TITLE: Magic 8/14
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.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Honest guys, this does have a happy ending. I promise.

As night fell, Spike woke up. He listened for a minute but the apartment was quiet. He walked out into the living room and then became aware of a heartbeat. He knew it was Willow. He walked over to her turning on the lamp by the couch. Her face flinched as the light hit her eyes. He looked at her, taking in her sad face. He bit the inside of his cheek.

“Where’s Giles?”

Her lips tightened. “He went to talk with Mr. Jensen.” She lifted worried eyes to Spike. “I’m worried about him.”

Spike took a deep breath and sat down across from her. He pursed his lips. “He’ll be all right. It’s not like they can do anything to him.”

Willow’s eyes narrowed. “You know what he’s doing, don’t you?” She sat up straighter. “What’s going on? Tell me.”

Spike slunk down lower in the chair, legs extended in front of him. He steepled his fingers and tapped his lips. He shot up out of the chair and headed for the refrigerator. He looked back over at Willow. “Hungry?”

Willow glared at him. “Spike, what’s going on? What is Giles doing?”

“He’s making a deal.”

Willow’s heart started to beat faster. “What kind of deal?”

Spike shook his head. “To send us home. I’ll let Giles fill in the details.”

“So he’ll be back?” Willow felt some of the tightness leave her chest.

Spike furrowed his brow looking at Willow in surprise. “How long has he been gone?”

“Over two hours.” Spike’s eyebrows rose. He leaned on the counter, pushing his beer between his two hands. Willow knew that this was unexpected news to Spike. “What’s he done?” She looked at Spike her eyes filling with tears. “Spike, what’s he done?” Spike just shook his head, not sure anymore.

*** Giles looked out the window. He was on the top floor of the Council building. He had only been up here once before and it had been in a different office. He had been called up here to be assigned to a slayer, to Buffy. He looked down on the lights of the small city. He looked over at Jensen and then back again to the lights. He rested his forehead on the cool glass. Somehow this conversation hadn’t gone as expected.

Giles had expected it to be easy. He had expected to come in here, offer his services, arrange for Willow and Spike to be sent home, and then return to his quarters. Instead, it had become another stalemate. He knew Jensen was intrigued. He knew Jensen saw the potential weapon Giles would be. What he hadn’t counted on, and in retrospect he could see how foolish he had been not to think of this, was that Jensen didn’t trust him.

Giles turned weary eyes to Jensen. “What will it take to convince you?”

Jensen didn’t know the answer to that. The only thing he did know was that Willow Rosenberg was Giles’ only weakness and he wasn’t willing to relinquish his hold on that. His eyes gleamed at the idea of having a power like Rupert Giles to command. He wasn’t willing to relinquish his hold on that either. He turned to Giles, swiveling his chair. Jensen knew that his control over Giles was negligible at best and Willow was essential to that control.

“Miss Rosenberg stays.”

Giles let out an exasperated sigh. “I want her safe.”

“She’s safe with you. I cannot guarantee her safety otherwise.”

Giles heard the implied threat. He sent an angry glance at Jensen. “If you kill her, you’ll have no hold on me at all, you know that.”

Jensen smiled. “That’s not exactly true. There are other people you love. You have other friends in Sunnydale, friends here, Mary Posten, Sam Fraser.” Giles’ jaw almost dropped at the name of his friend he’d only seen this morning. He had to fight to keep the reaction off his face. He closed his eyes. Even he had forgotten how well the Council watched out for its own interests. He felt a surge of anger and without thinking he acted on it.

Jensen found himself being lifted off his chair by his jacket lapels. His first thought was amazement at how fast this man had moved. He hadn’t even seen him leave the window. An absurd thrill went through him as he realized again what a killing machine he’d be.

Giles was speaking to him through clenched teeth. “If you’ve hurt any of them, if you ever hurt any of them, I will rip your bloody head off. Do you understand me?” He shook Jensen hard. Jensen fought against his fear, trying hard not to show it. Giles slowly released him.

Jensen, with a calm he certainly did not feel, slowly brushed off his jacket. He reached up and straightened his collar. “I understand you quite well.” He sat back down. “I hope you understand me as well. Miss Rosenberg stays. I’ll agree to transfer you to a safe facility where you can hone your skills.” Jensen watched as Rupert Giles pulled himself back under control. It was an amazing experience, to be this close to something this dangerous. He found it exhilarating. As if someone had accidentally left a cage door open and allowed a wild beast to escape.

