybe she never would be.
Spike started to laugh and rubbed his jaw as he sat up. "Not bad for a ponce Watcher."
"Shut up, Spike," Buffy retorted. She saw the hurt look on Giles' face but was torn on what to do about it.
"I'm only here doing my job," the vampire said. He stood up and brushed his pants off.
Giles went over to the car and opened the trunk to get out Buffy's bags. The emptiness that was crowding inside his heart was doing battle with the anger and jealousy. He tried not to look at the two of them. It hurt too much. But he couldn't help over hearing.
"What job?" Buffy asked, confused. She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at Spike.
"Watchin' the Little Bit." Spike sighed and lit another cigarette. "I was beginning to wonder if you were going to get home before it was too late."
"Dawn? What's wrong? Where is she?" Buffy started to panic and Giles slammed the trunk on the car and came back over to stand by her side. The Watcher was aiming to punch Spike again if he didn't explain soon, but Spike held up his hand.
"She's with Red. I followed them, but…I could only go so far."
Buffy's frown deepened. "What are you talking about? She's with Willow? Why would that be a bad thing?"
"Because Red is addicted to the magics, and she went to visit her pimp." Spike actually looked a little worried himself.
"Pimp?" Giles asked.
"Yeah, his name's Rack. Big bad. He's been providing Willow with a magical high now for awhile, and when you both were gone, Willow had to take Dawn with her." Spike flicked his half smoked cigarette to knock the ashes onto the ground.
"What?!" Buffy shouted. "She took Dawn? What the hell is she thinking?!"
"Obviously she's not," Giles groused. He could see the expression on Spike's face. Maybe a part of him was worried about Dawn, but Giles could tell that the vampire was more interested in getting back into Buffy's good graces. Or more accurately, in her pants. Giles turned away from both of them and headed back to the car. "Come on, Buffy. We'll find her."
Buffy didn't hesitate. She grabbed up the bags and threw them back in the trunk and headed into the car.
"Wait," Spike started. "I can help!" But the vampire's words were drowned out by the sound of the engine. Giles gunned it once and then screeched out of the driveway.
Buffy nervously glanced at Giles. "Do you know where to go?"
Giles was quiet for a moment. "Not exactly, but I can find them. I've never heard of Rack, but I know of others like him. There will be a hidden door. Once I find that door, we'll find them." He turned to look at Buffy. "Don't worry, Buffy. We'll find them." He didn't voice his worry on whether or not both Dawn and Willow would be okay, however. Obviously Willow was far from it. He just hoped that Dawn hadn't been pulled into anything or exposed to any danger.
"It's not all his fault, you know," Buffy said softly.
Giles was forced to stop at a busy intersection and sneaked a glance at her. He knew she was referring to Spike. "He took advantage of you in a time where you were most vulnerable. That's unconscionable."
"But I took advantage of him too," Buffy whispered. "You know how the Council views the Slayer as just a tool? That's what Spike was to me, Giles. He was just a tool that I used so I could feel… something. Feel anything. I know that now."
The light turned green and Giles quickly sped off again. "Buffy…" Giles swallowed and quickly gave her another glance. "You're amazing, you know that?"
Buffy looked up and smiled a little as she looked at him.
"Don't worry, we'll find Dawn." He moved to hold her hand, keeping one hand tightly on the steering wheel. Once Dawn and Willow were home safe and sound, he and Buffy could talk about this revelation more. If he wasn't so worried about them and this Rack fellow, he might even have smiled a little.