Two hours later, Giles walked in on Buffy still beating on the punching
bag. She'd ran three miles before going to the Magic Box, then had started
in on the bag and hadn't stopped.
"Ahem."
She stopped and looked at her former Watcher.
"How long since you last slept, Buffy?"
"What does that matter?"
"Dawn tells me you haven't been home for at least the past two nights."
"And she would know that how?"
"Buffy, both you and I know she can hold her own. She's more capable than you like to
admit."
She sighed resigned.
"And things have been relatively quiet lately, haven't they?"
"For the most part."
"So, what's on your mind, Buffy? You work the hardest when you're trying to avoid something. You have great dedication for all the wrong reasons at times."
"Giles. I'm fine, really. Just haven't felt like sleeping much."
"You know you don't have to be afraid to talk to me, Buffy."
"I appreciate the concern, Giles, but I'm fine."
He shrugged and began to walk off.
"Giles, I'm glad you're back."
"There's a certain charm about Sunnydale that makes living anywhere else seem a trifle dull."
~*~
"Still beating herself up, huh?" Anya asked as Giles entered from the back. "You know what she needs?"
"Anya, I don't think—"
"She needs to get laid. Nothing clears the head like a good—"
"Anya, please!"
"Well, it never hurts," she shrugged. "Seriously, though, she needs to let go."
"Anya . . ."
"Oh and I'm the one frowned upon. You Brits are more in the gutter than anyone else. But for your information, Giles, I just meant that she needs to face what's bothering her. Buffy has some major rage emanating off of her. Not Wicked Willow caliper, but some pretty heavy wrath."
"Toward whom? Spike?"
"That would be the obvious choice. But no, this isn't really directed toward him or anyone but herself. I could wreck some big time vengeance if she had it channeled at someone other than herself."
"Any ideas?"
"I'm not a mind reader, I just tune into vengeancy feelings. My bet is she's avoiding something that's been bothering her for sometime. Something she's afraid to admit. But Buffy, avoid? That's not like our Slayer now is it?" she couldn't repress a slight giggle.
~*~
"So, what menial task have you got for me today, oh vengeful one?" Dawn sighed.
"Well, little one, you'll be pleased to know that your servitude has been over for about two weeks now."
"Passing up on free labor? Anya, are you feeling alright?"
"Don't make this any harder for me than it is," Anya sighed, handing Dawn a check.
"For me?"
"And you can work towards more after school and on the weekend if you so desire. Join the rest of us in the world of paying for what we want."
"Are you serious? This does cut into the money that comes in. You are aware of that, right?"
"Sadly, yes. But necessity calls for it. The vengeance gig takes up quite a bit of my time and since you are already trained and not prone to being scared off by the unusual occurrence . . ."
"You are so cool!" Dawn embraced her reluctant boss.
"So what's up with Buffy? It's not like it isn't obvious to anyone with any sense. The girl is driving herself to exhaustion trying to avoid dealing with something. And you being the little sister and all . . ."
"Honestly, Anya, I have no idea."
"Nothing?"
"Buffy's more silent than an unoccupied tomb when it comes to her problems. You pick up on anything?"
"Aside from extreme anger at herself and internal conflict, I've got zilch."
"How has she been toward you?"
"Pretty amicable, actually. Not that she ever like me much to begin with, but I'd almost have to say that she's been nicer to me since the discovery of the trio's cameras. Oh and what's with the coat?"
"Ahem."
She stopped and looked at her former Watcher.
"How long since you last slept, Buffy?"
"What does that matter?"
"Dawn tells me you haven't been home for at least the past two nights."
"And she would know that how?"
"Buffy, both you and I know she can hold her own. She's more capable than you like to
admit."
She sighed resigned.
"And things have been relatively quiet lately, haven't they?"
"For the most part."
"So, what's on your mind, Buffy? You work the hardest when you're trying to avoid something. You have great dedication for all the wrong reasons at times."
"Giles. I'm fine, really. Just haven't felt like sleeping much."
"You know you don't have to be afraid to talk to me, Buffy."
"I appreciate the concern, Giles, but I'm fine."
He shrugged and began to walk off.
"Giles, I'm glad you're back."
"There's a certain charm about Sunnydale that makes living anywhere else seem a trifle dull."
~*~
"Still beating herself up, huh?" Anya asked as Giles entered from the back. "You know what she needs?"
"Anya, I don't think—"
"She needs to get laid. Nothing clears the head like a good—"
"Anya, please!"
"Well, it never hurts," she shrugged. "Seriously, though, she needs to let go."
"Anya . . ."
"Oh and I'm the one frowned upon. You Brits are more in the gutter than anyone else. But for your information, Giles, I just meant that she needs to face what's bothering her. Buffy has some major rage emanating off of her. Not Wicked Willow caliper, but some pretty heavy wrath."
"Toward whom? Spike?"
"That would be the obvious choice. But no, this isn't really directed toward him or anyone but herself. I could wreck some big time vengeance if she had it channeled at someone other than herself."
"Any ideas?"
"I'm not a mind reader, I just tune into vengeancy feelings. My bet is she's avoiding something that's been bothering her for sometime. Something she's afraid to admit. But Buffy, avoid? That's not like our Slayer now is it?" she couldn't repress a slight giggle.
~*~
"So, what menial task have you got for me today, oh vengeful one?" Dawn sighed.
"Well, little one, you'll be pleased to know that your servitude has been over for about two weeks now."
"Passing up on free labor? Anya, are you feeling alright?"
"Don't make this any harder for me than it is," Anya sighed, handing Dawn a check.
"For me?"
"And you can work towards more after school and on the weekend if you so desire. Join the rest of us in the world of paying for what we want."
"Are you serious? This does cut into the money that comes in. You are aware of that, right?"
"Sadly, yes. But necessity calls for it. The vengeance gig takes up quite a bit of my time and since you are already trained and not prone to being scared off by the unusual occurrence . . ."
"You are so cool!" Dawn embraced her reluctant boss.
"So what's up with Buffy? It's not like it isn't obvious to anyone with any sense. The girl is driving herself to exhaustion trying to avoid dealing with something. And you being the little sister and all . . ."
"Honestly, Anya, I have no idea."
"Nothing?"
"Buffy's more silent than an unoccupied tomb when it comes to her problems. You pick up on anything?"
"Aside from extreme anger at herself and internal conflict, I've got zilch."
"How has she been toward you?"
"Pretty amicable, actually. Not that she ever like me much to begin with, but I'd almost have to say that she's been nicer to me since the discovery of the trio's cameras. Oh and what's with the coat?"
