Chapter 9: Standing In Your Way
"Welcome back!" Ryan said, happily, clapping his hands. "All right, we just saw Dawn get kidnapped by Sweet and his crew. I've been delegated to go warn Buffy but before I do that, the judges are in the Magic Shoppe with our next contestant, Giles. You may all remember the older man from his earlier performance with the group, but now our judges will decide if he has what it takes to be a pop star. Will he succeed? Will his age get in the way? Let's find out…"
The screen cuts form Ryan's close-up to an old picture of Giles, who looks much younger, scowling sternly, dressed formally in a dark suit.
"Our last contestant is Rupert Giles. He lived most of his life in England, working for the Watcher's Council, before moving to Sunnydale six years ago."
Scenes of Giles in the Magic Box, training with Buffy and reading a heavy tome flash on the screen as Ryan adds, in a voiceover, "Giles started out as Buffy's Watcher and trainer, guiding her and teaching her in the ways of slaying."
"I've always imagined of something beyond Watching," Giles said, in the interview. "Buffy is quite efficient at her job, she rarely requires the assistance she used to need. I imagine this would be an excellent time… to pursue other goals, I suppose. "
The camera cut to inside the Magic Shoppe, where it panned into the training room's open door to find Giles standing by as he watched Buffy train.
"Good. Good," he encouraged her.
"I feel like I should... bow or... have honor or something," she complained.
Giles smiled and said, "It may seem hokey, but we need to work on precision and concentration as much as power. We're still not sure what we're facing."
As she put one leg up on the horse and stretched, she added, "Oh, you'll figure it out. I'm just worried this whole session's gonna turn into some training montage from an 80's movie," she joked. "And God knows if Simon insults us one more time, I'm going to knock him into next week."
"Ah," he said. "Well, if we hear any inspirational power chords, we'll just lie down until they go away. And if Simon comes along… Anyway, I don't think we need to work that much on your strength."
"Yeah, I'm pretty spry for a corpse," she said, doing a handstand on the horse.
Giles paused. "Have you spoken to Dawn about that incident at Halloween?"
Buffy leapt off the horse and frowned, as she stretched her arms. "Oh. I thought you took care of that."
"Right," he said, softly.
"What would I do without you?" she asked, oblivious to his expression.
Giles looked at her pensively, turned and then walked toward a set of weapons in a display case on the wall.
"Okay. I'm ready."
Giles turned to her and sang,
You're not ready for the world outside
You keep pretending, but you just can't hide
He selected a knife from the weapons case.
I know I said that I'd be standing by your side
But I...
Giles threw the knife at Buffy. She leant backward and let it fly past her, not listening as Giles sang,
Your path's unbeaten and it's all uphill
He threw another knife, which Buffy deflected with one hand.
And you can meet it, but you never will
And I'm the reason that you're standing still
But I...
He walks back towards her and threw a third knife which Buffy kicked aside.
I wish I could say the right words
To lead you through this land.
Wish I could play the father
And take you by the hand
Wish I could stay here
But now I understand
He walked closer to her as she did a handspring and then a split.
I'm standing in the way.
The cries around you, you don't hear at all
'Cause you know I'm here to take that call
So you just lie there when you should be standing tall
But I...
Giles circled Buffy, who was training on a punching bag with a picture of Simon's face on it. Buffy kicked and punched the punching bag as Giles walked around her.
I wish I could lay your arms down
And let you rest at last
Wish I could slay your demons
But now that time has passed
Wish I could stay here
Your stalwart, standing fast
But I've been standing in the way.
I'm just standing... in the way.
"Did you just say something?" she asked, turning to him, just as an explosion of applause came from the side of the training room.
Spinning, Buffy saw the three judges clapping wildly.
"You again!" she raged, when she saw Simon. "I thought I told you to stay the hell away from us!" With that, she quickly grabbed one of the knives Giles had thrown at her in practice and hurled at him. It embedded itself into the wood beside Simon's head as the color left his face.
"Bloody he – you almost hit me with that!"
Buffy crossed her arms and smirked. "I don't miss… Next time, I get you, so you have exactly five seconds to get out of here else I'll – "
She grabbed another knife and prepared to launch it when Simon, cowering slightly, yelled, "Honestly… and miss this?!"
"What this?" she demanded, arm not wavering.
"Your mentor's performance… weren't you just here?" he asked her.
"Yeah, but Giles didn't…" she turned to Giles, who stood sadly to the side. "I mean, you…. did you?" she asked him, her arm with the knife dropping to her side.
"Selective hearing," Randy announced. "Man, kids these days…" he said, shaking his head. "Don't listen when it counts."
"All right, Simon, your turn to go first. Especially since Buffy has that knife. What did you think?" Paula asked.
Simon crossed his arms and looked straight at Giles. "No need to mince words… Brilliant. Really, really brilliant. My only regret is you didn't partake any of your knowledge of music to your student here," he mocked, gesturing at Buffy. She scowled as he continued, "I think you're exactly what this competition is made for. Voice, style, personality. You have it all. Absolutely wonderful. Randy?"
Randy lifted his eyebrows and looked at Simon. "That's it? No insults, no mockery? You actually like him? Or are you scared of Buffy?"
