Title: Summer Rain 1/2
Author: Sav
Pairing: Buffy/Giles
Rating: R
Disclaimer: Joss owns all but the story
Distribution: Dusty
Spoilers: not really. Set season 5
(Magic Box – Training room - Night)
He hadn’t expected the right hook. Usually Buffy leaned in with the left, then struck with the right, giving him plenty of time to avoid the hit. Not this time. This time she changed her stance on him, and because he was to busy taking in her new tank top, and the way the V-cut seemed to dip down a little further than her other ones, he hadn’t noticed her fist coming at his face.
“Oh my god! Are you all right? You were suppose to duck!”
Giles laid flat on his back, with Buffy hovering above him. Her ample cleavage giving him an amazing site to look at , as she bent over a little further to touch the bump that was now forming on his head.
“Giles?”
“Hmm?”
Kneeling at his side, Buffy caught his attention as her leg brushed his arm. Giles looked up at her and smiled.
“Nice right”
“Thanks. You were suppose to duck”
“Yes, well…you were suppose to go with a left.”
He sat up and groaned as Buffy helped him. He felt her hand on his sweaty back , helping to hold him up as he leaned back some against her.
“Giles?”
“Sorry. Just a little...”
“Oh god. I gave you brain damage didn’t I?”
He chuckled softly then groaned again as he rested the side of his head to her shoulder.
“After all this time, after all those head injuries I suffered, you really think one right hook from you will do me in?” Lord did she smell good, he thought. With his face so close to her now, he could smell the perfume she wore so often.
The one that distinctively reminded him of her.
Whenever he walked into a room and smelled the fragrance, he thought of Buffy. It didn’t matter if she was wearing it or not, it still reminded him of his Slayer.
And it still made him hard thinking about her dabbing it along her neckline towards the valley between her breasts, smearing the liquid along her bronzed skin…
“Giles?”
“Hmm?”
He felt her chuckle, her soft breath touching his forehead lightly as it washed over him. Her chest rubbed his back as she laughed at the dazed look in his eyes. Giles held in a moan as he swore he felt her nipples getting hard.
“Giles, are you sure you’re all right? You’re not like, seeing little birdies flying around inside that enormous head of yours or anything, are you?”
He smiled at her and looked into her eyes.
“No. All’s fine in there”
Buffy felt her breath catch as he held her gaze. His eyes were always so expressive. Even when he tried to hide his emotions from her, his eyes gave him away.
“You sure?”
“Yes, thank you”
He stood with her help then turned to face her.
“See, all better”
Buffy smiled at him.
“Thank God. I thought I finally did you in”
Slipping his hands into his pockets, Giles tried to distract himself from the fact that his erection was growing harder as he watched a drop of sweat slipping from her neck, down between her breasts.
Giles said.
“It’ll take a lot more than that to get rid of me”
“Good. Cause, I kinda like having you around”
They shared another smile as Giles looked down at the mat.
“Well, I suppose were done here for now?”
“Yeah, it’s getting late. I should patrol” Buffy answered, not really wanting to leave him yet, but knowing he was getting uncomfortable. Sense Reilly left, she’d been spending more time with Giles.
Either ending up at his place for endless hours of research on Glory or here for Practice.
“Ok, well, I’ll just be going” Buffy offered as Giles smiled, watching her still standing there. “Or, you know, you could come with?”
“Oh? Would you like me to?” Giles asked hopeful that she would say yes, and that he could throw her on the mat and take her right then and there.
“Yeah, I would like that”
“Excuse me?” He looked at her shocked as Buffy thought he was going to pass out.
“What? Giles? Are you ok?”
“Uh…” Did she just say she wanted him to take her? No, wait, he said that. In his head. Oh thank god. You bloody moron. If you don’t start paying attention you’re going to ruin this! ”Yes, Yes sorry. I’m fine”
“Sure? Cause you look a little like Casper”
He smiled at her again then reached for a towel, turning his back to her.
“I’m fine, Buffy. Thank you”
“K, well, sense were going to fight, I’m not gonna change. Cause, well I’m all ready sweaty and so are you so what’s the point? We’ll just hit Rest field then go home for a shower. ok?”
Giles nearly choked on his water as he took a drink from the sports bottle he just picked up. As it was, he spit some of it out, dribbling a little down his chin.
“S-S-Sorry?” he asked, clearing his throat as he turned to face her. She was drying her arms and chest off with the towel as she caught site of three drops of water, slipping from the corner of Giles mouth, down his jaw and throat, to land on his chest.
