TITLE: Magic 4/14
AUTHOR: Rari Coss
DISCLAIMER: It all belongs to Joss, the real king of the world, the WB, UPN, Fox, Mutant Enemy and anybody else who feels they own it. Im just borrowing, lost in admiration, and then giving them back, memories wiped clean.
FEEDBACK: Absolutely.

As the guns and crossbows were being aimed Giles spoke. “If you hurt them, I will kill you.”

The man paused and looked back. “Not if you’re dead.” He looked at one of the armed guards. “Shoot him first.”

The guard lifted his gun and aimed it at Giles. Willow let out a horrified cry. Spike tried to move in front of Giles but Giles wouldn’t let him. Giles took a few steps, stood in front of both Spike and Willow and waited.

Willow cried out. “Giles, don’t.” She grabbed Spike’s arm. “Do something.” Spike was doing something. He was watching. He trusted that Giles knew what he was doing. If Giles was killed, they would be too.

The guard pulled the trigger and a bullet left the chamber. It flew at Giles and he reached up his hand and he caught it. More bullets flew, more than Giles could catch. They simply stopped when they got to within an inch of him and fell harmlessly to the floor. Giles saw the man at the door make a gesture. Guns and crossbows were lifted and aimed around Giles at Spike and Willow. Giles’ eyes darkened. He raised a hand up. Spike plastered himself over Willow trying to protect her as several guns and crossbows were fired simultaneously.

They never reached them. They never got past Giles. Spike watched as the bolts and bullets hit a barrier and rolled down it to the floor. The floor began to be littered with them. Spike stood up straight and began to smirk. He rocked back and forth on his feet.

Giles looked at the man in the charcoal suit. “You cannot kill me. You waited too long.” He shook his head. “I’ve been asking you to kill me for months and you have ignored my requests.” He pointed at Spike and Willow. “They are my guests. They are under my protection and they will remain unharmed. If anyone tries to hurt them…” He didn’t finish that sentence. He took a step closer to his failed executioner. Giles was gratified to see some fear at last showing in those flat dark eyes. “I don’t want to hurt anybody. I never have. But, if you attack what is mine, there will be a price to pay and that will be on your head. With a thought I can kill everyone in this building.” He took a step closer. The man retreated a step. “Do you believe me?” The man hesitated. Giles smiled. “Would you like a demonstration?” The man slowly shook his head.

Giles turned around and headed back to Willow and Spike. The man motioned again and several guns were fired at Giles’ back. Giles ignored them. He reached Spike and Willow and turned around standing in front of them. He held his hands up palms facing the guards and the man in the suit. He spoke softly. “You have until the count of ten to leave this room.” He started counting softly. “One, two, three…” The guards started looking nervously at each other. The man’s lips tightened. “Four, five, six...” The guards started inching their way to the door, fear on their faces as the man continued to stand there without calling them off. “Seven, eight…” The man gestured with his head and the guards ran from the room. “Nine…”

Giles watched as the room was vacated and the door closed. “Ten.” He took a deep breath and let down his hands. He turned to Spike and Willow and asked. “Are you both all right?”

Willow just threw herself into his arms and she hugged him tightly. Spike grinned at him. “Remind me to always stand on this side of you.”

Giles laughed and he squeezed Willow and let her go. Willow looked at the door. “What were you going to do?” Giles could still see fear in her eyes.

He looked sadly at her. “Do I frighten you, Willow?”

She touched his face. “No, no, Giles, you don’t. They frightened me. They were just going to kill us.” She looked at him again. “What were you going to do?”

Giles squinched his face up. “I was mostly just hoping I wouldn’t have to do anything.”

Spike looked appalled. “You mean you couldn’t do anything to them?”

Giles shook his head. “That’s the problem. I do too much. I was afraid I’d blow up half the building, and perhaps hurt you as well.” He let out a shaky laugh. He remembered too much of what he’d been capable of when the monster was angry.

Spike frowned. “But, if push came to shove…?”

Giles looked at him. “They’d be dead.” Spike nodded, satisfied.

Willow looked at Giles. “When you were protecting us your magic didn’t go all screwy.” Giles pursed his lips thinking about that. He shook his head. “That’s true.” He ran his hand through his hair.