"Absolutely not. Knives never stopped me from speaking my mind. Of course, I like him. He has talent, which is a rarity in this town. He's like the proverbial diamond in the rough," added Simon.
Randy whistled softly as he said, "Yo, G. He's like, almost fifty. How are the youth going to relate to him? Sorry, bro," he apologized to Giles. "Your sound is good, but you don't have the pop star look…"
"I agree," added Paula. "Simon, I'm surprised at you. You were all down on Tara and Spike about image, and now you're accepting Giles'?! He's in a suit!"
"Image you can change. Voice and talent you are born with," argued Simon, "you either have it or you don't…"
"But look at the kind of songs he's singing," countered Paula. "The themes in them are so…"
"Mature? Riveting? Worthwhile?" Simon inserted.
"Adult," stressed Paula, "and eclectic. What kind of people are going to go out and buy this kind of music?"
"Hopefully, people who know what good music is," Simon defended. "Smart people…"
Randy sighed and said, "Okay, Simon, you say yes. Paula you say…?"
"No." Turning back to Giles with a big smile plastered on her face, she added, apologetically, "But you did sing well…"
Giles smiled uncomfortably as Randy looked at him and said, "Sorry, man. You have the talent, yes, but I don't think you're what we looking for here."
"I see," Giles answered quietly.
"I can't believe this," Buffy said, quietly.
"What?"
Buffy turned to Giles. "I agree with Simon… What kind of messed up spell is this?!" Turning to Simon, she asked, "You really think he has talent?"
"Young lady, I'm a producer. This is my job. I don't know about all this slaying, demons and magic. But I know about music. And talent. He has it. I'm considering producing him anyway. Is that what you want to hear?"
"No," Buffy said, softly with a half-smile, half-frown. "But, I know he's special. At anything and everything he does. If you see that… you can't be all bad."
Giles looked at her, a smile creeping on his face. He was about to answer when they heard a noise from outside in the shop.
They all rushed out to find Spike bursting into the magic shop, pulling one of Sweet's minions and Ryan by the collar.
"Lookie, lookie what I found," he said, pushing them into the store.
"Is – is this the demon guy?" asked Tara.
"Works for him," explained Spike. "He and the annoying bugger here," he added, shoving Ryan. "They're all in on it…"
Buffy looked back at the judges who looked down guiltily.
Spike continued, "Has a nice little story for the Slayer, don't you? Come on, then… Sing."
The music swelled up dramatically as if to introduce a big musical number, but the minion simply spoke in a normal voice.
"My master has the Slayer's sister hostage at the Bronze," the minion said, "and at midnight he's going to take her to the underworld to be his queen."
"What does he want?" asked Giles, glancing at the judges, who looked just as confused as they did.
"Her," the minion added, indicating Buffy.
"If that's all you've got to say, then – " scoffed Spike, trying to grab him, but the minion broke free and ran off. Surprised, he added, "Strong. Someday he'll be a real boy."
"So. Dawn's in trouble," mused Buffy. "Must be Tuesday."
"I – I just left her for a few minutes." defended Tara.
"Oh, it's not your fault. I think it's these judges that are," said Buffy.
"Who, us?" said Paula.
"Nah, girl…we're cool, really," defended Randy.
"Really?" asked Buffy. "Well, if he works for the demon," she started, jerking her thumb at Ryan, "then it's safe to assume you do too, huh?"
"Ryan? What happened?" asked Simon.
"Change of plans," he said, wiggling his eyebrows, suggesting for them to go along.
But Buffy grabbed the front of his shirt and demanded, "What change of plans?!"
Ryan shrugged, but offered no more. Looking at the judges who shrugged likewise to indicate they had no idea either, she abruptly let Ryan go and faced her friends.
"All right, they're no help… So, what's the plan?" she asked as the judges and Ryan left.
"Plan, schman. Let's mount up," exclaimed Xander.
"No," said Giles, simply.
Anya came beside him and said, "Uh, Dawn may have had the wrong idea in summoning this creature, but ... I've seen some of these underworld child bride deals and, and they never end well. Well, maybe once," she added, thoughtfully.
"We're not just gonna stay here," Willow said.
"Yes, we are," Giles answered. He looked intently at Buffy and added, "Buffy's going alone."
"Gah! Don't be a stupid git," laughed Spike. "There is no – "
"If I want your opinion, Spike, I'll – " He paused to consider that and then said, "I'll never want your opinion."
"A little confusion spell could – " suggested Willow.
"No!" yelled Tara and as Willow looked at her, surprised, she hastily added, "I mean, I don't think it'll help."
Spike turned to Buffy. "Look, forget them, Slayer. I've got your back."
"I thought you wanted me to stay away from you. Isn't that what you sang?" she said, quietly.
"Spike sing a widdle song?" mocked Xander.
Anya looked at him and asked, "Would you say it was a breakaway pop hit or more of a book number?"
"Let it go, sweetie," Xander warned.
Spike paid no attention but looked at Buffy angrily and said, "Fine. I hope you dance till you burn. You and the little bit."
Buffy looked at Giles as Spike brushed past her. "You're really not coming."
"It's up to you, Buffy," he said.
"What do you expect me to do?" she asked, upset.
"Your best."
The screen focused on Buffy's face as it hardened and then faded out to black.
