Chapter 28: Turning the Page of History
Scene: V-B/X's love nest.
"I'm getting hungry." V-Buffy pouted.
"Honey, but you just ate that three course family an hour ago." Xander said laying beside her.
"I know, but they weren't very filling."
Xander let out a sigh of frustration as he got out of bed and slipped into his leather pants before making his way to the door, "What do you want?" he asked turning around.
"I don't know. What do you want?" She asked in an innocent manner, still laying on the bed wrapped up in the sheets.
"I'm not the one that is hungry." he said pausing for a moment before continuing, "No wait I am hungry." he said as the blood lust came to him again.
"Mexican?" V-Buffy asked.
"Honey, that family was Mexican and they didn't fill you, besides you know how they give you gas."
"Oh, yeah." she said before getting out of bed while claiming her own pair of clothes.
"What are you doing?" V-Xander asked from the doorway as she let the sheet she had wrapped around her fall to the ground, letting Xander get an eye full before she slowly slipped on her shirt and pants with a smile, "I'm coming with you."
"If your going why can't I just stay here?" Xander asked from the doorway as she made her way up to him and wrapped her arms around him before thrusting herself into his body with the satisfaction of an grunt from him.
"Because we're a couple now and couples do things together, like going out to eat."
"We can't just order in?"
"No, now shut up and move that cute ass of yours." she said grabbing his butt before continuing, "Or would you like me to make it move for you?" she said with a growl behind her voice.
Before Xander could answer she put a finger over his lips, "Uh, Uh, Uh, food first." she said giving him a glance that almost made his hips move by themselves before stepping out of the room with a smiling Xander closely behind.
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Scene: Back at the library
It had been over an hour since Giles had left to retrieve the books at his place and he hadn't came back yet. Reed was getting anxious as he sits in one of the chairs by a still unconscious Buffy on the table. There is a shirt under her head, being her only comfort as a pillow. Although, he was anxious Reed still didn't show it as he sat there quiet as a mouse staring at Buffy. Everyone else, however, was a different story as Ms. Calendar had now moved towards the doorway of the library continuing to keep a look out for Giles, while Willow looked through one of the books that Giles had given them from his collection in his office. Despite her effects, Willow would still glance up every time she turned a page to look towards Ms. Calendar's direction. Even Oz looked a little worried as he was twindling his thumbs. {Just as you described him} Reed thought as he looked at Oz for a second before looking back at Buffy.
Willow broke the silence that had been going on for almost thirty minutes now as she slammed the book closed causing everyone to jump except Reed.
Reed could tell the look on Willow's face wasn't one of anger for not finding anything, but for the anger of everything that seemed to be falling apart around her. First she loses Buffy, then Xander and now... well, now Reed had a bad feeling about Giles.
Willow said what Reed was currently thinking at the moment, "We should've went with him. It's too dangerous with Buffy and...and..." she got up with a determined look on her face as she went to where Giles kept the weapons in the cage.
Willow sudden outburst caught Ms. Calendar's attention as she left her spot at the door and came back into the library, "What are you doing?"
"What does it look like. I'm going to find Giles." she said trying the weapons cabinet door, only to find it locked, "Damnit!" she yelled as she pulled at the door with no luck.
In less than a second Oz was by her side as he slightly put his hand on her shoulder, which was quickly brushed off by her, "Don't! I'm not a baby who needs to be coddled. I'm just...I'm..."
It was clear that she was about to break, but she didn't because at that instant there was a loud bang coming from the weapons cabinet as it opened with Reed now standing beside it as he stared at Willow who returned his look with one of her own.
However, it was a short look because Willow turned around and started towards the library doors with Oz behind her as Ms. Calendar fell in step behind them. They were at the door before Ms. Calendar noticed that Reed wasn't with them as she turned around, "Aren't you com..."she broke off when she saw an empty library. Willow took a step back into the library like she was going to investigate, but Ms. Calendar stopped her as she lightly grabbed hold of Willow's arm, "Let's go Willow."
