TITLE: Magic 6/14
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.

The three of them slept through the day. As night fell Spike woke up. He stretched and stepped out of his room. He poked his head into Willow’s room and he frowned when he saw she wasn’t there. He walked quickly to Giles’ room, worried that perhaps they’d been taken. He opened the door and saw them both on the bed. All he could see was the top of Willow’s hair peaking out. Giles was sprawled on his stomach, still on top of the covers, one arm thrown over Willow. Spike watched them for a minute, smirking. He backed out of the room and quietly shut the door behind him. Walking over to the kitchen area he fixed himself a snack. He headed to the couch, flipped the television on and sat back, waiting for them to wake up.

Giles woke up first, the same way he’d woken up a dozen times during the day. His heart was pounding, fear clenched in his gut. Once again he turned his head to find Willow next to him. He slowly relaxed, slowly fought back the fear. He started to sit up and she stirred. He held still allowing her the chance to drop back off to sleep. She turned onto her back, started to stretch and as her arm stretched out her hand touched his arm. He watched her, watched as her brow started to furrow. Watched as she spread her fingers out and felt his arm again. Giles started to grin, watching her as her mind tried to figure out what was going on. Her eyes shot open and she started to sit up. When she saw him she let out a breath and flopped back down. Giles started to laugh at her and she made a face at him. Giles just grinned. “It’s been a while since you’ve woken up with someone with hairy arms, hasn’t it?”

Willow nodded and grinned, blushing a little. Giles grinned back. He stood reaching for his robe. Putting it on he sat back on the bed. He was feeling calm and peaceful sitting here with her. He wanted to prolong the moment, not ready to face what the day might bring. He spoke again. “What happened to Tara?”

Willow rolled on to her side facing him. “We broke up. She’s dating someone else now. She seems happy.”

“I’m sorry.”

“No, don’t be. It was a mutual thing.”

“So you haven’t found someone new?”

She reached out a hand and softly touched his face, just for a second. She pulled her hand back. She didn’t answer him. After a minute he started to move off the bed. She spoke. “What time is it?”

Giles shook his head. “I don’t know.” He walked to the window, pulling the curtain aside. “But it’s dark.”

She rose up on her elbows. “We slept all day?”

Giles smiled. “Apparently.” He came back and sat on the bed. “Do you feel rested?”

Willow nodded. She stretched her arms and legs again letting out a loud yawn. She smiled at him. “Thanks for letting me stay in here with you.”

Giles smiled and got up to go to the bathroom. He ran his fingers through his hair and brushed his teeth. He drew on the pants he had hung on the back of the door. When he came back out Willow was still lying in bed, staring at the ceiling.

He looked down at her. “Are you all right?”

She looked at him, a rueful smile on her lips. “Yes. I was just wondering what happens next.” She pulled back the covers and sat on the edge of the bed. She looked down at herself and plucked at her T-shirt.

Giles watched her hesitate. He spoke. “Do you want me to get your clothes from your room?”

She looked at him, her eyes huge. She nodded and then looked at the floor. He got up and left the room heading for hers. He saw Spike and greeted him. Spike nodded at him, his mouth full of crackers. Giles made his way to Willow’s room and found her suitcase where she had thrown it. He opened it and pulled out her clothes. Holding them tucked under his arm he brought the suitcase into the living room. He placed it down in front of Spike.

Spike looked at it for a minute and Giles watched his eyes as he made the connection. Spike shook his head and lifted angry eyes to Giles. “Those fuckers.” Spike couldn’t care less about the pilot; he didn’t like that they’d made their point through Willow.

Giles nodded, his eyes angry as well. He took a deep breath and headed back to the bedroom. He laid Willow’s clothes on the bed. He smiled at her. “Take your time, feel free to take a shower, or whatever else you need.” She looked at the clothes and tentatively touched them. “Willow?” She looked up at him. “You don’t have to wear them. We can go buy you new things.”

She shook her head. “No, it’s all right. It just still makes me sad.” She sent him a tight smile. Giles continued to look at her and she stood. “Really, it’s all right. I’ll be all right.”

He nodded, not convinced. He pointed to the living room. “I’m right out here if you need something.” At her nod, he left, closing the door behind him. When Giles got back to the suitcase he picked it up. He walked over to the door of the suite. He put out his hand and turned the knob. He was surprised when it turned all the way and he was able to open the door. A guard was outside the door. “Mr. Giles, what can I do for you?”

