Xander watched as the world slowed. He was still rushing forward towards the Guillotine, it's blade dropping smoothly, slowly, inexorably towards Giles head. He saw the sweat beading on Giles forehead. He saw the rope he had missed barely a second ago swirling, lessening as it was sucked up by the Guillotine.
He didn't realize he had flung himself forward until after he'd done it. The Guillotine rushed up all the quicker.
He started to realize he'd reach it before the blade hit. Just. He didn't know what he'd do when he reached it. He had no idea. It was instinct which made him act the way he did. His arm un curled, and fist clenched he put it between the blade and Giles head.
The world sped up.
The blade crashed down into his arm. Cutting all the way to the bone with a searing pain. Luckily it didn't go through. His bones able to hold what Giles's skull could not.
His arm slammed down onto the wooden guide under the weight of the blade. His blood already rushing from his arm at an alarming rate. Xanders hand dangled uselessly at the end of his arm, tendons, nerves and muscles cleanly cut.
All this before he skidded to his knees at the head of the guillotine.
*******
Giles stared up at the descending blade, paralyzed as it seemed to take it's time in bringing his death.
He really wished he could blink, close his eye's and banish the sight of his own death. Couldn't do it though. He had to go the mans way, staring death in the face, the completely terrifying way.
" Oh dear " Great last words in anyones book.
A fist entered his very limited field of vision followed by a wrist than a bit of forearm and Giles started to wonder who was stupid enough to do such a thing, even as another part of him yelled at him to be bloody grateful anyone would act that stupid for him.
The blade was remarkably silent as it went into this stupid arm, well until it hit the bone. At such point it made the sound of a coke can being kicked, that metallic pong, but the sound only lasted a second. Less.
Giles felt warm drops splatter on his fore-head, cheek and than saw them on his glasses. He felt more when he saw the fist continue down towards him with the blade and thudded into the guide that was securely attached to his head.
He had the supreme pleasure of watching said hand go completely limp as even more pleasurable blood dripped onto his face. He even had the joy of listening to one very familiar scream of pain and horror. But most of all, he had immeasurable happiness of one who was still breathing.
*******
Anyone watching would have swore Xanders eye's turned white as he let loose a scream of unmentionable pain, disbelief and anger. He looked down at it again before yelling again and seemed to writhe on the spot as he foolishly tried to pull his arm free.
*******
Giles watched as even more blood spurted on his face, almost covering his glasses and flowing in runnels down his cheeks and nose.
He heard the scream again and the half an arm above him jerked around violently.
Even more blood fell.
*******
His blade whipped out of his good arm and with strength he didn't know he had he smashed his arm and blade through the Guillotines uprights just above the blade. Wooden splinters flew in all directions. Metal guide rails bent, buckled and shattered or were sliced clean through. The uprights toppled sideways, twisting as it fell, catching Giles in the side.
*******
Giles joy at survival quickly turned to horror as an arm and large black blade shattered the uprights of the guillotine. A small shard of wood embedded itself in his cheek and he felt something else go into his hand.
His eye's widened in shock. That blow, Any blow that shattered the guillotines now teetering uprights was enormous. It told of a supreme strength, it ...*Ooof*
The uprights toppled and it's edge caught Giles in the ribs. Pain blossomed.
More blood fell on his face
He saw the hand come back and grip the top of the Guillotines blade, and with a yell ripped in violently out of the arm.
Giles glimpsed a ravaged open wound, and the sight of black bone. And more blood.
Thankfully the arm disapeared rather quickly.
*******
Xanders good hand reached over and gripped the top of the blades in steely, sweat slicked fingers. With another pain filled yell he ripped the blade free, of his arm and the Guillotine. With the last of his pain induced strength he hurled the blade away as hard as he could.
He collapsed weakly holding his arm as Willow rushed to his side.
"Oh god Xander!" Xanders eye's were closed so he couldn't see her tears as she saw the huge open wound of torn flesh and muscle. It was so red! . He heard the tears in her voice, right next to the worry and panic.
*******
'Xander?!' That was Xanders arm. Oh God! Willow didn't know!
