Afew Days Later
The Scooby gang all sat around in a circle in the cafeteria. Buffy had just finished telling them that it was Faith who had killed the Mayor's assistant. "I could talk to her!" Xander suggested.
"You hardly know her Xander," Buffy said.
"Actually, we recently spent some time together. I think I can get through to her."
"Spending time with her isn't the same as knowing her Xander."
"We, er, the other night, we er, we got to know each other better."
Everyone stared at Xander, except for Willow who was staring intently at her hands. Buffy voiced their realisation with an, "Oh!"
Glancing at each other, the Scoobies then turned as one and looked over at Willow. Feeling them staring at her, she looked up. "It's okay. I don't need to say 'oh', I got it before. Xander slept with Faith."
Jenny felt a pang of sympathy for Willow. It was obvious to her that the young woman was hurt and was trying to hide behind a brave indifferent face.
Turning to Xander, Buffy said, "Look Xander, that's really good of you to offer to talk to her, but Faith doesn't really take the men she's hand a. . .relationship with seriously. No offense."
"I could talk to her?" Jenny offered.
Without looking at her, Rupert said curtly, "No, I don't think so. She doesn't really know you either. No, if anyone should talk to her, I suppose it should be me. I just don't know when."
"Well, make it soon Giles, because she's slipping," Buffy told him.
In response to his curt way of brushing her help aside, Jenny felt herself grow even more annoyed with Rupert. They hadn't spoken all weekend, not since she had walked home with Wesley. She was peeved he was still annoyed at her for telling him to lay off Wesley. Of course, she knew her spontaneous reaction of walking home with Wesley hadn't helped matters, but Rupert's attitude had pissed her off. He had been behaving childishly. And even insinuating that she had feelings for Wesley. That was what hurt the most. How could he think that she felt anything for Wesley? She was in love with Rupert for goodness sake. Well, she wasn't about to apologise. He could just stew for a while.
They all left the cafeteria and disbanded throughout the school. When the others were out of her vision, Jenny backstepped down the corridor and entered the female bathroom which she had seen Willow go into. She immediately heard sobbing coming from one of the closed stalls. Walking over to the stall door, she gently called out, "Willow! It's me Jenny. You okay?"
Willow instantly tried to stiffle her sobs and sniffed. "Ms. Calendar! Er, yyes. I'm fine. Just a cold."
Jenny leaned against the stall. "Willow, you don't need to pretend with me. It's okay to be upset." Willow was silent on the other side of the door. "Willow, please come out, sweetheart." Still no movement. Jenny sighed. "Okay then, I guess I'm gonna have to talk to you from behind the door!" Jenny heard a shuffle from the other side of the door, and then the sound of the lock moving. The door opened and a tearstained faced Willow stood there. "Oh honey!" Jenny enveloped Willow into her arms and hugged her. Willow started to cry again. Jenny rocked her gently and stroked her hair, soothingly repeating, "Shush, I know, I know. It's okay. It's okay," until Willow's sobs ceased.
- - -
Later in the evening
After her heart to heart with Willow, Jenny had come to a decision about her own love-life. She was going to confront Rupert and settle this nonsense concerning Wesley once and for all. Walking into the library, she saw Rupert sat at the long table, bent over his books. He looked up as she entered. Seeing it was her, he looked away again, back at his book. Jenny strode over to him. Reaching out, she picked his book up, closed it and moved it out of his reach. He looked up at her in annoyance. "Sulk if you want, but we need to talk and I can't do that with you paying more attention to the book than me."
He sat back in his chair and looked up at her without saying anything. Realising that she would have to start the ball rolling, Jenny sat down on the edge of the table and said, "Rupert, I don't know what gave you the idea that Wesley means anything to me, but I want to put you straight, he doesn't."
"It didn't seem like that the other night! I think you made it pretty clear who you wanted."
Jenny let out an annoyed breath. "If you're referring to my walking home with him, then I only did that because I was hurt by your childish behaviour."
"You were hurt! Oh, that's rich. How the bloody hell do you think I felt having my fiance walk off with another man!"
