Title: The Real Test
Author: Sweetdoggie (stirling_summer@yahoo.com)
Pairing: B/G (implied)
Rating: G
Summary: Behind the scenes, Quentin Travers motivation
Spoilers: season 3
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.

Travers walked into the elaborately decorated boardroom of the Watcher’s Council, his face solemn. The Slayer had survived the Cruciamentum and it was his duty to give his report on the situation in Sunnydale. Eleven men were seated around the huge wooden table. Eleven men looked at him as he entered the room and stood behind the vacant chair.

“Well, Quentin?” the man on his right spoke.

Travers sighed. “A mixed success, I fear, sir.”

“Explain yourself,” another voice from farther down the table was heard.

“We lost two promising young Watchers. Blair was turned and young Hobson was, well, hideously slain. Miss Summers lived and Rupert Giles performed very much as expected.”

“You fired him, then?” a third man spoke but he couldn’t see which one.

“Yes, I did as instructed. I told him a ‘father’s love’ for the child was not what was needed. I tell you, I felt a bit of a berk coming out with such a pronouncement when I’d never supposedly seen them interact at all.”

“How did they react?” a man on the left side of the table spoke quietly.

“He had tried to touch her earlier and she had threatened to kill him. He was already suffering the torments of the damned and her words nearly finished him. After I dropped my little bombshell I was very glad to be able to leave with all due speed. I congratulated her again on passing the test and her exact words in response were, ah, “Bite me!”

“And Rupert?” the same voice asked.

“He was completely stunned. It wasn’t easy telling a man who has dedicated his life to the cause that he had failed and that his services were no longer required. He said flat out that he wouldn’t leave her. As I left the room, she allowed him to clean the gash on her forehead.”

“You told them a new Watcher would be assigned?” a man at the foot of the table spoke briefly.

“Of course. It was the final touch of cruelty. Ms. Summers was about a half step from quitting completely, I believe. My words were so shocking, she simply sat there, stunned. It was heart-rending, let me tell you.”

“Will your actions be enough?” someone murmured.

“I don’t know. We will have to send the second Watcher to her and see if she transfers her loyalty.”

“If she does, then the prophecy will fail and the world is doomed,” spoke one of the men. “We must send someone completely unacceptable.”

“It must look real,” another offered.

“I thought we might send young Wyndham-Price. He is an excellent researcher, blindly loyal to the Council, and has no human interaction skills whatsoever,” Travers suggested. “Of course, it will be the end of the poor lad as a Watcher. If we sacrifice him this way he’ll be totally lost to us.” There was a moment of silence as the men contemplated the hard choices they were forced to make to ensure that the world continued to spin.

“And the second Slayer?” a man who had hitherto been quiet asked.

“Are you sure we must sacrifice her?” Travers wondered hesitantly.

“She has her role to play,” one of the men said. “The prophecy said she will be the dark foil of the true Slayer but will be able to earn redemption in the end. She must be isolated. Wyndham-Price should be able to do that without trying.”

“The bond between Ms. Summers and Rupert Giles must be forged with chains of steel. The fate of the world depends on the strength of their love for one another,” replied the first man. “By our actions we have set into play forces that will ultimately change the world as we know it. Let us pray that we have done the right thing.”

All heads bowed around the table.

THE END