Giles handed out the suitcase. “Please take this to Mr. Jensen. Tell him we got the message. Tell him if he does something like that again, I’ll kill him. Tell him I expect him to deal with me, not go through a young frightened girl.” As the guard nodded, Giles shut the door in his face.

Spike watched Giles as he shut the door. He could see the anger in Giles’ posture. He watched as Giles leaned against the door, arms extended.

Giles was struggling, trying to fight the anger he was feeling. It still frightened him to be angry. Even though he knew he was free of the monster’s grip, if his emotions grew too strong they could still make the magic stir. It was stirring within him now. He wrestled with it, just the thought that he might lose control of it generating enough fear to make the effort futile.

Willow walked out of the bedroom and padded over to the couch on bare feet. Spike looked up and sent her a smile. “Hello, pet.” She grinned at him and sat, pulling her legs up under her. She glanced over at Giles. Suddenly she sat up straight and looked nervous.

“Giles?” She could feel the magic. She needed to see Giles’ face. She walked over to him and touched his arm.

He flinched away, and shook his head. “Not now, Willow.” She stood there, not sure what to do. Giles briefly glanced at her and she saw in his eyes that it was still him, still Giles, despite the magic she sensed; the monster hadn’t come back. She let out her breath. Giles lowered his arms and took a deep breath. He looked at her again. “I need to be alone for a while.” He moved away from the door, walking around her and headed into the bedroom, shutting the door behind him.

She cast a nervous glance at Spike who had been watching the exchange. Spike spoke. “What’s his problem?”

Willow walked back over to the couch and sat down again. “I could feel his magic.”

“Like before?” Spike looked nervous.

She shook her head. “No. Well, sort of. Just the power part, not the evil part.” She grimaced and glanced towards the bedroom door. “I think he was pretty wigged.”

Spike rolled his eyes. “I don’t know what he’s worried about, he’s not the one who’s going to get flattened.” He ran his palms tightly over each other, simulating pressing something tightly. At Willow’s confused gaze Spike shook his head. She hadn’t seen what he’d seen. She hadn’t seen what Giles had done to those demons. He looked at her. “We need to get out of here.”

Willow’s lips tightened. “I know. We need to figure out how to make the Council let Giles go.”

“I wasn’t talking about Giles, I meant you and me.”

Willow’s eyes opened wide. “What do you mean? We came to get him out.”

Spike nodded and reaching for his cigarettes, tapped one out. “That’s right. We did our part. He wouldn’t go with us, remember?” He lit his cigarette and took a deep drag. “If he’s gonna go crazy with the magic again I don’t want to be on the same continent with him.”

Willow was starting to get annoyed. “Spike, he’s not going crazy.” She crossed her arms over her breasts. “And I’m not leaving him.” She shot him a pleading look. “I can’t leave him.”

Spike flicked some ash in a cup. “And then what, Willow? Are you just going to stay here the rest of your life? Rot in here with him? What good will that do?”

“I don’t care. Besides Giles said they’ll kill us if we leave.” Spike shrugged. Willow’s jaw dropped and she smacked him. “Easy for you to say, you’re already dead.” She scrunched her face up. “Or whatever.”

Spike took a last drag and dropped the butt into the cup. “Look, if you want to stay, stay. But as soon as I can, I’m out of here.”

“So, what’s keeping you? Go, now.” She fought back the tears so they didn’t fall on her face but they still showed in her voice. “Don’t you care Spike? Don’t you care what happens to him?” She was desperate for him to say yes.

He saw her face and sprang off the couch. “Fuck.” The problem was that he did care and that pissed him off as much as anything did. He moved over to the window and felt the night calling to him. He looked back at Willow, at her trembling body, her eyes bright with unshed tears. He glanced at the closed bedroom door. He hated the hold they both had on him. He shook his head, feeling trapped by the Council, by this room they were in, by his own weakness. He opened the window and jumped outside. He leaned back in. “I’ll be back.” He pursed his lips. “Unless they kill me. If I’m not back, you’ll know to stick close to Giles.” He spun around and walked off.