"Willow! Willow! Get away from him! Willow?" She wasn't listening, her own raised voice and her worry for her friend completely masking his yelling, blood spurting from his mouth at every word.
What did she mean could he heal it ? Who's she talking to?
"Whats going on?"
*******
"Oh um Xander. Xander ! Will you be able to heal this?" Willow didn't get much of a answer out of him. She swung around until she found Glyndaf.
"Will he be able to heal this if I seal the wound?" She shouted at him.
Glyndaf paused for a moment before answering.
* He will, But it will take a week, week and a half maybe and it'll leave a scar....* Willow had stopped listening after 'He will'. She bent low and spoke loudly in Xanders ear, hoping he was listening through his writhing groans.
"Xander I'm gonna have to seal your wound... It's gonna hurt okay?" He didn't say anything but she saw him grit his teeth. She gripped his arms just above the wound with one hand. Her other hand held palm up in front of her. She focused her will on it. Drawing on the surroundings with her magic. All the lights in the school dimmed slightly. The light they gave off now was cold. Even the super hot stage lights seemed chilled.
Willows hand glowed from and inner light. A hot red inner light. Heat shimmered off it, though Willow felt none of it . She focussed on it for a second more before grimacing and looking back down at Xanders wound. She slid her normal hand up over the wound and squeezed. Xanders breath hitched and he let out a tight moan. Willow squeezed harder and pulled the wound haphazardly closed. A look of pure disgust on Willows face as she did this. She would remember this next part for the rest of her life.
She slapped her searing hot hand down over the wound. It sizzled and stank and steamed, but the parts seared together. Xander shot up the instant her hand touched the wound. His hand moved quicker than she thought possible and snaked in under her chin finger splayed to wrap up her throat and crush it. But it stopped centimeters from touching her. He looked her square in the eye's with his pain white eye's. Even still, the black dots were still visible. Willows eye's were full of fear and horror at what was happening and what she was doing but, behind that there was a steel that told of how much she had to do this. Do this for him, or he loses maybe his life.
His blood pooled around her feet.
*******
Giles had been around enough magic to know a spell was being cast. The hairs on his hands and neck always stood on end. He struggled in his bindings but they didn't budge.
He heard who he assumed was Xander suck in a groaning hiss. The hiss turned into something not natural after that and Giles smelt the stink of burning flesh, he fully expected to hear someone yell out in pain but heard nothing.
The burning hiss lasted several long seconds more before it cut off suddenly followed by a soft thump.
He heard what he assumed was someone throwing up.
*******
Xander didn't yell out in pain as Willow kept her hand on the wound, it sizzled and popped in the background, he seemed beyond pain now. All he did was shake, the hand around her throat most of all, but still, it never touched her.
Willow suddenly became aware of wave of pain lapping at her mind and realized it was his. She quickly removed her hand from the wound. A black ugly scorched mark now where the but was. It still leaked blood and there were several large blisters but it was closed. Xander had fainted from the pain as soon as she had taken her hand away.
Willow stared at her hand in disgust. Bits of Xander had fried to it. She turned and threw up. In doing so she became aware of Giles yelling at her.
"Willow! WILLOW! get me out of this! Whats happening?! Willow?!" Fear and panic was imbedded in his voice. Willow stood and looked over at him. His face was covered in Xanders blood. He sputtered it as he spoke and it completely covered his glasses. He was strapped down in several places, padlocks locking several of the straps.
"Hold on Giles" She rushed over to his side, pulled fruitlessly at one of the locks before muttering a word and blasting away the piece of wood the lock was attached to with a large crunch. She did the same with the rest of the locks and Giles struggled himself free. Quickly wiping his face clean.
He took several steps back looking at Willow in confusion and a little bit of fear. Than down at Xander. Xander with the large black blade coming from his forearm.
"What.. What are you?!" He asked nervously, gratitude for saving his life and a hatred for demons breed into him and nurtured by the council warring.
"Giles..." Willow started forward but stopped when Giles took another step back.
"You need to help me with Xander" Willow asked again but got only a light scowl in reply.
"No until you tell me what you two are!" Willow stood there shocked. Xander had been right, they were being judged demons from the get go. Her shock quickly simmered into anger.
