"I'm worried about Buffy." Xander told him
as he watched the lights of the town flashing by.
"What do you mean?" Giles asked in the tone of voice
Xander knew that would follow with glass wiping if he hadn't been driving.
"You, saw what she was wearing Giles, a jacket and
a sweatshirt in August in California. She was shaking like a leaf for most
of the ride back to my place even after I was holding her."
By this time they had reached Giles' and wanting
an answer Xander followed the watcher into his house. He waited as Giles
paced around the room for a few minutes cleaning his glasses with a passion
before he spoke.
"Death does not like to give up its prize so
easily. Buffy was almost his several times, even actually dying twice.
Now you were there the first time and managed to revive her before death
was able to claim her fully. Yet this time she was claimed death had won.
Then Buffy was ripped from him again. Death is cold and must still be in
her bones."
"But death cannot take her again right?" Xander
asked sounding a bit panicked.
"I don't know Xander, I have never heard of
death giving up its prize easily" Giles said not noticing that Xander had
already left.
Sighing heavily Giles went into the kitchen after
closing the door and rummaged around in his cabinet till he found what
he was looking for. Crossing back to the living room he took of his tweed
coat reveling a white t-shirt. Soundless he picked a record up from his
collection and sat on the floor near the speakers. Greedily he uncorked
the vodka bottle and began to drink, the tattoo on his back glowing slightly.
Xander drove like a mad man back to his apartment.
When he got there the he was surprised to see Willow standing just outside
the apartment complex. "Will," he said wanting to go inside.
"I called Angel and told him. He won't come, something
about Buffy not needing her. But she does," Willow told him her voice slightly
off key.
"Damn it Willow, you can't keep controlling people's
lives like that!" Xander yelled as he went through the door. Willow made
a move like she would follow him. "No, Will I think you should go…Buffy
said she would call when she was ready." With that Xander shut the door
and went to his place trying to stay calm.
When he went in there was a light on in the living
room but no sigh of Dawn and Buffy. Worried Xander went to his room and
opened the door. There they were Dawn curled in Buffy's arms as she slept.
Hearing the door Buffy looked up at Xander shifting slightly to give him
more room on the bed.
She watched him as she changed into some pajama
bottoms and a t-shirt. As he slid into bed she whispered, "you didn't wear
that last night."
"Dawnie wasn't here then was she?" Xander asked
as he slid his arms around the two.
Buffy only shook her head as she fell asleep
finally warm for now.