"How you felt? How do you think I felt and feel, with you insinuating that I wanted to be with another man? That hurt Rupert. I thought you regarded me more highly than that! Than. . .than a low-life slut that would kick you to the curb as soon as another man showed interest in her. I thought you knew me better than that. You made it sound like you didn't trust me, and that hurt. It hurts." Tears shined in Jenny's eyes.
Rupert's eyes softened and he leaned forward and placed his hand gently on her arm. "Oh, Jenny, I'm sorry. I didn't. . .I don't think that of you. I never have and never will. I do trust you. I. . .all I can say is I'm so very sorry. I love you, Jenny."
"I love you too Rupert. That's why it hurts so much." She reached out and touched his cheek. "Rupert, you're the only man I want."
He smiled at her and pulled her into his lap. Kissing her forehead he said, "I know. And I'm sorry for the way I've behaved lately. I think I've just. . .well, I've felt a little insecure. What with losing my job as Watcher and then Wesley showing up and his obvious interest in you. . .I. . .God I've behaved like a complete idiot haven't I?"
Jenny gave him a wry smile. "Yes." She kissed him on the lips and he returned it gratefully. "Rupert, I know it's been hard for you recently, with the Cruciamentum and losing your job as Watcher, but you don't have to feel insecure about us. You're not going to lose me to Wesley or to anyone. I love you. You should know by now that you're not gonna get rid of me that easily." She grinned at him and he returned it.
"I know." He moved his lips to hers and they kissed. As she opened her mouth to him and his tongue gently plundered her, Jenny let out a moan of contentment and pleasure at everything being okay between them again.
When they came up for air, Jenny joked, "Besides, I only like sexy fuddy duddy's. He's just a fuddy duddy."
Rupert smiled at her and ran his hand through her hair. "I've missed you."
"Good." Getting up off his lap, she said, "So, what were you looking at before I came in hmm?" She reached for the book and looked at it. "One of the Watcher's Diaries?"
"Yes. I was trying to think of what to say to Faith, so I decided to read up on what had happened when a Slayer had accidentally killed someone."
"Have you come up with anything to say to her?"
He shook his head. "Not really. I have one or two ideas, but. . ."
"Why don't you try them out on me!" Jenny sat down in the chair across the table from him.
"Thank you. I'd appreciate that." He smiled gratefully at her.
Jenny and Rupert were still sat in the library together, Jenny acting as a sounding-board to what Rupert was contemplating saying to Faith, when the doors opened and Xander slowly walked in. He slumped into a chair beside Jenny, saying, "Well, I guess Buffy was right."
"About what?" Jenny asked him.
"I went around to talk to Faith, to see if I could help, only she tried to strangle me."
"What?" Jenny's eyes widened. "You okay?"
Xander nodded and gently rubbed his neck, causing his T-shirt to move slightly. Jenny saw the red marks and winced. "Angel turned up and dragged her off me. He's taken her back to his. Buffy's over there too. There going to see if they can get through to her."
"Well, I seriously hope they can," Giles said.
The doors opened and Willow came into the library. "Have you spoken to Faith yet Giles?"
"Er, no."
"But I had a try. Wish I hadn't now seeing as she tried to strangle me."
"What?" Willow moved over to Xander. He showed her his neck and explained what had happened.
"She's gone too far Giles. First she kills a man, and then blames it on Buffy, and now she tries to kill Xander."
"Yeah, well she's out of our hands now," Buffy said, coming up silently to the table with Angel.
"What do you mean?" Giles stood up, looking more than concerned.
"Wesley and the Council snatched Faith. Knocked Angel out while I was over getting some clothes from her motel. They're probably on the way to the mother-land by now."
"No, we're not." Everyone turned around to glare at Wesley.
Immediately noticing Wesley's blackening eye, Angel shook his head and said, "Don't tell me you let her get away!"
"'Let' would not be the exact word I would use."
"Great! Wonderful job Wesley," Jenny said. Wesley hung his head in shame at the look Jenny gave him.
"Right, I'd better go and find her," Buffy decided. On the way out of the library she called, "Giles, you check her motel, I'll do the docks." Angel followed her out.
Jenny got up and followed Giles to the library doors. "I'm coming with you."