Willow watched Spike until he blended in with the darkness. She sat there not knowing what she should do, how she could help. All she knew was that she couldn’t leave Giles again. She had been orbiting him for years and now she was feeling his gravitational pull. She needed him; she needed to be near him, as elemental a thing as the need for food and water. She didn’t know if it was the magic calling to her, or the friendship, or the attachment of a rescuer for the one rescued, or a combination of all three and more, but she felt the pull and she knew she couldn’t leave.

Giles lay on the bed. The magic was quiet again. He had listened to Willow and Spike’s voices. He couldn’t hear what they were saying but he knew they were fighting. He was sure it was about him. He wished he’d made them go. As much as he wanted Willow here with him he wanted her safe more. The problem was that he didn’t know if she was safer with him or away from him. He clenched his fists and hit the bed by his sides. He saw no way out for him. He felt like he was in a maze with no center. And if there was no way out for him, he didn’t see a way out for Willow.

It was quiet out in the living room now. He knew that Willow would be worried about him. He got up and going into the bathroom splashed some cold water on his face. As he was drying his face with a washcloth he looked up in the mirror. With his hands on the washcloth covering the bottom half of his face he stared into his eyes, looking for answers. He reached over and turned off the light plunging the bathroom into darkness. He lowered the washcloth and threw it on the counter.

He walked out into the living area and saw Willow huddled on the couch. She looked up in relief when she saw him. He smiled a tight smile at her and walked to the kitchen to make some tea. He sent a questioning look her way holding up the teakettle. She nodded and watched him as he calmly went about making them tea. He picked up both mugs and walked over to the couch. He handed one to her and he slowly sat down being careful not to spill his. He took a sip and held the cup in his hands, the warmth of it comforting. He looked around. “Where’s Spike?”

Willow looked away. “He left.” She qualified her answer. “He’ll be back.”

Giles wondered about that but he didn’t say anything. He looked at Willow. “I’m sorry I keep putting you in such danger.”

Willow shook her head. She tried to grin. “That’s me, danger girl.” She wasn’t very successful.

He looked at her with an affectionate gaze. “Still.” He took another sip. He thought for a minute. “Eight years.” She looked at him not understanding. “That’s how long we’ve known each other.”

“Feels like forever.” She looked at him, her eyes wide, realizing how that sounded. “I mean that in a good way.”

Giles smiled. “I know.” He took another sip. “It does seem like forever.”

They sat there in a companionable silence. Willow gazed out the window. She frowned. “Where do you suppose he’s gone to?”

Giles looked at her, cocking his head to the side. “Willow.”

Her lips tightened. She shook her head. “Nothing’s going right.”

His heart tightened in his chest at the pain in her voice. “I’m sorry.”

She looked at him, shaking her head with a frustrated motion. “No, don’t be sorry.” She took a deep breath. “It’s not your fault. It’s me. I’m not danger girl at all, more like naïve girl. Somehow I thought we’d come and get you and bring you home and all live happily ever after. I’m so stupid.” She held the still warm mug against her cheek and closed her eyes.

“Don’t say that.” She opened her eyes at the severe tone in his voice. “Don’t ever say that about yourself. You aren’t stupid. You’re one of the bravest and smartest women I’ve ever known.” He continued. “No one is ever prepared to go against the Council. They are too powerful, too…” He couldn’t seem to think of the right word. He stretched the fingers out on one hand, trying to demonstrate what he was thinking.

“Too spider webby?”

Giles smiled and nodded. “Thank you. Exactly. Too spider webby.”

She grinned to hear him use such a silly word. It made her feel better. She put her cup down. “Hungry?” At his nod she moved into the kitchen and started trying to figure out what they could have. He sat there for a moment finishing his tea and then rose to assist her.

They had just finished dinner when Spike came back. He looked quite pleased with himself. Willow winced at the look on his face. She hated to even think about what he’d been doing. Spike clapped his hands together, a sardonic grin on his face. “See, safe and sound, no stake through the heart, no friggin’ swords flying at my head.” He looked at Giles. “Tell her we can go.”

Giles heart started to race. He couldn’t bear the thought of Willow leaving. But he knew he couldn’t keep her here. He took a deep breath but before he could speak Willow did. She looked at both Spike and Giles. “I’m not leaving. I’m not leaving without Giles.” She glared at Spike. “And don’t even think about knocking me out because as soon as I’m awake I’ll just come back. You can’t keep me away.”