"Giles?!" She asked one more time but Giles courage was quickly returning in the face of what he saw as only a small girl looking demon.
"Get back!" He almost spat the words at her.
"Fine! Be that way!" She focused her will on the air around them. Her magic seeping into it. Giles collapsed as a hidden hand thumped him in the back of the head. Willow glared at his unconscious form for a moment before turning back to Xander. Glyndaf was leaning over him.
"How long till he comes too?" absently she noticed a crash from Buffys fight.
* A couple of minutes, He's already started the healing. He'll be a sore boy in the morning * Glyndaf seemed to sigh and give a small shake of his head * What am I gonna do. He cant stop himself from getting knocked around *
* You did well tonight Willow * Crytex spoke up * You did very well under pressure, you should feel proud * Willow blushed slightly.
* Come on, we need to get these two away from here. If the slayer doesn't get to suspicious, Xander might be able to fix things with the Brit * As if in answer to his words, Xander groaned. * Willow grab his collar, you'll need it to move these two * Willow was about to question how to get it off when it clattered to the floor next to Xander after a touch from Glyndaf.
"'Kay" The collar was loose around her neck and hung slightly but the instant the clasp was done she felt the change. Her magic attuned senses felt the power seep into her.
It felt like a rush.
* Quick, the slayers almost finished the demon * Willow reached over and hauled Xander to his feet and tucked herself under his shoulder. He was heavy and there was no less strain lifting him up than if she had tried it without the collar, it was just she could do it now.
She started to drag him closer to Buffys fight. That area of backstage was empty and closer to the exit. She wouldn't see what was left of the guillotine and all of the blood from here. She sat him down against the wall, careful to avoid his still protruding blade, he looked awfully pale and she wondered if she should stay with him.
* I'll look after him. Go get the Brit * Glyndaf filled in for her.
She gave him a quick nod and rushed back for Giles. He was still out like a light. But his height made her dragging him a bit more difficult. She laid him out next to Xander in the next section, before quickly pulling stage curtains over the opening. Obstructing the view of the Guillotine.
She turned back to find Xanders eye's open and him staring at her gratefully though she began to feel the waves of pain lapping against her mind.
" I owe you three now" He smiled at her. She smiled gratefully back before answering.
"Just making up for all the times you saved me the last couple of years of school." She said crouching down next to him. "Can you walk?" He closed his eye's for a second before nodding. He levered himself up with the wall, wobbled for a second, than straightened. He looked at his arm sourly.
"Tell Buffy I tripped saving him" He scowled lightly while nodding at Giles.
"How did you know?" Willow asked confused as she noticed Buffy hurrying over. Xander mouthed 'Glyndaf' at her before sticking his arm behind his back.
"Hey Buff, killed any demons lately?" Xanders act came on suddenly and fully, surprising even Willow with his ability to change roles so quickly.
"Mmm..." she nodded demurely "What happened to him?" She asked nodding at Giles.
"Fainted dead away" Xander filled her in quickly. Buffy turned to give him a quirky smile before worry crossed her face.
"Are you okay Xand? You dont look so good" Xander waved her off with a goofy smile.
"It's cool, Just hurt my ankle. Tripped saving him" Buffy shook her head in mock worry, smiling at him.
"Cid?" Willow asked quietly. Buffy swung around to shake her head sadly.
"Gone to a better place."
"Oh" Awkward silence ensued.
"So we dump the G-man in his office for the night and lucky for Buffy, me and Will make another trip to the emergency room. You lucked out Buff, we wont get to see you lovely performance."
"Oh no, not that" Buffy replied in heavy sarcasm, as Xander hobbled over to Willow and laid his good arm over her shoulder and they started for the door.
"Dont worry guys. I got the video recorder set up before all this happened" Willow made the parting all the more sweet.
******
The next day.
Giles awoke slowly, the first thing he felt was an aching in his back and head. He knew where the pain in his head came from and right now he was guessing the pain in his back was from sleeping on his office bench all night.
He squinted harshly as light poured through his office window onto his face. He sat up slowly, taking his glasses off in the process and rubbed the bridge of his nose.