A chest that was only covered with a thin black shirt. Thanks to her endless hours of explaining to him that having him fully clothed in long pants and shirts was no longer a good idea. Especially with the rising heat wave in Sunnydale. An to be honest, she always wondered what he looked like under all those layers of clothing.
Unfortunately, all she got to see so far was his arms and a bit of his collar bone.
Which only caused her desire to see more of him, rise.
“Ok, I think I did hit you a little too hard”
“No, no. I’m…let’s go shall we?”
She was smiling, knowing he wanted to say something else to her, but couldn’t. Their *accidental* touches and the way he always seemed to get her to either fall on him or him on her during their fighting, was becoming more and more frequent.
Buffy knew Giles liked her in the same way she liked him. Only problem was, now wasn’t the time for either of them to act on it.
For now the flirting would have to do.
Because Glory was making her threats and appearances more often, as well as Dawn acting out and wanting to run away every two seconds after finding out what she really was and what she really is used for.
A key that would destroy this world…
“Buffy…?”
“Yeah?”
“Are you ready?”
“Oh, defiantly” She sighed. Then realized as he watched her suspiciously, that she just almost let her feelings slip. “I mean to go. Slay. To go Slay”
Sharing a smile with her, Giles nodded and they headed off to Restfeild.
(Cemetery-Night)
They ran side by side. Both their hearts, franticly beating against their rib cages as Giles fought to keep up with Buffy. Rain started to pour, making it hard for them to keep their footing as they ran.
“What’s with the Rain?” Buffy called to Giles as they scaled another headstone in their way.
“Don’t know. The weather man said, hot and humid for the week”
“Stupid weather guy! Can’t he read a map? I mean, what happen to the heat wave?! Does it *look* hot and humid?”
“Buffy, perhaps now isn’t the time-“
“I bet he’s evil. If he’s evil can I slay him?”
“Assuming we live through this round of, *chase the slayer and her watcher till they pass out and die from lack of oxygen* then yes, you may”
“Is it still there?” Buffy called to Giles as he turned his head briefly behind him to look.
“No, I don’t –“Giles was cut off he ran into something and slammed backwards to the ground. The wind was knocked out of him as he saw the large creature that was chasing them, standing there, hovering over him.
It’s thick, razor sharp claws lifting to slice down at him.
“Hey! Dog breath, Why don’t you pick on someone your own size?” Buffy growled to the beast as Giles tried to find his breath to warn her off. But it was to late, the demon turned his attention to the Slayer and charged.
Giles struggled to get up to help her as Buffy took her fighting stance.
“Buffy, just run!” Giles called to her just as the creature slammed into Buffy, knocking her off her feet. They hit the ground, hard, as Buffy let out a groan. The rain started coming down heavier now, making it difficult for Buffy to get her footing as she struggled to get the demon off of her. Giles reached out and grabbed his broadsword that he dropped when he ran into the demon, then got up and headed over to Buffy.
Lifting the sword high in the air, then bringing it down with all his might, he sliced the creatures head off before it could deliver a deadly blow to his slayer. The skull fell from the creatures shoulders fell and rolled to the ground next to Buffy. Who let out a sigh that Giles had defeated the thing as she pushed it’s body off of her.
“Are you all right?” Kneeling next to her, Giles Helped her to sit up.
“Yeah, nothing a shower won’t fix. How about you?”
Good Lord, he could see her…the rain was making it easy for him to see- the outline of her chest was clear through the tank top.
“Giles?”
“Oh, uh, yes, yes I’m good” he smiled at Buffy as she wondered if he was checking her out. She knew she was checking him out. The rain was making his shirt stick to his skin outlining the muscles across his chest as he moved.
“Good, then can we get back to your place for a shower and some warm cloths?”
“O-Of course”
Giles helped her stand as Buffy found her knee aching. It sent a sharp pain through her as she quickly took her weight off of it. Balancing herself with her hand on Giles arm.
“Ow, ow ow ow!”
“Buffy?” Concern filled him as he held on to her.
“My knee. I think I sprained it”
“Certain it’s only a sprain?” He asked before laying her hand to his shoulder then kneeled at her side to feel the knee.
“Pretty sure- ow!” She growled as his fingers gently touched her knee cap.
“Sorry. Buffy, I think we should take you to the ER” Standing , and without warning, Giles scooped her into his arms and headed towards his car.
“No, Giles, put me down. I can walk. Really. It’s just a sprain”
“I can’t be certain of that Buffy”
“Yes you can , when we get back to your place , you can take my jeans off and look”
Trying to ignore the imagine of her naked in his home, Giles cleared his voice.
