Stepfather

Chapter 5: Gingerbread Part 1

Disclaimer: Not mine. All Joss. Like you're surprised.

*Takes place during the episode Gingerbread*

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"Don't tell me to calm down!"

"I only meant....."

"They were kids, Giles, Little kids...."

Rupert Giles closed his eyes and shook his head. He knew where Buffy was coming from. He really did. He wouldn't have been human if he couldn't empathize with her pain. Giles knew that Buffy was upset about her mother, as was he. Joyce had become an important figure in Giles's life. She was beautiful, intelligent, classy, and- except for Jenny- the only woman he had dated since coming to the United States.

Suddenly, Buffy cleared her throat. Giles realized she had finished speaking and was looking at him. "I'm sorry, Buffy. I just want to help," he said.

Buffy slumped heavily into one of the library's many chairs. "I know."

"Do we know anything about how... it wasn't the vampire...?"

Buffy shook her head and looked distraught. "There were no marks. Wait. I mean there was a mark, a symbol."

Buffy grabbed a piece of paper from the table. Just as she picked up a pen, Giles quickly put down the mug he was holding and grabbed Buffy's hands. "Oh, uh, 12th century, Papal Encyclical. Write on this," he said handing her a spiral notebook.

Buffy sketched a figure onto the paper. "I-it was on their hands. The cops are keeping it quiet, but I got a good look at it," she said. She handed the drawing to Giles. "There," she continued. "Find me the thing that uses this symbol and point me at it."

Giles removed his glasses and studied the symbol. It appeared to be an upside-down triangle with the point separated from the rest by a curved line. The line looked like the astrological sign of Leo. The symbol looked vaguely familiar to Giles, but he couldn't place where he would have seen it. "Hmm."

Buffy looked at him "Hmm. What? Giles, speak."

Giles rubbed his head. He wished he could remember where he had seen this. Was it recently? No, maybe in London? With... Ethan?

Giles suddenly realized that Buffy was watching him. He looked up from the notebook. "What? Oh, sorry. Um, no, it... I just wonder if we're looking for a thing. The use of a symbol o-o-on a victim like this suggests a, a ritual murder and a cult sacrifice by a group."

Buffy looked shocked. "A group of... human beings? Someone with a soul did this?"

Giles shrugged. He had seen a lot worse in his Ripper days. He realized though, that saying this wouldn't placate Buffy. "Yes, I'm afraid so." Giles got up and walked over to one of the bookshelves. He crouched low and started looking through the books on the bottom shelf.

"Okay," Buffy said, her voice filled with anger. "Then while you're looking for the meaning of that symbol thingy, could you also find a loophole in that 'Slayers don't kill people' rule?"

Giles turned and looked up at her from his position on the floor. "Buffy, this is a dreadful crime, I know." He stood up and took a step towards her. "And you have every right to be upset, but... I-I wonder if you're not letting yourself get a shade, uh... more personal because of your mother's involvement."

Buffy looked at Giles like he had suddenly grown a second head. "Oh, it's completely personal." She stood as her tone got more confrontational. "What I don't understand is why it isn't more personal for you."

Giles eyes narrowed. "Buffy, you had better not be suggesting what I think you're suggesting."

"Well, then. I'll just come out and say it. I think if you really cared about my mom, you'd be showing a little more concern."

"Buffy, I think you should leave."

"What?"

"I said that I think you should leave. I want you to go before I say something I'll regret."

"Fine. I'm going to lunch," Buffy said harshly. "I'll report in later, Mr. Giles." Buffy turned angrily and stormed out of the library. She pushed on the library doors so forcefully that the sound of then banging against the walls caused Giles to wince. Giles took a deep breath to calm himself. Then he went into his office to make himself a pot of tea. He looked at the pile of books on his table then sighed. Tracking down one obscure symbol out of thousands without any kind of context... Giles removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes. It was going to be a long night.

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Giles sat at his desk in his office with the lights off. His eyes were closed and his glasses were tucked into one of the pockets of his suit jacket. He inhaled deeply with his nose and exhaled through his mouth. His head bowed slightly as his shoulders relaxed. His mind was getting clearer, more focused. He could almost see it now. He took another deep breath and let the scent of the incense that was burning on his desk linger in his nostrils. He was almost there. Three more deep breaths and he could feel it- the bitter cold of a London winter coming through the broken glass of the window, the scratchy softness of that hideous purple rug under his bare feet, the faint sounds Black Sabbath coming from the record player in the corner. Giles could feel that his was close. Only a few minutes more and-

"Rupert?"