"Ahum"
Giles almost fell off his desk as he looked up to see Xander and Willow standing in his office. Their back to the light and dressed in dark colors they cast rather imposing figures to Giles's morning cup of tea depraved mind. A fact only made more so by Giles quickly resurfacing memories of last night.
"Morning Giles" Xander started with a rather flat tone. A superior smirk gracing his face.
"Hey" Willow usual friendly smile and voice were present.
"Good morning...ah... How did the uh talent show end up last night?" Giles hand slowly curled under his desk and grasped the hilt of the dagger he kept strapped there.
"Hey thats our Giles. Always with the funny and then the trying to kill us." Giles covered his surprise at Xander knowing what he was doing by spinning around and hurling the knife at him. His aim was slightly off and the blade hurtled instead towards Willows head.
Xander calmly plucked it out of the air.
"Thats not very nice Giles" Xander used this point to advertise his now two working hands by tapping the handle of the blade into his other hand.
"What do you want?" Giles voice came out steely, almost covering his fear.
"Things the way they were before you found out" Willow said simply as she lowered her shades giving Giles a good look at her eye's.
"I'm afraid that wont be happening. If you harm me Buffy will find out and hunt you down. If you dont harm me I'll tell her anyway."
"Why would I want to hurt you after saving your life last night? No, I think we'll take the third option."
"There is no third option Xander, you two are demons, spawn of hell, Buffy will slay you"
"Thats Harsh Giles" Willows voice sounded of the hurt.
"Yeah, we prefer enhanced humans, but enough talk. Just talking to you now is hard enough." Xander straightened himself and took in a deep breath. He pulled all his skill into his mind, built it up tightened his grip on it and focused on Giles.
Giles stumbled as words imprinted themselves on his mind. Instructions. Orders that he could not disobey.
YOU WILL NOT REVEAL OUR SECRETS. YOU WILL NOT HARM US. WE ARE YOUR FRIENDS AND YOU WILL TREAT US AS SUCH.
The words bounced around his skull, repeating louder and louder. He groaned and fell to his knees, a pain growing behind his temples.
"Lets go get some breakfast Will. He's gonna be a while" With that Xander and Willow walked out of the school into the early morning to find themselves some McDonalds for breakfast.
He didn't realize he had flung himself forward until after he'd done it. The Guillotine rushed up all the quicker.
He started to realize he'd reach it before the blade hit. Just. He didn't know what he'd do when he reached it. He had no idea. It was instinct which made him act the way he did. His arm un curled, and fist clenched he put it between the blade and Giles head.
The world sped up.
The blade crashed down into his arm. Cutting all the way to the bone with a searing pain. Luckily it didn't go through. His bones able to hold what Giles's skull could not.
His arm slammed down onto the wooden guide under the weight of the blade. His blood already rushing from his arm at an alarming rate. Xanders hand dangled uselessly at the end of his arm, tendons, nerves and muscles cleanly cut.
All this before he skidded to his knees at the head of the guillotine.
*******
Giles stared up at the descending blade, paralyzed as it seemed to take it's time in bringing his death.
He really wished he could blink, close his eye's and banish the sight of his own death. Couldn't do it though. He had to go the mans way, staring death in the face, the completely terrifying way.
" Oh dear " Great last words in anyones book.
A fist entered his very limited field of vision followed by a wrist than a bit of forearm and Giles started to wonder who was stupid enough to do such a thing, even as another part of him yelled at him to be bloody grateful anyone would act that stupid for him.
The blade was remarkably silent as it went into this stupid arm, well until it hit the bone. At such point it made the sound of a coke can being kicked, that metallic pong, but the sound only lasted a second. Less.
Giles felt warm drops splatter on his fore-head, cheek and than saw them on his glasses. He felt more when he saw the fist continue down towards him with the blade and thudded into the guide that was securely attached to his head.
He had the supreme pleasure of watching said hand go completely limp as even more pleasurable blood dripped onto his face. He even had the joy of listening to one very familiar scream of pain and horror. But most of all, he had immeasurable happiness of one who was still breathing.