“I believe it’s for the best-“
“That we go back to your place where I can shower and get into some warm cloths. Before I catch phenomena”
“Buffy-“
“Giles, resolve face. Besides, I could tell if it was broken. It doesn’t feel broken, just sore. I’ll be better by morning , I promise”
“An if your not?”
“Then, you can say, I told you so”
Huffing, Giles stopped as they reached his car. The keys were in his pocket and he had his hands full of Slayer.
“I bloody well expect more than that” He told her
“Like what?”
“Uh, would you mind, can I put you down while I get my keys?”
“Where are they?”
“Front pants pocket”
“I can get them”
Before Giles could tell her no, she was reaching with one hand to his pocket, then slipped her fingers inside, she felt around. Giles swallowed hard, as Buffy tried to hide her smile.
“Got them” She grinned.
“That’s, not them” he groaned as Buffy’s face went red.
“Oh…Oops, sorry”
“It’s , all right”
“Ah ha! There they are” She announced with a large grin as she dangled them in front of Giles.
“Yes, yes there they are” He stuttered then bent down a little to allow her to slip the key into the lock.
Buffy wanted to kiss him to put him out of his misery but the cat and mouse game they’d been playing for months now was to much fun.
**
(Giles Home – Living Room)
Buffy laid on the couch.
She hadn’t had her shower yet, mostly because her knee really was hurting to much to stand, and she *knew* Giles would freak if he had to help her undress and get her in the bath tub. So in stead he sat her in the bathroom, gave her a towel to dry off with, then a clean change of cloths that she left for such occasions as this, then headed out to the hallway and waited there for her to call him. Buffy could have, of course, hopped to the couch after she was done, but she enjoyed being in his arms to much.
“Buffy?”
“Hmm?”
Giles was smiling at her as she noticed he was now sitting by her side. Holding a warm cup of tea an a ice bag for her knee.
“Your teas ready”
“Oh, thanks” Taking the tea she sipped at it as he laid the ice on her knee. “Thanks for the ice to”
“Most welcome” He answered softly, wanting so badly to hold her and make sure she knew he was there and everything was going to be ok.
“Did you call mom?”
“Yes. Her and Dawn are fine. I told her you’d be staying here tonight”
“What she say?”
“Nothing, she agreed it was for the best. The storm outside is to much to deal with right now. But she did say Happy birthday and she misses you”
“My birthday, I forgot about that. Well at least the sucky tradition still stands”
“I’m sorry. I wish it would have been a better day for you”
“No need to be sorry, Giles. Glory’s getting tougher, bolder…We have to be ready for anything”
“We will, Buffy. I promise”
She smiled as he touched her arm lightly. Thunder crashed across the sky, making her jump then giggle.
“Sheesh. You think I was 10”
“It’s all right, you’ve had a hard night. But we’re safe now Buffy, there’s no need for you to be strong for me”
Buffy looked at him over her cup as she took another sip.
“I do feel safe with you Giles. I think this , being here with you, is the *only* place I can feel that”
A moment of silence passed as they held each other’s gaze. Giles wondered if he was the only one feeling the connection passing between them as lighting flashed and thunder sounded outside again.
“Wow. I’m surprised the lights are still on-“ Before Buffy could finish her sentence, the lights flickered out.
Giles’ soft laughter, made her smile as he reached blindly towards the coffee table.
“Ok, that was scary”
“Indeed. Not to worry however … I have a flash light. Ah, yes here we go” Flipping it on, Buffy saw his smile. She also finaly noticed his glasses were missing.
“Where’s your glasses?”
“Somewhere at Restfeild, I imagine”
“Oh no, Giles. We should go back and look”
“No, you should lay down an rest and I should go upstairs”
“No”
“No?”
“We should go back and look for your-“
“Buffy, there’s no way I’m letting you go back out there tonight. I assure you, I’m fine”
“But-“
“No” He told her sternly, but with a gentle tone to his voice.
Sighing, Buffy gave in. Her knee really was messed up and she didn’t think she make it very well if they did indeed head back out again.
“Ok, but, I think we should get you some contacts this time. Way less expensive, considering how many pairs of glasses you keep loosing”
“Yes, demons are hell on specs”
Chuckling, Buffy closed her eyes briefly. She was dead tired. After her extreme work out with Giles for 3hours, then that unexpected demon in the graveyard and 5 vamps before him, she was wiped out.
“Lay down, Buffy. Rest” Giles soft voice caused her to open her eyes
“No, I’m ok. Just -“
“Buffy”
She saw he meant it and there was no arguing about it. She smiled an agreed.
“Ok, but, can you…will you…never mind”
“Can I what?”
“Nothing, it’s all right, go upstairs Giles”
She reached over and laid her tea cup on the coffee table then snuggled down gingerly, so she wouldn’t disturbed her knee.