Willow reached out and played with a curl for a minute. “Your hair is so long.” It felt silky beneath her fingers.

Giles smiled. “Well, no one wanted to give me a haircut.” He chuckled as he continued. “Or scissors.”

Spike thought about the man who had ordered their deaths. “Who was that wanker?”

Giles shook his head. “I have no idea. I’ve never seen him before.” He walked over to what used to be his window and rested his chin on the opening. Giles spoke softly. “You should have gone while you had the chance.” His voice was filled with sadness.

Willow walked over to him and rested her forehead on his back. “I’m not leaving you again.”

Spike walked over as well. “Let’s just go. They can’t keep us here.”

Giles tentatively reached a hand out and touched the ground. He stretched as far as he could and picked up some dirt, running it through his fingers. Giles spoke softly. “I can’t go, I’m not allowed to leave.” He lifted himself up with his hands and stuck his head out the opening. He let himself back down. “I haven’t been outside since…” He thought for a minute, trying to remember months and dates. He shook his head and looked at Spike. “Since they put me in here.”

Spike tightened his lips. He wanted to kill the Council. He gestured to the window. “They can’t stop you, you know.”

Giles looked at him, not understanding. Willow could see that he was confused again. She touched his arm. He looked at her. “Willow?”

She smiled. “Yes, it’s me. Me and Spike.” Giles looked at her and then at Spike. Giles took a deep breath.

“I’m sorry. I keep…I can’t believe you’re really here.”

Willow spoke softly. “We’re really here.” She looked outside. “Why don’t we go for a walk?”

“A walk.” Giles breathed the words as if they were a prayer. He looked at Willow. “We’ll come back here when we’re done?”

Willow hesitated and then nodded. “Yes, we’ll come back here when we’re done.” Spike shot her a look and she gestured sharply with her hand, lips tightened. Spike rolled his eyes and paced around the room.

Giles thought for a minute. He nodded. “I’d like that.” He looked back up at the window, wondering if he’d fit through the opening.

Spike followed his eyes and grinned. “Don’t worry, I’ll get you out.”

Spike lifted Willow up and she wiggled her way out the window. Giles brought a chair over and stood on it. He looked down at his broad shoulders and looked at the opening. He frowned. Spike tapped him on the leg. “Didn’t say it wouldn’t hurt.” Giles rolled his eyes. He pulled himself up and got his head and one arm and shoulder through. Willow grabbed his arm and started pulling.

“Ow! Hold on Willow.” Willow let go and looked at Giles apologetically. He smiled at her. “Wait until Spike starts pushing.” Spike stood on the chair with Giles and looked at him frowning. He reached up and started shoving on Giles’ shoulder, hard. Giles wiggled his body and between Willow pulling and Spike shoving, his shoulders finally were both through. Spike lifted up Giles feet and helped him the rest of the way through, Giles walking forward on his hands until he could get purchase with his feet.

Spike easily pulled himself up and through, following Giles out. Giles stood, standing quietly. His heart began to race and he felt dizzy. He had to lean against the building for a minute until the dizziness passed. Willow and Spike watched him, concern in Willow’s eyes, impatience in Spike’s. Finally Giles stood up and began walking. He stopped at his trees. He put both hands out and rested them on the bark of one of them. He softly caressed it. He smiled. He opened his eyes and saw Willow looking at him. He laughed, feeling a little self-conscious. “These trees kept me company. They feel like old friends.”

Willow fought back the tears, as she thought of Giles, alone for all this time, with nothing but two trees to keep him company. Willow stepped up behind him. She rested her hands lightly on his back. “I’m sorry. Can you ever forgive me for waiting this long? I should have come sooner.”

Giles turned around and took her hands in his. “Willow, there is nothing to forgive. I’m just sorry I got you into this mess.”

Spike had been listening for any unexpected company. He walked over to them both. “Great, you’re both sorry. Can we get the hell out of here?”

***

The man in the charcoal suit watched them as they walked off Council property. He slammed his fist down on the table, feeling completely impotent. He hadn’t been afraid of anything for a long time, but Rupert Giles terrified him. The man had no idea how to eliminate someone who seemed to be unkillable. His eyes narrowed as he ran scenarios through his mind.