*******
Anyone watching would have swore Xanders eye's turned white as he let loose a scream of unmentionable pain, disbelief and anger. He looked down at it again before yelling again and seemed to writhe on the spot as he foolishly tried to pull his arm free.
*******
Giles watched as even more blood spurted on his face, almost covering his glasses and flowing in runnels down his cheeks and nose.
He heard the scream again and the half an arm above him jerked around violently.
Even more blood fell.
*******
His blade whipped out of his good arm and with strength he didn't know he had he smashed his arm and blade through the Guillotines uprights just above the blade. Wooden splinters flew in all directions. Metal guide rails bent, buckled and shattered or were sliced clean through. The uprights toppled sideways, twisting as it fell, catching Giles in the side.
*******
Giles joy at survival quickly turned to horror as an arm and large black blade shattered the uprights of the guillotine. A small shard of wood embedded itself in his cheek and he felt something else go into his hand.
His eye's widened in shock. That blow, Any blow that shattered the guillotines now teetering uprights was enormous. It told of a supreme strength, it ...*Ooof*
The uprights toppled and it's edge caught Giles in the ribs. Pain blossomed.
More blood fell on his face
He saw the hand come back and grip the top of the Guillotines blade, and with a yell ripped in violently out of the arm.
Giles glimpsed a ravaged open wound, and the sight of black bone. And more blood.
Thankfully the arm disapeared rather quickly.
*******
Xanders good hand reached over and gripped the top of the blades in steely, sweat slicked fingers. With another pain filled yell he ripped the blade free, of his arm and the Guillotine. With the last of his pain induced strength he hurled the blade away as hard as he could.
He collapsed weakly holding his arm as Willow rushed to his side.
"Oh god Xander!" Xanders eye's were closed so he couldn't see her tears as she saw the huge open wound of torn flesh and muscle. It was so red! . He heard the tears in her voice, right next to the worry and panic.
*******
'Xander?!' That was Xanders arm. Oh God! Willow didn't know!
"Willow! Willow! Get away from him! Willow?" She wasn't listening, her own raised voice and her worry for her friend completely masking his yelling, blood spurting from his mouth at every word.
What did she mean could he heal it ? Who's she talking to?
"Whats going on?"
*******
"Oh um Xander. Xander ! Will you be able to heal this?" Willow didn't get much of a answer out of him. She swung around until she found Glyndaf.
"Will he be able to heal this if I seal the wound?" She shouted at him.
Glyndaf paused for a moment before answering.
* He will, But it will take a week, week and a half maybe and it'll leave a scar....* Willow had stopped listening after 'He will'. She bent low and spoke loudly in Xanders ear, hoping he was listening through his writhing groans.
"Xander I'm gonna have to seal your wound... It's gonna hurt okay?" He didn't say anything but she saw him grit his teeth. She gripped his arms just above the wound with one hand. Her other hand held palm up in front of her. She focused her will on it. Drawing on the surroundings with her magic. All the lights in the school dimmed slightly. The light they gave off now was cold. Even the super hot stage lights seemed chilled.
Willows hand glowed from and inner light. A hot red inner light. Heat shimmered off it, though Willow felt none of it . She focussed on it for a second more before grimacing and looking back down at Xanders wound. She slid her normal hand up over the wound and squeezed. Xanders breath hitched and he let out a tight moan. Willow squeezed harder and pulled the wound haphazardly closed. A look of pure disgust on Willows face as she did this. She would remember this next part for the rest of her life.
She slapped her searing hot hand down over the wound. It sizzled and stank and steamed, but the parts seared together. Xander shot up the instant her hand touched the wound. His hand moved quicker than she thought possible and snaked in under her chin finger splayed to wrap up her throat and crush it. But it stopped centimeters from touching her. He looked her square in the eye's with his pain white eye's. Even still, the black dots were still visible. Willows eye's were full of fear and horror at what was happening and what she was doing but, behind that there was a steel that told of how much she had to do this. Do this for him, or he loses maybe his life.
His blood pooled around her feet.
*******
Giles had been around enough magic to know a spell was being cast. The hairs on his hands and neck always stood on end. He struggled in his bindings but they didn't budge.
