Title: Dreamer (2/6)
Author: Luisa
Pairing: B/G
Rating: PG-13 (for the last time in this fic...)
Disclaimer: Sadly, not mine. :'-( Buffy, Giles and the crew belong to Joss & Co.
Feedback: Is the stuff fic is made of. If you'll be so kind as to offer some, I promise I'll write some more fic.

And so here he was. Hunched over uncomfortably on an unbearably small couch that really was not designed for someone of his age and length to be sleeping on, having tossed and turned upon it all night. Still, it was better than the alternative. He refused to sleep in Joyce's room - it was still too soon to start encroaching on her memories. Yet, ironically it was because of her that he was here in the first place.

Giles gave another grunt and polished his glasses with the corner of the sheet for the fifth time in exasperation. Couldn't Buffy see how it was to be sleeping under the same roof as her for him? Was she really that blind to her own beauty that she couldn't see how any red-blooded male would react?

Realising that he'd polished his glasses for longer than was necessary, he placed them on his nose and rose to get a drink. She'd been sweet with her words and welcome by way of apology for consuming his time. [Make yourself at home Giles.... after all, you do so much for me - I ought to do the same for you... besides, you have given up your time for me...] She'd smiled sweetly at him in gratitude and apology, before adding, [go on... help yourself to anything, I insist... a drink, or food.... you can even take a bath if you like, the spare towels are in the linen cupboard...] He sighed at the pathetic schoolboy reaction he'd had [What I really want is you...].

Another loud moan distracted him from the memory, replacing it with the recollection of her request after the "Scoobies" had left.

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"Buffy, would you mind telling me what has brought this on?" He'd asked as he sank onto the couch beside her after washing the dishes together in silence.

She had hesitated for only a moment before Willow's words came back to her ["Yeah he's just so... Giles"] joined with his own words of comfort [You know you can talk to me... anytime. You can even cry on me...]. The memories encouraged an honest answer. "Giles, I... I'm having trouble sleeping."

She paused, and Giles took the chance to clarify her meaning, before the rest of his body responded by jumping to unnecessary conclusions. "You mean... you're having nightmares?" She nodded silently, her eyes suddenly bright. "Prophetic?" Giles enquired with a sense of unease.

"No. Not prophetic. Just..." For the third time that evening, Buffy wondered what was going on with her vocal chords as the sentence died on her lips. She swallowed past the lump in her throat and tried again to explain. "It's just... since mom... died" - she choked out the word as if it were living fire - "I've been having... nightmares about losing her again... horrible pictures of finding her all over again... every time different, but always the pain is the same." The tears broke free, cascading silently down her cheeks and Giles felt his heart break in sorrow for her pain. "Then it turns to losing you - all of you - I'm all alone and I don't even have you to turn to for help. It would... it would just help to know that you're here - if I wake up afraid that I'm really alone... like I do most nights." She added in almost a whisper.

Giles drew near to her and once more wrapped an arm around her. "My poor L..." he caught himself just in time and corrected himself, "Oh Buffy, why on earth didn't you say something sooner? Of course I'll stay, now that I understand."

"Oh Giles. Thank you..." She'd barely managed to find her voice amongst her overwhelming emotions, before she buried her face in his shoulder once more and cried her heart out for the second time that evening.

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That was hours ago, and Giles was still feeling the pain of realising how helpless he was in this situation - there was nothing he could do to take the dreams away, but simply be here for her if she woke, and continually support her as long as they continued.

A particularly loud moan pierced the air, chilling Giles to the bone. Whatever she was dreaming about, Buffy sounded like she was in pain.

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