Title: Deceptions and Betrayals 8/21
Author: Ness
Contact: sessa1_2@yahoo.com
Written: 09/08/2003
Spoilers: Nothing after "Wrecked" in season 6 on BtVS and anything before "Sleep Tight" on AtS. But this is completely AU.
Summary: This one is a sequel to "When You Least Expect It". If you didn't read that one, this will probably confuse you.
Pairings: Cordelia/Giles and Buffy/Wesley
Rating: PG most of the time but there are NC-17 parts.
Distribution: Anyone that already has permission. Anyone else, please ask first.

Disclaimer: We all know who owns 'em and it ain't me. Joss and Co. are gods in their universe, I'm just a peon in mine.
Thanks to Suzanne for the beta. It is much appreciated, Chica. *G*
A/N: I did a bit of juggling with this after Suz saw it, so any and all mistakes are mine--as usual. ;-)
Dedication: This one is for Kerrie. She gave me the idea that ended an almost six month block. She read this puppy even though she didn't normally read these pairings. Now, I've corrupted her or that's what she says anyway. *G* Thanks darlin', you're the best.

Giles was sitting at his desk Wednesday morning when he was suddenly assaulted by another overwhelming dizzy spell. He gripped the sides of his desk in an effort to stay upright. Damn, he had thought this was taken care of. He had made an appointment to see a doctor and when he'd been examined, the doctor could find nothing wrong. This was the second time the dizziness had occurred since that appointment. Robert had suggested taking time off--if the doctor couldn't find anything wrong, perhaps it was just exhaustion. Giles wasn't so sure. He picked up his office phone--and then put it down. He left his office, telling his secretary he was taking the rest of the day off. He got a bright smile out of her when he suggested she do the same.

****

Giles walked along until he was out of sight of the museum, and then changed course and headed to a pay phone. He flipped through the phone book until coming upon the name of a clinic. He called and made an appointment. He caught a cab and gave the address to the driver.

As he walked in, he was beginning to doubt the suspicions that made him choose this course of action. The receptionist greeted him.

"May I help you sir?" she smiled.

"Yes. I have an appointment for Rupert Giles."

The receptionist checked her computer and looked back at him.

"Yes sir. The doctor is free if you'd like to step inside."

Giles walked in the door that led to the examination rooms. The closer he got, the more he was convinced he was just being paranoid and he should see the doctor he normally went to. Giles had almost convinced himself to walk out when a young, dark-haired woman with hazel eyes came up to him.

"Hello, I'm Dr. Sandra Madison. You must be Rupert Giles. Come in and we'll get started." The doctor had extended her hand as she spoke. When Giles shook her hand, her eyes suddenly became very wide and she gripped his hand tightly. She quickly pulled him into the examination room and almost slammed the door in her haste.

Giles wasn't sure what was happening, but he didn't like it. When he made a move to leave, the doctor stepped in front of the closed door.

"No!" She squeaked. She cleared her throat and spoke again. "No, please don' t go. Not yet."

"Who are you?" Giles was becoming anxious. "I wish to leave *now*." He pushed by her and had turned the knob when her voice stopped him.

"You're having dizzy spells." The words spilled out. She couldn't let him leave yet, not yet. "They're getting worse, yet all the doctors you've been to say there's nothing wrong. You came here today on an impulse."

Giles turned slowly and looked at the young doctor.

"Who are you?" he repeated in a quiet voice. "And how do you know that?"

The doctor closed her eyes and sighed.

"I know it because I can sense it on you."

"What in the bloody hell are you talking about?" Giles struggled to keep his voice quiet, mindful that these rooms were not soundproof. It wouldn't do for someone to interrupt them before he had his answers.

Dr. Madison sat down on a stool. She hadn't felt this drained in a long time. Magic-or the touch of magic, rather--always did this to her. She looked up to find an irate-looking Rupert Giles glaring at her.

"Sit down, Mr. Giles." She waved wearily to a second stool. "This may take awhile."

Giles sat down, careful to keep his distance. He didn't like this one bit. "I'm seated. Tell me what's going on."

"First, there are things you need to know about me--my credentials, as it were." Sandra told him.

"I don't need to know where you graduated medical school!" Giles snapped.

"No, you don't!" Sandra's nerves weren't in much better shape than his. "But you do need to know how I can sense things." She cocked an eyebrow at him. "Or do you not need to know how I know what I know?"

Giles flushed. "Of course I want to understand why you are telling me these things."

"I thought so."

She took a deep breath to help center herself. She felt like she had been punched in the stomach when she'd touched him.

