A/N: Next one-shot is here! This is from Giles POV and contains a characters death, though keep in mind i have a continued one-shot to follow so not everything will be as it seems. Also I sound like I am a Wesley hater a bit in this, but i'm not. He's not my fav character, but i got nothing against the guy.
I also wanted to say a giant thank you to finaldragon13, your review made my day. (Sits and eats carrots) lol.
Hope to get feedback, if not, thanks for reading.
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I'm not sure if it's just me, perhaps someone else has noticed as well, although I highly doubt this to be the case. I suppose all my queries on this have gone unvoiced therefore explaining the lack of others knowing, it would be foolish, a calamity on my part to even think for a second that Xander, Willow, Oz, Wesley and well I deduce Cordelia might have caught even the slightest clue as to what I have…Well, what I suspect I have.
I watch them a lot, merely doing my job as a Watcher. A Slayer is not a Slayer without one. My profession is not something to be taken lightly, indeed not, it beholds risks and factors one must be cautious of at all times. I've got to take things into consideration and uphold a certain refinement when on duty…Which when thought upon is always.
I've got my eye on them now as Wesley speaks to the gang, he's pacing near some bookshelves, hardly making a word of sense yet his extensive vocabulary would make you think otherwise. Their sitting close together I didn't miss the way Faith had pulled her chair towards Buffy's, nor did I overlook how casually she had performed that mere action. They seem to be listening quite ardently to Wesley, something on its own which is moderately peculiar. Though to the somewhat untrained eye you'd not pick up on the smaller, rather scarcely there glances they are stealing. My eyes however note every detail.
I must look quite a sight, staring with verve at the two. Although I memorandum that the rest of the group are either talking with hushed voices amongst themselves or slipping ungracefully into a peaceful slumber, I turn my eyes from a partially snoring Xander and again keep a steady lock on Buffy and Faith.
Well that is until Wesley speaks up in a loud voice. "So, Giles if you don't want to articulate anything I can assume we're all set."
I fluster somewhat though if I do say so myself hold it together well. "Um…Well, yes…No I think we're, ugh, all set."
"Giles!" I revolve in the direction of the two highly yelled voices and see a livid looking Faith accompanied by one shocked Buffy.
Oh, dear what have I said?
"You really want us to follow through with his plan?" Buffy asks and I give a well thought out, well structured reply.
"Huh?"
"The man's trippin' if he thinks that stingy idea is gunna sit well with us!" Faith chimes in though unlike Buffy's her eyes are prominently looking at Wesley. "We follow those instructions, we die."
"Faiths, right…" Buffy goes to say, though Wesley seems to have recovered in leaps and bounds from his initial non-responsive moment and cuts her off.
"Nothing is wrong with the plan, you are mistaken to think otherwise and I have it on good authority that going in guns a blazing will not work, my plan, and my preparations are structured and finely built on facts."
Faith snorts. "Whose facts are they? Yours?"
"Indeed, I have taking every possible action to ensure we succeed in our plan."
"Okay, but let me get this straight cause it seems as though although I have no major role in this whole 'kill vamps' play, sneaking into a nest of ugly foes is a bad thing, very bad thing, a bad thing where people die…"
"Xander I can assure you nothing will happen."
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I always said famous last words had a certain irony about them, well never out loud, though on many occasions I would be in thought about it. So to say what Wesley said had turned out to be ironic, well, it would have been right on the mark. Indeed something did happen, something where in an unfortunate turn of events I end up locked in a cage underground watching Faith drag Buffy closer.
It's dark so I can only see so much, I can hear more…Hear Faith's heavy breathing as she mutters something, not to me, I would calculate her words were said for Buffy to hear them. She has stopped walking now and I watch with interest as she carefully situates Buffy against the ever so crumbling clay wall again she speaks though her words are low, whispered not to me.
"How is she?" I ask and I get a wave of Faith's hand. "If I can be of any assistance…"
"Giles, you're locked in a fuckin' cage so unless you can squeeze through the tightly compressed bars I suggest you shut up."
She's angry so I let her words flow passed me, keeping my thoughts in my head as I simply watch, fitting really…I am after all a watcher.
"Do you need anything?" I look up ready to answer though quickly close my mouth when I realize Faith's not talking to me, I see Buffy shake her head.
"Only a remote so I can…go back a-and watch were I w-went wrong, pause it there, then…then delete and re-tape over it."
Faith laughs, it's a laugh forced and I see her hesitantly grab Buffy's hand. "I didn't have your back."
A statement which makes Buffy sit up straighter, I don't fail to see her return Faith's before gesture as she grips the brunette's hand tighter. "Yes, you did...It's the vamps fault for being too damn quick." She smiles and I just want to break out of the constricting bars and help her, help them both.
Faith nods, moves closer and smiles. "C'mon B, think 'bout what you're saying here, when you've come to ya senses you'll be kickin' yourself. 'Sides only a scratch." She points to Buffy's stomach and I can only just make out the darker shade tinting her shirt. "…Slayer healin' will cover that problem."
I try to reframe from talking, although find the words just float out without so much as a warning. "Well, ugh, from what I can see she's going to need medical attention, the factors are not in favor and I do fear a substantial loss of blood."
Faith doesn't look at me and I'm left to gauge her reaction by Buffy's response, I turn to look at her and she's focused solely on me, giving her an apologetic smile I see her return it. "I'm fine, it's not that bad." She says it not completely convincing though I nod and she looks to Faith. "I'm fine, ego's a little shot and my pride is fractured, but seriously I'm not planning on leaving everyone just yet."
"Glad to hear it B." Faith whispers. "'Cause I was kinda hoping ya'd stick around." She smiles and its then do I feel a slight sting in my neck, my head becomes confounded and no shortly after I fall do I become unconscious.
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My heads bloody pounding, excuse the language. But right now I'm a little more than irritated. I struggle to sit up leaning heavily upon the wall, my eyes refuse to focus and I solemnly note my glasses are cracked ever a fraction. Let's just add insult to injury shall we?
I can hear heavy breathing merely a meter and a half away and squint just a fraction as I make out a figure.
"Buffy…" It seems my voice doesn't want to work and I croak out her name, she turns to face me.
"Giles, you're awake – are you okay?" Her voice is desperate, if I may deduce…broken
I nod. "Indeed, I'm fine. Buffy are you alright?"
She doesn't reply and instead ignores my question so I ask the next thing on my mind. "And Faith…?"
Her eyes meet mine and it's only then do I see the tears, unspoken yet they hold so much emotion.
"Buffy?" I push, keeping my voice calm.
She looks to her stomach and her hand rises to clutch her bloodied top, her own blood still present and I remember the wound she bared before. "I'm hurt Giles."
So distant, so devoid of emotion.
Said merely to state a fact, to ignore and dodge my question.
I studying her and frown at her pained features, she's tired and I know she's probably fought more vampires tonight then she would in a week.
I nod and try my best to seem calm as tears now stream down her cheeks, her hazel-green eyes almost pleading with me as she utters in merely a whisper, hushed and broken.
"Why?"
I shake my head and answer softly with a question. "How?"
She mimics my actions and brings a shaky hand to pinch the bridge of her nose.
Her words effortless and steady although they behold an unbearable amount of emotion
"I didn't have her back."
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A/N: i'll admit it's a bit sketchy, I was in a hurry because my laptop was playing up and i wanted to post something. PLZ for my own sanity let me know what you think, I'll get the second part of this (Long) one-shot up soon. *Batters eyelids* Pwease review...yes i added a W in my please, i'm desperate lol.