Giles tried to speak again but she cut him off. “Don’t say it. Don’t even think about saying it.” She turned furious eyes to Spike. “And you, if you really don’t care what happens, just go, I don’t want you here. But if you do care, then shut up about leaving.” She started stacking plates, slamming them together. Giles winced expecting them to shatter.

He bit off a grin, knowing Willow would not be amused, and he shot a glance at Spike. Spike was just watching Willow, his eyes wide. He started to tap a cigarette out of his pack and shook his head. “How I get into these fucking situations is beyond me. Jesus H. Christ.” He flicked his lighter and drawing hard he lit his cigarette. He walked over to the couch and threw himself down full length upon it.

Willow glanced at Giles and saw the amusement in his eyes. She swung to him still furious. “And you, Mr. I think this is so funny. Start thinking of a plan. Put that stupid brain of yours to work.”

Giles knew an exit line when he saw one. He walked over to the living room area and sat in the chair across from Spike leaving Willow in the kitchen slamming the rest of the dishes and pots into the sink. He raised his eyes and he and Spike exchanged glances. Spike pursed his lips, a grin hovering on the edges of his lips.

Spike took a drag, turned his head to the ceiling and blew out some smoke. Giles watched as it danced in the air above his head and slowly dissipated. Spike pulled himself into a sitting position. He looked at Giles. “What will it take for them to let you walk out of here?”

Giles shook his head. He’d been over this so many times in his head and had gotten nowhere. “I don’t know.” He stood. “I just don’t know.” He ran a hand through his hair.

Spike looked at him. “What’s up with the magic? How come you could control it last night?”

Giles shook his head again. “I don’t know that either.”

“When’s the last time you really tried it?”

Giles thought for a moment. “I haven’t used it for probably close to a year.”

“Maybe you should try it again. It worked last night, maybe you can control it and just don’t know it.”

Giles looked nervous. Willow had been listening. Her curiosity overcame her anger at the two of them. She walked over to join them and encouraged him. “Go ahead, Giles. Try something small.” She looked around the room. She noticed the door. “Try and open the door.”

Giles ran his hand down his cheeks to his jaw as if feeling for beard growth. He walked over to the door and opened it. He poked his head outside and spoke to the guards. “Do me a favor, would you all just move away from the door for a minute?” He looked across the hall. “What’s behind that wall?”

The guard looked behind him. “A store room.”

“A store room for what?” Giles had a mental picture of ammunitions, barrels of gunpowder, the building going up in flames.

“Paper, office supplies.”

Giles nodded. He motioned again. “Please, move away from the door.” After they complied he looked at them. “Stay there please, I don’t want anyone getting hurt.”

He shut the door behind him and walked back over to the couch. Spike just looked at him. “Aren’t you being just a bit paranoid?”

Giles shook his head. “No.” He sat next to Willow.

She patted his knee. “Okay, now gently think about opening the door.” Giles nodded and closed his eyes. He concentrated and allowed the tiniest crack of magic out. The door exploded off its hinges and flew back taking out the wall behind it. Papers and pencils cascaded into the air along with pieces of dry wall.

Giles ran out into the hall. “Anyone hurt?” He looked up and down the hall and ran to help a guard up. “Is everyone okay?” They all were nodding. “No one’s missing?” Heads shook at him, everyone unconsciously backing away from him. Giles didn’t blame them. He went back into the suite.

Spike and Willow were both sitting there, looking a little stunned. Spike spoke. “Okay.” He nodded, pursing his lips. “That went well.” Giles just sat on the couch and put his hands over his face.

Willow got up and went to the hallway. She went and surveyed the damage. She told everyone to still stay out of the way. She came back in. “Giles.” He looked up. “I have an idea. Try and put the door back. Try and close it.” She called to Spike. “Just in case, we’ll stand over here.” Spike joined her outside their two bedrooms, well out of the way in the event the door came exploding back in.

Giles closed his eyes and allowed the magic out again. He found the door with his magic and thought about it being back in place. He opened his eyes in a moment and saw that the door was back. He hadn’t heard a thing. He let out a surprised exclamation and the three of them went and examined it. Giles turned the knob after making sure Willow was out of the way in case the door fell. It swung open easily, hinges intact.

He looked across the hall. The wall still had a gaping hole in it. He checked to make sure no one had gotten hurt. Other than the guards looking quite nervous everyone seemed okay. He shut the door and looked at Willow. “I don’t understand. How did you know this would work?”