***

Spike started trying to herd them to the car. It was a slow process and he wanted to scream. It was as if Giles was walking outside for the first time. He stopped frequently, needing to touch everything. He strolled slowly, breathing deeply. Spike stayed close by, trying to keep his impatience under control, his vampire senses noting any noises or movements. Willow walked by Giles’ side. After a while she snuck her hand in his and he smiled at her as he laced his fingers through hers. He still felt so touch deprived, the sensation of holding Willow’s hand shot through him like a lightening bolt. He closed his eyes for a second, enjoying the sensation.

When they finally got to the car Spike unlocked it. Giles took a step back, fear in his eyes. “Are you leaving?”

Spike held up the car keys. “No, we are leaving. Get in.”

Giles took another step back. Willow stopped him from retreating further with a hand on his back. “Giles, we need to go. We need to get you away from here. We have a plane waiting for us.”

Giles shook his head. Spike slammed his hand down on the roof of the car. “What the hell is your problem? We came to get you. Now we have you. Now we take you home.” He flashed a frustrated look at Giles, holding his hand out as if nothing could be clearer.

Giles squatted down on the ground, putting a hand out to balance himself. He needed desperately to think. There was too much going on. He could hardly bear it. Willow could see that he was trembling. She motioned to Spike to be still. She crouched low next to Giles. “Giles, we just want you to be safe. I don’t want them to be able to hurt you anymore.” She slowly reached a hand out to touch him, hoping it wouldn’t frighten him. “Do you understand? We just want to take care of you.”

Giles sat on the ground, pulling his legs up. He wrapped his arms around his legs and just rested his head on his knees. He closed his eyes. Willow watched him for a minute and then got up walking over to Spike.

Spike looked at Giles and back at Willow. “What’s the matter with him? Why won’t he come with us?”

Willow smiled sadly. “It’s too much. It’s too much for him to handle.” She looked at Spike. “For over a year he’s been by himself. No conversation, no stimulus. Just nothing. We’re overwhelming him.”

“He seemed fine back there when we were being attacked.”

“He was afraid for us. He’ll be okay again. He just needs some time.”

“I don’t know if we have time. They could be coming for us.” He looked at the sky. “Plus it will be dawn in a couple of hours. I’ll need to get to safety.” The last time he’d needed to take Giles away, he’d been able to knock him unconscious. It wouldn’t work this time. Spike shook his head. “This has got to be the most bloody useless rescue attempt of all time.” He looked at Giles again, waited as long as he could stand to, and then walked over and crouched down next to him. “Giles, we have to go. They will try and kill me and Willow if you don’t.”

Giles lifted his head and looked at Spike. Spike pointed to himself and then to Willow. “Remember me, remember Willow, the two people you don’t want to be dead?” He raised his eyebrows at Giles.

Giles nodded wearily. Things were making more sense to him. “Spike, the only way you will be safe is if we don’t go.”

Spike’s eyes widened. “What the hell are you talking about now?”

Giles continued. “Do you really think the Council will let us walk away?” He looked at Spike, nailing him with his gaze. “They’ll be after us, no matter where we go. We can’t go back to Sunnydale.” He looked up briefly at Willow. “You won’t ever be able to go back, not if we leave now.”

Willow swallowed hard. She sat down next to Giles. “Why do you say that? They know they can’t kill us.”

Giles softly touched her cheek. “No Willow. They know they can’t kill me. They can still kill you and Spike and they will. That man won’t forgive us easily for making a fool of him.”

“But you won’t let them kill us.”

Giles looked at her, his eyes full of worry. “I can only protect you if I’m with you. Do you want to live that way? Never more than a few feet away from me?” He shook his head. “I know you didn’t exactly see them at their best in there, but the Council security and extermination teams are among the best in the world. I’m sure they’re watching us now.”

Spike laughed. “Number one, I’d know if they were watching us and number two, you evaded them for two years.”

“Only because I was willing to kill anyone who got in my way, including any innocent bystanders, because I didn’t care. Or it didn’t care. I did, it almost destroyed me.” He looked at the ground. He picked up a stick that was lying there. He felt its texture underneath his fingers. Looking at Spike he continued speaking. “I guarantee you that they’re here, somewhere, watching us. If we leave here, we leave as fugitives. Always on the run, always hiding, no place to call home. I don’t want to do it again. I wouldn’t want you to ever have to do it.” He looked at Willow. “They’ll find us, and the only way we’ll survive is if I kill again and keep on killing.” Willow’s eyes filled with tears as she saw his eyes fill with pain and shadows.