He heard who he assumed was Xander suck in a groaning hiss. The hiss turned into something not natural after that and Giles smelt the stink of burning flesh, he fully expected to hear someone yell out in pain but heard nothing.
The burning hiss lasted several long seconds more before it cut off suddenly followed by a soft thump.
He heard what he assumed was someone throwing up.
*******
Xander didn't yell out in pain as Willow kept her hand on the wound, it sizzled and popped in the background, he seemed beyond pain now. All he did was shake, the hand around her throat most of all, but still, it never touched her.
Willow suddenly became aware of wave of pain lapping at her mind and realized it was his. She quickly removed her hand from the wound. A black ugly scorched mark now where the but was. It still leaked blood and there were several large blisters but it was closed. Xander had fainted from the pain as soon as she had taken her hand away.
Willow stared at her hand in disgust. Bits of Xander had fried to it. She turned and threw up. In doing so she became aware of Giles yelling at her.
"Willow! WILLOW! get me out of this! Whats happening?! Willow?!" Fear and panic was imbedded in his voice. Willow stood and looked over at him. His face was covered in Xanders blood. He sputtered it as he spoke and it completely covered his glasses. He was strapped down in several places, padlocks locking several of the straps.
"Hold on Giles" She rushed over to his side, pulled fruitlessly at one of the locks before muttering a word and blasting away the piece of wood the lock was attached to with a large crunch. She did the same with the rest of the locks and Giles struggled himself free. Quickly wiping his face clean.
He took several steps back looking at Willow in confusion and a little bit of fear. Than down at Xander. Xander with the large black blade coming from his forearm.
"What.. What are you?!" He asked nervously, gratitude for saving his life and a hatred for demons breed into him and nurtured by the council warring.
"Giles..." Willow started forward but stopped when Giles took another step back.
"You need to help me with Xander" Willow asked again but got only a light scowl in reply.
"No until you tell me what you two are!" Willow stood there shocked. Xander had been right, they were being judged demons from the get go. Her shock quickly simmered into anger.
"Giles?!" She asked one more time but Giles courage was quickly returning in the face of what he saw as only a small girl looking demon.
"Get back!" He almost spat the words at her.
"Fine! Be that way!" She focused her will on the air around them. Her magic seeping into it. Giles collapsed as a hidden hand thumped him in the back of the head. Willow glared at his unconscious form for a moment before turning back to Xander. Glyndaf was leaning over him.
"How long till he comes too?" absently she noticed a crash from Buffys fight.
* A couple of minutes, He's already started the healing. He'll be a sore boy in the morning * Glyndaf seemed to sigh and give a small shake of his head * What am I gonna do. He cant stop himself from getting knocked around *
* You did well tonight Willow * Crytex spoke up * You did very well under pressure, you should feel proud * Willow blushed slightly.
* Come on, we need to get these two away from here. If the slayer doesn't get to suspicious, Xander might be able to fix things with the Brit * As if in answer to his words, Xander groaned. * Willow grab his collar, you'll need it to move these two * Willow was about to question how to get it off when it clattered to the floor next to Xander after a touch from Glyndaf.
"'Kay" The collar was loose around her neck and hung slightly but the instant the clasp was done she felt the change. Her magic attuned senses felt the power seep into her.
It felt like a rush.
* Quick, the slayers almost finished the demon * Willow reached over and hauled Xander to his feet and tucked herself under his shoulder. He was heavy and there was no less strain lifting him up than if she had tried it without the collar, it was just she could do it now.
She started to drag him closer to Buffys fight. That area of backstage was empty and closer to the exit. She wouldn't see what was left of the guillotine and all of the blood from here. She sat him down against the wall, careful to avoid his still protruding blade, he looked awfully pale and she wondered if she should stay with him.
* I'll look after him. Go get the Brit * Glyndaf filled in for her.
She gave him a quick nod and rushed back for Giles. He was still out like a light. But his height made her dragging him a bit more difficult. She laid him out next to Xander in the next section, before quickly pulling stage curtains over the opening. Obstructing the view of the Guillotine.
She turned back to find Xanders eye's open and him staring at her gratefully though she began to feel the waves of pain lapping against her mind.