"I come from a family of witches." The doctor knew that if this man didn't believe her, he would be out the door in a heartbeat. He would probably also report her to the AMA. She was risking a lot, but she had to try to help him. She breathed an inward sigh of relief when he remained. "Most of us are practicing. Most of us are very powerful--to varying degrees."

"And you?" Giles was intrigued in spite of himself.

"I'm not a practicing witch."

"Why?"

"Because I don't have the power." Sandra gestured with her hand. "Oh, I could learn the spells if I wanted to, but the innate power--just don't have it." She shrugged.

"Then what do you have?" Giles asked archly. "Because you certainly have something."

"You're right. I guess, if I had to put a label to it, I would have to say I was an empath for magic."

Giles did his best not to look skeptical. He knew he probably shouldn't be considering everything he had seen over the years, but to have a doctor of medicine blithely announce that she could sense magic--well, it was a bit hard to believe, even for him.

"What does that have to do with me, if I may ask?" He also wasn't prepared to rule out the idea completely.

The doctor was used to skepticism. "I sense dark magic all over you."

"What?" Shock colored his voice.

"Please sit down, Mr. Giles." Sandra was fighting the weariness that was threatening to overwhelm her. She massaged the back of her neck where the nerves had begun to knot. "I will try to explain."

Giles sat warily. He didn't like where this conversation was heading.

"My gift is the ability to discern magic around me. And what I see in you is someone using dark magic to interfere with the natural order of things."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that someone who is highly skilled has woven destructive magic into your body so that it interferes with your health and well-being." She shook her head. "I've never seen this level of sophistication before,and believe me, I'm very familiar with powerful magic. The others in my family are *very* good at what they do. Whoever is doing this has a great deal of skill, knowledge and natural ability--and maliciousness."

"How would someone be able to do what you've just described?" Giles was already thinking of where he could begin to look for answers.

"I don't know." Doctor Madison shrugged. "I just know it's there. The only reason you came here is either someone else is trying to offset the dark magic--or the dark magic has caused your own innate abilities to surface enough to make your intuition stronger and more--vocal--if you will."

"Who?"

"Again, I don't know." She sighed. "I told you, I can only detect the magic and if it is good or evil." Sandra looked at Giles. "The only reason I'm risking what I am to tell you this is because it would go against everything I believe not to--both as a doctor and a human being."

Giles nodded absently. "Would one have to be in constant contact with the dark magicks in order for them to--function?" Giles wasn't sure what word to use to describe what the magic was doing to him.

"I would think so, but I can't be absolutely sure." Sandra answered. "There again, I've never seen this level of skill or, quite frankly, maliciousness before. I would say that, at least in the beginning, the caster would have to have some sort of contact with you in order to cement the magic's hold on you."

Giles nodded again. That would explain why the spells went away when he was at home or away from the office for an extended period of time. Because now he had no doubt that the museum was where the magic was being done. The only question now was to discover who and why.

"Mr. Giles, are you all right?" Sandra Madison wasn't sure what was going on. And to be truthful, she wasn't totally sure she wanted to.

"Yes, yes, I'm fine." Giles assured her.

"Do you need someone to help you with this problem? I have several people in my family that could probably help." Sandra's mind was working furiously to decide who to call if he did need help.

"No. I have resources of my own, thank you." He stood up and extended his hand without thinking. When he did, he moved to withdraw it. He remembered how she had blanched when she had touched him the first time. But she surprised him and grasped his hand before he would move it completely.

"If you need anything, call me." She handed him one of her cards. "You are on the receiving end of some very bad magic, Mister Giles. Be careful."

"I will be very careful, Dr. Madison." Giles gave her a cold, thin smile. "I appreciate all you help." He took the card. "Thank you again."

"You're welcome." Sandra Madison watched him leave before shaking her head. She hoped he would be okay. Then she remembered that smile--maybe she should feel sorry for whoever did this to him. She shook her head again and went to get her next patient.

****

Giles took his time going home. He wasn't sure what to tell his wife. He knew that if she knew, she would be worried. That problem concerned him all the way home.

"Cordelia, I'm home," he called as he shut the front door.

"I'm in the bedroom."

Giles walked to the bedroom. When he got there he was astounded by what he saw.

The closet looked as though it had blown up!

"What happened here?" he asked mildly.

"I'm trying to figure out what to wear to Dawn's birthday party." Cordelia's voice answered from inside the closet.

"Don't you think it's a bit early?"

"It's never too early to plan on wowing people, Giles. I thought I had taught you that." She said as she came out of the closet.

He chuckled.

"I stand corrected and reminded."

