Title: The Assistant, part 28/?
Author: Sweetdoggie
Email: (stirling_summer@yahoo.com)
Pairing: B/G
Rating: G
Summary: Buffy goes to college, Giles screws up.
Spoilers: Up to 4
Disclaimer: No permission has been granted to use the characters. They are owned by their creator, Joss Whedon, Twentieth Century Fox, UPN, WB, and Mutant Enemy. This story is non-profit and is intended solely as entertainment. No copyright infringement is intended.
Buffy showed up for class the next day a little apprehensive about poor Riley. Rupert had really done a number on him and she knew men were very sensitive about fighting and getting beat up by other men twice their age. He wasn’t in class, thank Heavens. She took the mid-term and knew she had done well on it. When she went to turn in her paper, Professor Walsh had asked to speak to her. They stepped into the hall.
“Your husband beat Riley quite badly last night.” Walsh said accusingly.
“It was mutual. My husband’s eyes are swollen shut and he’s talking like Sylvester the cat this morning,” Buffy shrugged. “It was territoriality, plain and simple. I feel bad about Riley though, because he wasn’t being obnoxious or stalking me or anything like last year. When Giles does this sort of thing, I prefer that it be for something, you know?”
Maggie Walsh ran her hand through her hair. “I suppose that you had better transfer to a different psychology class. I don’t want you coming within twenty feet of Riley. He called me this morning and told me that he thought your husband might be abusive towards you.”
“Rupert? Abusive? No way. He loves me and wouldn’t dream of raising a hand in anger to me. I’m sorry about Riley though. I’ll transfer if you think it necessary.”
“Thank you, Buffy.” Dr. Walsh nodded firmly. “I’ll give you a note explaining your circumstances to Dr. Malvin. He’s teaching Psych 101 as well, this semester, but on the other side of campus.”
Buffy nodded. “Sorry about Riley.”
“He mentioned that you and he were sparring and that you were quite good.” Dr. Walsh said ever so casually. What the young soldier had actually said was that he had never fought another human with Buffy’s speed, strength and agility and that she would make a great addition to the Initiative.
“I’ve had a lot of practice,” Buffy admitted. “Plus, I’ve been training since I was fifteen. That has to help.”
“Yes, I suppose so.” Dr. Walsh moved back and stepped into her classroom. “Stop by my office later for that note.”
“OK.”
Buffy finished her classes for the day and walked home. Giles was lying on the couch with ice packs over his eyes and ribs. He peeled them off and tried to sit up when she came in.
“Buffy, we have to talk.”
“Yes, but it can wait till you feel better.”
“No! I want to do it now.”
“OK.” She sat down next to him on the couch.
“I’ve been a stupid, blind fool. I love you more than my life and I’m ashamed I hid you from my friends.” He took her hand. “Will you let me make it up to you? I’ve scheduled a trip back to England over the Thanksgiving holidays next month. We can see Merrick and your mum and I will take you all over London and introduce you to people I know and worked with. You might even like to visit the Watcher’s Council. Will you forgive me, dearest? Will you come back to me?”
She leaned into his arms. “Giles, I never left you. I just wanted you to love me back. You can’t be ashamed of me anymore.”
“Buffy, I have never been ashamed of you, just of myself. I was feeling insecure. I know you only care for me because of the bond. You wouldn’t have picked me to be your lover. Never in a million years. It bothers me; I admit it. I love you so much.”
She looked up into his eyes. “Giles, I do love you. We may have had an arranged marriage, but so what? Isn’t it more important that I can’t live without you? That I wouldn’t want to go on if you weren’t with me?”
“Oh, my Buffy.” He pulled her close then yelped as it irritated his bruises. “Apparently, I am doubly the fool. Not only did I get into a fight with a boy who wasn’t doing you any harm, but I got myself so beaten up that I can’t make love with you. Can you forgive me?”
“Can I forgive you? Yes, of course. I love you. Just, please, don’t hurt me like this again. It’s been hell.”
She helped him up. “Have you had a cool bath? That will help these achy spots.”
“I was afraid I couldn’t get out of the tub by myself.”
“Well, I’m here now.”
They walked slowly up the stairs and Buffy helped him into a tub of cool bath water. She winced as she washed him. “That’s gotta hurt.” She touched a couple of nasty looking bruises.
