Title: Jumping Through Hoops
Spoilers: Season 5, after Checkpoint and The Body
Disclaimers: Nothing is mine, all is Joss' and ME. I only wish I was half
as talented.
Feedback: Please oh please. I love it, and it helps to encourage me
Notes: I don't know yet how long this will be, but it is feeling like a
long story. Many thanks to Marsterslady, my co-conspirator.
Rating: This chapter R, for violence and suggestions.
Chapter 3
A few hours later the door was ripped off it's hinges as an angry Slayer kicked it in. Buffy immediately saw Giles' sad state as he lay chained on the floor. Tears suddenly fell down her cheeks, as she whispered his name. "Giles."
She had barely got his name off her lips when the netting fell from the ceiling to trap her. Giles shouted out her name, "Buffy!" as she struggled under the trap. Her struggles soon ceased however because she found that the more she moved, the more she seemed to drown within the net, as if it was quicksand. Ethan came out of the shadows gleefully rubbing his hands together. "So, my sweet, how do you like my enchanted net?"
Buffy glared at him. "You are so going to die," she hissed. Ethan just smiled back, and then clapped his hands. The net turned itself into ropes that bound Buffy's arms and legs, and secured itself to the opposite wall. Now the Watcher and Slayer sat bound on opposite sides of the room across from each other.
"I knew you would come." Ethan exclaimed. "You wouldn't let Ripper waste away here." Buffy just continued to glare at Ethan before quipping, "You are going to be the one laid to waste at the end of this, Ethan."
"What do you think, Ripper? A fine trap I've set, don't you agree?" Ethan turned and looked at Giles. Giles would not meet his eyes however. He only had eyes for Buffy. "I'm sorry" he murmured to her. Buffy just shook her head. "Don't be sorry. We'll get out of this." She spoke with force, but her heart was yammering beneath her breastbone. She knew Ethan fairly well, she thought. But this Ethan just exuded evil. He was much more of a force than ever before. Buffy was beginning to worry. "What is it you want this time, Ethan?" she asked.
"Why, you of course." He grinned wickedly as he turned to her. Giles perked right up and glowered at the sorcerer's back. Ethan began to advance on the captured Slayer. She tried to wriggle free of her bonds, but as with the netting, the ropes just bit into her more as she struggled. She ceased all movements and tried to relax. The ropes didn't loosen at all, but they stopped tightening. As it was she could barely catch her breath.
When Ethan stood mere feet in front of her, he clapped his hands again. Buffy was still tied in the ropes, but she had no control over her body. Her arms and legs spread wide open and apart, as if she were going to make a snow angel on the concrete.
"Perhaps I should finish my dream from last night my way." Ethan licked his lips and took another step closer to Buffy. She had no idea what he was thinking, but Giles did. He shouted in a hoarse voice. "No Ethan. Stop. I'll tell you what you want to know. Just stop. Don't hurt Buffy. Please."
"I like it when you beg, Ripper." Ethan smirked at the Slayer before turning to look at Giles. He had broken him, Ethan realized, and he didn't even have to lay a finger on his precious Slayer. Pity, that.
"What are you two talking about?" Asked Buffy. "Tell him what?"
But the two men ignored her questions.
"Where is it Rupert?"
"I don't know." Giles moaned.
Ethan kicked Giles in the chest, "Next time I kick your luv over there. Now tell me the truth!"
Buffy wanted to cry, but she didn't. She wanted to scream, but she didn't. She just watched and listened. She didn't know what was going on, but she knew at this moment whatever it was that Giles just needed her to be quiet, and strong. Losing herself in panic wouldn't help either of them. She stayed rapt on every word, but also looked around trying to gather in her surroundings to seek out a means of escape. Anything that might show itself to her and help to form a plan. It looked bleak, however.
"I am telling you the truth, please, Ethan. Just listen. I too had the dream. I had the earring...removed.from me. I had someone hide it. I don't know where it is."
Ethan believed him. "Who did you give it to. Her?" He turned towards Buffy again. "No, Ethan, she doesn't know anything. Please. I didn't want to put her in danger." He almost strangled on those words. That's all he ever seemed to do when his past caught up with him, is hurt Buffy, and put her into danger.
Ethan smiled softly at his phrasing. "Danger?" he laughed. "So, if not her, then who?"
Giles looked at the floor in defeat. "If I tell you, will you let her go?"
