Title: Missing Buffy
Author: mispel
E-mail: G
Summary: The gang reacts while Buffy is gone post season 2.
Spoilers: not really
Disclaimer: I own none of it. Joss, ME and Fox own all
Feedback: Any comments would be welcome.
Missing Buffy
Joyce
If she came back today… The mirror was still fogged from the shower, and Joyce didn't bother to clean it. She knew what she would see. She was tired and she was too angry. If Buffy came back right now, she was afraid she would scream at her. She couldn't do that and drive her away again. She had to compose herself, and be ready every day.
Giles
Giles wished he could read. He had found it was no use and left the books at home this trip. He sat in airports, on plains, waited and wasted time.
There was always a surge of adrenaline at the beginning, a rush to catch the flight. Then nervousness giving way to reality at the end. Reality was coming sooner now.
During the start of the flight, he had leafed through magazines absently. He let the man next to him borrow them in hopes that it would make him less chatty.
"Is that your daughter?"
A photograph had peaked out from the folder he carried. Giles pretended not to hear and looked out the window at nothing. The view was gray, an even cover of clouds. He stared out stubbornly. Maybe he would find her this time.
"5'4", slim, shoulder length blond hair, light brown eyes -hazel, really - have you seen her?"
A picture held at eye level. Bribes, threats, sad looks to elicit sympathy. Lies.
"She's my daughter. She's missing. Have you seen her?"
A sad smile and a shake of the head. Sometimes offers to keep an eye out, put up a flyer, say prayers.
Then a phone call to dash their hopes so he didn't have to see their faces fall - the tense look on Joyce's face mixed with disappointment, Xander's eyes saying he didn't really expect him to find her, Willow's brave smile.
Willow's voice instead, "Oh. OK. Hurry home then. Have a safe trip."
Some don't even look at the picture, just try and walk by. He doesn't let them.
"Take another look. You would remember her."
Joyce
You always have an ear open. You look for her everywhere you go. But you hate to leave the house - she doesn't have a key. She might call. You never forget to check your messages.
You pay the bills. Go shopping, go to work. You eat meals and watch TV.
You even sleep. Though you didn't at first. You have good dreams and bad. You go and sit in her room, and lie on her bed and cry.
Willow
Willow walked up the stairs quietly. There had been a phone call. A hang-up. 69 didn't have a number. Joyce had to go to work but she asked Willow to stay and answer the phone.
"On the first ring if you can."
Willow had a phone in her hand.
"First ring. Got it."
She wanted to be reassuring and responsible.
Now the house was empty and she walked up to Buffy's room. Sneaked up. Like it was forbidden.
Things in the same place, bed made. Slippers peeking out under the bed skirt.
She imagined the phone would ring and she would say, "I am in your room right now, come home or Mr. Gordo gets it."
Or maybe she would just ask, "Buffy? Is that you?" and a million other pestering questions.
Xander
Giles had a folder. A Missing Buffy folder. Have you seen her? Enlarged photographs. Cards with his phone number on them. Her facts and statistics. Her blood type.
Xander just couldn't picture it - Giles finding her, bringing her home. He couldn't picture the look on her face as Giles called her name on some strange street and she turned around.
Xander thought she might call. Maybe leave a message saying she was OK. He hated that he was wrong. And that maybe she wasn't.
He couldn't picture her out there. The girl who was missing wasn't Buffy. Buffy wouldn't do this. When she was Buffy again, she would be back. That's why Giles can't bring her back. He can't find her because she isn't out there. When she is herself, she'll act like Buffy and do what Buffy would do and be here.