The Scooby gang all sat around in a circle in the cafeteria. Buffy had just finished telling them that it was Faith who had killed the Mayor's assistant. "I could talk to her!" Xander suggested.
"You hardly know her Xander," Buffy said.
"Actually, we recently spent some time together. I think I can get through to her."
"Spending time with her isn't the same as knowing her Xander."
"We, er, the other night, we er, we got to know each other better."
Everyone stared at Xander, except for Willow who was staring intently at her hands. Buffy voiced their realisation with an, "Oh!"
Glancing at each other, the Scoobies then turned as one and looked over at Willow. Feeling them staring at her, she looked up. "It's okay. I don't need to say 'oh', I got it before. Xander slept with Faith."
Jenny felt a pang of sympathy for Willow. It was obvious to her that the young woman was hurt and was trying to hide behind a brave indifferent face.
Turning to Xander, Buffy said, "Look Xander, that's really good of you to offer to talk to her, but Faith doesn't really take the men she's hand a. . .relationship with seriously. No offense."
"I could talk to her?" Jenny offered.
Without looking at her, Rupert said curtly, "No, I don't think so. She doesn't really know you either. No, if anyone should talk to her, I suppose it should be me. I just don't know when."
"Well, make it soon Giles, because she's slipping," Buffy told him.
In response to his curt way of brushing her help aside, Jenny felt herself grow even more annoyed with Rupert. They hadn't spoken all weekend, not since she had walked home with Wesley. She was peeved he was still annoyed at her for telling him to lay off Wesley. Of course, she knew her spontaneous reaction of walking home with Wesley hadn't helped matters, but Rupert's attitude had pissed her off. He had been behaving childishly. And even insinuating that she had feelings for Wesley. That was what hurt the most. How could he think that she felt anything for Wesley? She was in love with Rupert for goodness sake. Well, she wasn't about to apologise. He could just stew for a while.
They all left the cafeteria and disbanded throughout the school. When the others were out of her vision, Jenny backstepped down the corridor and entered the female bathroom which she had seen Willow go into. She immediately heard sobbing coming from one of the closed stalls. Walking over to the stall door, she gently called out, "Willow! It's me Jenny. You okay?"
Willow instantly tried to stiffle her sobs and sniffed. "Ms. Calendar! Er, yyes. I'm fine. Just a cold."
Jenny leaned against the stall. "Willow, you don't need to pretend with me. It's okay to be upset." Willow was silent on the other side of the door. "Willow, please come out, sweetheart." Still no movement. Jenny sighed. "Okay then, I guess I'm gonna have to talk to you from behind the door!" Jenny heard a shuffle from the other side of the door, and then the sound of the lock moving. The door opened and a tearstained faced Willow stood there. "Oh honey!" Jenny enveloped Willow into her arms and hugged her. Willow started to cry again. Jenny rocked her gently and stroked her hair, soothingly repeating, "Shush, I know, I know. It's okay. It's okay," until Willow's sobs ceased.
- - -
Later in the evening
After her heart to heart with Willow, Jenny had come to a decision about her own love-life. She was going to confront Rupert and settle this nonsense concerning Wesley once and for all. Walking into the library, she saw Rupert sat at the long table, bent over his books. He looked up as she entered. Seeing it was her, he looked away again, back at his book. Jenny strode over to him. Reaching out, she picked his book up, closed it and moved it out of his reach. He looked up at her in annoyance. "Sulk if you want, but we need to talk and I can't do that with you paying more attention to the book than me."
He sat back in his chair and looked up at her without saying anything. Realising that she would have to start the ball rolling, Jenny sat down on the edge of the table and said, "Rupert, I don't know what gave you the idea that Wesley means anything to me, but I want to put you straight, he doesn't."
"It didn't seem like that the other night! I think you made it pretty clear who you wanted."
Jenny let out an annoyed breath. "If you're referring to my walking home with him, then I only did that because I was hurt by your childish behaviour."
"You were hurt! Oh, that's rich. How the bloody hell do you think I felt having my fiance walk off with another man!"
