Title: The Rules Have Changed - part 2 of ?
Author: Michelle
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Buffy/Giles
Summary: Giles is attacked and has an unusual way of dealing with it.
Spoilers: Set after the finales of Buffy and Angel.
Feedback: I love it, want it, and need it.
Website: http://www.drakeleather.com/bripper/index.shtml
Distribution: If you want it, you can have it. Just tell me where to find it.
Disclaimer: These are not my characters. They belong to Joss, Twentieth Century Fox, UPN, WB & Mutant Enemy. This is purely for fun.
Author's note: This is written for the Ripper ficathon.
Many thanks to Elizabuffy and Beadtific. You helped a lot.
"Rupert! Oh my God!" Buffy shouted. Visions of finding her mother lying dead on the couch sprang to her mind as she ran to him and collapsed by his side. He had the phone in one hand and what looked like a business card in the other.
She checked for a pulse. It felt a bit weak, but there was one, and he was breathing. She sighed in relief and turned her attention to the card in his right hand. It was a business card for a doctor - an oncologist, Dr. Sonia Picone.
"Why?" she asked. "Why do you need a doctor?"
She wiped the tears from her eyes and took the phone from his other hand. She tried to calm herself as she dialed the emergency number on the card. The doctor answered right away. "Hello, I'm a friend of Rupert Giles. He needs help," she said. "I was out for a while, and when I came home, he was lying on the floor. I was gone for only an hour. He was fine when I left earlier."
Buffy was surprised when the doctor told her to wait with him and that help would arrive soon.
"Why didn't you tell me?" she asked him. "I love you. You can't leave me." She took his hand in hers and kissed it. "Please don't leave me," she cried. "I can't lose you."
* * * * * * * * * *
Buffy opened the door for the doctor and was surprised by what she saw. The doctor was carrying a large, black leather bag in one hand, and a crossbow in the other.
"One can't be too careful," she said casually as she entered the home. "You must be Buffy?"
Buffy nodded. "And you're Doctor Picone?"
"Please call me Sonia. Where is Rupert?"
"He's in the kitchen."
Sonia followed Buffy through the house to the kitchen. "Has he moved since you called me?" she asked, kneeling beside him.
"No."
Buffy felt numb as she helplessly watched Sonia check Giles' pulse, breathing and vitals.
"Is he going to be all right?" Buffy asked.
"For a while. He probably just passed out from the pain. He told me his headaches have been getting worse." She reached into her bag and pulled out a small vial. As she opened it and emptied the contents into Giles' mouth, she spoke a few words in Latin.
Buffy was shocked. "What did you do?" she demanded.
"It's just a small spell," Sonia stated as though it was nothing.
"A spell? What kind of spell?"
"He hasn't told you about any of this, has he?"
Buffy shook her head.
"Help me carry him to the bedroom where he can rest. Then I'll explain everything."
Buffy lifted Giles from the floor as she said, "I can carry him."
Once Giles was lying on his bed, Buffy turned to Sonia. "So what's wrong with him?"
"You'd better sit. It's a long story," she said as she brought a chair closer to the bed.
Buffy sat and waited for the story.
"Before I begin," Sonia said. "I want to let you know that I'm not breaking any confidence by telling you any of this. Rupert and I discussed this. I urged him to talk to you, and he told me he would try. I assume he never did." Buffy shook her head. "He doesn't like to talk about himself."
"I know. You should have seen what it took to get him to share his medical history, not to mention his magical history."
"Okay," Buffy interrupted. "That's what I don't understand. What does magic have to do with any of this?"
"I'll explain all that in time. As I said, Rupert didn't tell you about his condition, but he said that if anything should happen to him, if his condition worsened, then I should tell you everything. He wants you to know, Buffy. He just doesn't know how to talk to you about it."
"Is he going to survive?"
"I don't know. Under normal circumstances, I'd say yes, but things are far from normal."
Sonia watched as Buffy took Giles' hand in hers, holding it tight.
"Three months ago, he was attacked. He thought it was a random attack, a demon out to have some fun. He began to worry when he became ill soon after."
"Wait," Buffy said. "Three months ago he was still living in England. You're telling me he was sick before he moved to Rome?"
"Yes. I believe it was his primary reason for moving. He wanted to spend time with you."
"So, he's sick. What happened?" Buffy asked.
"He went to see several doctors. Eventually, he was referred to my office here in Rome. That was the other reason for his move."
"But what's wrong with him?"
Sonia brought another chair close to the bed and sat close to Buffy. "There's no easy way to tell you this. He has a malignant brain tumor."
Buffy gasped. "No," she whispered.
"The cancer was brought on by magic when he was attacked. Traditional treatments have been tried with no evident improvement. In fact, some of the treatments made him worse. That's when we started looking for a magical cure. So far, we have had no luck, though I have been able to control his symptoms and keep him comfortable with pain killers and simple spells."
"There's no way to help him?" Buffy asked.
"None that I've found, but Rupert thinks he may have a plan."
"A plan? What kind of plan?"
"He hasn't told me. He did say he's afraid to tell you about it. He doesn't think you will approve."