Title: Missing 6/7
Author: LadyForASH
Rated: FRAO
Pairing: Buffy/Giles
Spoilers: Everything. This takes place after Chosen.
Disclaimers: I own nothing. Joss is the bomb. Everything is his and I'm just taking out these wonderful characters and playing with them for awhile. Please don't sue.
Summary: Willow is missing!
Buffy awoke snuggled up against Giles' chest. She glanced at his watch on his wrist and noted they still had about thirty minutes before Brooks would expect them. She smiled. That was plenty of time, she thought.
Slowly she sat up and looked down on him. His face looked so handsome and boyish as he slept. Her body still tingled with the things he had done to her. She was so amazed at how powerful it had all been. She'd had sex before, but this had been different. For the first time she realized that sharing yourself so completely with the person you loved, and who loved you, was a gift.
Buffy smoothed her hand over his chest. His crisp hairs tickled her fingers. She rubbed over his nipples and smiled when they tightened. He made a noise in his sleep, mumbling a little, and his head moved on the pillow, but he still wasn't awake. Buffy knew that would change soon.
She scooted further down his body, between his legs, and started to kiss her way down his stomach. By the time her tongue was licking at the soft downy hair of his happy trail, Giles' fingers found themselves on the back of her head. She glanced up and saw him looking at her. His eyes were dark with passion and his face was flushed. "Don't stop. Please, don't stop," he whispered. Buffy smiled, recalling she'd said the same thing not long ago.
Buffy moved lower, nuzzling his growing erection with her cheek. Her hands moved to his thighs and she rubbed up and down, teasing him. She gasped as he grew even harder. She reached out with one hand and encircled his cock. His hips bucked and he hissed, biting his lip to keep from making too much noise. Buffy's eyes found his again. She licked her lips and then bent down to take the head of his cock into her mouth. She began to pump him with her hand as well as suckle him with her lips and tongue. She found a hot vein pulsing on the underside of his erection and quickly pleasured it with her tongue. His fingers curled in her hair against her skull. "Oh god...gonna..."
Buffy pulled back. She placed a soft lick on his balls before sitting up and straddling his hips. "Yes," he muttered, moving his hands to her hips and thrusting up into her. He buried himself in her, biting his lower lip once again. He moved his hands from her hips to her breasts, to her stomach and back to her breasts, squeezing her nipples. He wanted to touch her everywhere at once.
Groaning and smiling in joy and pleasure, Buffy rested her hands on top of his for a moment. She watched his face, amazed that she was causing that look of ecstasy.
"Close, Buffy, oh god, now!" Giles hissed and moved his hands back to her hips. He pulled her body down as his hips thrusted upwards. Buffy threw her head back and held in a scream as another powerful orgasm ripped through both of them. They rode the wave for as long as they could before Buffy collapsed onto his chest. She could hardly breathe, let alone move or speak.
His arms wrapped around her. Their hearts were pounding, and it took several moments for them each to recover.
Buffy smiled against his skin. "Man, I need a shower. I'm totally gonna smell like sex."
Giles groaned and blushed. "Sorry," he muttered.
"You better not be." Buffy leaned up and grinned at him. He grinned back.
"That was quite a way to wake up," he told her. His hands again caressed her back. She basked in the afterglow of their love making. Cuddles with Giles were the best, she thought.
"Thank you," he told her, his eyes looking at her in that special way that she began to recognize as her look. He only looked at her that way, when words could not express how much he loved her. Leaning forward, Buffy kissed him tenderly.
The truck suddenly shook with a knock on the back door. "Time to get up!" they heard Brooks shout. Buffy frowned but Giles kissed the tip of her nose. "The first of a life time," he whispered.
"That was the second," Buffy reminded him with a smile. She rolled off of him and reached for her luggage. "At least we do have some fresh clothing."
Giles nodded. "Yes, and we can do a sponge bath of sorts." A thought occurred to him as he reached for a cloth and the canteen. "Buffy, I hadn't thought..." he blushed. "I quite can't think nor keep my hands off of you, but... uh... we didn't use anything..."
Buffy had to smile at his stammering. "Don't worry. I'm on the pill."
"Oh. Okay. Good."
Buffy watched him for a moment as he tended to cleaning up. He had sounded almost as if he was disappointed. She reached out for his hand. "Giles? Do you want kids some day?"
He pulled her close again and began to tend to her clean up as well, gently wiping her skin with the dampened cloth. "Only yours," he replied.
Buffy felt a well of emotions inside. She suddenly felt like crying. Tears sprung to her eyes and she grabbed him in a hug. "Oh Giles. I can't believe... that would be so wonderful! I never dreamed of having anyone like this, and now you're here, and you want..." she was too overcome to continue.
Giles eased her back and kissed her tears. "Believe I love you, more than anything." He kissed her tenderly again. "Come on, we better hurry before the natives get restless."