Willow wasn’t sure how to explain it. “I just kept thinking about how you protected us. It just seems like the magic you do that comes in your direction, you know the stuff that’s aimed towards you, like keeping you safe, keeping us safe, closing us behind a door, that stuff you can do. It’s the stuff that goes away from you…” She gestured outwards with her hands. “That’s the stuff that goes kablooie.” She mimed an explosion with her hands. She frowned. “Did that make sense?”

Giles paced around the room thinking. “Pieces of it.” He let his body lean back hard against a wall. “I need to be someplace I can practice, where I can’t hurt anyone.” He gestured towards the door. “Or destroy private property. I’m sure the Council will be thrilled about that.”

They sat there in silence for a minute and then Willow yawned widely. She looked at them apologetic. “Sorry. I know I just got up a couple of hours ago but I’m pooped again.”

Giles nodded. “Well, I shouldn’t wonder. Between jet lag and the events of the last two days it’s a wonder you aren’t dead on your feet. Why don’t you go take a nap?”

Willow turned her head from side to side, thinking. She yawned again. “Okay.” She got up and headed off to Giles’ bedroom.

Giles watched her shut the door behind her. He turned to see Spike grinning at him. Spike spoke. “Looks like she’s moved in, mate.”

Giles frowned at him. “It’s not like that.”

Spike just nodded. “Right.” He got up and retrieved another beer from the refrigerator. He offered one to Giles but Giles shook his head. Spike shut the refrigerator door and sat back down.

Giles took a deep breath. “Did you kill tonight?”

“What the hell business is that of yours?”

“Did you kill tonight?” Spike just took a swig of his beer. He reached for his pack of cigarettes. Giles put his hand out and stopped him. “Spike, do not kill anyone else. I won’t allow it.”

“How do you plan on stopping me?”

“I can keep you here. I can make it so you can’t leave.”

Spike jerked his hand out from Giles grip. “You said you’d turn your head when I needed to feed.”

“And I meant it, but not the way you thought.”

Spike’s eyes turned angry. “How the hell did you mean it?”

Giles looked at Spike, meeting his angry eyes. “You can feed off of me.”

Spike just stared at Giles. “What the fuck are you talking about?”

Giles repeated himself. “You can feed off of me. You can’t kill me. I don’t even think it will hurt me.” Giles stood up, walking over to the window. “I know you don’t want to be here. I know you think you’re safe if you leave. And maybe you’re right. But they’re not going to turn a blind eye if you’re killing people here, right under their noses.” He turned to look at Spike. He walked back over and sat across from Spike again. “I promised you that I wouldn’t kill you. And I meant it. But I won’t stop someone else from killing you if it’s to prevent you from taking innocent lives.”

He stood up again, feeling restless. “I owe you Spike. I know that. That’s why you can feed off of me. If you can’t deal with that then you should go, because anything else is unacceptable to me.” Giles used his trump card. “Willow won’t want anything to happen to you either. And you know she doesn’t like you killing to feed.”

“And you think she’ll be okay with me feeding off of you?”

“No, but that’s what she’ll need to deal with, to keep you alive, to keep you here. I know she wants you here. I know she cares about you.” Spike scowled and looked away. Giles persisted. “So next time you need to feed, you tell me and I’ll take care of it.” Spike didn’t agree, but he didn’t argue anymore either. Giles was satisfied with that. Giles rose again going to the window. He couldn’t even imagine how he’d stayed in one room for so long. This larger space seemed claustrophobically small. He had to get out.

Giles walked over to the kitchen counter and grabbing a pen and paper started writing. Spike watched him. “What are you doing?”

“Writing Willow a note in case she wakes up. I don’t want her to worry that I’m not here.”

Spike’s eyebrows rose. “Where are you going?”

“Out.”

“You can go out, but I can’t?”

“I’m not planning on killing anybody.” He thought for a moment. “At least, nothing human.”

Spike looked at Giles. The possibility of more killing appealed to him. “Want some company?”

Giles considered him for a moment and nodded. He added another sentence to the note and left it out in plain sight. He and Spike both stepped out the window, jumping to the ground. Giles turned back to the room and held his hand up closing his eyes. He turned to Spike. “No one can get in now. She’ll be safe.” Spike nodded and the two of them strode off into the night.

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