I wanted to write a different Buffy/Giles story. Not sure how many chapters this will be. I would love to hear what you think so please review. As every reader should know I own none of the characters of the Buffy universe.

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The smell of the antiseptic cleaner filled the air but fought a battle with the sound of a heart monitor whose beeps kept everyone aware that there was a life remaining in the room. A young hand held onto the older one that was connected to an IV giving the drugs required to heal or at the very least comfort the man in the bed.

It has been almost a week since Giles went into a coma. Every member of the gang showed up to monitor his progress and each looking at any doctor or nurse that could offer any information as to his condition. The same prognosis was always given, that his vitals were stable and he is being monitored for any progress.

Buffy squeezed Giles' hand gently hoping with all her heart that he would squeeze back. There was no movement aside from the steady breathing and eye movements one would see with someone in REM sleep. He was so content in his sleep and it shocked her that this was the most relaxed she had ever seen him. This was frightening as she had no idea how to get him to wake up. This was her fault and she knew it. The doctors would never find a cure as what is making him sleep wasn't the garden variety coma but something magical and well beyond their knowledge or belief.

A sound took her from her thoughts. Her mother showed up with some flowers to replace the others that had started to wilt. Joyce was getting used to the idea that her daughter was the Slayer and that brought danger into the lives of those that surrounded the Slayer. "He's not going to be alright is he?"

"No, they don't have any pills for cursed coma states."

"Is Willow looking into things?"

Buffy sighed and nodded but never said a word. Joyce took that as an answer and never prodded further. There was no progress and the last thing Joyce wanted to do was to focus on what can't be done.

"You need rest."

"I need to be here when he wakes up." Buffy knew the talk that was going to happen as her friends attempted to get her to go home for a while. "This is my fault."

Joyce knew her daughter was drained and worried. She was also aware that Giles was the closest thing to a father Buffy had right now. It upset her that some stranger she only knew about for a couple of years knew so much about her daughter. Though they reached an understanding when they went all teenager after eating chocolate. That was a memory she tried to repress as it was so not the time or place. In the end she grew to understand the important role he played in Buffy's life.

"Nothing is your fault. You can blame yourself all you want but in the end it is not your fault."

"You don't understand Mom, I was supposed to destroy an amulet with a powder that Giles gave me. Instead I went with my stake. It destroyed the amulet but it released something and Giles got in the way. If I wasn't such a stupid kid I would be out slaying and he would be...well being Giles." Tears were forming in her eyes now.

Joyce understood now. "Did Giles miss the fact that you tend to do things your way? I am sure he was well aware that you get things done on your terms. He knew this as I know you've been slipping out the window for years. We just chose to ignore things and let you make mistakes. Part of the learning process."

Buffy knew her mom was right but guilt is a strong anchor. "I'll leave in an other hour."

Joyce nodded and gave Buffy a hug before leaving.

Buffy pulled up a chair not taking her hand away from Giles'. There must be a way for her to help him and only wished that she could speak to him to ask. It was a sickening feeling not having Giles to go to for answers.

She looked at the clock and knew she had to go. Vampires were not going to stake themselves nor demons take a night off. Just as she was about to leave she saw someone she hoped not to see at this time.

"I'm not in the mood Spike."

"I'll have you know I'm here as I have some information to help 'im out. But if you are not interested you can just see him rot." Spike turned and Buffy grabbed his arm.

"Wait, fine, sorry."

Spike turned around pleased with Buffy's quick reaction. "It will cost you."

"Blood or money. I only have one option available."

He pondered his options and was willing to bet that Buffy would go far to see that her ex-watcher got up and reading dusty books again. "A pint of your slayer blood. Believe me it will be worth it."

"I'm not letting you bite me and besides, you can't."

"Every heard of blood donation? You know the thing were they stick you with a needle and a plastic bag fills up?" Spike was pleased to see her irritation and slight embarrassment. "So what will it be?"

The thought of Spike drinking her blood made her sick to her stomach but was it really that high a price? She agreed to the terms. "Fine, let's get this over with."

Collecting the blood was simple enough as Spike knew someone at the blood bank. After he pocketed he blood he sat down with her and told her what he knew.

Buffy was in no mood for any more delays . Spike knew he could not push his luck any further. "Spill, what do you know?"

"I heard that amulet encased a demon by the name of Yugan-Bree. Said demon is now in Giles. They are playing cat an mouse no doubt but in the end demon will win. When Giles wakes up it won't be Giles but said previous owner of the amulet." He casually took out a smoke as Buffy processed what was said.

"Oh God, what did I do? OK, demon possession. Get a spell and evict him. Easy peasy."

Spike prevented himself from rolling his eyes. He wondered what would have happened to her if there was any other watcher looking after her. Would not have survived without her friends that for sure. "Yes, good you do that. I'm done."

Buffy learned to read Spike's sarcastic remarks. "He can't be kicked out can he?"

"That information will cost you more and since you don't have money and you can't give anymore blood tonight I think we're done here." He was about to walk away when she grabbed him and slammed him against the wall.

"I'm not in the mood Spike, now I'll make a promise not to kill you for at least three months. Will that do?"

"Six."

"Five."

"Deal. You see Yugan-Bree hides within Giles and takes on different elements of his personality. It's as if he fuses himself into the essence of the person he possesses. You remove him you remove part of the person. You want to kick 'im out you have to go in and do it yourself."

Buffy was ready for anything but that. "Go into Giles' mind?"

