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...
They had parked the car downtown and were now walking in the poorer district. Not that Sunnydale had a lot of `districts,' but if one considered real life crime, this part of town would be on the top of the list. "There," Giles whispered. "I see the doorway."
"Where?" Buffy strained her neck but she didn't see anything. Giles reached out and took her hand, letting a little of his magic flow out to her. Just to the right, Buffy could then see what he was talking about. The air seemed to shimmer slightly, reality shifting. It was a doorway. Buffy let go of Giles' hand and stepped in front of him. "If Dawn is hurt in any way…"
Giles reached over and gently squeezed Buffy's shoulder. "Be careful."
Buffy nodded and they both stepped into the room.
It was a waiting area and Dawn saw them enter immediately. She leapt up from a chair. "Buffy! Thank God you're here!" She ran over and the sisters hugged each other.
"Dawn, are you okay? Where is Willow?" Buffy leaned down to look into her scared sister's face.
"I'm okay, just really scared. Willow went in there and I haven't heard or seen anything since. I've been waiting here forever!" Dawn sniffed and then saw the hard expression on Buffy's face.
Buffy let go of her sister and looked up at Giles. "Take care of her, Giles. I'll get Willow." Giles nodded and placed his hand around Dawn's arm. The girl didn't protest.
The door looked imposing, but it only took one fierce kick from Buffy and it blew inward, falling off of its hinges. Giles couldn't help but peer over Dawn's shoulder. He gasped at what he saw.
Willow was on the ceiling, her back tightly pressed against the high wall. There was a blank expression in her eyes. Her mouth was open as if she was moaning. Her red hair was black, flowing outwards into the air.
Lying on the floor on his back was Rack. He was singing something about strawberries and stroking himself. Giles pulled Dawn back and away, turning her so she couldn't see inside the room.
As the door imploded, Rack turned his head. His eyes widened when he saw the Slayer. He smiled and opened his mouth to retort something, but it was too late. Buffy had taken a sword out of the car before arriving, and she now held it aloft over her head. In one smooth stroke she brought it down. Her target was Rack's neck, and his head was severed in one quick motion. Giles shouted and then hurried into the room with his arms outstretched. Willow's body fell from the ceiling and Giles caught her in his arms.
The confrontation was over just like that. Willow was unconscious. Giles held her in his arms and Buffy took Dawn by the arm and they hurried back to the car. The Watcher eased Willow into the back seat and Buffy took the rear with her friend, holding her head in her lap.
Dawn got into the passenger seat and she turned to say something but Buffy held up her hand, cutting her off. "We'll talk later."
Tara met them at the front door. Giles carried Willow upstairs and laid her down on the bed. Then he left and called Xander and Anya. They came over and took Dawn for the night. Buffy and Tara were doing all they could to care for Willow. Giles made one more overseas phone call. He was looking out the window when something in the lawn caught his eye. He frowned and then hung up the phone and then went out into the garage. He grabbed a broom and a dustpan from the closet and then went outside and over to the tree. Quickly and efficiently he swept up the butts. His movements were a bit stiff and jerky. Where Spike was concerned, he couldn't get past his emotions of bitterness, anger, and pain.
He heard the front door close but didn't turn around. One cigarette butt was being darn right pesky, eluding his attempts with the broom. Finally the straw brush grabbed the butt and he swept it into the pan.
"Giles?" Buffy asked. She stood behind him, peering over his shoulder but he wouldn't turn around.
"I had to clean up this mess," he finally replied.
"I saw you from the window," Buffy acknowledged. "Here, put this under the tree."
Giles turned to find Buffy holding a stake in her hand. Attached to the top was a little sign. "No Smoking." It was also drenched, dripping with what looked like water. He looked up at Buffy with an expression of surprise and astonishment.
One corner of Buffy's mouth quirked up into a smile. "Holy Water. I figured that would at least slow him down in getting rid of the sign."
Giles grinned as he took the home made sign from her. He stabbed it into the ground beneath the tree. "Perfect," he said. He moved the broom into his other hand and turned around to walk back to the house with Buffy. "How is Willow?" Giles asked.
"She's sleeping now," Buffy said. "Tara is with her. I'm sure she'll make sure Willow stays put and is okay. I think that was part of the reason Willow wigged. She needed attention. Well, she's going to get it now." Buffy was still beyond miffed at her friend, especially for including Dawn.
Giles chuckled softly. He wondered if Buffy realized what she had said about doing things you regret later, just for the attention.
They entered the house and Giles put the broom and dustpan away before sinking into the sofa next to his Slayer. "I think I know of some people that can help her." Giles glanced at Buffy. "There is a coven in England. Bath, actually. I think I should take her there." Giles felt responsible in some way. He should have known better where magic was concerned. Hadn't he learned from his own mistakes? That knowledge should have helped him recognize the signs in Willow.
Buffy was quiet for a moment, but then she nodded. "When will you go?"
"In the morning. I've already phoned them." Giles swallowed and looked over at her. "I don't want to leave you though. Would you want to come with us?"
Buffy smiled softly and moved closer to him. "You'll be busy with Willow. I know. She needs you now, I think. And…I think I should stay here. I need to be strong. You were right before. I was leaning on you too much. I don't want you to be my crutch anymore."
Giles moved his hands to her waist and gently lifted her, placing her on his lap. "Do you have any idea how proud I am of you?"
Buffy smiled again. "I won't lie, it will be hard while you're away, but I think it will be good for me. Besides, Dawn needs me here too. You go and take care of Willow. I don't want you to worry about me. You're not my crutch, Giles. You're…my partner."
Giles moved his hands up to cup her face. His fingers slowly ran over her cheeks, chin, and eyebrows. His eyes drank her in. "Buffy…" In such a short time he knew his Buffy had changed. His Buffy was slowly coming back.
Slowly Buffy leaned down and brushed her soft lips against his. Giles whimpered and moved his hands to the back of her head. He deepened the kiss, pouring all of his emotion into it. For once, he didn't hold back, and Buffy met his passion with her own.
It didn't take long before Giles was mightily aroused. He knew she could feel his throbbing hardness between her legs. It was taking all of his self control to not arch upwards into her. He knew it was too soon. Still, if she pressed, he'd be lost. Part of him wanted her to press. Please…please press it…
Buffy broke the kiss first. She moved her arms around him and hugged him tightly. Her lower body was still against his, but she didn't move. Soon he felt her body start to relax. Then he felt her hot breath on his ear, and she whispered, "Come home to me soon." Then there was a rush of cool air as her body left his. He watched her hurry upstairs and then heard the closing of her bedroom door.
Giles groaned and leaned back against the sofa. "Bloody Hell."