TITLE Laura Giles Part 6/?
AUTHOR Laura Curtis
PAIRING None so far
RATING G
SUMMARY ‘Uncle’ Merrick comes home for a visit and reveals he has found her and he knows who her second watcher will be.
DISCLAIMER Don’t own them, just the ones I make up. Don’t know them. Only going to have fun with them. I promise to return them unharmed.
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September 1995
There is a knock at her door and when she opens it Laura gets the surprise of her life. “Uncle Merrick! What are you doing here?”
Merrick smiled, walked in the door and hugged Laura. “What can’t an Uncle visit his favorite niece?”
“Oh you, of course you can but what are you doing here in England? You were looking for the lost Potential.” Laura pulled away from him, eyes widened, “You found her didn’t you? What’s her name? What’s she like?”
Laughing Merrick let her go so he could go into the living room. “Give me a minute to sit down and then I’ll tell you everything. How about some tea as well, it was a long flight from California.”
Laura laughed. “Yes of course. I’ll get Mary to fix some tea and be right back.”
While Laura was gone Merrick pulled a folder out of his briefcase. Looking inside at the photo within he smiled and shook his head.
“What are you smiling about Uncle Merrick?”
“I will tell you, but first let me begin from my arrival in L.A. I did a location spell on a map of Southern California to see what area I should start in. Her light showed up in one of the outer suburbs. So I went to that area and got a room to stay in. I then went out and got a map of that area. I waited until midnight, I felt she would be at home by that time. I took the map with me, incase she wasn’t and went looking for her house. Do you know how hard it is to get around in L.A.? It took me most of the night, which was good cause she wasn’t at home to begin with, but by the time I found her she was. So I waited all night in my car to get a look at her when she left for school. But after being up all night I fell asleep and didn’t get to see her until she came home from school.”
“Well? What does she look like?”
Shaking his head Merrick looked at Laura. “You’re not going to believe this but you have seen her.”
“What? What do you mean ‘I’ve seen her’? Uncle Merrick I’ve not been back to America since I came here to England.”
“Do you remember the soul mate spells you and Rupert did a while back?”
With a dreamy smile Laura answered, “Yes I do. How can I forget his handsome face?”
“Do you remember the other face you saw that night?”
After a moment Laura’s eyes widened. “You don’t mean Rupert’s soul mate do you?”
He nodded. “When I first saw her I knew I knew her from somewhere. It took me a little time to realize where I had seen her before. Then I thought, maybe it’s her mother who will be his soul mate, then I saw her. And no it’s not her mother who will be Rupert’s soul mate. It will be the slayer herself. Here have a look, I took some pictures of her.”
Merrick passed the photos to Laura. “Her name is Elizabeth Summers but they call her Buffy.”
After looking at them Laura looked up at him. “She looks younger then I remember from the spell.” After another moments thought. “We can’t let him see these.”
“I thought that as well, so we’ll keep this between us. He doesn’t even have to know I was here. Wait, do you expect him here anytime soon?”
“No, he’s away on Council business. He had to go visit another watcher in France, he won’t be back for a week.”
“That’s good. I’ll be on my way back to California by then. I have to go to the Council the day after tomorrow to make my report and get my instructions. Then I’m going back and observe her for a while. I’ve made some contacts over there and so far Lothos isn’t in the area, also Sha'uri from Egypt is still the active slayer. The Council also doesn’t know what we know. That she will be a slayer, the Chosen One.”
“You’re not going to tell them are you?”
“Good heavens no. First they would want to know why I thought she would be a slayer. When you know there is no way of knowing which of the Potentials will be called. Second they would want me to show them the proof and we both know where I got that book. They would punish me for keeping this information from them. And third you know I didn’t return the book so that is theft. No, what they don’t know won’t hurt them. I will be recommending Rupert as my replacement as well once she is the slayer.”
With a look of concern Laura asked? “You didn’t return the book? Where is it?”
“I hid it in a safe place.”
“Uncle Merrick, if something happens to you the secret of where the book is will go with you.”
Merrick smiled, “Alright. Do you remember the day I left to go find her?”
“Yes.”
“And you and Rupert were arguing because he was picking on you?”
“Yes.”
“Well while you chased him outside I snuck upstairs and went into your room. I put the book in one of those hiding places in your room.”
“That narrows it down a bit. There are only about a hundred places in there. Just tell me where it is.”
He smiled. “Very well, its behind the portrait of your Grandmother Giles. Its being watched by a watcher.”
Laura rolled her eyes. “Uncle Merrick, that is so bad.”
“I know, but I thought you’d get a kick out of it. Now, I went to my solicitor before I came here. I’ve signed everything over to you and Rupert upon my death. My library almost rivals the Councils especially the restricted section. The only things I couldn’t get copies of is about the First.” Upon see the quizzical look on Laura’s face Merrick said. “Rupert will understand what I’m talking about.”