"That's better." She couldn't help but laugh with him as she glanced at her watch.

"What are you doing home so early?" she asked. "Not that I mind," she added.

"I decided to take the rest of the day off."

Her eyes narrowed for a moment--then shrugged. She had taken the day off, he could take the day off. Besides, if something was going on, she'd find out soon enough.

"So what do you want to do with our mutual, unexpected day off?" she asked as she began to hang up clothes. She still hadn't found anything to wear. She also needed to talk to Lorne, she had planned on doing that today. Oh, well. Plans change.

"Whatever you wish." Giles was still pondering what the doctor had told him.

"Well, I had planned to have lunch with Lorne, but I can call and cancel."

"Nonsense." Giles protested. "If you've made plans, by all means, go."

"Are you sure?" Cordelia *really* needed to talk to Lorne.

"I am positive." Giles assured her. "Perhaps we can do something after lunch--just the two of us."

"That sounds great." Cordelia tried to hide her relief.

Giles was relieved as well. Cordelia going to lunch with Lorne afforded him the opportunity to do a bit of research into his problem.

Cordelia finished putting things away and left to meet Lorne. Giles dug into some of his magic books and began to research. If he couldn't find anything here, he would be forced to start making calls to the appropriate people.

****

Cordelia was right on time. She pulled into the Caritas parking lot with two minutes to spare. She went inside and found Lorne.

"Hi, Lorne," she said as she sat down at his table.

"Hello, beautiful."

"Lorne, I hate to get straight to business--but have you found out anything about pregnancy tests for half-human, half-demon Seers to souled vampires?"

"That's a mouthful, isn't it." Lorne grinned at her.

"Lorne!" Cordelia glared at him.

Lorne thought to tease her again--until he saw her start to glow. Um, maybe pissing off a half-demon human who had yet to explore her full powers wasn't the greatest idea in the history of ideas.

"Keep you shirt on, sweetums."

She continued to glare until he sighed.

"I've got a friend that's into this type of mojo, he might be able to help."

"When do I meet him?"

"You don't."

"What?" she exclaimed.

"Cordelia, calm down," he pleaded.

"I can't calm down. I may be pregnant, I haven't told my husband, and I'm not exactly sure what this baby's going to be if I am pregnant. That situation doesn't lend itself to calmness, Lorne." She glared at him.

"I understand that." Lorne wondered why it was always him. He sighed. "But getting upset isn't going to help anything. My friend doesn't like humans--even half-humans."

"Then why is he helping me?"

"Because I asked him sweetcakes. He owes me and I stressed how important this is." He didn't tell her how much fast-talking he had actually had to do in order to get this particular demon to agree to do this.

"If he doesn't see me, how is he going to do a test to see if I'm pregnant?"

"He's here, he just needs to see you. He'll give you a looksee and then let you know in a few days."

"Why so long?"

"I don't know, Cordelia!" He was becoming exasperated with all the questions.

"But, you're supposed to know. You're the host." She didn't stop to think how simplistic that sounded. She just wanted to know the answer to the problem that had been plaguing her for weeks now.

He just looked at her for a moment before dropping his head in his hands.

"What?"

"Nothing." He took a deep breath. "He told me he needs to check on some things after he sees you. He'll let you know by this weekend."

"I need to know by Saturday. I promised Buffy I would tell Giles by then."

"I can't promise you that, kiddo." The green-skinned demon looked at the distraught woman seated across from him. "I'll do my best to light a fire under him, but I can't push much. He's already doing this under protest--so to speak."

"Why does he dislike humans?"

"I don't know and I didn't ask. Since I'm asking him to put aside his hostilities, I didn't think it would be a grand idea to get him stirred up about them."

Cordelia nodded. "Good point."

"I'll let you know as soon as he lets me know." Lorne knew this was hard on her.

"Thanks."

"You're welcome." Lorne excused himself.

Cordelia watched a couple of demons sing before she decided to meet her husband. She was curious as to what their after-lunch activities were going to be. She grinned wickedly to herself. she had a pretty good idea.

****

The phone rang. A man reached to pick it up with a trembling hand.

"Hello?" He listened for a moment. "It took you long enough to get back to me." He listened longer this time before answering. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry," he apologized in a cajoling voice. "I think we have a problem. No, I don't know for sure." He was exasperated at the nonchalance on the other end of the phone. "Rupert Giles left abruptly today. If he discovers what we're doing--there will be trouble all around." He listened again--becoming more agitated all the while. "I understand that. But you're not the one closest to him if he finds out." The man slammed the phone down. He didn't know what was going to happen, but he had a very, very bad feeling about it.

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