Title: R.I.P 2/6
Author: Savage
Pairing: B/G
Rating: Strong R, sad fic, ends happy
Distribution: Dusty
Dedication: To Morr, Merry Christmas Sis! *g* Even if it this is
two years old *eg* seems to be a thing with me, LOL
Disclaimer: Joss owns all
Author note: um, I was thinking of adding another story to this later,
but I’m not sure. You guys let me know. Jules you rock, thanks so much
for keeping Giles english!
(Graveyard)
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me"
"And how the hell do you know that?"
"I overheard Buffy in the shower a few days ago. She was crying and saying how much she loved Giles. That she had messed things up between them so badly and she was sorry for it"
"But, it's...Giles"
"So?"
"So? So, he's twice her age"
"Was, twice her age. And so? Angel wasn't?"
"That was different"
"How?"
"Cause, it just was"
"It isn't your choice to choose who she dates Xander"
"I know that"
"Age shouldn't be an issue"
"I didn't say it was"
"Then what are you saying?"
"I have no idea"
With a small chuckle, Anya squeezed his hand again.
"I forgot how much I missed you"
He turned to her then and smiled.
"I'm sorry about everything An-"
"Not here ok? Let's go to our hotel before *we* freeze to death"
"Really? A-a-as in, you and me -"
"Not like that!"
"Oh, right, of course not"
As Anya lead Xander away, she mumbled...
"Not yet at least..."
(Basement)
After several hours, Giles managed to get across to the nail. He was breathing heavily as he tried to run the ropes across the sharp edge of the small piece of metal sticking out from the wall. Despite the noise of the rain pouring down outside, he could hear two voices upstairs as they got closer. He vaguely made out Ethan's, as the sorcerer explained to his companion that the ritual intended for that night wasn't such a good idea after all.
That Ripper was too weak and it might not work.
<Bloody marvellous,> Giles thought. That was the last thing he or this world needed right now, Ethan Rayne and magic, bringing forth another distraction of chaos. Rubbing the ropes more furiously across the nail, Giles ignored the pain shooting through his body and concentrated on getting free.
"Give it a few days. By then Ripper should be back to his old self" Ethan told the man beside him. "Plus his slayer is in town. And if we start anything right now, she'll more than likely be there to stop it"
Giles lifted his head when he heard Ethan speak of Buffy.
"I take it everyone believes him to be dead?" The man asked Ethan
"Yes. I told you I took care of that"
"Rescuing you from the Initiative is proving to have been a good idea after all, Rayne"
"Just remember, after this, I'm out of here"
"What's a matter Ethan? Not up to playing anymore?"
"What you're about to do isn't playing. Ripper doesn't deserve it"
"Then why are you helping?"
"Why do you think?"
"Because I helped you escape?" The man said with a wicked grin.
"Because you're forcing me to!"
"Being a bit, dramatic, aren't we?"
"Dramatic? You call this, dramatic?!" Ethan growled as he lifted his shirt sleeve and showed the man how much further along the poison in his body was travelling. Ethan's veins pulsed slowly, visibly showing a reddish liquid travelling through his veins and up his arm. By the end of the week, if Ethan didn't receive the antidote, he would be dead.
"I call that insurance"
"You're lucky I'm too weak to show you what..."
"Easy Ethan. I'm one person you *don't* want to piss off" With that, the man turned and walked out of the room.
Grunting, Ethan walked to the window and watched the man get into his car. Once he had driven off, Ethan headed to the door that led down to the basement and went to see Ripper.
Only as he got down there, Giles wasn't where he had left him.
Looking around the poorly lit room, Ethan couldn't see where his mate was hiding as he called to him.
"Ripper? Mate? Let's not do this, all right? I know you're free, I made sure the ropes were......"
Ethan was met with a right hook from Giles and stumbled backwards, grabbing his nose.
"Bloody hell! What is wrong with....."
Another right, then a left and Ethan was on his back. Giles stepped into the light that was spilling in through a tiny window off to one side of the room.
Ethan saw the anger in his eyes and swallowed hard.
"Easy Ripper. I can explain.."
"Shut up! I don't want to hear it Ethan. This is the last time I let.."
"Now, wait! Before you do anything ...."
Giles kicked Ethan in the ribs once then again as he started to talk.
"If you or whoever that was you were speaking to, comes after Buffy or any of the children, Ethan.... I will make you *wish* for death."
"It's your father" Ethan whispered through his agony.
Giles stood motionless. Not sure of how to react or what to say.
"Ripper?"
"You're lying"
"I'm not" Ethan groaned, as he turned back over and looked up at Giles.