* * *
Willow had no concept of time. She battled between unconsciousness and wakefulness. She didn't know if it was day or night, or if she was up or down. All she knew was the pain in her body from straining against her bondings, and that her tongue felt swollen from lack of moisture. She was so thirsty.
Sometime later, she heard chanting. It wasn't in any language she recognized, but it caused her body to tremble. When the lion entered the cave and sat in front of her, Willow began to sob. "I don't want to die. I'm not ready to die. Oh goddess, please... help me. Help me!"
The lion's tail swished. It growled softly at her but didn't move. It just sat there, guarding her. And the chanting got louder.
* * *
Xander nervously cleared his throat. It was the first sound any of them had made in hours. The closer they got to their destination, the more anxious they all got. Finally, Buffy had to break the tension. "So... do we have a real plan or are we just going with impulsive on this one?"
"Do our plans ever work out?" Xander asked.
Giles snorted and even Buffy smiled a little. "We're good at adapting in the moment," Xander told them.
"Hey, do you feel that?" Buffy suddenly asked.
Giles nodded. He looked down at his arms. All his hairs were standing on end. So was Buffy's.
"I'm getting the heebie jeebies," Xander whispered.
Brooks slowed the truck down and finally came to a stop. "This is as close as we go in the truck. Let's gather our weapons and we'll go the rest of the way on foot."
Xander blanched and glanced out the windows. The sun wasn't setting yet, but it would be soon. "Uh, what about the animals? Did you say we shouldn't be outside? And the heat and... what about snakes?"
Buffy paused. "Snakes? There's snakes?"
Even Giles paused his hand as he reached for the door.
"This place is enchanted," Brooks told them. "That's what you are all feeling. I'll take the lead with my scope and rifle, but animals are the least of our concerns right now."
"You said before there were stories, and that no one has survived traveling here?" Buffy asked.
Brooks exited the truck and they all followed his lead. They waited for him to answer as they took out supplies. They each had a backpack and had various weapons, but only Brooks carried a gun. Buffy gave Giles an impatient look, and even the Watcher was getting a bit annoyed at the lack of information. "Brooks, if you know something, tell us, man!"
"Yeah, what he said," Xander said, stomping his foot into the sand.
Brooks strapped on his pack and then turned to face the other three. "The animals are at their command. The land is enchanted, with wards of protection set up. I believe we have a chance if we go in with the intention of rescuing your friend, and thinking of nothing else but the bonds you all have. The land feels any threatening thoughts or actions towards its people. Stay focused on the love you have for each other, and the love for your friend, and we'll be alright."
"And you didn't think that was something we should know?" Buffy countered.
Brooks gave her an exasperated look. "Time is ticking. Soon the ritual will begin. I planned on telling you everything on the way. Shall we?"
Giles adjusted the straps on his pack and nodded. He took Buffy's hand and pulled her close. "I'll be thinking about you, luv. Nothing can hurt us if we concentrate on our love, just like he said. The wards will feed off our emotions." He squeezed her hand and she squeezed back, sticking close to his side as they followed after Brooks and Xander.
"It's so quiet," Xander whispered. Shadows began to fall.
The desert floor was uneven in places, and Xander tripped, falling headlong into the sand. Buffy leapt forward to help him up. She dusted off his clothes. "Are you okay?" She inspected him carefully. He looked pale. "Xander?"
He slowly nodded. "I'm okay. Really. It's just... I can't help being scared when I think of her. You have Giles, but who do I have? What if I get eaten by a giraffe or something, because no one loves me?"
"Oh Xander. We love you." Buffy pulled him into a hug. She looked over her shoulder at Giles and nodded at him. He approached and awkwardly pulled them both into an embrace. "Yes, Xander. We love you."
Xander wiped at his eye and smiled at them both. "Thanks guys. I love you too. Not like you love each other, you know. And, I think it's great. Really, I do. I'm sorry for earlier, Giles. I was just worried."
Giles squeezed his shoulder. "I know, Xander, and I appreciate it. Let's go. Brooks isn't slowing down for us." Xander nodded and hurried to catch up, but Buffy grabbed Giles' hand.
"What was that all about?" she asked him.
Giles softly kissed her cheek and smiled, pulling her along. "Guy talk, Buffy. Don't worry about it."
"Guy talk? Okay, now I'm really worried."
Giles just smiled wider. "I believe we just received his blessing."
"Oh." Buffy was quiet for a moment but then she straightened her shoulders. "Well, that's good then."
* * *
Willow was slumped against the chains. Her arms were almost out of her shoulder sockets. She was almost to the point of wishing for death. She wasn't scared anymore. She was too tired and too thirsty to be scared.
That was before the lion stood up and roared.
The chanting built. Twelve men in full tribal gear entered the cave. They were the cause of the chanting. They each held a torch and they formed a semi circle behind the Shaman. Only the Shaman refrained from chanting. His eyes bore into Willow's. She suddenly stood up, no longer slumping in her bondage.
There was a burning sensation in her chest and head. It grew in intensity. It felt as if the Shaman was tearing at her soul and turning her body inside out. Willow started to scream.