Willow gave one last look at the now empty library, except for a shirt rolled up in a ball on the table before turning around and following the others as they went in search of Giles.
...............
As they rode in Oz's van over to Giles' place Willow prayed that Giles was okay. She couldn't take losing someone else.
She heard her name being called, "Willow." Oz said as he stood by the drivers side with the door opened, "We're here."
Willow snapped out of her trance and got out of Oz's van as she followed Ms. Calendar and Oz to Giles' door. As they came upon the door they noticed that it was slightly cracked with voices coming from within. Usually Willow would be more cautious, but right now she wasn't really thinking as she pushed her way into Giles' place with Oz and Ms. Calendar behind her.
What she saw angered her, but at the same time gave her relief. There was Giles sitting down in one of the chairs facing the door.
Giles looked like he was about to say something as Willow came towards him, but he was inturrepted by a punch to his shoulder from her, "Where have you been? Why didn't you call? We've been worrying about you and here you are chatting and living it up with this...this girl. Why is there a girl in your house?" she asked getting more confused by the minute.
The girl looked like she was about to speak up, but Willow inturrepted her, "Wait, no, I don't care. I've had enough with the mystery guests." she said turning back towards Giles as she was about to start in on him again before being inturrepted by the girl next to her.
"Listen, commando gal. I don't care how long it's been since you got any, but you need to calm down before I introduce you to my...
Giles clearing his throat interrupted the girl as he turned towards Willow, "Willow, I'm sorry that I didn't call. I was rather... umm... well, to say the least I was as surprised by Ms. William's presence as you were.
"Ms. Williams?" Oz asked nodding towards the girl.
Giles was about to answer when the girl spoke up, "Listen, what the watcher here is trying to say is that I'm the new player in town. Slayer actually."
"Slayer?" Willow asked looking at the girl and then towards Giles for confirmation as he nodded his head.
"Well, you still could've called." Willow said calming down a little.
"I'm sorry for worrying you Willow, all of you." Giles said looking at Oz and especially at Ms. Calendar before continuing, "but I had to fill in Ms. Williams here about our... um.. situation."
"Would you please quit calling me that."
"What?" Giles said turning his attention towards the girl.
"Ms. Williams. Quit calling me that, it sounds like I'm married or something. The name's Faith."
.......................
For the next few minutes Ms. Calendar, Willow, and Oz all listened to Giles tell them what he had found out from this new girl. It seemed that the Vamped Buffy of this world killed the slayer that was to be called thus bringing this Faith into the fold as the next slayer. At least that was most of what Willow could make of it. Willow was brought out of her thoughts by Giles getting up from his seat.
"I'll just call Reed and tell him...." Giles was cut off by Willow.
"Uh...well, you see that's a problem because well, umm...he's gone." Willow said.
"Gone?"
"Yeah, I was so caught up in going to look for you that when we turned around he was gone, along with Buffy." Willow said almost ashamed.
Giles got a worried look on his face as Ms. Calendar came back into the room with a couple of drinks as she handed them to everyone, "Do you think Buffy's alright?" she asked handing Giles' cup to him as he returned to his seat.
Giles' hand felt around the pocket of his jacket until he found what he was looking before removing his empty hand, "What, uhh...yeah, It's just I need him here to help in the research because he is the only one that can point out these powers."
.......
After passing out his many volumes on Mythology, specifically Greek Mythology Giles excused himself as he made his way to his bedroom, closed the door and leaned up against it while closing his eyes.
Even Watchers need a break from research sometimes.
It was now almost two in the morning. They had been researching since almost midnight and they had found nothing. Giles was sure that the answers or at least something close to answers would lie in Greek Mythology, but at the moment he seemed to be wrong. They knew nothing about these powers and the one person who had contact with them was now missing. Giles went to his desk in the corner of the room and opened the draw. He pulled out a dark blue book with the letters R G carved in the top right hand corner and took a seat in his antique wooden chair as he lay the book down on the desk.
