Title: Goodbye To You 3/3
Author: Savage
Pairing: Buffy/Giles
Rating: R
Spoilers: Season 6 Sometime after Once More with Feeling
Distribution: Dusty, Dee, ASH
Disclaimer: All belongs to Joss, just the story is mine and the song isn't mine either
Author Note: For Ewie, HAPPY BIRTHDAY HUN! ;-) LOL and to poorlittle Heidi cause I keep teasing her about frights *g*
(Sunnydale International Airport)
"You make a pretty sound argument, Miss...?"
"Summers."
"Miss Summers. However, I am sorry dear. As I said -"
"Can't you call the tower? The captain? Someone on the runway?"
The agent watched Buffy closely.
"Who is this *person* we're attempting to stop?"
"My Watch-um, my, friend. A very close friend. Who means everything to me. So much I wouldn't be able to put it into words if I tried. But, I love him. And now I know he loves me. Something which is a miracle in itself. I mean if you knew me, you would know why I say that, and if you knew him you think he needed his head examined for loving me. But, I can't let him leave without knowing how I feel. I owe him that much. In my line of work, I mightnever get the chance to tell him if I don't do it now. This may be our only chance, a final one, at happiness"
The agent was silent for a few moments.
"There might be one way. You have anything to hold pills?"
"Um.." Buffy looked at the gang and they all shrugged their shoulders.
"Sorry, no. But I can get something."
"No, that's all right."
Buffy watched the agent reach into a purse under the counter and pull a bottle out and some pills out of another container.
"You're going to help me?"
"Just you remember missy, I have three days till retirement and if I get caught doing this, I'm moving in with you"
Buffy smiled as her friends did the same.
"Thank you...?"
"Janet."
"Thank you Janet."
"Um, the planes getting kinda far out there, don't you think you should call, whoever it is you call and stop it?" Dawnie asked.
Turning, Janet looked out the window.
"He's in a holding pattern. There's a lot of traffic tonight, we have time."
Ripping the label off of the pill bottle, the agent dropped a few in and then closed the lid.
"Ok, let's give this a try"
(Airplane)
The war that continued inside his mind was starting to wear Giles down. He was so confused. Every time he made a decision that this was the best thingto do, he would come up with another reason as to why it wasn't.
With his eyes closed, Giles tried to think of something, anything that would get his mind off his Slayer. Deep down he really did feel this was right.No matter how much his heart was disagreeing with him, this was the only way.
Finally the plane started to move as Giles watched the lines on the runway start to speed by. But the movement was short lived when a few moments later, the lines slowed. A frown marred his handsome features as he looked towards the front for a flight attendant to explain why they were slowing down.
When Giles saw them sitting there, still strapped in, he wondered if everything was ok.
"Ladies and gentlemen, this is the Captain. I'm sorry for the delay but I'mafraid we have a medical emergency. We will be in a holding pattern until one of our agents reaches the plane and drops off some medicine. I'm sorry for the delay, I promise will be in the air shortly"
"Just bleedin' great" Giles mumbled. Pulling his jacket closed, Giles crossed his arms over his chest and leaned his head against the cool glass. Giles thought this must be some kind of cruel joke or he really wasn't meant toleave Buffy.
Remembering the gift Willow had handed him, Giles reached into his jacket pocket and removed the small envelope. As he opened it, he found a letter inside with a picture.
Tears pricked his eyes as he saw a photo of the gang and him. Though he didn't remember taking such a photo, it was lovely. Reading the letter, Giles felt his heart swell with love.
Hey Giles,
It's us. Well me, Willow, but them too, I'm just typing ;-) We know you don't have a photo with the whole family, and we couldn't have you leaving us without one. And I bet you're just wondering why we would think to do this,huh? Well I know sometimes, ok a lot of times, we acted and treated you like we weren't listening to you or wanted you around, but that is so far from the truth, Giles.
We were just young and wrapped up in our own thing. But we love you, you know that. You mean so much to all of us, in so many different ways. We'll never be able to thank you for everything you have done.
I saw you staring at this photo on your desk after Buffy died. I didn't know then why it was making you cry, but I think I do now. Giles, we DO love you, and we WILL miss you. Most of us, except Anya, who between you and me, doesn't know HOW to care about people... Ouch! She just hit me!! Anyway, we want you to stay. I know you want to, too. It must suck being a Watcher who has to do the right thing when all you want to do is stay here withyour family.
