Title: Mislead 10/13
Author: Savage
Email: NatashaQuinn@aol.com
Pairing: Angel/Cordy Wes/Faith Gunn/Fred Buffy/Giles
Rating: M over all
Spoilers: For Season Three, I don't know the name of the Eps but yes, there are Spoilers for Season Three Angel
(Graveyard)
Giles felt his heart literally break in half as he fell to his knees. Closing his eyes, he wept for his love. His chest began to shake and his hands were trembling.
The PTB's lowered their heads, feeling the Watcher's pain. In their minds the two talked. "Brother, why did you lie to him?"
"It is for his own good sister."
"No, it isn't. Look at him. You know what he will do after he knows his children are well."
"Yes. He will take his life and rejoin his Slayer."
"No! No, if he takes his life, he may not be permitted to enter. Brother, you are going to let a good man with a beautiful soul burn in hell?"
"He's all ready in hell."
She looked at the mortal before her. Never in their years upon years of rule, had they seen such love from one human to another.
"Brother, he has served us well. Both he and his Slayer. Tell him she did not say this to us. Tell him the truth. You must make it right."
"She was ripped from her place the light, Sister. Her peaceful reward, taken away. I will not-"
"She's as torn inside as him. Can't you hear her crying out to him? She wants to be here with him. She never should have died tonight. That was our mistake! It was not her time. Let her go back to him."
"Sister-"
"Together, you know as well as I, that they are an unbeatable force against the darkest of evil we try to protect our humans from. But apart...just look at them apart, Brother."
"Why are you so passionate about these two?"
"Because without them, this world would have ended long ago, and you know this to be the truth. Allow them their chance. Stop putting them through so many tests. They will always be there if we need them. Let them have the one thing both have craved for so long, yet were denied."
"And that is?"
"Each other."
"But, they had each other-"
"Not in peace. Not without sacrifice. Let them be as a normal couple. If only for a few days. We at least owe them that much. Let that be the Watcher's reward."
With a sigh, the man looked up to the sky. He saw the Slayer in her mother's arms, and unlike the last time, when she was happy and at peace, she was now crying uncontrollably. Her tears not only for the loss of her watcher, mentor, lover and friend but for her fear of what he might do to himself, now that she was gone, yet once again. Knowing how he suffered before when she was ripped way from him, made Buffy's heart cringe with fear.
The oracle saw all the emotions running through the Slayer's heart...pain, sorrow, regret, affection, admiration, respect, loyalty and love. He was fascinated that a human could have so many conflicting emotions and yet, still know right from wrong. Well at least these to humans seem to.
Buffy was looking down at Giles who was beyond any rational thought. Suddenly he stood and walked out, tears streaming down his handsome features as he walked towards the graveyard, calling out to any vampire that would hear him.
He begged and pleaded for something to take his life. He knew he was a coward to not want to do this without her, but the pain in his soul, the longing for his love, was too much. It nearly killed him the last time he lost her. This time, it would for sure...
"If he kills himself, I will bring him back and make him suffer. A warrior is not to have such a bleeding heart. However, if he changes, I will bring back his love and their friend."
"You're putting too much trust into human emotions, Brother. Look at him! He is beyond grief for loosing her twice in on year."
"Never the less, he is a warrior of the light. In his heart, he should what is right."
The two watched as the Watcher was caught off guard by a vampire that had just risen. Seeking a fresh meal, it sank its teeth into Giles' neck.
And began to drain him.
(Magic Box)
Angel almost couldn't believe what he was hearing. He took a step closer to her as Cordy did the same. "What, what did you say?"
"I love you Angel. I have for so long, I just.I wasn't sure, I didn't know..."
"You love me?"
"Yeah."
Silence fell between them and after a few moments Cordy broke it. "Well that wasn't the response I was hoping for."
"I-I-I'm sorry. I just..."
The ambulance arrived finally and started to work on Buffy as Lorne watched. Angel stood with Cordy as they saw the medics trying to revive Buffy with CPR. Tears reformed in Angel's eyes and fell. Seeing him, Cordy wrapped her arms around his waist and held him close.
"It wasn't you. You didn't' know what you were doing."
(Graveyard)
Closing his eyes, Giles knew he was wrong, he knew this wasn't what he should do but he was lost without her. He lost her once before and barely made it through. This time.this time he knew he wouldn't make it. But a sudden thought of the children and Dawn entered his mind. Buffy's sister would truly have no one if he left her now. And the children, what would happen to them if he left this way? He loved them all so much, and they had all been through too much for their age. They didn't need anymore heartache. He was certain that by now they all knew about Buffy.
Dawn would need Giles now more than ever.
Swallowing hard, Giles reached into his pocket and pulled out a stake. The vampire roared in pain before it turned to dust a few seconds later. Sitting on his knees, Giles sobbed once again for the love that was ripped from his life and this world to soon. It all wasn't fair. All he wanted to do was be with her. But to do that, he would sacrifice not only his soul, but also the chance of ever seeing Buffy again.