Giles turned to him. “Spike?”

“Spike is free to go. However, he is a vampire. I would suggest he not tarry as vampires are often hunted down and killed as part of our training exercises.”

Giles shook his head, hearing again the covert truth under his words. Spike would be killed. Giles had dealt with several Directors of Security during his time as watcher but none had been as dangerous as this man sitting in front of him. Giles had been here for more than two hours and he’d achieved nothing. He’d entwined Willow even tighter in his captivity. He shook his head at the truth of his situation. Giles might be physically invincible but Jensen knew his weakness. Giles knew that until everyone he loved was dead that Jensen held his leash.

He headed to the door. Jensen watched him. “Do you agree to my terms?”

Giles sent him a look filled with anger. Giles felt the magic start to stir. “You leave me little choice.”

“Shall I arrange for your transfer?”

Giles hesitated and then nodded briefly. He almost used the magic on Jensen. Almost. He opened the door and left. Jensen watched the door slowly close, a small smile on his lips, having no idea how close he’d just come to being killed.

*** Giles headed back to the apartment. When he opened the door both Willow and Spike looked up. When Spike saw the look on his face he scowled. Willow’s heart started to race. She watched him as he walked over to join them. “Giles, what’s wrong? What happened? You look terrible.”

Giles let out a small bitter laugh. “I’m what’s wrong.” He shook his head. “God, how I wished they’d killed me.”

Willow gasped. She moved to him and wrapped her arms around him, his words breaking her heart. Spike pursed his lips, saying nothing. Giles didn’t return her embrace. He reached down and took a hold of her arms, removing them. “Willow, I’m sorry. I tried but they won’t let you go.” He looked at Spike. “They said you can go, but I guarantee you, you step one foot outside that window, you’re as good as dead.” He shook his head, filled with remorse. He looked at them both. “They’ll be moving us. Sending us to another facility. One I can completely destroy if I continue to be as useless as I have been in controlling the magic.” His voice was filled with self-loathing. “As useless as I’ve been in controlling anything.” He lowered his gaze, not wanting to meet their eyes anymore. “I’m sorry.” He turned around and shut himself behind his bedroom door. He slowly sank down to the floor and lowered his face to his hands.

Spike blew out a breath and ran his hand through his hair. He walked over to the window. Willow watched him, her eyes wide. “You’re not leaving?”

Spike shook his head. “No, I believe him.” He flashed Willow a rueful smile. “Looks like I’m as stuck here as you.”

Willow looked at him. “What happened? I don’t understand.”

Spike looked at Willow thinking. He walked back into the kitchen and pulled a beer out of the refrigerator. He offered one to Willow and was surprised when she took it. He opened another for himself and took a healthy swallow. Spike didn’t often underestimate an adversary but he’d really underestimated this Jensen guy. He’d gone right for Giles’ jugular. “Loving someone sometimes makes you strong. Sometimes it makes you weak.” He started peeling off the label on his beer. “It can make you very weak when someone uses that love against you.” He thought back to his days with Dru.

Willow looked down at her beer and when she looked back up she had tears in her eyes. “He tried to make a deal for us didn’t he?”

Spike nodded. “He was going to give them something they would want as a way to send us…you home.” Spike knew Giles had done this for Willow. His eyes darkened. “Instead I’m guessing from the look on his face that they intend to use you to just take it.”

“What did he think they would want from him?”

Spike glanced at her, his eyes dark and unreadable. “To kill for them.” At least they would now. Now that Giles had suggested it to them. All Spike knew was that Jensen better hope he never ran into Spike when he was alone. Spike would rip his fucking throat out.

Willow felt like she might throw up. She had made it worse. By coming here she had made it worse. She would end up forcing Giles to become the one thing he was most desperate to avoid. She swallowed the bile in her throat and lifted anguished eyes to Spike. “What will they have him kill?”

Spike wondered now. He supposed they could ask him to kill whatever they wanted. He just shook his head. Détente was over; the war had begun.