This was Giles own personally dairy. His sanctuary. He wrote in it what came to mind without the worry of knowing what the Watchers Council would think. He would write in this book first and then write down an edited version in the Watcher's dairies. If he were to every express that his feelings for the slayer were like those of a father's feelings for his daughter they would dismiss him at once, saying that those kind of feelings would cloud his judgement.
Giles carefully opened the book as if it were gold while he turned to the first page.
.......Today was the day I'd been waiting for. The day I have been training for. It was the day that all watchers dreamed about. Today I would meet my slayer. I was ready to take upon my duty as Watcher and train the slayer against the forces of evil. I was ready that is, until I met the little....
Giles turned the page quickly as he skimmed through the book. He stopped when he came upon a passage that had been written almost a year ago to this date.
.....Today was probably one of the worst days of my life, yet it was also one of the best. Today my slayer, Buffy Ann Summers, defeated the Master. She fought with the courage and strength that I would think rivals any slayer before her. Yet, I found myself torn between my duty as her watcher and my duty as her friend as I sent her into battle. Fore, if I was to ever lose her I don't know what I would do.
{It would seem that the watchers council was right after all} he thought as he turned the pages until he came to his last passage.
.....As I write here on this page I am truly hollow inside for today my slayer, Buffy Ann Summers is dead. I know many watchers who would die for the chance to get their own slayer, but if they only knew what the end of that job brings with it they wouldn't want it. I will write the details of her death at a later time for I haven't the strength to do it now.
After he read the last entry Giles turned the page and picked up a pen from his desk and held it to the paper. He held the pen slightly above the paper as if he couldn't bring himself to write. Putting ink to this book was something that Giles had once looked forward to many of nights, but that all changed on that night Buffy died. Giles closed his eyes and thought back to the conversation he had with Reed in his office earlier in the night before opening them with determination and lowering the pen to the paper as he began to write. And write he did as the room soon became filled with the sound of a man on a mission.
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Scene: V-B/X's love nest.
"I'm getting hungry." V-Buffy pouted.
"Honey, but you just ate that three course family an hour ago." Xander said laying beside her.
"I know, but they weren't very filling."
Xander let out a sigh of frustration as he got out of bed and slipped into his leather pants before making his way to the door, "What do you want?" he asked turning around.
"I don't know. What do you want?" She asked in an innocent manner, still laying on the bed wrapped up in the sheets.
"I'm not the one that is hungry." he said pausing for a moment before continuing, "No wait I am hungry." he said as the blood lust came to him again.
"Mexican?" V-Buffy asked.
"Honey, that family was Mexican and they didn't fill you, besides you know how they give you gas."
"Oh, yeah." she said before getting out of bed while claiming her own pair of clothes.
"What are you doing?" V-Xander asked from the doorway as she let the sheet she had wrapped around her fall to the ground, letting Xander get an eye full before she slowly slipped on her shirt and pants with a smile, "I'm coming with you."
"If your going why can't I just stay here?" Xander asked from the doorway as she made her way up to him and wrapped her arms around him before thrusting herself into his body with the satisfaction of an grunt from him.
"Because we're a couple now and couples do things together, like going out to eat."
"We can't just order in?"
"No, now shut up and move that cute ass of yours." she said grabbing his butt before continuing, "Or would you like me to make it move for you?" she said with a growl behind her voice.
Before Xander could answer she put a finger over his lips, "Uh, Uh, Uh, food first." she said giving him a glance that almost made his hips move by themselves before stepping out of the room with a smiling Xander closely behind.