Buffy stopped in her tracks. She tilted her head and then took off at a dead run.
"Buffy!" Giles shouted and hurried to chase after her. Xander took off too, and Brooks loped behind, struggling to keep up.
"I hear her!" Xander cried. "She's screaming. Oh god, Buffy, help her. Help her!"
There was a lion guarding the opening of the cave. It roared as Buffy approached. She skidded in her tracks and came to a stop, frozen with fear.
Giles came up behind her and put his hands on her shoulders. He concentrated, filling Buffy with all the love he felt for her. Buffy began to relax. She reached up and cupped her hands over his. She felt the warmth flooding her. She felt his love, and turned back to the lion. "You can't hurt us." The lion fell back, bowing its head.
Like a shot, Buffy took off once again. She crashed into the cave, hopped onto a boulder, and jumped over the men. She landed between Willow and the Shaman. "Willow!" she screamed.
Willow was still screaming. Buffy shouted her name again and then turned to face the Shaman. The men's chanting increased in volume. The Shaman's eyes glowed. Buffy held up a hand. She could feel the power coming all around her. She felt it flowing into Willow. She held up her other hand and pushed. The Slayer inside of her screamed. Buffy closed her eyes. "Push, Willow! Push!" Buffy sent her love. She imagined it flowing into Willow and protecting her. It created a force field around her best friend. Soon Willow stopped screaming. She pulled at her chains and they broke. The chanting stopped as Buffy screamed. She pushed with her mind and her hands and literally felt the power hurtle out of herself and Willow, doubling in force, and it exploded into the Shaman and his men. The tribal men screamed. There was a flash of light. It filled the cave. Giles and Xander and Brooks covered their eyes as they entered, and then fell to their knees as an explosion ripped through the cave.
"It's going to collapse," Brooks shouted. "We must hurry!" He grabbed at Xander's arm and tried to pull the boy to safety.
"No!" Xander shouted, struggling with the older man. "Willow! Buffy!"
"Go with him!" Giles shouted. He pushed Xander towards Brooks and then hurried into the cave.
It was dark. He wrestled his back pack off and took out the flashlight. Using it to help light his path, he ran farther into the cave.
When he reached the end he saw Willow kneeling on the ground. Buffy was crumpled by her feet. "Giles! She won't wake up."
Giles let out a strangled sob in the back of his throat. He fell to his knees and cleared her face of her blonde hair and sand. "Buffy! Buffy!" She wouldn't wake up. He gathered her in his arms as the ground began to shake. "We have to get out of here before the cave collapses. Can you walk?" he asked Willow.
Willow nodded. Now that her magic had been restored, thanks to Buffy, she felt energized. She felt as if she could carry Buffy in one hand, and Giles in the other.
Giles cradled Buffy to his chest and stood up. He and Willow hurried out of the cave, just making it before it exploded into dust. It was sucked into the sands of the desert. Willow glanced back over her shoulder and gasped. It looked as if the cave had never even been there at all.
"What happened?" Xander asked. "Willow!" He saw his friend and grabbed her into a bear hug, lifting her feet off of the ground. "Willow! Are you okay? What happened to Buffy?"
Willow couldn't breathe, Xander was hugging her so tight. She patted his back. "I'm okay. Buffy saved me." She told him what happened as Giles carried Buffy to the truck. Brooks opened the doors in the back and held out his arms, but Giles wouldn't let go of Buffy. He climbed into the truck, still clutching her tightly in his arms. He wasn't putting her down. Brooks had to examine her in that position. He sighed. "We have to get her back to the warehouse."
"What's wrong with her?" Xander asked. She just appeared to be sleeping. She wasn't bleeding, and she had no bruises. Xander didn't understand.
"It's her life force," Willow whispered. "She used it to save me, and now... she's drained of all her life force."
Xander just looked at her blankly.
"She's dying, boy," Brooks whispered.
Giles closed his eyes and shook his head, holding her tighter. "She's going to be fine. She'll be fine." He concentrated on his love, trying to fill her with it like he had in front of the lion. He felt nothing coming from her. She was like a rag doll in his arms.
The hours dragged by as they drove back to their campsite. Xander urged Brooks to press on, but he shook his head. It was dangerous, he reiterated. "What could be more dangerous than what we just faced?" Xander asked, exasperated.
"The dangers of Africa are too numerous to name," he said gruffly. "We have to eat and drink, and the animals we'd encounter during the night won't stop with warm fuzzy thoughts. They aren't enchanted, they're just hungry and territorial, and they come in packs. Even this truck would not have a chance if a herd of elephants wished to attack. We'll leave as soon as possible, but there is nothing we can do for Buffy anyways. Only her will to live will make her survive."
Giles hadn't said a word the entire time. He just sat in the back of the truck with Buffy in his arms. His face was a mask as he concentrated on willing Buffy to live. "Every beat of my heart is for you," he whispered in her ear. "Please don't leave me, Buffy. Please... please don't leave me."