" I owe you three now" He smiled at her. She smiled gratefully back before answering.
"Just making up for all the times you saved me the last couple of years of school." She said crouching down next to him. "Can you walk?" He closed his eye's for a second before nodding. He levered himself up with the wall, wobbled for a second, than straightened. He looked at his arm sourly.
"Tell Buffy I tripped saving him" He scowled lightly while nodding at Giles.
"How did you know?" Willow asked confused as she noticed Buffy hurrying over. Xander mouthed 'Glyndaf' at her before sticking his arm behind his back.
"Hey Buff, killed any demons lately?" Xanders act came on suddenly and fully, surprising even Willow with his ability to change roles so quickly.
"Mmm..." she nodded demurely "What happened to him?" She asked nodding at Giles.
"Fainted dead away" Xander filled her in quickly. Buffy turned to give him a quirky smile before worry crossed her face.
"Are you okay Xand? You dont look so good" Xander waved her off with a goofy smile.
"It's cool, Just hurt my ankle. Tripped saving him" Buffy shook her head in mock worry, smiling at him.
"Cid?" Willow asked quietly. Buffy swung around to shake her head sadly.
"Gone to a better place."
"Oh" Awkward silence ensued.
"So we dump the G-man in his office for the night and lucky for Buffy, me and Will make another trip to the emergency room. You lucked out Buff, we wont get to see you lovely performance."
"Oh no, not that" Buffy replied in heavy sarcasm, as Xander hobbled over to Willow and laid his good arm over her shoulder and they started for the door.
"Dont worry guys. I got the video recorder set up before all this happened" Willow made the parting all the more sweet.
******
The next day.
Giles awoke slowly, the first thing he felt was an aching in his back and head. He knew where the pain in his head came from and right now he was guessing the pain in his back was from sleeping on his office bench all night.
He squinted harshly as light poured through his office window onto his face. He sat up slowly, taking his glasses off in the process and rubbed the bridge of his nose.
"Ahum"
Giles almost fell off his desk as he looked up to see Xander and Willow standing in his office. Their back to the light and dressed in dark colors they cast rather imposing figures to Giles's morning cup of tea depraved mind. A fact only made more so by Giles quickly resurfacing memories of last night.
"Morning Giles" Xander started with a rather flat tone. A superior smirk gracing his face.
"Hey" Willow usual friendly smile and voice were present.
"Good morning...ah... How did the uh talent show end up last night?" Giles hand slowly curled under his desk and grasped the hilt of the dagger he kept strapped there.
"Hey thats our Giles. Always with the funny and then the trying to kill us." Giles covered his surprise at Xander knowing what he was doing by spinning around and hurling the knife at him. His aim was slightly off and the blade hurtled instead towards Willows head.
Xander calmly plucked it out of the air.
"Thats not very nice Giles" Xander used this point to advertise his now two working hands by tapping the handle of the blade into his other hand.
"What do you want?" Giles voice came out steely, almost covering his fear.
"Things the way they were before you found out" Willow said simply as she lowered her shades giving Giles a good look at her eye's.
"I'm afraid that wont be happening. If you harm me Buffy will find out and hunt you down. If you dont harm me I'll tell her anyway."
"Why would I want to hurt you after saving your life last night? No, I think we'll take the third option."
"There is no third option Xander, you two are demons, spawn of hell, Buffy will slay you"
"Thats Harsh Giles" Willows voice sounded of the hurt.
"Yeah, we prefer enhanced humans, but enough talk. Just talking to you now is hard enough." Xander straightened himself and took in a deep breath. He pulled all his skill into his mind, built it up tightened his grip on it and focused on Giles.
Giles stumbled as words imprinted themselves on his mind. Instructions. Orders that he could not disobey.
YOU WILL NOT REVEAL OUR SECRETS. YOU WILL NOT HARM US. WE ARE YOUR FRIENDS AND YOU WILL TREAT US AS SUCH.
The words bounced around his skull, repeating louder and louder. He groaned and fell to his knees, a pain growing behind his temples.
"Lets go get some breakfast Will. He's gonna be a while" With that Xander and Willow walked out of the school into the early morning to find themselves some McDonalds for breakfast.