Giles groaned as he slowly turned over. Waiting a few moments for the
sledgehammers pounding against his head to ease, he took stock of his
surroundings. Last thing he remembered was leaving Ethan for a visit to the
loo, and then being overcome by a wave of dizziness. Now, he was lying in a
dark alley, the air redolent with an aroma he didn't even want to think
about, the ground covered in fifth and litter.
Praying that the sledgehammers had finished their work for the night, he slowly moved into an upright position, wondering vaguely why his body felt so heavy. Deciding it was a side-effect of the excessive drink and drugs he'd taken, he made his way gingerly out of the alley.
A dim streetlight illuminated the empty road before him. He recognized part of Sunnydale's commercial district, a ghostlike aura about it without any of the businesses open. He noticed some were also boarded up and secured by steel gates. Did the owners really think that would stop the evil that would do damage just for the fun of it? Using the walls of the buildings for support, he made his way down the road, and towards the park a few blocks down.
He'd just reached the edge of the woods when he noticed a figure weaving its way through the trees ahead. Recognizing the blond tresses of the slayer, he walked toward her, knowing that there was something definitely wrong with him.
Noticing she was moving further away from him, he called her name. "Buffy! Over here!" He sighed in relief when she turned toward him. Too eager to speak to her to wonder why she was running toward him, he rushed to tell her his news. "Something seems wrong. I'm afraid I might be pois.oof." He doubled over as her fist connected with his stomach. Before he could recover, he felt her foot on his chin, knocking him back on the ground. "Buffy what.?" She came at him again, spinning in a move he'd always admired before kicking him in the ribs. He roared in pain.
Buffy'd worked herself to a fury as the roar echoed over the park. "Go ahead. Scream. It isn't like anybody will come to help you. Do you know how much of my time you've wasted?"
Giles twisted away from her approaching foot, only his knowledge of her fighting method saving him from another beating. Fighting through the pain where she'd already made contact, he let his rage take control. Roaring once more, he swung out, his arm knocking Buffy back. Taking advantage of the momentary respite, he rose and limped out of the park. By the time Buffy had recovered he'd managed to evade her.
Panting, Giles made his way along the street, hoping to reach his apartment safely. Not only was he in considerable pain, he was confused and hurt. Why had she attacked him like that? It didn't make sense. But then, nothing about their relationship made sense any more.
A reflection to his right caught his eye. Turning slowly, he looked into the storefront window. His roar, "Ethan!" echoed loudly through the deserted streets. Before him stood one of the things he feared and loathed. The blue scales of the demon shimmered in the dim lighting, its eyes glowing back at him. But what was most terrifying was the image was of himself.
Praying that the sledgehammers had finished their work for the night, he slowly moved into an upright position, wondering vaguely why his body felt so heavy. Deciding it was a side-effect of the excessive drink and drugs he'd taken, he made his way gingerly out of the alley.
A dim streetlight illuminated the empty road before him. He recognized part of Sunnydale's commercial district, a ghostlike aura about it without any of the businesses open. He noticed some were also boarded up and secured by steel gates. Did the owners really think that would stop the evil that would do damage just for the fun of it? Using the walls of the buildings for support, he made his way down the road, and towards the park a few blocks down.
He'd just reached the edge of the woods when he noticed a figure weaving its way through the trees ahead. Recognizing the blond tresses of the slayer, he walked toward her, knowing that there was something definitely wrong with him.
Noticing she was moving further away from him, he called her name. "Buffy! Over here!" He sighed in relief when she turned toward him. Too eager to speak to her to wonder why she was running toward him, he rushed to tell her his news. "Something seems wrong. I'm afraid I might be pois.oof." He doubled over as her fist connected with his stomach. Before he could recover, he felt her foot on his chin, knocking him back on the ground. "Buffy what.?" She came at him again, spinning in a move he'd always admired before kicking him in the ribs. He roared in pain.
Buffy'd worked herself to a fury as the roar echoed over the park. "Go ahead. Scream. It isn't like anybody will come to help you. Do you know how much of my time you've wasted?"
Giles twisted away from her approaching foot, only his knowledge of her fighting method saving him from another beating. Fighting through the pain where she'd already made contact, he let his rage take control. Roaring once more, he swung out, his arm knocking Buffy back. Taking advantage of the momentary respite, he rose and limped out of the park. By the time Buffy had recovered he'd managed to evade her.
Panting, Giles made his way along the street, hoping to reach his apartment safely. Not only was he in considerable pain, he was confused and hurt. Why had she attacked him like that? It didn't make sense. But then, nothing about their relationship made sense any more.
A reflection to his right caught his eye. Turning slowly, he looked into the storefront window. His roar, "Ethan!" echoed loudly through the deserted streets. Before him stood one of the things he feared and loathed. The blue scales of the demon shimmered in the dim lighting, its eyes glowing back at him. But what was most terrifying was the image was of himself.