Laura’s eyes widened. “Oh Uncle Merrick. Once you go back she could become the slayer at anytime. Then you won’t have too long to live.”
Merrick put his arms around her. “Laura you know I willingly except my destiny. And when I do die, I will do so knowing that I have trained her the best I can then Rupert will take over. I‘ll wait and watch her at first. When I hear about Sha‘uri’s death then I‘ll contact her and begin her training.”
“I know but I can’t help thinking that this will be the last time I’ll see you. We’ll take care of your books. I’ll add them to the family collection. Rupert may be able to use them to help her.”
“That’s good. Cause if even half of what that book says is true, she’ll need all the help he can give her. Now I don’t report to the Council until day after tomorrow, so for the next two days I want to go see and do things. Will you go with me? I know of a few places that you haven’t seen and would be of interest to you.”
Laura nods her head and smiles even though her heart is breaking. Because she knows when he leaves it will be the last time she sees him alive.
Two days later and after a whirl wind tour of England and Scotland Laura and Merrick are at the door saying their goodbyes.
Laura is hugging him fiercely. “I don’t want to let you go.”
“I know my child. But remember this, it may be a while before she becomes the slayer and you could visit.”
Pulling away from him. “I couldn’t do that. It would kill me each time knowing that it could be the last time I see you alive.”
“I know but just keep this in mind. I’ll go to God knowing I’ve done all that I can to prepare her. And I’ll keep a eye on you, helping you if I can.”
“Do you have any regrets Uncle?”
“Only one. I wish you could have been my real daughter instead of just a adopted niece.”
With tears flowing down her cheeks Laura hugs him tight again.
“Come now. Time I was leaving. Can’t keep the Council waiting.” He pulls back a little.
He hugs her one more time then releases her. Turning to go to his car he stops. “Take care of each other. The book said that she will die twice. If she is Rupert’s soul mate that will almost kill him. You need to be there for him.”
“I will Uncle Merrick.”
Looking at her one last time he smiled and called her a name she had not heard since she was a little girl. “Goodbye Aislynn.”
She went back into the house and broke down crying. Five minutes later Rupert came in the door. He saw her crying and went up to her and hugged her.
“Laura, what’s the matter?” Rupert took Laura over to the couch and sat down with her.
With her head against him she said, “Uncle Merrick was here. He just left.” Then she looked up at him with sad eyes. “He’s found her Rupert. He just left to go and report to the Council and then he is going back to California.” She then looked down at the floor. “We won’t see him alive again.”
“Oh Laura. We knew this time would come. He knew this time would come. Don’t be sad, yes we’ll miss him, but he could have years to go before she is a slayer.” Lifting her head up so he could see her eyes “Now tell me all about her. I know you found out all you could about her from him.” He said with a smile in his voice.
Laura smiled a secret smile knowing that she would be telling him about her, his soul mate.
“Well he had one picture of her, but that goes to the council. She’s pretty, blonde hair, young, and not what you would expect as a potential or a slayer, let alone the Chosen One. That could be to her advantage. Her name is Elizabeth Summers but they call her Buffy.”
“Buffy Summers. Did he do the soul mate spell yet?”
“I don’t think so, at least he didn’t say so. I don’t think he’s been close enough to her to be able to get a piece of her hair. And he would also need to know her favorite incense scent. So if he hasn’t introduced himself yet he wouldn’t know that.”
“So he’s found her, but Sha’uri is still the active slayer. No of telling that when she dies, Buffy will be the next slayer called. All we know is that she will be one. So we need to keep an eye on Sha’uri. And when she dies see if anyone else is called. If not, then we know she is the one. Uncle Merrick will let the council know and we pray it’s a long time before he dies.”
“Also Uncle Merrick has made some contacts in L.A. and so far Lothos hasn’t appeared there. We need to find out if anyone knows where he is.”
“I’ll contact Dennis at the Watchers Headquarters Library. I’ll tell him I’m doing some research on Lothos and see what he can tell me. Hopefully he’ll be able to tell me where Lothos is.”
“If he or someone he knows is aware of Lothos’ location, can they keep track of him?”
“Yes, if we know where he is now then we can follow his movements. And once he reaches L.A. then we can warn Uncle Merrick.”
Looking up with hope in her eyes, “Lets do this. Lets help him in anyway we can to keep him alive for as long as we can.”
“Alright Laura.” Rupert smiled and looked at his watch. “Dennis should be home by now. I give him a call and ask him for the information. I’ll tell him that I’ll pick it up tomorrow. That way I can tell him in person what is going on. Dennis will help us with this.”
“How do you know?”
“Because Uncle Merrick was his training watcher. He thinks of Uncle Merrick as a grandfather. Let me go call him.”
Rupert got up and went to make the phone call. Laura sat back a little relieved knowing that they were going to be able to help. Even if it was in only a small way.