“Yes, I can safely assure you that they do hurt, rather a lot in fact.”
She grinned. Her sweet, stuffy Giles was back. “Serves you right, macho guy.”
He smiled tenderly at her. “I was rather macho, wasn’t I?”
She frowned at him repressively. “It’s nothing to be proud of.”
“What? The fact that I beat a man almost half my age who was quite skilled with his fists as well should mean nothing to me, I suppose.”
“You men are so weird. I mean, I fight because lives depend on it, not because it makes me feel more manly—which is a good thing since that would be a bad feeling for a girl.”
He gripped her hand. “Well, in my girl, at any rate.”
“Oh, I’m your girl, am I?”
“Never doubt that for one moment, my love. You are now and ever shall be my girl.”
“Geez, even if I wasn’t already sloppy in love with you, I would be if you keep saying that kind of stuff.”
“Sloppy in love?” He laughed for a few moments. “I like it. It’s exactly how I feel as well.”
She looked down at him and sighed. “Now, here we are all made up and everything and you’re too beat up to make love. Look at you! You’ve got more color on your body than a tie-die jump suit! Look, you’ve even got a bruise on the top of your foot!” She looked at it. “Come to think of it, how did you get that?”
“Ah, I was trying for Riley, but I hit the vault horse.” He wouldn’t make eye contact.
“Rupert Giles!”
He tried to look shamed, but since he was really only embarrassed, he couldn’t quite carry off the expression.
Buffy helped him out of the tub with occasional murmurs concerning ‘stupid, macho, jerks’ and other unhappy references to testosterone poisoning. She dried him carefully with a fluffy towel, patting him dry and placing small kisses on all his injuries as she finished.
“Let’s go get some supper. I’m starving.”
“All right.”
He watched Buffy take leftover cold pork roast and cut it into bite-size chunks. She put them into a frying pan and began cooking them over low heat. While the pork was sizzling in the pan, she got out a couple of tomatoes, lettuce, cheese, and salsa. She chopped the vegetables and put them in separate bowls. Next, she got out a package of flour tortillas and heated them in the microwave before setting everything on the table. She dished up the now crispy bits of pork and showed him how to build a carnita.
He ate carefully, not wanting to split his lip open again, but told her that everything was delicious.
“Thanks, this is the best way to serve left over pork. It’s a hard meat to reheat—tastes like dog if you don’t do it right.”
He grinned and then quickly straightened his lips when it hurt. Damn his foolishness, he thought. If he hadn’t been such stubborn idiot all these weeks, he could have been making love to his wife. He wanted to kick himself.
They were cleaning up after supper when the phone rang. “Can you get that?” she asked him wiping her hands dry on a dishtowel.
She heard him pick up the phone, then yelp in excitement. “Buffy! Buffy come here at once!”
She ran into the living room. “What? What’s wrong?”
He handed her the phone. “Buffy? It’s John. I was just calling to say that Joyce had the baby! It’s a boy. We’ve named him James Henry Merrick. Oh, Buffy! He’s so tiny you wouldn’t believe it! I wish you were here, dear girl. Your brother is absolutely beautiful.”
“Oh, Merrick! How wonderful. Everything went OK? No problems? Mom’s all right?”
“Mother and child are both in excellent shape. Joyce went into labor about six hours ago. The doctors all thought it would take much longer but that boy wanted out!”
“How much does he weigh?” she demanded.
“Joyce tells me he’s big. Eight pounds nine ounces and twenty-two inches long. I just wanted you to know, Buffy. I miss you so much as does your dear mother.”
“Oh, Merrick, I miss you guys so much too. How is the new Slayer doing? Is she getting better?”
“Anna is coming along quite well, really. Rupert called the other day and said that he was bringing you for Thanksgiving next month. We can all hardly wait. And now you’ll have a new brother to play with.”
“Take plenty of pictures. I want to see my new relative. I love you, John. Say hi to mom for me and give her a kiss for me and Giles.”
“Goodbye dearest. I’ll be mailing you some pictures in the next post. I love you and miss you always.”
They hung up and Buffy turned to her husband. “We have a new brother, can you believe it?”
They sat on the couch and held each other very carefully because of Giles’ injuries. Buffy sat up suddenly. “Hey! We need to call the guys and Wes!”