Title: Morning After part 4
Author: Michelle
Rating: FRT
Pairing: Buffy/Giles
Summary: What happened in the morning? Sequel to Counterpoint
Setting: Season five, "Checkpoint"
Warning: Character death - not a major character and not graphic
Disclaimer: These are not my characters. They belong to Joss, Twentieth Century Fox, UPN, WB & Mutant Enemy. This is purely for fun.
Previous parts can be found here. - http://www.livejournal.com/users/mrsdrake/tag/morning+after
*** Thanks to trkkr47 for the great line. ***
Travers didn't move. The other Watchers, however, started inching towards the door.
Buffy glared at Travers for only a second before grabbing him by the throat. "Tell me why I shouldn't kill you right now." She relaxed her grip only enough to let him speak. When he didn't respond, she pushed him toward the training room. "We wouldn't want any witnesses," she said with a smile.
"Buffy?" Wesley asked, "Is this really necessary?"
She didn't answer as she slammed Travers up against the door to the training room. "One last chance. Once I open the door, you're dead."
Travers looked around the room. No one made a move to stop Buffy.
As Buffy reached for the doorknob, someone spoke up. "He doesn't know where Mr. Giles is," Lydia said. "None of us do. We hired someone to take him away. We don't know where he is now. We've been assured that he's safe."
Buffy let go of Travers and turned around. "Who took him? Who did you hire?"
"Ethan Rayne," Lydia said.
Buffy paled at the thought. "Ethan," she whispered. She took a step and stumbled. Wesley caught her arm to steady her. "I'll never see him again."
Wesley looked at Travers. "I believe you've overstayed you're welcome."
"That means leave. Now," Anya said loudly.
*********************
Buffy watched as Quentin Travers and the Watchers left the store. Once they were gone, her strength failed her, and she slumped against Wesley. "I'll never see him again," she repeated.
Wesley helped her sit and knelt in front of her. Taking her hands in his, he spoke softly to her, "Buffy, I promise I will do whatever it takes to bring him back to you."
Tears shone in her eyes as she met his gaze. "You don't understand. Ethan has him."
"I'm afraid I don't understand. Who is Ethan?" Wesley asked.
"Ethan and Giles used to raise demons and have orgies together," Anya said bluntly. Xander and Willow glared at her. "Well, it's true."
"That was a long time ago," Xander said. "Every time he's here, he causes trouble. He's cursed candy, turned us into our Halloween costumes, turned Giles into a demon. He's no good."
Wesley started to speak, but Willow interrupted. "We'll tell you all about it later. Right now, all you need to know is that Ethan is always causing trouble. He thinks it's fun."
Buffy had been silent, and they'd almost forgotten she was there. They were all startled when she spoke. "Ethan is an evil sorcerer who gets a kick out of making trouble for Giles. Every time he comes around, I end up kicking his ass."
Wesley turned his attention back to Buffy. She was silent again. "Perhaps we should take you home."
Buffy looked panicked. "Oh God. Mom and Dawn. They don't know. Mom will ask what happened. What am I supposed to tell her? I can't tell her the truth. She'll kill me."
"She won't kill you," Wesley told her.
"She'll hate me."
"I missed something," Xander said. "What happened?" Willow walked over and whispered something to him. "You've got to be kidding." Willow shook her head.
"I was wondering when they'd get a clue," Anya said. "Too bad the timing stinks."
"Uh, Guys," Tara interrupted. "You could be a little more sensitive. Buffy's a little fragile right now."
Buffy didn't seem to hear them. "Wesley, I can't go home. I can't talk to her."
The phone rang, interrupting Wesley's response.
Tara answered the phone. "Magic Box, how may I help you?" She paused as she listened. "She's here, but she can't come to the phone." Tara listened a moment. "I think she'll be home later." She paused again. "Bye." As she hung up the phone, she spoke to Buffy. "That was your mom. She's worried and wanted to know when you'd be home."
"Buffy, you should go," Willow said. "You know how worried your mom gets."
"You'll let me take you home?" Wesley asked.
Buffy nodded.
*********************
Joyce was surprised to see Wesley bring Buffy home. "Wesley, I didn't expect to see you."
"I came to help with the Council, but . . . perhaps we should talk about that later," Wesley suggested.
"What's going on?" Dawn asked from the top of the stairs.
"Dawn, it's good to see you again," he said.
"You've changed," Dawn told him.
"I hope that's a good thing."
"We'll see," she said with a smile.
"Buffy and your mother need to talk. Why don't we go make some hot chocolate?" he asked.
"Alright. I guess."
Buffy sat on the couch as Wesley and Dawn disappeared into the kitchen. Joyce sat next to her and brushed hair away from her eyes. "Buffy."
"Don't start," Buffy snapped. "You don't know what I've been through."
"Why don't you tell me?"
Buffy remained silent.
"Buffy, I understand more than you think. I may not be a Slayer, but I remember what it's like to be your age. I know everything feels like the end of the world." She hesitated a moment. "It's not the end of the world, is it?"
"No," Buffy answered quietly.
"Then what could be so terrible?"
"Giles is gone, and I'll never see him again," Buffy told her as tears started to form in her eyes.
"Is that why Wesley is here? Is he your new Watcher?"
"No. Yes. I don't know." She took a deep breath. "The Council had Giles kidnapped by Ethan Rayne."
"Why would they do that?"
"I had sex with Giles, he proposed, we were going to elope, Travers found out, and now Giles is gone," Buffy blurted out all at once before she burst out crying.
Joyce pulled Buffy into her arms and rocked her gently. "Oh Buffy. I'm sorry."
"They left a note to make me think Giles had left me," Buffy said between sobs.
Joyce kissed the top of her head. "You know he'd never leave you. He loves you."
"You knew?"
"A mother notices these things."
"Why didn't you say anything?"
"I knew he'd tell you when the time was right."
"Too bad the Council had to interfere." Buffy still sniffled a little. "You're not mad at me?"
"No. I was worried when you didn't come home yesterday."
"Sorry about that, but . . ." She looked at her mother. "I am so not telling you about that."
"I guess your feeling better."
"A little. It still hurts to think that Giles is gone."
"I'm sure he'll find a way back," Joyce assured her.
"Do you think so?"
"He's a man in love."