Spike pursed his lips and Willow looked away. Giles shook his head. “I meant what I said. You shouldn’t have come.” As Willow started to protest he put his fingers over her lips. “I understand why you did, and I’m grateful, but I would never have chosen my freedom in exchange for yours, never.”

Spike stood up, walking a short distance in explosive fury. He turned around and faced Giles. “So, what? What are you saying? We all go back and give ourselves up? We all live as prisoners? You think that’s a better solution than being on the run?” He held his hand up. “I vote for running. If they lock me up I’m as good as dead. I won’t be able to feed.”

Giles ran his hand over his face. He rubbed his eyes. His head was pounding. “I need to go back. I need to convince them to leave you alone. I’ll let them do what they want with me.”

Willow edged closer and threw her arms around him. “I’m not leaving you. I’m not letting them have you.”

Spike watched the two of them his brain thinking furiously. He paced back and forth in front of them. He lashed out and kicked a nearby tree. “God, what a fucking joke. We’re fucked if we stay and we’re fucked if we go.” He kicked the tree again. He turned to face Giles again. “I still say we go. I say we go to the plane and we leave.”

Giles looked up at him. “The plane won’t be there. They’ll have already found it.”

Willow’s eyes widened. “What about the pilot?”

“Dead.” He stood, pulling Willow up with him. He looked at Willow. “This is what it will be like. Everyone who tries to help will be a target. You’ll cause deaths everywhere you go.” He looked at them both. “I’m sorry. I can’t do it; I can’t be responsible for more deaths of people who don’t deserve to die. I can’t.” His eyes filled with tears. He covered his eyes, rubbing at them with the heels of his hands, letting out a groan.

Willow put her arms around him again, sending a panicked look to Spike. She didn’t know what to do. She felt like she’d made everything worse. Spike just kept pacing. Willow pulled back and stood next to Giles. “Spike, you go. You can stay alive. I’ll stay with Giles. He’ll make sure nothing happens to me.”

Spike sent her a furious look. Willow held her hand up, trying to placate him. “Spike, I can’t leave Giles. I won’t leave him. And he won’t go. He’s right anyway. I don’t want to live like that. I don’t want people’s death on my conscience. And I can’t ask him to take that on for me.”

Spike was not placated. “This makes no sense. How can they keep you a prisoner when they can’t control you, when they can’t even keep you inside? What makes you think they’ll let you live, that they’ll let her live?”

Giles looked at Spike. “Détente. They’ll get to keep their eyes on me. I will get to keep my eyes on them. We will all walk gingerly around each other and leave each other alone.”

Spike thought for a moment. “And in the meantime we come up with a plan?”

Giles nodded his head. “In the meantime we come up with a plan.”

Spike kicked the tree one more time. “Fuck. Let’s go.” He turned around to face Giles. “But when I need to feed, you turn your head.”

Giles nodded. “I’ll turn my head.” Willow gasped and Giles reached for her hand squeezing it. She looked up and when she made as if to speak she saw Giles gently shake his head.

They slowly walked back in the direction of the Council. Spike spoke to Giles. “So, do you really think that nothing can kill you?”

Giles thought for a moment. “Well, I know I can’t die of a drug overdose. I know I can’t bleed to death, or starve to death.”

Spike grinned at Giles. “My, my, you have been a busy boy.”

Giles grinned back. “Yes, well, I had time on my hands.” He squeezed Willow’s hand again. “We know bullets and arrows can’t kill me.” He looked at Spike. “What else is there?”

Spike smiled. “Suffocation, decapitation, disembowelment, sudden impact, explosions…”

Willow reached over and smacked him. “Stop it.” She shivered. “You know way too many ways to die.” Spike just grinned at her.

Giles thought about Spike’s list. “I suppose if you cut my head off, I’d probably die, but I don’t know that a sword could get that close to me.” He looked at Spike. “Do you have a knife with you?”

Spike nodded and reached into his coat. He looked at Giles, a little uncomfortable. “Do you just want me to stab you?”

Willow grabbed Spike’s arm. “No, you’re not going to just stab him.”