So I got into Photoshop, took an old picture you had from your personal things, sorry for going through them by the way, and wall-la!
I hope you like it, I know it's not much. But if you ever come back, maybe we take a real one?
We all love you Giles, and will miss you terribly. Have fun and a good life. We'll watch over Buffy for you.
Love
The Gang
Giles wasn't aware his tears had been falling till a few splashed down on the page.
(Outside Plane)
"Ok, now when they let you in, find him, give him the pills, state your case as fast as you can and get out of there. If I get caught-"
"I know, I know. I'll have another roommate"
The two women shared a smile.
"How do I look?"
"Wonderful"
"You sure?"
"I think the make up covered your marks beautifully. There's a little bruising showing but we got most the blood wiped away"
"Ok, good, then, here we go"
(Airport)
The gang watched as Janet and Buffy walked up the flight of stairs supported by a mobile truck.
"He better take her." Anya stated breaking the silence.
"Eww." Dawn whined as Willow and Tara watched the door open on the plane.
"I didn't mean it that way Dawn. Honest to Pete, I think you're hanging around Willow and Tara too much."
"Hey!"
"It's true! You two are a bad influence on her. She's young and impressionable. What is she supposed to think when she sees you two kissing and grabbing each other's..."
"Guys! I swear if you start this again-" Xander was cut off as Dawn yelped.
"Look! She's in! Go get him Buffy!"
(Airplane)
Giles was fidgeting in his seat when Buffy entered the plane. The flight attendant pointed to his seat as he kept his eyes out the window. He wonderedwhere and what Buffy was doing. If she was ok, if she was patrolling, or if she really was with Spike.
"Giles?"
Turning to his right, the Watcher looked up to see Buffy standing not two feet away.
"Buffy?"
"Hi"
"Hi"
He saw the bruise on her the side of her head that Janet had missed with the make up. Concern filled him, but Buffy spoke before he could ask her about it.
"You uh, you forgot your, pills"
"My pills?"
"Yeah" Buffy handed him the bottle as he looked at her. Buffy raised her eyebrow, hoping he understood. He did. He looked at the label and saw part of it was still there. So he read what it said out loud without thinking.
"Oh, yes, right. My ...birth control?"
"You're what?"
Buffy's eyes went wide. Janet had *those* kinds of pills? But she was like.. Well Giles' age. Or close to it. Maybe a little older.Still, Why would she need those kinds of pills at her age? Did woman get pregnant at...
"Um, excuse me?" A flight attendant interrupted her thoughts.
"If that's all you have to give him, then I need you to go now. We're pushing a schedule"
"Oh, right" Buffy looked back up at Giles, his green eyes piecing hers. She wanted to grab him and kiss him senseless. Beg him to stay with her.Make him see that leaving was so wrong for not only her but him as well.
"I ..Should go then."
"Right."
Buffy felt her heart sink. Why didn't ask her to stay? Or why she was there? I mean, she stopped a plane full of people to give him birth control pills! Granted, she didn't know that at the time. But, damn it, didn't he care why she was there?
"Bye Giles"
"Unless..."
Buffy stopped as hope filled her. Turning around, she watched as Giles stood and gripped the back of the seat in front of him.
"Yes?"
"I-Is there something else you would like to give me?"
"Do you, want something else?"
"I-I don't know."
"So, how can I know if you don't know?"
"I-It depends on what the *something else* is."
"What do you think it is?"
"Why must you ask a question with a question?"
"I wasn't. Why are you?"
Sighing, Giles watched as Buffy let a grinned briefly. But it quickly faded.
"I wanted to tell you..." She watched his eyes and for the briefest moment she thought she saw disappointment in them. Maybe this was a bad idea. Maybe he didn't love her enough to stay. Or want to stay. Maybe he shouldgo, maybe she should let him. He deserved so much better than her and thiscrazy life she led.
"I... I just wanted to say goodbye Giles. I... didn't get to before, so, I wanted to now."
A smile was on his lips as he exhaled deeply.
"Ah, thank you Buffy."
God, he really did want to be rid of her. Was she that bad to him?
"You're welcome."