Ethan stalked up to Giles, and bent down to look him full in the face. "I'll let you both go, once I have both earrings. You two will hardly concern me then. In fact, at least your Slayer will most likely have never existed, but I have grand plans for you." Ethan again grinned wildly at his old friend.
Buffy still was lost as to what they were talking about. Earrings? What earrings? It took all her willpower to remain quiet, but when Giles finally looked up and into her eyes, she saw his pain and sorrow there. Tears filled her eyes. She loved him so much, and had never told him. She resolved herself right there and then that if they got out of this, no..when they got out of this, she would make sure that Giles knew he was loved. She longed to hold his head in her lap and give him comfort. She tried to convey that in her eyes to him, but Ethan stood between them and blocked out her view of Giles.
"Tell me everything Ripper. Now!"
"I had the dream a little over a month ago," Giles began. "Eygone came to me and told me that if I had your earring, and wore the pair, that it would make me the most powerful man in the world, give me anything I ever wanted." visions of Buffy flashed in his mind, as they had then. She was all he ever wanted. He shook his head to clear the vision. "It told me to come after you."
Ethan smirked at that. "I'd have liked to see you try, old mate."
Giles did not take the bait, but just continued with his story, and Buffy listened to every word. "When I woke up, I was at first filled with the desire to possess that power, as you obviously have, Ethan. But once my head cleared, I did some research, and I came to not believe the dream. I think it's a trap, Ethan, please.listen to me.it's a trap, and you mustn't give in to Eygone again! Haven't you learned your lesson yet?"
Ethan bounded over to Buffy and kicked her in the face. Her head flew back and banged against the wall with a loud crack. Giles cried out in anguish. What had he done?
"Just tell me what happened to it." Ethan growled out.
"I gave it to a friend to hide. I didn't want to ever be tempted, so I told her to hide it where I would never find it, or know it's location."
Buffy looked at the men, and broke her silence. "Why didn't you destroy it?" Her voice came out creaking, like an old door. Gone was the strength and resolve. She was so tired.
Giles looked at her with concern. "I couldn't, Buffy. Only Eygone can destroy it.and..it showed me visions of harming the ones I loved if I got rid of it. So, I had to keep it somewhere, don't you see?" His eyes begged for her understanding.
Ethan stood there reveling in the suffering he had caused. He was having great fun now, but just wait until he had that earring. Then his will would really be done.
"No Giles, I don't see. But I trust you. If you thought it best, well then, I just have to believe you." She looked at Ethan. "So now what?"
"Now Rupert tells me who this friend is, and we have them get my prize." He turned his full gaze again on Giles, and raised an eyebrow questioningly.
Giles was almost embarrassed to say the name. "I gave it to Anya to hide."
"What???" Buffy screeched. "Anya? Of all the.who? Why? What? Anya?" Her anger was back, and she had raised up in her surprise, causing the ropes to tighten their grips. She groaned in pain.
"Who is Anya, and where can I find her?" asked Ethan.
"She is my employee at my magic store." Ethan laughed. "You gave it to an employee?" Giles seethed in anger. "I'll have you know she was once a vengeance demon and took umbrage out on many men like you! And..I gave it to her because she understands demony things. I explained to her the dream, and she took it and promised to hide it away from me. I don't know where she put it."
Buffy just gawked for a moment, her mouth hanging open. Anya knew all this and never told anyone? Her respect for the ex-demon both grew and dissipated at the knowledge. She was glad Anya was loyal to Giles, and tried to be helpful, but she should have told her, damn it! Buffy was the Slayer, and she should be in the know! And did Giles think she couldn't protect him? How could he not believe in her like that? It hurt. He trusted Anya with something that should have been her place as his slayer, and his friend. So much for getting closer to him these past months, she sulked.
Ethan sat on the cot for a moment to gather his thoughts. He needed to get this Anya demon or person or whatever she was to get him the earring. But he couldn't just waltz into the magic shop and demand it. And he couldn't leave Giles and Buffy here alone, or even guarded by some paid hired hands. The magic was only strong while he was present to apply it. Somehow he'd have to get Anya here. He scrambled under the bed and pulled out his leather jacket, pulling out the small cell phone out of it's pocket. No good villain left home without one these days. He chuckled at his own joke. Luckily it had some charge left in it when he turned it on. He walked over to Giles and held the phone out. "Tell me the number of the shop. I'm going to hold the phone and you are going to tell your little demon friend to get over here. Do not tell her why, or Buffy gets hurt. Do not tell her anything except to come here. Tell her it's a surprise or something, I don't care. But any false words or even hints of you coming up with some grand plan, and I'll tighten your honey's ropes so tight that she'll be cut off from oxygen. Got it?"