“Night, Giles”
“Night, Buffy”
He stood but felt her hand pulling him back down.
“You aren’t suppose to say that”
“I’m sorry?”
“Your suppose to say, no Buffy, tell me what you were thinking”
“Ah, Sorry. I’m a little tired and… sore. I’m not thinking –“
“Sore?”
“Yes, some”
“Why?”
“My ribs. When I ran into the demon”
“Are you ok?”
He smiled at the concern in her voice.
“Yes, nothing for you to worry about”
“But I do” She told him quietly.
“Do what?”
“Worry. About you”
Giles felt his heart swell.
“I worry about you too”
“I know”
They stared at one another, both hoping one of them would just make a move.
“Buffy…”
“Don’t find a reason, please?”
“I-I’m sorry?”
“To explain why this is wrong, why the timing sucks, why you think I’m too young and you’re too old, though… you really aren’t. Not that you would believe me, I mean that’s partly my fault for teasing you so much. But, Giles, you’re hot. Expect it an let’s move on”
Giles was speechless as he looked at her. She’d matured so much these last few years, it amazed him. Just when he thought he knew her, when he thought he knew exactly what she was going to say an how she was going to act, she shocked him by doing the opposite.
“Moving on” He whispered.
“Good, thank you. Cause, it’s true, all of it. I like the game we’ve been playing, the flirting and small touches. The way I catch you watching me when no one else is looking.”
Giles seemed to blush as she laid her hand to his cheek, caressing his 5 o’clock shadow.
“Hold me?”
“Always” He breathed.
Moving behind her, Giles was careful not to touch or jar her knee as he settled his chest against her back and wrapped her in his arms.
She felt safe, warm and loved.
“Thank you” Her whisper sounded so sad to his ears. It pained him to think she didn’t know how much he enjoyed, longed for and dreamt about holding her this way.
“You never have to ask me, nor thank me for caring for you, Buffy. It’s my joy, my privilege to do so”
She was smiling as tears touched her eyes. He was so loving to her. No matter what she did, no matter how much she messed up, he forgave her and moved on.
Buffy’s thoughts trailed as she felt his arm pulling her tightly against him. His heart was beating harder as it vibrated in his chest, through her back. She could feel his face, moving along the back of her neck, his 5 o’clock shadow ticking her as he cuddled her.
Then he sighed.
He seemed to be at peace now as his breathing slowed and his heart soon followed.
“Giles?”
“Yes?”
“I like this”
She felt his grin against her neck.
“As do I”
“So…then…let’s always do this? When one of us needs it, can we.. can we just hold each other?”
“We can do anything you want, Buffy. I’ll do anything in my power to make you happy and keep you safe”
She was smiling again when his hand found hers. It had been resting on her stomach, his fingers lightly moving, caressing her abs. Tracing their outline as well as a few scars there with his index finger.
“I know I’m…that I don’t have…a normal….figure “
She felt him frown as his hand squeezed hers tighter, silently telling her to carry on with more information as to what she meant.
“I know I have more…that my body’s more…scared than most woman’s. Reilly use to point that out to me a lot. He use make up jokes about me an how I looked. At first they were funny, till he just kept doing them, then the jokes became irritating and to real…. He was right though. I wasn’t normal. I never have been. He use to tell me I had more scars on my body than-“
“Enough”
His voice sounded husky as she felt him move. He was resting his weight on his elbow as his other hand that was holding hers, now reached her chin.
He tilted her head to him, locking his eyes with hers.
“You’re a warrior, Buffy. A beautiful, strong, intelligent crusader. Of course your body’s not going to be like another woman’s. An yes you’ll undoubtedly have some scars that will be hard to explain…. But that doesn’t mean you should be embarrassed or ashamed by it. Your amazing Buffy. Everything about you is unique, strong, brave and breathtaking. Never, for one moment, let anyone take that from you. ”
She was speechless.
Cause for a national holiday as Giles would tell her. How did she respond to that? How did she thank him for being everything she ever needed, or ever wanted?
“I love you”
Her whisper sounded so strong, so forceful, it left him with no doubt as to how she meant it.
“I’m in love with you too” He answered her. After a moment of silence, they shared a small laugh, both realizing how stupid they had been. They could have had so many years together, so many more laughs and less heartaches, had just one of them taken the chance to say something.
His hand cupped her cheek.
“I want nothing more, than for you to feel safe, and loved and protected Buffy. It’s all I ever wanted. In fact, I’m just content to lay here with you in my arms, however…”
“However?”
“I want …that is I would like…”
“Giles, just say it”