Willow walked over to the bedroom door and put her hand on it. She glanced briefly at Spike and then pushed against the door. Something was blocking it. She pushed harder and heard a muffled curse. She squeezed inside and found Giles sitting on the other side. He wouldn’t even look at her. “Willow, leave me alone.”

She shook her head and just sat down next to him. “No.” She took one of his hands. “This isn’t your fault.” At his look she said it again. “I mean it, it’s not your fault. It’s my fault. I’m the one who barged in here. I’m the one who didn’t think, at all. I’m the one who did this to you.” She reached out and with her hand on his cheek forced him to look at her. Tears were starting to fall down her face. She spoke softly. “I am so sorry. I never meant for this to happen.”

Giles saw the love in her eyes. He saw that she really didn’t blame him. He could hardly believe it. He reached for her and pulled her in close, needing the comfort of her embrace. She held him tightly, rocking him gently. She pulled away suddenly. Her eyes got angry. Giles watched her warily, wondering at her mood change. “And anyway, who the hell do you think you are, making a deal for me? I decide when I go. I decide if I leave. I already told you I wasn’t leaving you and I meant it.” As he started to shake his head she let out a frustrated groan and pushed against his chest, hard. He hit the door behind him, the blow unexpected. It didn’t hurt; it just surprised him. His magic, not seeing Willow as any kind of threat, chose not to intervene. She pushed him again and he looked at her in amazement.

She was still angry. “Don’t you ever do that again. Do you hear me? I’m. Not. Leaving. You. Again. Ever. You’re stuck with me.” She watched as he processed her words. She sighed. “Don’t you understand? It would kill me. It would kill me to go home to Sunnydale and know you were here, that you were miserable, that I’d done it to you, that I couldn’t do anything to help. Don’t ask me to live like that.” She leaned in and held his face with both her hands. “I’d rather be here with you, no matter what you’re doing, no matter what you’re going through, I’d rather be here with you.”

He just stared at her. She reached for him, laying her head against his chest, listening to his rapid heartbeat. She wrapped her arms around him. He held her back tightly. They stayed that way for a long time. She ran her hands lightly up and down his back. She could feel his muscles, could feel his strength. His head was resting on her shoulder, his hair against her cheek. She could smell his shampoo. She started being very aware of her body. How it was pressed up against him. How his body felt under her hands. She felt a surge of desire lick through her lower body. Her eyes opened wide. She tried to calm her breathing, slow down her racing heart. She took a few slow breaths.

She pulled back and inched away from him, not touching him. She spoke. “Are you feeling better now?”

Giles smiled at her gently and nodded. “Yes, yes, I am. And Willow, it’s not your fault either. Please don’t think that; please don’t think I think that. I don’t. Even though in one way I still wish you’d never come, for you, for your safety, I have to admit that however selfish it is that I really am glad you’re here. You do make it much more bearable somehow.” He smiled again at her. “I think perhaps I’ll just take a long hot shower.”

She nodded quickly. “A shower, that’s a good idea. I might take one too.” She rose and Giles rose with her. She smiled at him and picking up some of her clothes she left Giles’ bedroom. She rolled her eyes at herself as she left wondering what on earth was wrong with her. She was thinking she should probably take a cold shower.

As she got out into the living room she felt an overwhelming urge to speak with Xander. She knew there wasn’t a phone in the suite. She went to the door and yanked it open. She hated everyone who worked here as a matter of principle right now. She was tired of being messed with. She wasted no time on pleasantries. “I need a phone. Now.” The guards hesitated. She jerked a thumb back into the room. “I’m with him, remember?” All three guards reached into their pockets and pulled out cell phones. She grabbed one and walking back into the apartment she slammed the door shut.

She even glared at Spike. “I’m calling Xander.”

“Well don’t expect me to get all excited.”

She thought about going over and smacking him but she refrained. She walked to her bedroom. She hesitated for a minute but then went in. She saw that the suitcase was gone and she let out the breath she’d been holding. She dialed Xander’s number and waited impatiently as it rang.

“It’s your dime.”

“Xander?”

“Willow! I’ve been wondering when you’d call again and fill my life with more happy news.”

“Did Anya have the babies yet?”

“No.” Xander put a lot into that no. Willow stifled a laugh. Xander sighed. “But, enough about me. How’s the Alcatraz team?”

Willow let that giggle out. Then she sighed. “I miss you.”