"How you felt? How do you think I felt and feel, with you insinuating that I wanted to be with another man? That hurt Rupert. I thought you regarded me more highly than that! Than. . .than a low-life slut that would kick you to the curb as soon as another man showed interest in her. I thought you knew me better than that. You made it sound like you didn't trust me, and that hurt. It hurts." Tears shined in Jenny's eyes.
Rupert's eyes softened and he leaned forward and placed his hand gently on her arm. "Oh, Jenny, I'm sorry. I didn't. . .I don't think that of you. I never have and never will. I do trust you. I. . .all I can say is I'm so very sorry. I love you, Jenny."
"I love you too Rupert. That's why it hurts so much." She reached out and touched his cheek. "Rupert, you're the only man I want."
He smiled at her and pulled her into his lap. Kissing her forehead he said, "I know. And I'm sorry for the way I've behaved lately. I think I've just. . .well, I've felt a little insecure. What with losing my job as Watcher and then Wesley showing up and his obvious interest in you. . .I. . .God I've behaved like a complete idiot haven't I?"
Jenny gave him a wry smile. "Yes." She kissed him on the lips and he returned it gratefully. "Rupert, I know it's been hard for you recently, with the Cruciamentum and losing your job as Watcher, but you don't have to feel insecure about us. You're not going to lose me to Wesley or to anyone. I love you. You should know by now that you're not gonna get rid of me that easily." She grinned at him and he returned it.
"I know." He moved his lips to hers and they kissed. As she opened her mouth to him and his tongue gently plundered her, Jenny let out a moan of contentment and pleasure at everything being okay between them again.
When they came up for air, Jenny joked, "Besides, I only like sexy fuddy duddy's. He's just a fuddy duddy."
Rupert smiled at her and ran his hand through her hair. "I've missed you."
"Good." Getting up off his lap, she said, "So, what were you looking at before I came in hmm?" She reached for the book and looked at it. "One of the Watcher's Diaries?"
"Yes. I was trying to think of what to say to Faith, so I decided to read up on what had happened when a Slayer had accidentally killed someone."
"Have you come up with anything to say to her?"
He shook his head. "Not really. I have one or two ideas, but. . ."
"Why don't you try them out on me!" Jenny sat down in the chair across the table from him.
"Thank you. I'd appreciate that." He smiled gratefully at her.
Jenny and Rupert were still sat in the library together, Jenny acting as a sounding-board to what Rupert was contemplating saying to Faith, when the doors opened and Xander slowly walked in. He slumped into a chair beside Jenny, saying, "Well, I guess Buffy was right."
"About what?" Jenny asked him.
"I went around to talk to Faith, to see if I could help, only she tried to strangle me."
"What?" Jenny's eyes widened. "You okay?"
Xander nodded and gently rubbed his neck, causing his T-shirt to move slightly. Jenny saw the red marks and winced. "Angel turned up and dragged her off me. He's taken her back to his. Buffy's over there too. There going to see if they can get through to her."
"Well, I seriously hope they can," Giles said.
The doors opened and Willow came into the library. "Have you spoken to Faith yet Giles?"
"Er, no."
"But I had a try. Wish I hadn't now seeing as she tried to strangle me."
"What?" Willow moved over to Xander. He showed her his neck and explained what had happened.
"She's gone too far Giles. First she kills a man, and then blames it on Buffy, and now she tries to kill Xander."
"Yeah, well she's out of our hands now," Buffy said, coming up silently to the table with Angel.
"What do you mean?" Giles stood up, looking more than concerned.
"Wesley and the Council snatched Faith. Knocked Angel out while I was over getting some clothes from her motel. They're probably on the way to the mother-land by now."
"No, we're not." Everyone turned around to glare at Wesley.
Immediately noticing Wesley's blackening eye, Angel shook his head and said, "Don't tell me you let her get away!"
"'Let' would not be the exact word I would use."
"Great! Wonderful job Wesley," Jenny said. Wesley hung his head in shame at the look Jenny gave him.
"Right, I'd better go and find her," Buffy decided. On the way out of the library she called, "Giles, you check her motel, I'll do the docks." Angel followed her out.
Jenny got up and followed Giles to the library doors. "I'm coming with you."