He was so proud of her. She actually put her feelings aside to see him off.And faked an illness. Well, faked his illness, just to see him one more time. Maybe he didn't need to go after all? If she was taking this stepnow, maybe if he stayed, she would-
"Giles, one more thing. I know you want me strong, and to stand on my own. I get that, and I can do that, but -"
"Ok you two, he has the pills and you need to go"
"Excuse me! Can't you see I'm having an important moment here?!" Buffy growled to the attendant as Giles laid a hand to her arm, calming her.
"Buffy.."
"Listen, ma'am. I'm not sure HOW you REALLY got on this flight, all though I can guess, but if you do not remove yourself in the next few seconds, I will call security"
Not wanting Buffy to get into trouble, or for him to change his mind and get his hopes up, Giles told her.
"Buffy, you should go."
"I should?"
Buffy looked so shattered Giles wanted to take her into his arms and hold her forever.
"Yes, it's for the best."
"Right. The best."
Buffy turned from him and he felt like she was taking his heart with her. He watched as she went to the door and stopped. Turning to him, she whispered.
"Have a good life Giles. You deserve it." With that, Buffy was out the door and out of his life.
(Outside Plane)
The rain pounded her small body. But Buffy didn't feel it. She was numb as Janet took her by the arm and asked her what happened. But the look on Buffy's face explained it all.
"I'm so sorry dear."
"Me too."
"Is there anything I can do?"
They continued down the stairs and when they reached the pavement, Buffy wrapped her arms around herself.
"No." Her voice was low and pained. "There's nothing anyone can do."
The gang watched the defeated girl waking back to them. Their faces fell asthey saw how sad Buffy looked.
"He didn't take her." Anya whispered.
"I thought Giles loved Buffy?" Tara asked softly as Willow closed her eyes.
"He does. But he thinks he's doing the right thing by leaving her."
"Watchers." Xander grumbled.
"You think we should go down there?" Dawn asked, her voice showing just howsad and disappointed she was in Giles.
"Let's give her a minute." Willow answered as they watched a man running toward Buffy and Janet.
"Is that...?" Xander let his sentence fall silent as they moved closer to the window to get a better view.
"Buffy!"
The Slayer stopped at the sound of the British accent. Her heart started tobeat faster as she turned and saw Giles running toward her.
"Giles? What are you..."
"I was wrong Buffy. I don't need to leave you in order for you take responsibly. I can see that now. Coming here as you had tonight, it showed me justhow much you're willing to try."
Rain was pounding down hard now. Janet smiled and turned to head inside. Last thing she needed, besides getting fired, was to get the flu.
"So, you're not leaving?"
"Not if you don't want me to."
"Don't you miss England?"
Giles moved closer and removed his jacket. He saw her shivering so he laid it around her shoulders and pulled it close. Leaving his hands to hold it as such, Giles smiled at her expression.
"I miss you."
"You haven't left, how can you miss me?"
"I miss you everyday Buffy. Every time you walk out of my house and into the night to fight, I miss you. I know there's always the chance you could never come back, so I learned to take what I have and enjoy it while I can."
"I love you."
"I know."
"You Do?"
"I do. I love you too."
"No, Giles. I'm in love with you"
Giles was taken back as she laid a hand to his cheek.
"I do and say things because I'm young, and I'm scared. I don't mean to hurt you, and I don't ever mean to turn you away. I know I have to grow up. I know I can make it on my own if, God forbid, you should ever leave me or taken from me. But like you said, while I have you, I would love to enjoy you."
They shared a warm smile for several moments till they heard voices yellingat them to "Kiss her!", "Kiss him, Buffy!", "Get out of the rain! But, kiss her first!". Looking up at the window, Giles saw the children yelling down at them. Buffy and her Watcher shared a good-hearted laugh.
"I think they want us to kiss" Giles' voice was light as he looked down at her.
"Yeah, looks like it." Buffy turned back to him and gave one of her trademark smiles.
"God I missed that."
"What?"
"That smile. The light in your eyes. Lord, but you are beautiful Buffy."
"Hey, you already have me pal, no need for flattery."
"Just stating a fact."
"WILL YOU KISS HER ALL READY!"
Buffy and Giles giggled at Dawn's yelling.
"May I?"
"You better"
Taking her face in his hands, Giles laid a tender kiss to his Slayer's lips. Hollers of joy were heard as Buffy and Giles smiled against each other's mouth, but never broke the kiss.
The End