“I miss you too. When are you coming home?” Willow didn’t say anything. Xander cursed. “See, this is the part I’m hating, the part where none of you are saying that you’re coming home. What aren’t you telling me? You’re making me crazy.”

She still hesitated. “Xander, I’m sorry. It’s so complicated. Giles is afraid they’ll kill us if we leave. So, right now we’re staying. But we go out, Giles took me for a nice breakfast this morning.” She tried to sound happy.

Xander snorted. “Uh huh. And then they shove a hot poker through your eye. Come on Will. Help me out, I need facts.”

“I think I’m feeling attracted to Giles.” Willow clapped a hand over her mouth. She hadn’t meant to say that. There was a very long silence. Finally Xander spoke.

“You didn’t think I had enough to worry about?” There was no response from Willow. “This is a test of some sort, right? To see what it will take to make me crack?” He waited for a giggle but got none. He tried again. “Is someone holding a gun to your head?”

She sighed. “I don’t know what happened. One minute we were just holding each other and then…”

Xander interrupted. “Wait a minute, wait a minute, there’s holding going on?” He let out a long breath. “Jesus Will, I just got used to the idea of you being gay. And that took me, what...” He counted. “Four…five years?”

“Xander…” He heard the confusion in her voice.

“Okay, okay. What does Giles think about this?”

Willow gasped. “I didn’t tell him.”

Xander sighed. “No, of course not. Why would you tell him? Much more sensible to tell me.” He sighed again at her ongoing silence. “Sorry, Will, I know I’m not helping.” He thought for a moment. “Why are you telling me?”

“I don’t know what to do.”

Xander lowered his head, lips pursed. He ran his free hand through his hair. “Do you think it’s because you’re sort of thrown together, you know, danger in the air, heat of the moment?”

Willow thought about that for a moment. “No.”

“Yeah, you’re right. Too easy.” Xander made a few faces, thinking some more. “Okay, listen. You’ve known Giles for a long time. You love him. I do too.” Willow listened and waited. Xander took a deep breath. “Maybe this is real. Maybe it makes sense. It would certainly make sense to me if this were Giles telling me he was attracted to you.” He let out another breath. “I guess it’s the gay thing that’s got me confused. What’s up with that?”

“I don’t know. I think that I just fell in love. And she just happened to be a woman. I loved her, I wanted to be with her.”

“And now you want to be with Giles?”

“I don’t know. Maybe it was just a…a…heat of the moment thing.”

“Have you ever lusted after Giles before? I mean not your crush stuff but, and I cannot believe I am actually saying this, have you wanted him …sexually? Xander cringed.

“No, never, not until tonight.”

“I gotta tell ya, my brain had much more fun thinking about you and other women. It’s not having so much fun now.”

“Xander.”

“All right. The truth is that there’s nothing I can tell you. You need to give it some time. If it happens again you need to talk to Giles.”

“You won’t hate me?”

“You’re not really seriously asking me that question are you?” When Willow didn’t answer Xander spoke again. “Why would I hate you? Do you mean will I be totally wigged out? Are you asking if I’ll make loud barfing noises if this turns into something?”

He finally got the giggle he’d been trying for. He smiled. “Willow, I love you. I want you to be happy. If this makes you happy then go for it. Just be careful, be careful of both of you. I don’t want either of you to get hurt.” He paused. “Giles has been through a lot. He way doesn’t need his heart messed with on top of everything else.”

Willow’s voice was small. “I know.”

“And I know that you know. I just had to say it.” He rubbed his eyes, wiping away some unexpected tears. “There’s no one who deserves you more than him.”

Willow fought back tears of her own. Her voice was thick. “I miss you so much. I wish you were here.”

“Beam me up Scotty.”

She laughed, her throat still tight. “I wish it were that easy.”

“Me too.” He heard Anya call for him, loudly. Even Willow heard her.

“Yikes, I guess you better go.”

“Do I have to?”

Anya yelled again. Willow winced. “Yes, you have to. I’ll call you soon.”

“You better.”

“I will. I love you.”

“Love you too.”

Willow hung up and just sat there holding the phone in her hand.

Xander put the phone down and stood up. He listened to Anya yell again. He decided that now was not the time to tell her that his best friend had maybe decided she wasn’t gay after all.

NEXT