Chapter 19
When Buffy woke up in hospital a little while later, she saw a strange man standing over her. Asking hundreds of questions about how she felt and assuring her that someone called Angel had gone after the Master and everything would be all right now. She paniced, trying to get out of bed and away from this strange person. The Doctor asked the man to leave and then examined her.
Outside the man paced for what felt like a lifetime waiting for the Doctor to finish.
"Mr. Giles?" the Doctor asked as he came out of the room.
"Yes?" the man asked.
"Next of kin?" he asked.
"I am a friend of the family. Responsible for Buffy while her mother is away with a sick relative," Giles explained.
"I'm Doctor Charman. Miss Summers is suffering from a sever concussion. She needs to be kept in over night for observation." he said.
"And?" Giles asked, sensing he was hiding something.
"There is the matter of memory impairment resulting from lesions forming in her Limbic System. More commonly known as Amnesia. Miss Summer has lost over 90% of her long and short term memory. With time most of these should be recoverable, but it could be a long and hard task to do so," he said.
"Buffy must be so frightened" Giles muttered, "How much memory does she have left?"
"Her name, age and the fact she goes to Sunnydale High, and a love of books. Nothing else, not even friends names!" Dr. Charman answered.
7
"Can I see her?" Giles asked.
"No until the morning" the Doctor insisted.
"That girl is in my care and I have a right to see her" Giles insisted.
"Miss Summers was distressed when she woke, I had to sedate her. Rest is what she needs rights now. When she is stronger, maybe as soon as the morning I will discharge her into your care. Familiar
surroundings will do her more good then here. Until then I suggest you go home and rest. There is nothing you can do here. Miss Summers will need you at peek ability tomorrow."
Giles decided to take the advice. Suddenly he felt very old and very tired. He could hardly stop himself from yawning.
As he walked through the hospital towards the car park he thought about the happenings of the last few weeks. They had been hard on all of them. Himself even more so, up most of the nights worrying
about Buffy and researching. While all along feeling guilty about allowing her to be taken from him.
Even more worrying when Buffy disappeared for days without any contact. Helping in the final castings that completed her cure. Trying to stop her from killing him. Giles decided he must be getting old. He used to be able to pull off far more complex and powerful castings without feeling anywhere near this terrible!
As Giles came out of the hospital building he wondered how he was going to get home. It was too late for the last bus and his car was miles away, at the school. Taxi's in Sunnydale stopped running early, no one liked to be out after the sun had set. Yet, they were still willing to ignore everything that happened in the city's limits. Sometimes Giles was infuriated with Americans and this was one of those times!
"Watcher?" a girl's soft voice called from the shadows thrown by the tall, dark trees.
"Kerry, what are you doing here?" he asked coming closer.
"Stop, please. I'm too weak to change my appearance" she begged.
He obeyed, "Why are you here?"
"I came to check on the Slayer and you. A pity she is hurt in such a dangerous way. I hope we will have enough time before the awakening to help her regain full memory!" Kerry muttered, "Anyway take these," she said tossing a set of car keys at him.
"There is always enough time!" Giles answered confidently as he bent to pick up the keys. Wishing he truly felt as certain as he sounded.
"Liar!" she whispered, "My car is metallic green. Second row, fourth in from the cherry tree. Try not to scratch the paint, it's brand new!"
"Thank you," he whispered.
"No, thank you Watcher. Because of you Buffy and the world is safe for a little longer."
"It is far too late for your riddles. Come back tomorrow." he muttered.
Kerry laughed, a soft tinkling sound. "Angel tells me the same thing! Good night Watcher, 'til fate crosses our paths once more."
"Good night," Giles answered watching her dark silhouette disappear.
When he reached the car Angel was waiting for him. "Hello Watcher. I was coming to check on Buffy when Kerry found me. Asked if I'd drive you home. She believes you will fall asleep at the wheel and crash. Neither her nor Buffy would forgive me if I allowed that to happen." he said.
"In the state Buffy is in she will not remember your name, yet alone blame you for anything. Amnesia!" Giles answered.
Angel nodded, "Kerry told me. We'll find a way to help her. We always do!" as Giles climbed in the passenger seat of the extremely spacious car. He dozed while they drove home. It had been an extremely long day and night for everyone involved. When they reached the flat, Angel had to half carry Giles to his door, not being able to wake him. He felt around in the Watcher's pockets and found the door key. Turned it in the lock and roused Giles enough to ask permission to enter.
"Yes" the Watcher muttered, still mostly asleep.
He dumped Giles on the bed and left silently. He took Kerry's car and headed towards his own flat. She'd been spending most of her time there with her Watcher's papers and prophecies. He wanted to ask what would happen next, but he doubted if he'd understand the girl's riddles!
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