Giles nodded dejectedly, and told Ethan the number. Within moments the phone at the Magic Box was ringing.
Chapter 3
A few hours later the door was ripped off it's hinges as an angry Slayer kicked it in. Buffy immediately saw Giles' sad state as he lay chained on the floor. Tears suddenly fell down her cheeks, as she whispered his name. "Giles."
She had barely got his name off her lips when the netting fell from the ceiling to trap her. Giles shouted out her name, "Buffy!" as she struggled under the trap. Her struggles soon ceased however because she found that the more she moved, the more she seemed to drown within the net, as if it was quicksand. Ethan came out of the shadows gleefully rubbing his hands together. "So, my sweet, how do you like my enchanted net?"
Buffy glared at him. "You are so going to die," she hissed. Ethan just smiled back, and then clapped his hands. The net turned itself into ropes that bound Buffy's arms and legs, and secured itself to the opposite wall. Now the Watcher and Slayer sat bound on opposite sides of the room across from each other.
"I knew you would come." Ethan exclaimed. "You wouldn't let Ripper waste away here." Buffy just continued to glare at Ethan before quipping, "You are going to be the one laid to waste at the end of this, Ethan."
"What do you think, Ripper? A fine trap I've set, don't you agree?" Ethan turned and looked at Giles. Giles would not meet his eyes however. He only had eyes for Buffy. "I'm sorry" he murmured to her. Buffy just shook her head. "Don't be sorry. We'll get out of this." She spoke with force, but her heart was yammering beneath her breastbone. She knew Ethan fairly well, she thought. But this Ethan just exuded evil. He was much more of a force than ever before. Buffy was beginning to worry. "What is it you want this time, Ethan?" she asked.
"Why, you of course." He grinned wickedly as he turned to her. Giles perked right up and glowered at the sorcerer's back. Ethan began to advance on the captured Slayer. She tried to wriggle free of her bonds, but as with the netting, the ropes just bit into her more as she struggled. She ceased all movements and tried to relax. The ropes didn't loosen at all, but they stopped tightening. As it was she could barely catch her breath.
When Ethan stood mere feet in front of her, he clapped his hands again. Buffy was still tied in the ropes, but she had no control over her body. Her arms and legs spread wide open and apart, as if she were going to make a snow angel on the concrete.
"Perhaps I should finish my dream from last night my way." Ethan licked his lips and took another step closer to Buffy. She had no idea what he was thinking, but Giles did. He shouted in a hoarse voice. "No Ethan. Stop. I'll tell you what you want to know. Just stop. Don't hurt Buffy. Please."
"I like it when you beg, Ripper." Ethan smirked at the Slayer before turning to look at Giles. He had broken him, Ethan realized, and he didn't even have to lay a finger on his precious Slayer. Pity, that.
"What are you two talking about?" Asked Buffy. "Tell him what?"
But the two men ignored her questions.
"Where is it Rupert?"
"I don't know." Giles moaned.
Ethan kicked Giles in the chest, "Next time I kick your luv over there. Now tell me the truth!"
Buffy wanted to cry, but she didn't. She wanted to scream, but she didn't. She just watched and listened. She didn't know what was going on, but she knew at this moment whatever it was that Giles just needed her to be quiet, and strong. Losing herself in panic wouldn't help either of them. She stayed rapt on every word, but also looked around trying to gather in her surroundings to seek out a means of escape. Anything that might show itself to her and help to form a plan. It looked bleak, however.
"I am telling you the truth, please, Ethan. Just listen. I too had the dream. I had the earring...removed.from me. I had someone hide it. I don't know where it is."
Ethan believed him. "Who did you give it to. Her?" He turned towards Buffy again. "No, Ethan, she doesn't know anything. Please. I didn't want to put her in danger." He almost strangled on those words. That's all he ever seemed to do when his past caught up with him, is hurt Buffy, and put her into danger.
Ethan smiled softly at his phrasing. "Danger?" he laughed. "So, if not her, then who?"
Giles looked at the floor in defeat. "If I tell you, will you let her go?"
Ethan stalked up to Giles, and bent down to look him full in the face. "I'll let you both go, once I have both earrings. You two will hardly concern me then. In fact, at least your Slayer will most likely have never existed, but I have grand plans for you." Ethan again grinned wildly at his old friend.
