Flesh Wounds

Part Seven

Gabriel laughed quietly as Athena started to curse. "I'll get it," he told her, and went to pick up the receiver. "Hello?"

"Bowman?"

"Hey, Danny."

"What are you…nevermind, I don't really want to know. Is Athena…available?"

The antiques dealer choked back a laugh. "Uh, yeah, she's right here." Handing the phone to her, he mouthed, "Danny."

"What is it, grasshopper?" Her face melted from happy to the blank mask he knew so well. "I'll be right there."

"More?" Gabriel asked as she hung up.

"More," she replied grimly, grabbing an extra set of keys. "I'm sorry, but I've got to go. Lock up when you want to leave, okay?"

"Okay. Be---"

"Careful," she finished, smiling. "I will."

"Wait, before you leave…" he grabbed up the papers. "Glance at these."

She did so, and cursed more. "Can you get the originals to me sometime in the next few days?"

"Yeah, sure. See you later."

"Later," she replied, kissing him softly.

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"Speak to me, Xand. What do we have?"

"They've cut down to six. Two in Ireland, two in Bulgaria, and two in Canada."

"All the countries have had two or more, right? Never just one?"

"Uh…yeah."

"Strange…okay, the murders happened three days last week, then started again…"

"Last night," Danny supplied.

"Three days…three days…where's Giles when you need him?"

A new voice answered. "Detectives? There's someone here saying he knows the Princess."

Sara, Danny, and Athena exchanged glances, heading for the front door as Xander stayed by the phone.

"I'm telling you, Athena knows me," a distinctive British voice was explaining not so patiently.

"Perapa?"

"Oh, thank god," Giles replied in relief. "Will you kindly tell these chaps who I am?"

"It's okay, guys. He's my…foster father. Perapa, what are you doing here?"

"I'm, ah, I'm here to help you. I brought some books I think might help."

"Brilliant. Come on in." Taking his hand, she led him inside. "I thought you were in England."

"Well, I, ah, popped over to help my favorite daughter."

"G-man!" Xander exclaimed, coming over. "Good to see you!"

"And you, Xander," the Brit answered, grasping the teen's hand. "How have you been?"

"Not bad. Please say you're here to help?"

"I think so."

"Great! Athena was getting cranky."

Giles chuckled. "I have the Book of Xerad, and the Asara Chronicles. Also, there's the Watcher Diaries."

"And I'll send for some of my books."

"Oh, boy," Xander said with a decided lack of enthusiasm. "Research boy strikes again."

Athena and Giles shared a smile behind the teen's back.

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"Here you are, Princess."

The tall blonde glanced up to see Diane placing boxes of books on the floor. "Thanks, Diane."

"Oh, and Detective Woo wants to talk to you. He's outside."

"Okay," Athena replied, going to meet Danny. "What's wrong?"

"Athena, I have always accepted…you, but this is getting insane. The bodies are piling up, and all we're doing is…reading!"

"Danny, this is a time when your world isn't going to do much good. I've looked at the bodies, and the reports, and there's nothing. No fingerprints, psychic or otherwise, no forensic evidence of any kind. And that's when my domain steps in."

"I hate not being able to do anything. How can you act so calm?"

"I'm a fantastic actor, Danny, and anger does me no good." She rubbed his shoulder. "Believe me, I know what you're feeling. I'm just as frustrated, I just hide it better. But believe me, we will end this."

He took a deep breath. "Do you honestly believe that?"

"Danny, I hate to sound arrogant, but so be it. I have never found anything that I could not defeat. Those things that go bump in the night? I know all of them by name, and probably created a few. Sad, but true."

Her speech had the desired effect; a rueful grin spread over his face. "Okay."

"Why don't you go have lunch with your wife today, grasshopper? Take a break for a few hours."

"I think I will." He went back inside, but Athena remained, leaning against the fence and gazing out to the docks.

Someone soon joined her, an arm draping around his shoulders, and she leaned against the solid comfort. "I'm scared, Perapa. What if I can't defeat this? What if this is the one thing that can kill me?" Her blue eyes rose to meet his warm brown ones. "I don't want to die, Perapa. Not anymore."

"Your job is even harder than Buffy's, isn't it?" He asked softly. "She can at least admit her fears openly, but you…you must hid them always, allowing only for the few unguarded moments you may have. Not even Xander knows all you feel, does he?" Squeezing her slightly, he continued, "I won't tell you I know you can handle this, because we both know you can, regardless of your fears. But I will tell you that I love you, and I will always be here for you, as your father and as your friend."

A single tear trekked down her cheek. "I never really knew what it was like to have a father…until you."

Clearing his throat, Giles took off his glasses and examined them. "Xander tells me there's a young man in your life. You do realize I will have to do 'the father thing'," he told her, trying to lighten the mood.

He succeeded; she wiped her face and flashed him a heart-stopping smile. "Thank you, Perapa."

Pressing a kiss to her forehead, he smiled, almost wistfully. "Always, my dear. Always."