"I am so proud of him, Brother. He knew it was wrong, and despite his grief, he did the right thing."
"Yes."
"So now it is time to keep your word. Restore the Slayer to her body and her Watcher."
Nodding, and almost not believing his eyes, the oracle closed his own and chanted a restoration spell in Latin. A bright flash of light exploded from Buffy's body and filtered across town a few moments later.
(Magic Box)
Buffy sat up and gasped for air. She was taking in deep breaths as the paramedics jumped back in surprise, looking in stunned amazement at one another. Angel and Cordy ran to her side as Lorne smiled and thanked The Powers.
(Hospital)
A bright light flashed through the room then Willow's body, as she sat up suddenly, gasping for air. A nurse, who was removing a needle from her arm, jumped back, shocked to death. Laying a hand over her heart, trying to calm herself, the nurse called for a doctor.
Willow looked at her, still gasping for oxygen as the nurse called again for the doctor, her voice cracking while she backed out of the room, shaking.
(ER)
Faith was resting peacefully as her doctor explained what he had done for her while she watched the door looking for Wes, waiting for him to walk in.
"So I want you in bed for a week. It's very important you rest. Understand?"
"Yeah, sure Doc. Where's Wesley?"
"I believe he's still pacing outside."
A smile was faintly on her lips as sleep was threatening to take over. "Can, I see him?"
"Of course."
As she the doctor went to get Wes, the nurse that was in Willows room ran out and into him. Both fell to the floor.
"Donna? Good Lord, what is it?"
"S-S-She, she's.that girl, she's alive!"
"Who?"
"Ms Rosenburg!"
"That's impossible Donna, I -"
Grabbing the doctor by his lab coat, Donna pulled him off the ground and too him to Willow's room.
(Graveyard)
Standing, Giles swallowed hard. He couldn't believe how stupid he'd almost been. If he took his life or helped in taking it, then he would never be with Buffy. Yet this aching inside him was making him act so irrational, it was literally causing him so much chest pain, he thought his heart would crack and never heal.
Walking to Buffy's grave, he lowered himself next to her headstone and leaned his right shoulder and side of his head against the cold surface. As his left hand went over and rested on her name, he prayed silently that she would give him the strength to make it through this. Just long enough to make sure Dawn and the others were all right. Then if something should happen to him, so be it.
(Magic Box)
"Buffy?" Angel knelt in front of the Slayer and reached for her hands.
"Giles!"
"No. It's Angel, Buffy-"
"No, I mean Giles. He's in trouble!" Standing, with Angel's help, Buffy tried to leave, but the vampire wouldn't let go.
"Wait, Buffy, you're hurt."
"I'm fine, Angel, let me go!"
"Hey short stuff. Just a few minutes ago you were pushin' up daisies. Well in a matter of speaking. I think you need to take it easy there while-"
Lorne was interrupted by one of the paramedics before he could finish. "How... how are you, you just. you were.and then.now you're...but."
Buffy interrupted, "Okay, when you learn how to form sentences again, we'll talk. But right now I have to get to Giles. He needs me." Buffy started to make her way to the door when Angel took a step towards her. "Wait! Buffy, how do you know that?"
"I just know." She opened the door and headed out to reach Giles. Angel turned towards Cordy and a sudden thought hit him. "Oh God, Connor."
"I'm sure he's all right-"
"Where is he?"
"Giles."
"Giles?"
"Yeah, he took him to the PTB's to keep him safe," Lorne answered.
"But if Giles is in trouble then Connor-"
"Now hold on Sweetstuff. Buffy said Giles was in trouble not Connor," Lorne finished as the paramedics looked at him and with their heads tilted, trying to figure out what he was. Frowning, Lorne decided he had a long day and he didn't feel like explaining. So he simply yelled "Boo!" and watched the men run off and as fast as they could out of the shop. Angel and Cordelia looked at him like he lost his mind.
"What? It's been a long day and the last thing I want is to think of why I look like this when Halloween is nine months away!"
"Fine, whatever, but Connor-"
Cordy laid her hand on Angel's forearm and tugged at him so he turned to her. "Connor is fine. He's with the PTB's." She tapped her head, "They just told me, honest, he's okay."
Sighing in relief, Angel wrapped his arms around Cordelia and sighed, "Thank God."
"Yeah," she mumbled against his hard chest, loving the feel of being in his arms.
Lorne got the notional that maybe he should be going to check on Faith and Wes and leave these to love birds alone. "Uh, I'll just be at the hospital-"
"Why? Are you all right?" Cordy asked with concern as she pulled back to look at Lorne.
"Oh yeah, never felt better. I just wanted to go check on Wes and Faith-"
"Oh, that's right! We should-"
"No, you two stay; talk. I'll go and check. If its bad, I'll ring you."
"Thanks Lorne," Angel said with a grin.
"No problem tall, dark and broody. You'll owe me big time."
With smiles all around, Lorne turned and headed for the hospital.