To my (few) fans out there, sorry for the long wait. I havn't written in a while because, frankly, everything's gone to hell over here, what with getting into college and all. This story is an idea I've had for a while, and a way for me to get back into writing. I'll be writing this story and tWoH at the same time to keep myself interested, so I may hopefully have another chapter of tWoH out soon. Thanks for your patience and support.
Please please review. Remember that it's your reviews that shape the story.
This story is about what I think could happen if Willow, Xander and Giles had stuck to their guns in late season four ('The Yoko Factor' I think it was called) when the Scooby gang sort of broke up. This story is really weird, and, as I write this, I have no idea what is going to happen. This story will also take you waaaay back to season one (remember that?). BTW if anyone out there knows the names of the 'Dode Patrol' please email them to me.
The times of some events may be off, but please bear with me. I haven't got season 4 on DVD yet, and it aired a long time ago.
I'm dedicating this story to the great Ozmandayus, who's awesome 'Into the Night' and 'Early Morning' inspired me to start writing. Even though he's a BXer.
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"… If I want help, I'll go to some one I can trust."
Xander flinched, as Buffy turned angrily and walked out of Giles' apartment. Her words echoed in his head. Xander and Willow looked at each other before nervously looking away. "I gotta go" they simultaneously muttered before both fleeing from the house. "Righteo then!" Called Giles, before he burst out giggling.
"How could you possibly help?" The words replayed themselves in Xander's head, as he lay morosely on his bed. Anya, as usual, was not supportive, and had announced quite straightforwardly that if his friends didn't need him, then he shouldn't need them. 'As if it's as easy as that' he thought somberly. Depressed, he had ignored Anya, and she had eventually given up and left him lying on the bed by himself. Trying to answer Buffy's question slash accusation had left him to realize that he couldn't help. 'I'm not strong enough or fast enough,' he thought darkly 'I'm weak. Prey.' The words echoed in his head, before rearranging themselves 'I prey on the weak'. For some reason they felt right. As he pondered, a light bulb went off in his brain, and a large grin spread across his face.
Xander ran his finger quickly over the spines of the books. Giles was out of it with an awful hangover, but he still had to be quick. "James, Jameson, Jedea, ah! Jeffries." Xander carefully pulled the book out of its place and examined it "Sherman Jeffries theories of Transpossession." Smiling in satisfaction, he quickly shoved the book his carry bag, and left the flat.
"How could you possibly help?" Willow didn't want to think about it, but she couldn't drive the hurtful words from her head. "Are you okay?" Tara softly asked, concerned at the redheads silence. Willow blinked back stinging tears before replying "I can't get over what Buffy said." She lay back on her bed, deflated. "After all we'd been through together, to say that…" Willow stopped, the memories too painful. Tara sat down, and gently ran her hand through Willow's hair. "Buffy's just had a tough week, with Spike, and Adam, she didn't mean it" She reassured. Willow looked up, tired disbelief in her eyes. "No," She sadly stated, leaning into Tara's hand, "I know Buffy, and she was completely serious." Willow laughed, a hollow sound before continuing "I mean, I'm almost a witch, but I'm not that powerful." She shrugged "You're more powerful than me…" Tara began protesting, but Willow smiled and shook her head, before continuing "Two witches aren't very powerful." Willow sighed. Tara nodded sympathetically
"If only there were three of us, we could form a witches trinity, and be powerful enough to help Buffy." The two witches looked at each other for a long second. As one, they turned to look at a rat in a cage. "Squeak?" Amy asked inquisitively as both witches grinned.
The ring of the doorbell awoke Giles, who groaned, before getting up to answer it. The noise was not helping his alcohol-induced headache. He stumbled downstairs, and flung open the door. "What is it?" He asked irritably.
"Hello Rupert" a smooth voice chuckled "went on a bit of a bender, did we?"
Giles groaned. Of all the people he didn't want to deal with… "Hello Quentin, what can I do for you?"
Quentin Travis grinned. "I have a proposition for you."
Giles narrowed his eyes "Why would I want to listen to anything you say?" Travis sighed melodramatically before continuing "Rupert, Rupert, Rupert. Why so suspicious? I would think after last night's little encounter, you would want to see a friendly face."
"So what are you doing here?" Giles snapped back, "And how did you know what happened last night?" Travis shrugged.
"Do you really think the council would allow a slayer to leave the council? Giles, I'm disappointed in you. You've been away from the council for too long."
He shook a finger at Giles in mock disapproval. "In fact, the only reason we haven't… dealt with Miss Summers, in one way or another, was because she continued to do her duty, and listen to her…" Travis smirked "watcher". Giles flinched at the obvious disdain, but kept quiet. "However, recent events have caused the council some concern. The Miss Summer's no longer listens to you, and has started working with America's 'finest'." Travis snorted.
"What do you propose to do?" Giles asked quietly.
Travis shrugged expansively "We do not wish to have her reeducated or eliminated, as she is an experienced slayer. However, the council wishes to have a controlled slayer on the hellmouth."
"Something you haven't had for a year" Giles cut in sharply.
Travis laughed, and shook his head at Giles's naivety. "Do you really think that?"
"That's the way it seems." Giles answered. Travis laughed, before continuing
"When's the last time we sent out a wet behind the ears rookie, to watch not one, but two slayers, both of whom were rebellions to the council?" Giles didn't answer, mentally cursing himself for underestimating the council. "Wesley was a smart lad, top of his class. However his ego was larger than his ability. He was sent here to fail, in order to learn humility."
"You would force the poor boy to look like a fool, then kick him out." Giles asked sharply. "On the contrary, from what I hear, he has become a powerful force for good in LA. In time he will be allowed back into the Council." Travis shrugged "The ends justify the means" Giles leaned back in distaste as Travis continued "Miss Summers had always rebelled against the Council, and worked better when she though the Council was not involved." Travis shrugged "So we simply stepped aside, and happy in her 'freedom' she has done her job better. Much like democracy, really."
"What ends are you planning now?" Giles asked, sickened but fascinated at the intricate pattern the Council had woven. Travis paced for a second before responding. "Miss Faith Wilkins will be arriving here in a week"
"She is in prison for murder" Giles cut in "She has five years on her sentence before she can make bail." Travis just looked at him
"Please Rupert, don't make yourself look even more stupid." Giles bristled at the comment, and Travis quickly continued, "She will need a watcher that she trusts." He stopped and stared directly at Giles "Someone who looks after her interests as well as the councils." The two men stared hard at each other.
"What about Buffy" Giles asked quietly, not breaking his gaze.
"She seems happy working for the Americans now" Travis answered smiling slightly. His smile hardened "Perhaps she needs a lessen in humility" A silence lasted for a long ten seconds before Giles backed slowly into his apartment "Perhaps you should come in."
Travis smiled "I thought you'd never ask"