Buffy still was lost as to what they were talking about. Earrings? What earrings? It took all her willpower to remain quiet, but when Giles finally looked up and into her eyes, she saw his pain and sorrow there. Tears filled her eyes. She loved him so much, and had never told him. She resolved herself right there and then that if they got out of this, no..when they got out of this, she would make sure that Giles knew he was loved. She longed to hold his head in her lap and give him comfort. She tried to convey that in her eyes to him, but Ethan stood between them and blocked out her view of Giles.
"Tell me everything Ripper. Now!"
"I had the dream a little over a month ago," Giles began. "Eygone came to me and told me that if I had your earring, and wore the pair, that it would make me the most powerful man in the world, give me anything I ever wanted." visions of Buffy flashed in his mind, as they had then. She was all he ever wanted. He shook his head to clear the vision. "It told me to come after you."
Ethan smirked at that. "I'd have liked to see you try, old mate."
Giles did not take the bait, but just continued with his story, and Buffy listened to every word. "When I woke up, I was at first filled with the desire to possess that power, as you obviously have, Ethan. But once my head cleared, I did some research, and I came to not believe the dream. I think it's a trap, Ethan, please.listen to me.it's a trap, and you mustn't give in to Eygone again! Haven't you learned your lesson yet?"
Ethan bounded over to Buffy and kicked her in the face. Her head flew back and banged against the wall with a loud crack. Giles cried out in anguish. What had he done?
"Just tell me what happened to it." Ethan growled out.
"I gave it to a friend to hide. I didn't want to ever be tempted, so I told her to hide it where I would never find it, or know it's location."
Buffy looked at the men, and broke her silence. "Why didn't you destroy it?" Her voice came out creaking, like an old door. Gone was the strength and resolve. She was so tired.
Giles looked at her with concern. "I couldn't, Buffy. Only Eygone can destroy it.and..it showed me visions of harming the ones I loved if I got rid of it. So, I had to keep it somewhere, don't you see?" His eyes begged for her understanding.
Ethan stood there reveling in the suffering he had caused. He was having great fun now, but just wait until he had that earring. Then his will would really be done.
"No Giles, I don't see. But I trust you. If you thought it best, well then, I just have to believe you." She looked at Ethan. "So now what?"
"Now Rupert tells me who this friend is, and we have them get my prize." He turned his full gaze again on Giles, and raised an eyebrow questioningly.
Giles was almost embarrassed to say the name. "I gave it to Anya to hide."
"What???" Buffy screeched. "Anya? Of all the.who? Why? What? Anya?" Her anger was back, and she had raised up in her surprise, causing the ropes to tighten their grips. She groaned in pain.
"Who is Anya, and where can I find her?" asked Ethan.
"She is my employee at my magic store." Ethan laughed. "You gave it to an employee?" Giles seethed in anger. "I'll have you know she was once a vengeance demon and took umbrage out on many men like you! And..I gave it to her because she understands demony things. I explained to her the dream, and she took it and promised to hide it away from me. I don't know where she put it."
Buffy just gawked for a moment, her mouth hanging open. Anya knew all this and never told anyone? Her respect for the ex-demon both grew and dissipated at the knowledge. She was glad Anya was loyal to Giles, and tried to be helpful, but she should have told her, damn it! Buffy was the Slayer, and she should be in the know! And did Giles think she couldn't protect him? How could he not believe in her like that? It hurt. He trusted Anya with something that should have been her place as his slayer, and his friend. So much for getting closer to him these past months, she sulked.
Ethan sat on the cot for a moment to gather his thoughts. He needed to get this Anya demon or person or whatever she was to get him the earring. But he couldn't just waltz into the magic shop and demand it. And he couldn't leave Giles and Buffy here alone, or even guarded by some paid hired hands. The magic was only strong while he was present to apply it. Somehow he'd have to get Anya here. He scrambled under the bed and pulled out his leather jacket, pulling out the small cell phone out of it's pocket. No good villain left home without one these days. He chuckled at his own joke. Luckily it had some charge left in it when he turned it on. He walked over to Giles and held the phone out. "Tell me the number of the shop. I'm going to hold the phone and you are going to tell your little demon friend to get over here. Do not tell her why, or Buffy gets hurt. Do not tell her anything except to come here. Tell her it's a surprise or something, I don't care. But any false words or even hints of you coming up with some grand plan, and I'll tighten your honey's ropes so tight that she'll be cut off from oxygen. Got it?"
Giles nodded dejectedly, and told Ethan the number. Within moments the phone at the Magic Box was ringing.
