A letter for Hank Summers
SERIES: Glimpses
STORY: # 9 (Attention: stories are not in time order!)
AUTHOR: Sarah A. David
E-MAIL: SarahADavid@aol.com
DISCLAIMER: „Buffy the Vampire Slayer", „Angel" and
associated characters are copyright by Joss
Whedon, David Greenwalt, Mutant Enemy Inc.,
Greenwolf Corp., Kuzui Enterprises, Sandollar
Television, Twentieth Century Fox, WB and UPN.
No infringement is intended.
TIMELINE: After BTVS S5 and AtS S2
SPOILERS: Everything up to BTVS S5 and AtS S2 happened
SYNOPSIS: My sight of the future
DISTRIBUTION: Land of denial. You want it? Ask me!
AUTHOR'S NOTES: I want you to know that English is NOT my mother
language, so please ignore my mistakes.
FEEDBACK: Yes please. I just have to know if you liked it and
if you want more stories
RATING: I'm not so sure about the rating system but I guess
everyone who watches the shows can read this fic
"I'm sorry to disturb you, Mr Summers but here is someone who wants to talk to you."
"Irene, I told you that I don't want to be interrupted!"
"I know, Sir. But he says he is from Sunnydale so I thought..."
"It's alright, Irene. He can come in."
Hank Summers was confused. He didn't know who would come from Sunnydale to talk to him. The only people he knew there were his daughters - and according to the last conversation he had with Buffy after Joyce's death he didn't assume that one of the girls would talk to him in the near future. Besides, Irene said "he".
When the door opened and his visitor entered the room Hank thought that this man seemed slightly familiar but he couldn't place him.
"I'm sorry to interrupt you, Mr Summers. I will try not to steel too much of your precious time."
The man appeared to be angry and this confused Hank even more. He had the impression that this obviously British guy wanted to accuse him of something.
"Do we know each other?" he asked carefully "Because I don't think we ever met and I'm not willing to accept your accusing tone."
"I'm Rupert Giles. I'm..."
"Ah, so you are the infamous Giles!" Hank interrupted him. "You are the bastard who tries to steal my daughters!"
Giles fumed.
"I'm not stealing anything! I never forced myself into their lives. I was simply their for them when they needed me. You on the other hand abandoned them. You never had time for them. You didn't even find the time to stand by their sides when the girls had to bury their mother!"
"That's none of your business! So, you finally worked up some courage to confront me about this. That was months ago. Get over it!".
"No, I didn't think it would be worth the effort. My reason for coming today has nothing to do with Joyce. It's about Buffy. And about Dawn's future."
"I can't believe this. That's family business and you are not family. If my daughters wish to talk about their future with me they can come here and do so. We don't need a messenger. Now, please be so kind and leave. I have work to do. It was nice to meet you, Mr Giles."
Giles face suddenly was all red. He was furious.
"No! Bloody hell, I'm here to give you some terrible news. I'm no longer sure why but I had the feeling it would be the right thing to tell you in person!"
Hank looked at him surprised.
"Terrible news. What happened?"
Giles fell into a near armchair. Tears appeared in his eyes as he answered calmly.
"Buffy is dead."
Hank Summers blinked and eyed Giles carefully.
"Come again."
"Buffy is dead. She died two days ago. The funeral will be held this afternoon."
"You gotta be kidding me!"
"I'm sorry, Mr Summers, but I'm very serious."
Suddenly Hank felt like ice as he whispered "What happened?"
Giles froze. He hadn't thought so far. Should he tell him the truth? Tell him that his daughter was a hero, that she sacrificed her own life to save her sister and the whole world - again?
"There was an accident. I don't know the details." That should do. Suddenly Giles remembered something else.
"I brought a letter for you. Buffy wrote it in case..."
Hand took it and said: "Thank you. Thank you for telling me in person. And I'm sorry for my earlier behaviour. I can't believe it's true!"
"I know. I can't believe it either. I leave you now so that you can read the letter. I will be waiting outside. I assume you return with me to Sunnydale?"
"Yes, I will. Thank you. But we can leave now together. I'm not yet ready to read the letter".
Four hours later the two fathers of Buffy Summers - one biological, one in everything that counted - were standing at her grave, saying their final goodbyes.
Another hour later Hank Summers opened a letter:
"Dad!
I don't know how to write this letter. I don't want to but with mom gone I have to.
When you read this letter I will be gone - dead. Since mom died I took care of Dawn and you seem to be fine with it. I mean you didn't even show up for the funeral, you didn't call, you didn't write - yes, that's an accusation. But Dawn and I are used to your behaviour. I guess when mom moved to Sunnydale with us you began to close this chapter of your life. I mean Dawn and I only spend the first summer with you, some weekends at the beginning, cards only to our birthdays and then - nothing.
I guess you have more important things in your life - business like always, I assume.
Well, in this case my wish will be easy for you to fulfil. I want Rupert Giles - he will give you this letter - to be Dawn's legal guardian. He loves us both and he is the father to us you should have been. But you made your decision. So I ask you not to stand in his way. Dawn deserves a father who cares for her, who knows her and loves her. I don't think you fit in there. Giles will take care of her - with the help of my friends who have become family over the years. You might think I'm harsh but I love Dawn and I only want the best for her. And you are not!
I don't know if you are hurt now by my words or if you don't care just like usual. I don't know you anymore.
When I was a little girl I believed you to be the best daddy in all the world and I loved you with all my little heart. But I grew up and I learned the hard way that most of the time people - and things - are not what they seem to be.
Well, you are not the best daddy in all the world, you never really tried. And so you owe me!
Leave Dawn in Sunnydale and sign the papers to give Giles the legal guardianship!
Your daughter,
Buffy Anne Summers"
When he had finished reading the letter tears could be seen in his eyes. And for the first time in many years Hank Summers realized what a fool he had been. What precious years he had been wasting.
For Buffy it was too late but maybe he still had a chance with Dawn.
And soon he was on his way to meet Rupert Giles determined to make things right.
The End