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Scene: Back at the library
It had been over an hour since Giles had left to retrieve the books at his place and he hadn't came back yet. Reed was getting anxious as he sits in one of the chairs by a still unconscious Buffy on the table. There is a shirt under her head, being her only comfort as a pillow. Although, he was anxious Reed still didn't show it as he sat there quiet as a mouse staring at Buffy. Everyone else, however, was a different story as Ms. Calendar had now moved towards the doorway of the library continuing to keep a look out for Giles, while Willow looked through one of the books that Giles had given them from his collection in his office. Despite her effects, Willow would still glance up every time she turned a page to look towards Ms. Calendar's direction. Even Oz looked a little worried as he was twindling his thumbs. {Just as you described him} Reed thought as he looked at Oz for a second before looking back at Buffy.
Willow broke the silence that had been going on for almost thirty minutes now as she slammed the book closed causing everyone to jump except Reed.
Reed could tell the look on Willow's face wasn't one of anger for not finding anything, but for the anger of everything that seemed to be falling apart around her. First she loses Buffy, then Xander and now... well, now Reed had a bad feeling about Giles.
Willow said what Reed was currently thinking at the moment, "We should've went with him. It's too dangerous with Buffy and...and..." she got up with a determined look on her face as she went to where Giles kept the weapons in the cage.
Willow sudden outburst caught Ms. Calendar's attention as she left her spot at the door and came back into the library, "What are you doing?"
"What does it look like. I'm going to find Giles." she said trying the weapons cabinet door, only to find it locked, "Damnit!" she yelled as she pulled at the door with no luck.
In less than a second Oz was by her side as he slightly put his hand on her shoulder, which was quickly brushed off by her, "Don't! I'm not a baby who needs to be coddled. I'm just...I'm..."
It was clear that she was about to break, but she didn't because at that instant there was a loud bang coming from the weapons cabinet as it opened with Reed now standing beside it as he stared at Willow who returned his look with one of her own.
However, it was a short look because Willow turned around and started towards the library doors with Oz behind her as Ms. Calendar fell in step behind them. They were at the door before Ms. Calendar noticed that Reed wasn't with them as she turned around, "Aren't you com..."she broke off when she saw an empty library. Willow took a step back into the library like she was going to investigate, but Ms. Calendar stopped her as she lightly grabbed hold of Willow's arm, "Let's go Willow."
Willow gave one last look at the now empty library, except for a shirt rolled up in a ball on the table before turning around and following the others as they went in search of Giles.
...............
As they rode in Oz's van over to Giles' place Willow prayed that Giles was okay. She couldn't take losing someone else.
She heard her name being called, "Willow." Oz said as he stood by the drivers side with the door opened, "We're here."
Willow snapped out of her trance and got out of Oz's van as she followed Ms. Calendar and Oz to Giles' door. As they came upon the door they noticed that it was slightly cracked with voices coming from within. Usually Willow would be more cautious, but right now she wasn't really thinking as she pushed her way into Giles' place with Oz and Ms. Calendar behind her.
What she saw angered her, but at the same time gave her relief. There was Giles sitting down in one of the chairs facing the door.
Giles looked like he was about to say something as Willow came towards him, but he was inturrepted by a punch to his shoulder from her, "Where have you been? Why didn't you call? We've been worrying about you and here you are chatting and living it up with this...this girl. Why is there a girl in your house?" she asked getting more confused by the minute.
The girl looked like she was about to speak up, but Willow inturrepted her, "Wait, no, I don't care. I've had enough with the mystery guests." she said turning back towards Giles as she was about to start in on him again before being inturrepted by the girl next to her.
"Listen, commando gal. I don't care how long it's been since you got any, but you need to calm down before I introduce you to my...
Giles clearing his throat interrupted the girl as he turned towards Willow, "Willow, I'm sorry that I didn't call. I was rather... umm... well, to say the least I was as surprised by Ms. William's presence as you were.
"Ms. Williams?" Oz asked nodding towards the girl.
Giles was about to answer when the girl spoke up, "Listen, what the watcher here is trying to say is that I'm the new player in town. Slayer actually."
"Slayer?" Willow asked looking at the girl and then towards Giles for confirmation as he nodded his head.
"Well, you still could've called." Willow said calming down a little.