Giles gently touched her arm. “Willow, it’s all right. I need to know.” He pushed her away from him and looked at Spike. “Just try and stab me in the arm.”

Spike frowned. He lifted the knife across his chest and slashed out with a backhand motion. The knife just bounced off of Giles almost cutting Spike. Spike’s eyebrows lifted. He looked at the knife. At Giles’ nod he tried again, aiming for Giles’ stomach. Again, the knife bounced off. Spike let out a whistle. “Okay, now we know you can’t be stabbed, or decapitated, or disemboweled.” He grinned. “The list is getting shorter.”

Willow let out a disgusted sound. She reached for Giles’ hand again. “Let’s just walk. No more talk of killing. Not tonight.” Giles closed his fingers on hers again and nodded. Suddenly Willow gasped. Giles looked at her concerned. “Oh my God, I have to call Xander.” Giles grinned and headed them off in the direction of the nearest public phone.

Willow used her calling card and dialed Xander’s number. After several rings Xander answered.

“Hello?”

“Xander?”

“Willow? Are you all right? Did you get Giles?” Willow smiled. Then she frowned. She didn’t answer right away. Xander gritted his teeth. “Willow, talk to me.”

“I’m here, I’m just not sure how to answer your question.”

“Which one, the confusing ‘are you all right’ one or the real challenger ‘did you get Giles’? I’m thinking one word answers here, Will.” She giggled and he nominally relaxed. “You’re giggling, that’s good. I guess that means they’re not torturing you.”

Giles took the phone from Willow. “Xander. It’s me, Giles.”

“Giles! It’s good to hear your voice.”

“It’s good to hear yours as well.”

“So, why is Willow so stumped by my questions?”

“Well, a few complications have developed but nothing serious.” He turned away from Spike’s disgusted expression.

“What kind of complications?”

“We’ll just be staying here for a little while longer.”

“I don’t like the sound of this. Does someone have a gun to your head?”

Giles let out a short laugh. “No. No. It’s hard to explain right now. In fact I don’t really know how to explain without making you worry and I don’t believe you need to be.”

Xander let that sentence run through his head. “Right. I feel much better now.” He let out a long breath. “That’s sarcasm. You heard that, right?”

Giles chuckled. “Yes, Xander, that came through loud and clear.”

“At least you and Willow are okay, yes?”

“Yes, we’re fine, and not in any immediate danger. We just can’t come home right now.”

“Well, you better get home soon. You’ve got a namesake here that’s going to want to be meeting you in a few days.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“Anya, she’s expecting twins, a boy and a girl. We named them already. The boy is going to be William Giles after you and Will, and the girl is going to be Elizabeth Anya after Anya and..well..Buffy.”

Giles had to fight the tears away. He rested his head on the telephone box, the surface feeling cool to his skin. He let out a shaky breath. “I..I don’t know what to say.”

“Nothing to say big guy. Just come home, and bring Willow with you.”

Giles pushed his fingers under his glasses and rubbed the moisture away. “I’ll do everything I can to get us there.” He paused. “Give Anya a hug for me.”

“I’ll do that.” Xander bit the inside of his cheek. “Giles?”

“Yes, Xander.”

“Are you sure you’re okay?” At Giles hesitation Willow took the phone again.

“Hey, it’s me Willow again. Did she have the babies?”

Xander allowed himself to be distracted. “No, but she’s getting very crabby so I can only pray it will be any second or you may be coming home to demon mincemeat.”

Willow giggled again. “Thanks Xander.”

“For what?”

“For being there, so I could call you.”

“You know, for someone who just engineered a successful prison break, and for someone who’s just been broken out of prison, I am noting a distinct lack of major happies.”

Willow sighed. “I’ll call you again, as soon as I can.”

“Okay, I am totally not liking this whole thing, but, once again, there’s not much I can do about it. Tell Spike I’ll still stake him if something happens to you or to Giles.”

Willow giggled again. “Take care Xander.”

“You too, Will.”

Willow hung up the phone. She looked up at Giles and saw that his eyes were still bright. She smiled. “He told you about the babies?” Giles nodded. Her eyes grew bright too. She moved her head in a determined nod. “We’ll go see them together.” She looked up at Spike. “All of us.” They stood there for a moment and then they turned away from the phone booth and headed back to the Council.

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