Chapter Two: The Dark Horse

*Rupert Giles POV*

By the time Buffy and I arrived at the library, the Council was scattered around looking as bored as they possibly could. Both Xander and Willow stood eagerly from the stairs. I could feel their nerves radiating from across the room. Buffy walked over toward them and put an arm around Willow. She gave a weak smile in return.

"How nice of you to join us," Travers said, full of contempt.

I pushed down my rage in an attempt to keep my composure for Buffy's sake. She didn't need today to be any more difficult. "I apologize for our tardiness. We, uh… had some business to attend to on our way here."

"Right." He stood up from his chair and looked carefully from me to Buffy, "We assumed you two had just slept in."

He took another step toward me and spoke in a volume so only I could hear. "You might want to run a comb through your hair, Rupert. You should try to look presentable before the Council."

Instinctively I ran my fingers through my hair, hoping to pat it down into a much more natural state. He saw right through my lie, giving me a warning glance before turning back toward Buffy.

"Might I recommend next time a phone call?"

"You know what they say. Better late than..." Buffy paused to look at me.

Pregnant.

A Golden Girls reference.

I laughed before I could stop myself.

I covered my laugh with a failed attempt to give Buffy a disapproving glare. She smiled innocently back. Travers turned back to me to provide me with the glare I should have been giving Buffy.

"Right. Well, we've wasted enough time, so let me get straight to it." Xander and Willow held onto Buffy, and they watched Travers turn back towards them.

"Buffy, I'm going to be frank with you. The Watcher's Council works hard using powerful magics to locate as many potential slayers as we can to train and prepare them for the life of a slayer. Sometimes we can't locate all of them. Occasionally, a potential slayer that we have not trained has been chosen. This is the case with you and a few slayers before you. Historically speaking, these slayers die almost instantly without the proper training or explanation for their enhanced abilities. Then a new slayer is called. With that Slayer's demise, we hope the next Slayer will be someone we have properly trained. When your first Watcher, Merrick, had been killed, we had assumed you would go shortly after. We sent Giles to find you, and he did. But his reports about you had us assuming your demise was imminent, as it was written in prophecy."

"Thanks for the confidence."

"Travers!" I came up behind him practically shouting in his ear, "What exactly are you trying to accomplish here?"

Calmly and without looking away from Buffy Travers continued, "I am only telling the girl the truth, Rupert. And if you let me finish, I'm actually trying to compliment her."

So far, everything he mentioned was information I already knew. I couldn't help but feel like it was wrong to tell Buffy everything. I remember the way she looked at me when she over-heard the prophecy that she was going to die. Her eyes were helpless, and I failed, crumbling before her. Now Travers was rubbing death in her face, and if his next statement wasn't actually a compliment, I was ready to punch him in the face.

"Buffy… you have already lived longer than any of us anticipated and have proven yourself to be just as capable as Rupert believes you to be."

"We can see our mistake in dismissing you, and we plan to make immediate corrective action."

Bloody fuck.

"Rupert will work closely with us to have you withdrawn from school immediately to be provided with a more proper training regimen than you are used to. You will no longer be allowed to associate with these civilians," he pointed toward Willow and Xander, "And your relationship with Angel is to be terminated."

"What?" Buffy pulled away from her friends, "You can't do that..."

Travers dismissed her opposition and continued. "And if Giles can't get you to cooperate with our program, he will be fired, and a new watcher will be sent to take his place. Someone more suitable to do what it takes to get you to fall in line."

"You're insane!" Xander cried out. "You don't own her."

"My friends and that vampire you are trying to take away from me have occasionally saved my life." Buffy fought.

"And now you will learn to stand on your own. Without extra assistance." He paused, looking down at the floor, "Our organization has spent centuries protecting and guiding the Slayer. I can assure you, Buffy, we have nothing on our minds but the longevity and success of your life. You are our weapon. If we had found you as a potential, this adjustment wouldn't be so hard on you, and that is our failure. We aim to protect people, like your friends. We aren't your enemy, although I'm sure it feels that way now. We will give you a week to get your affairs in order. We will take you and Rupert to an undisclosed training facility. There you will be properly trained on honing your abilities."

No one said anything. We all knew we couldn't fight Travers. His utterly useless entourage began to stand and exit the building.

"And Buffy I wouldn't think about running away. I have resources that can make your life extremely difficult and magic to locate you where ever you hide. It will only end worse for you and your friends."

The threat hung in the air. Willow's knees crumbled, and she lowered herself back onto the stairs. The three of them held the same pained reactions on their faces. Xander looked at me to do… anything. But I am familiar with the resources of the Council. I have used them myself at one point or another. Travers was right. He could make life difficult for all of them. I swallowed the truth down hard and kept my gaze away from Xander. The library felt cold.

"Now, Rupert, if I could speak with you before I depart."

"Sure," I whispered in defeat, "Let's go into my office."

I turned away from the children, and Travers followed my slow steps into the office and closed the door behind us.

I looked at the books scattered around my office in the dimly lit room, and I wondered if there was more I could have done to prevent Buffy from suffering through this. Should I have been more strict with her from the beginning to avoid this loss for her now?

"Rupert..." he began.

I had forgotten he was still here.

"You may assume I disapprove, but there is no written rule that states Watchers and Slayers can not have a romantic relationship. And there is a reason for that..."

"What?" What exactly was he implying?

"No judgment here. Miss Summers is a beautiful young woman, and humans have needs. We have found that Slayers have abnormally powerful libidos, and it's natural to form romantic relationships with each other when you have no one else that understands our lifestyle..."

My blood pressure was through the roof. I loosened my tie, and my head was pounding again. "How dare you - !"

"I'm going to tell you what I have told every Watcher before you. These romantic relationships can threaten the life of your Slayer. If you feel your relationship will cause her harm, you are required to inform us so we can send her a new Watcher. This is important. I know you don't want her to die. We can see that you love her."

I punched him. Hard. His nose cracked beneath my knuckles, and he flew across the room, knocking over trinkets and books as he smacked against the wall. Blood streamed from his face. He held himself up on a small table beside the door. I promised Buffy I wouldn't let him fire me, but that promise meant nothing to me right now. I wanted to see him dead. He looked into my eyes and smiled.

"I feel my point has been made."

He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and flinched as he cleaned his face. I grabbed a sword from the wall and held it firm at my side.

"Now, killing me won't change anything. You know that." He looked at me with his sly grin and turned the knob, "I'll see you in a week."

He closed the door behind him.

I took a deep breath.

And another.

I growled as I plunged the sword through the door.

I held it there... in both of my hands. My chest rose and fell in an unnatural pattern. I tried to control my exhales, but my body just shivered.

I pulled the sword back through the door, and when I saw it was clean, I dropped it to the floor. The metal clamored from its fall. I slammed the office door behind me and stormed out of the library, leaving the kids, terrified and speechless behind me.