"I'm sorry for worrying you Willow, all of you." Giles said looking at Oz and especially at Ms. Calendar before continuing, "but I had to fill in Ms. Williams here about our... um.. situation."
"Would you please quit calling me that."
"What?" Giles said turning his attention towards the girl.
"Ms. Williams. Quit calling me that, it sounds like I'm married or something. The name's Faith."
.......................
For the next few minutes Ms. Calendar, Willow, and Oz all listened to Giles tell them what he had found out from this new girl. It seemed that the Vamped Buffy of this world killed the slayer that was to be called thus bringing this Faith into the fold as the next slayer. At least that was most of what Willow could make of it. Willow was brought out of her thoughts by Giles getting up from his seat.
"I'll just call Reed and tell him...." Giles was cut off by Willow.
"Uh...well, you see that's a problem because well, umm...he's gone." Willow said.
"Gone?"
"Yeah, I was so caught up in going to look for you that when we turned around he was gone, along with Buffy." Willow said almost ashamed.
Giles got a worried look on his face as Ms. Calendar came back into the room with a couple of drinks as she handed them to everyone, "Do you think Buffy's alright?" she asked handing Giles' cup to him as he returned to his seat.
Giles' hand felt around the pocket of his jacket until he found what he was looking before removing his empty hand, "What, uhh...yeah, It's just I need him here to help in the research because he is the only one that can point out these powers."
.......
After passing out his many volumes on Mythology, specifically Greek Mythology Giles excused himself as he made his way to his bedroom, closed the door and leaned up against it while closing his eyes.
Even Watchers need a break from research sometimes.
It was now almost two in the morning. They had been researching since almost midnight and they had found nothing. Giles was sure that the answers or at least something close to answers would lie in Greek Mythology, but at the moment he seemed to be wrong. They knew nothing about these powers and the one person who had contact with them was now missing. Giles went to his desk in the corner of the room and opened the draw. He pulled out a dark blue book with the letters R G carved in the top right hand corner and took a seat in his antique wooden chair as he lay the book down on the desk.
This was Giles own personally dairy. His sanctuary. He wrote in it what came to mind without the worry of knowing what the Watchers Council would think. He would write in this book first and then write down an edited version in the Watcher's dairies. If he were to every express that his feelings for the slayer were like those of a father's feelings for his daughter they would dismiss him at once, saying that those kind of feelings would cloud his judgement.
Giles carefully opened the book as if it were gold while he turned to the first page.
.......Today was the day I'd been waiting for. The day I have been training for. It was the day that all watchers dreamed about. Today I would meet my slayer. I was ready to take upon my duty as Watcher and train the slayer against the forces of evil. I was ready that is, until I met the little....
Giles turned the page quickly as he skimmed through the book. He stopped when he came upon a passage that had been written almost a year ago to this date.
.....Today was probably one of the worst days of my life, yet it was also one of the best. Today my slayer, Buffy Ann Summers, defeated the Master. She fought with the courage and strength that I would think rivals any slayer before her. Yet, I found myself torn between my duty as her watcher and my duty as her friend as I sent her into battle. Fore, if I was to ever lose her I don't know what I would do.
{It would seem that the watchers council was right after all} he thought as he turned the pages until he came to his last passage.
.....As I write here on this page I am truly hollow inside for today my slayer, Buffy Ann Summers is dead. I know many watchers who would die for the chance to get their own slayer, but if they only knew what the end of that job brings with it they wouldn't want it. I will write the details of her death at a later time for I haven't the strength to do it now.
After he read the last entry Giles turned the page and picked up a pen from his desk and held it to the paper. He held the pen slightly above the paper as if he couldn't bring himself to write. Putting ink to this book was something that Giles had once looked forward to many of nights, but that all changed on that night Buffy died. Giles closed his eyes and thought back to the conversation he had with Reed in his office earlier in the night before opening them with determination and lowering the pen to the paper as he began to write. And write he did as the room soon became filled with the sound of a man on a mission.
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