"My father is dead, Ethan. The council-"
"Lied"
"No, they wouldn't. They-"
"Are so loyal and trust worthy? Really Rupert." Ethan scuffed. "You and I both know if it suited them, they would lie about the world being safe and that everything we have seen and been through over the years, was nothing but our over active imaginations "
Giles was silent for several moments. He didn't know if he should believe Ethan or take the word of the council about his father. Deciding he needed to do some research before he made any decisions, Giles turned from his old friend and headed upstairs as Ethan called to him...
"Watch your back mate" Then quietly he added. "Your father might be chopping at it"
(Hotel - England)
Xander and Anya entered the room to find Tara, Willow and Dawn sitting on the big bed, watching TV.
"Hey Guys" Xander mumbled through his chattering teeth.
"Xan, you're soaked"
"Great observation skills there, Will"
"Hey!"
"Where's Buffy?" asked Dawn as she noticed her sister was missing.
"She's ok ,Dawnie. She's talking with a friend"
"A friend? Who? We're all here" Dawn said.
"Angel" Xander answered as he grabbed a towel and some clean dry clothes then headed into the bathroom.
All eyes went to Anya.
"I think he still has issues" She said , answering their questioning looks.
"Why is Angel here?" Dawn asked as Anya went to the bed and sat down.
"I called him"
"What? Why?"
"I thought he could help your sister. After what he had lost, I thought....."
"Angel never lost anything"
"Yes he did. He lost Buffy"
"But, Buffy's here. Oh! you mean when she died..."
Anya nodded as they heard Xander mumble a curse followed by a loud crash. Hurrying into the bathroom, Anya saw Xander standing there with his shirt stuck half way over his head yet clinging to his body and the shampoo and soap rolling on the bathroom floor, at his feet.
With a small giggle, she closed the door behind her.
"Who's there?"
"Me"
"An?"
"Yeah, here" He felt her warm hands on his cool skin, as she helped him slip the clinging shirt over his head.
How could she be so warm when he was freezing to death?
"Thanks"
They stood silent for several moments, both looking into the others' eyes.
"Aren't you cold?" Xander asked softly.
"A little, yes"
"Why don't you take your shower first" He offered and headed for the door. Anya reached out for his arm, stopping him.
"Why don't we take one together"
His eyes went to hers as she smiled at him.
"Are you...am I hearing things or did you just say you wanted to shower with me?"
A playful grin slid across her mouth as she reached for the buttons on her shirt, and began to undo them.
"Does this look like you're hearing things?"
(Graveyard)
"I can't believe you're here" Buffy whispered as Angel continued to hold her.
"I wouldn't be anywhere else"
"It means a lot"
He could hear the distance in her voice.
"I'm sorry about Giles"
"Thanks"
Angel glanced at her sideways, watching her as she tried to hold her tears at bay.
"There's no need to be strong with me"
Closing her eyes, Buffy took a deep breath.
"Everything hurts, Angel"
"I know" he told gently before squeezing her tighter.
Silence passed between them for a long time till Angel turned his face to the sky. The rain was still coming down heavily and though Buffy was covered with two jackets, he could feel her trembling in his arms.
"Buffy..."
"Forget it"
"You don't even know what I was about to say"
"Yes I do. You forget that I know you?"
He smiled and placed a kiss to her temple.
"All right" Angel agreed as he removed his leather jacket and placed it over Buffy's shoulders. She smiled slightly at the added weight of the three jackets.
"I think I'm ok, Angel"
Wrapping his arms around her again, Angel nodded.
"Yes I know you *think* you are, but you're shivering and shaking too much for my liking. I refuse to let you get sick and die on my watch"
At his words, Buffy began to cry.
"Ah hell. Buffy, I'm sorry. Poor choice of words"
She shook her head, refusing to look at him as Angel sighed.
"Sorry baby. I wasn't thinking" Again silence fell between as Angel held her tighter. Buffy was still staring at the watcher's headstone as her tears mixed with the rain.
Breaking the quiet, Angel asked
"How long have you been in love with him?"
Buffy looked shocked at first then simply answered him.
"A while"
"Did you tell him?"
"No" She choked out, still trying to keep control of her emotions.
"I'm sure he knew" Angel answered, trying to comfort her.
"He knew I loved him. Not that I... was in love with him"
Angel laid a kiss to the slayer's shaking shoulders.
"You look exhausted Buffy -"
"Don't. I'm not leaving him, not again"
Angel knew there was no way to reason with her, at least not right now. He let go of her and turned to look behind him. There was a large oak tree not to far away. After walking the few feet to the tree, he sat down under it, checking to see if it provided some shelter. It did, though not much. Still, it was better than nothing.
"Buffy?"
When she didn't answer, he tried again.
"You can watch him better from here. The moonlight looks like, well, like it's a halo over the grave"
A few moments passed before Buffy turned and went to him.