Title: The Assistant, part 38
Author: Sweetdoggie (stirling_summer@yahoo.com)
Pairing: B/G
Rating: R
Summary: More about the Initiative
Spoilers: season 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.
As the plane landed in LA, Buffy opened her eyes. “Giles?”
“Hmmm?” he answered occupied with watching the ground get closer.
“I have an idea on the Initiative.”
That caught his attention. He looked around the crowded airplane. “Not here, love. Wait till we get to our room.”
She nodded and sat back, excited. Finally, an answer to the problem of freeing the demons without human deaths!
After almost thirty minutes on the ground they were allowed to deplane. Buffy grabbed her suitcase and waited while Giles retrieved his bag from the overhead storage compartment. After a bit of shuffling around, they managed to get to the luggage kiosk and waited for another 45 minutes to retrieve the rest of their bags. Wesley met them at the gate.
“Wes!” Buffy shrieked and dove into his open arms. “God, it’s so great to see you again! How are you?”
He smiled down at the small woman. “I’m fine, dear girl. How are you?”
“Bummed to leave mom, and Merrick and Anna and the baby, but glad to be home again. I gotta say, England is cool, but I love my own country. You guys are so strong to be able to leave it for years at a time, I never realized how difficult it must be for you.”
“Not as difficult as all that when we have friends and family like you to keep us here,” Wesley said gallantly.
He and Giles shook hands. “Rupert!”
“Wes, how are you, old man?”
“Couldn’t be better, well, unless my Faith wakes up.” The younger man’s face fell momentarily.
“How is she? Any change?” Rupert was saddened that the young Slayer had not yet come out of her coma.
“She has periods of restlessness. It is my belief that she is fighting to overcome the coma.”
“That’s fantastic!” Giles clapped the younger Watcher on the shoulder and Buffy hugged him happily.
“I can’t wait for you guys to come home. I miss you both so much!” Buffy was practically jumping with excitement.
Wes smiled at her, happy to see her so happy. “I confess, I too would like to come home again. LA is a wonderful city in very many ways but I have been excessively lonely here.”
Giles nodded sympathetically. “It isn’t easy being in a strange city by yourself. When I first moved to Sunnydale, before Merrick and Buffy arrived, I hardly knew what to do with myself. Then Buffy came and,” he grinned, “my life changed considerably.”
Buffy rolled her eyes at Wes and they shared a grin. “Huh. Be that as it may, Oh, Gods, now I’m talking like you guys! Anyhow, I’ve got a plan to knock the Initiative on its military ass and we need to go somewhere to talk about it.”
“How about my apartment?” Wesley asked her. “I only have one bedroom, but the couch folds out into a double bed. You are welcome to it and we can start laying plans right away.”
Buffy nodded decisively. “Yes. Let’s do that. What do you say, Rupert?”
He smiled at her resolution. “As you say, love.”
Wesley took them to his home. “It’s small, but it’s all I require while I wait for Faith.”
Buffy looked around the tiny abode. It was very neat. There wasn’t even a dirty cup in the sink. It made her sad to think of him living in this Spartan place for so long alone. She made a mental note to make it up to him when he came home.
They sat down at the kitchen table and Wesley made tea. As they were sipping it, Buffy leaned forward. “Here’s my idea…”
Giles looked at Wesley and he returned the older man’s gaze in awe. “Well, I think it’s brilliant.”
Giles nodded cautiously. “Still a lot of potential for disaster. The timing is going to have to be just right.”
“We can do that sinking watch thing like they do in spy movies,” Buffy said with a wave of her hand.
Wesley looked at her then back at Giles. “Dare I ask?”
Rupert shook his head. “I’m assuming you mean that we need to synchronize our watches.”
“Whatever.” She yawned. “You know, I wouldn’t mind a short nap. You guys mind?”
Wes jumped up. “Allow me to make up the couch for you.”
She smiled at him sleepily. “Don’t stay up too late, Rupert. You know you get cranky when you don’t have enough sleep.”
“I shall be along shortly, my dear. Sleep well.” He kissed her forehead chastely.
They watched her fall onto the couch without another thought before returning to the small kitchen and their plans.
“She really is remarkable,” Wesley told him.
“A fact I’ve known for years,” Giles agreed.
They spent several hours on the phone calling between the Watcher’s Council, Sunnydale and Merrick. By the time midnight rolled around, Giles was nearly out for the count. He hadn’t rested in several days and when that was coupled with the strain of travel, well, he just hoped he didn’t look as bad as he felt. Wesley examined him critically.
“We can’t do anymore tonight, Rupert. Why don’t you go to bed?”
“Bed?” Giles said as if he wasn’t quite sure what that was.
Wesley helped him get up and walked him to the sofa bed in the living room. He helped him get undressed down to his boxer shorts and a tee shirt and gently covered the exhausted man.
Giles was asleep before Wesley finished pulling the covers over him. He didn’t feel Buffy roll into his arms but they automatically opened to receive her. Wesley, himself feeling rather tired, still stopped to smile at the disparate couple before heading to his room.