"Either that or he wakes up not 'imself. Well I'm done here." Spike walked off before Buffy could hold him back again.

This was going from bad to worse now that she had no idea what she was dealing with and that her slayer powers may not have the same use. At least she got a name and a motive. Now it was research time with the gang.

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Giles' house was rather depressing as everyone sat around reading books to find out how to get into his head magically. Willow found a book with a possible spell but even her sense of curiosity was not enough to do cast the spell.

Descriptions of Yugan-Bree were vuage at best as there was nothing written on his appearance or how he defends himself inside the head of the person. He takes the body of the person he possesses and lived their lives out until the body dies of old age.

"Buffy, I would do this if I could but I simply am not practiced enough. Tara and I discussed this and even with both of us it simply has to be done by an experienced witch or mage. We don't qualify." Willow was heartbroken to give Buffy the news. Anya couldn't think of anyone accept for a few demons but they would have to be pulled from another dimension.

"There must be someone in Sunnydale." Buffy was exhausted and she felt sick to her stomach that she couldn't help. "Maybe we can contact the watchers' council. They may be able to help. I'd agree to work with them again if that's what they want."

Xander would hear none of it. "Um, no that's not going to happen. They fired Giles for being human and well they were just, well cruel to you. You want a mage? Remember who made me soldier boy for a night?"

Buffy realized who he was talking about. "Ethan Rayne? No, he's too dangerous. I agree the council is bad but not Ethan Rayne bad."

Willow stepped forward. "Buffy I don't like it anymore than you do but he and Giles have a history and well he would be powerful to do the spell. He would have persona knowledge about Giles that the council won't."

"He was taken by the initiative."

"We can get him out." This time Tara spoke up. "It's not that hard."

Buffy wasn't ready to face that man without giving him a good ass kicking for what he did to Giles the last time he was in Sunnydale. She almost killed Giles in the process. "As much as I hate to admit it. He's the best choice we have."

"We just need something that belonged to Ethan."

"I think I have something, hold on." Buffy went up stairs to Giles' room. It was strange being up here. This was like private land and being there made her feel out of place. She wondered if he kept it or not. She checked the wardrobe and laughed when she saw it.

'I thought he was going to burn it. It's beyond ugly. Wait he did say that he wanted it for something.'

She ran downstairs. "This is the top that Giles had to wear when he left Ethan's hotel room after he was transformed from being a demon. I asked him before if he burned this. Giles said no, he was going to use it in a location spell to keep track of Ethan."

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The meal was pretty standard, placed on a metal tray and separated into protein, starch and vegetable. There was a small cup of juice he had to peel open that sat next to a package that contained dry crackers. He was in luck today as someone remembered to give him a small round container of butter. How thoughtful.

Ethan missed cooking and his clothes. Though the jumpsuits were comfortable they lack flair to express his personality. He missed his chance to express himself and wondered why the God's of chaos had landed him here in such an orderly and confined space. It was the absence of chaos, it was his hell.

Despite being ignored most of the time he was treated well enough. When he was first brought here he was asked many questions about magic and how he had transformed Giles into a demon. He evaded these questions easily and knew that the officers would not believe him anyway. Soon the questions stopped and he was left alone but confined.

Now he was here trying to focus and bring the elements of chaos to get him out of here. Months went buy and nothing. So now here he was eating his protein, starch and vegetable with his cupped and peel-able juice and he thought that he should have let the slayer kill him and leave Giles to his fate.

"There he is grab him quick!"

Ethan heard the voice but was not able to discern who it was or what was said exactly. He found himself thrown hard to a floor. The view that was his cell was certainly different to this one. The surroundings were warm and he saw five faces stare down at him. One he recognized and wondered if he prayed to hard to the God's.

"Get him up." Buffy and Xander lifted Ethan from the floor and placed him on the sofa.

Ethan started laughing and leaned into the couch. "I can't tell you how happy I am to see you Buffy. That cell I was in was so...orderly. I thought I was going to go insane." He crossed his legs and looked at each of them casually.

Tara didn't like this man and was starting to regret bringing him here. Her look wasn't lost on Ethan and he dove in. "You are powerful little witch but you don't have near the potential as this one." Ethan looked directly at Willow who seemed nervous as well.

Buffy knew that Ethan was a talker and would delay things as far as he could. "You get to go free after you help Giles. He's possessed by a demon called Yugan-Bree. From what we've researched someone has to get inside Giles' head and well find Yugan-Bree and kick his ass."

Ethan took every word in and eased back into the sofa pondering this turn of events. Giles possessed by a demon, it was a strange wonder to think about. Now the slayer wants to go inside Ripper's head. Oh, the Gods of chaos did repay him in kind. This was going to be so much fun. He may get his Ripper back in one form or another yet.

"You have no idea what you'll face in there." He looked over at Willow who seemed nervous. "Tell me Ms. Rosenburg, or can I call you Willow?"

"Um, Willow's fine."

"Tell me Willow, why do you think the demon attached itself to Rupert and not to another person?"

Willow bit her bottom lip and nervously spoke. "The book said that Yugan-Bree is attracted to the darkest in a crowd."

Ethan brought his attention to Buffy who seemed a little off put by that comment. "You know nothing of Rupert's past do you? He and I were once friends, very good friends at that. If you decide to go in Rupert's mind I hope you are ready to see the real him. Tweed was just a costume he wore for that bloody council of uptight arses."

Buffy stood directly in front of him now. "When do we start?"

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