Title: Doctor Giles
Author: Savage
Pairing B/G
Rating: R
Disclaimer Joss owns all
Distribution: Gabi, Dee, Em
Dedication: To Auntie Gail, I hope you continue to feel better Hun <g>
Author's Note: Special thanks to Milkie and Wenchie <g>

"Giles, honestly, I'm fine"

"Buffy, you're hurt; not fine! Y-your ribs are severely battered, your hands most likely fractured! Purple and blue marks cover your body, and still you refuse to let me take you to the ER! Now how is this being fine?" Giles asked with a frustrated grunt. For the fifth time in ten minutes, he fluffed her pillow as she laid on the couch in his flat.

"Giles? Giles? GILES!" Grabbing his wrist, Buffy made him sit next to her.

"OK, first, it wasn't your fault. Second, Slayer healing. By the time I get to the ER I'll already be better. Thirdly, you don't have to-"

"Yes, it was Buffy. Stop trying to protect my feelings. I wasn't paying attention and you nearly-"

"Giles, I was hurt. That's all"

Sighing, Giles looked down at Buffy's small, bruised fingers wrapped around her wrist.

"I wasn't paying attention Buffy. I-"

"You were busy fighting another vampire Giles. You cant be everywhere at once. Its OK. I'm OK. Slayer here, remember?"

Lifting his eyes to look into hers, Giles was met by a warm smile.

"I should have warned you! I saw him coming after you as I went down, I-I tried to call out to you, but, I-I " His voice went soft as tears filled his eyes. "I..hit the ground so hard, the wind was knocked out of me. I.."

"Oh Giles. How can you blame your self for that? You were fighting just as hard as I was. Neither of us could have known that the rest of those damn things were hiding, waiting to ambush us"

"I'm your Watcher Buffy. I should have known! Somehow I should have-"

Buffy grabbed his shirt and wrapped her fingers into the fabric, pulling him down to her. She placed a tender kiss to his quivering lips, whispering against them...

"It wasn't your fault. I'm fine. You're fine. We live to fight again. Please stop blaming yourself."

His breathing quickened, washing over her as he felt his hand go to her neck of its own accord, and wrap around the back of her throat, tangling his fingers in her hair. His eyes locked with hers as his mouth hung inches from her.

"You're amazing"

"No. You're amazing, Giles. Think about it. I wouldn't still be here all these years later, if it wasn't for you."

Swallowing the lump in his throat, Giles leaned his forehead against Buffy's and sighed.

"You're my reason for living Buffy. If I ever lost you-"

She lifted her face and placed a more passionate kiss to his mouth. She traced the line of his full, firm, passion-filled lips with her tongue.

Giles growled. A deep, thunderous sound that radiated from his chest as he leaned further into Buffy and the kiss. His own tongue skimmed between her lips to explore the recesses if her mouth. Giles supported his weight from her on his left hand, as he rested it along her left side on the couch cushion, making sure he wouldn't hurt her with his added poundage. His right hand slid out of her hair and his fingers trailed her jawline.

Pulling away from her slowly, he grinned.

"Are you sure you want-"

"You? Yes, I'm way sure." And to prove it to him, she snaked her hand down to his rear and gave him a squeeze.

"Definitely sure," she added playfully.

Chuckling, Giles tenderly ran the back of his knuckles along a badly colored bruise on her right cheek.

"I love you Mrs. Giles," he whispered by as tears once again filled his eyes. She was so beaten, so bruised. And despite her Slayer strength, he knew how sore she had to be.

"I know," Buffy returned as she laced her hand through Giles' hair, and pulled his face to hers, kissing away a fallen tear from his cheek.

"I love you too, Mr. Giles "

Joy filled his heart; happiness, his soul. Still, after five years of marriage, she loved him. She really, truly, loved him as he loved her. Gently, he leaned down and wrapped her in a loving hug. Burying his face in her neck as his words, though they came out mumbled, were spoken against her throat.....

"Never leave me Buffy. Promise me..."

Squeezing him tighter to her and holding him there, Buffy whispered in a loving voice...

"I promise sweetheart. I promise"

Buffy closed her eyes, enjoying the feel of his body against hers, praying that she would never have to break that promise to him.

"So, you think you're healed enough to go upstairs and fool around?"

Laughing out loud, Buffy pinched Giles' side. He yelped as he pulled back, laughter filling his eyes.

"Is that all you ever think about?!" Buffy asked with a seductive smile.

"Yes, right, that's it luv. Play the innocent. Like you never want -"

She sat up and kissed him into silence as Giles wrapped his arms around her, gently pulling her onto his lap.

"I'm feeling much better now . You don't have to be so gentle" "A lady as precious as you should always be treated as such, my love."

Buffy giggled.... "Easy there Romeo. You already married me. You're getting lucky tonight"

And he did. And she did. They were the luckiest people in the world.

Because they had each other.