Giles jumped, startled by the sound of his name. His heart racing, he tried desperately to stay where he was. But with his concentration broken, the memory was fading faster then the wisps of smoke before him. Giles let out a frustrated groan and opened his eyes. Before him was the last person he was expecting to see. "Joyce. What are you doing here?"

"I came to talk to Buffy about the children that we found on patrol. She told you about that, right?"

"Yes, she did. Are you alright? I was planning on ringing you later tonight. Buffy said that you were taking it a bit hard."

"Of course I am," Joyce said, her eyes widening. "I don't understand how anyone wouldn't."

Giles paused while he thought of what to say. "Yes, well... I am, um, researching to find out what might have... that is to say, to find the, um, culprit..."

"I know," said Joyce, interrupting.

"You do?"

"Buffy told me that you have books here that help her with the Slaying."

"Yes, I do, but that's not-"

"What were you doing?"

"Pardon?" said Giles, thrown by Joyce's sudden change of topic.

"What were doing with the incense? You weren't casting a spell, were you?"

Giles frowned a little bit. "Joyce, darling, are you quite certain that you're feeling okay? You seem a bit.... strained."

Joyce's hand reached out so quickly that it caught Giles by surprise when it grabbed his arm in a tight grip. "Tell me, Rupert," said Joyce her voice harsh and raspy. "Were you casting a spell?"

Giles looked at her with worry and a little bit of fear in his eyes. "No, Joyce, I wasn't."

At those words Joyce visibly relaxed. "Well, good." She released Giles from her iron grip. "So, what were you doing?"

Giles took Joyce's hand and walked the few steps to the sofa residing against the opposite wall of his office. He gestured, indicating that Joyce should sit down. She sat down calmly, like her earlier outburst was nothing but a figment of Giles's imagination. Giles, still watching her with no small amount of wariness, sat next to her. He took a deep breath before he spoke. "Joyce, I assure you what I was doing- attempting to do- was perfectly benign. The symbol, the one you found on the... children in the park. I thought that I had seen it before."

"You've seen it? In one of your books?"

"Perhaps. Or possibly when I was a boy, in some of my father's things. Or at the Watcher's Academy while I was studying. Or possibly... elsewhere. The thing of it is, if I could remember exactly where I had seen it before, it would make searching for it so much easier. That is what I was doing with the incense. The sense of smell is one of the strongest memory triggers available. Since the Symbol appears to malevolent in nature I thought I might have encountered it during my time in London." He gestured towards the still burning incense on his desk. "I tried to recreate the memory in my mind using a scent I associated with that period of my life."

Joyce sniffed the air experimentally. "Sandalwood?" she asked.

Giles smiled and blushed faintly. "I thought patchouli oil would be a bit cliché. It was either this or light a joint. Somehow, I don't think Principal Snyder would be very forgiving if he caught the school librarian, um, toking up."

Joyce giggled at the embarrassed look on Giles face. "Why Rupert," she said coyly. "I had no idea your past was so full of youthful indiscretions."

Giles blushed a deeper shade of red and cleared his throat. "Yes, well, um, I think, perhaps, I've been on the wrong track."

Joyce shrugged. "So what's next? Your childhood?"

"Good heavens no!" Joyce looked surprised at his vehement exclamation. Giles saw this and he quickly amended his outburst. "I mean, I think not. There are... things in my past I would prefer not to deal with right now. My relationship with my father comes to the forefront. I think that dredging up those memories would be more distracting than productive. No, I think good old fashioned research would be the best course of action."

"To the books?"

Giles looked at Joyce speculatively. "All right, then." Giles stood and again offered Joyce his hand. She took it and he gently pulled her up from the couch. He walked to the door of his office and opened it. He held the door open for Joyce to pass through. Then he followed her, closing the door tightly behind him.

He gestured to the table already heaped with several tall stacks of books. "That is where I was going to start."

"Oh," said Joyce, clearly overwhelmed.

"Yes, we've a lot of work ahead of us. Fortunately, it should go fast, or faster, at least. Since we're looking for a symbol, we don't have to read every single paragraph of text. We just have to look at the illustrations." Giles reached into his jacket pocket and removed his glasses. He took out and lightly embroidered handkerchief with the initials R.G. in the corner. He used it to polish his glasses before he put them back on his face. Then he tucked the handkerchief back into the pocket in his trousers.

He pulled out one of the chairs for the table and motioned for Joyce to sit. Giles then took the chair next to it. "Where should I start?" Joyce asked as she reached for one of the volumes.

Giles looked up from his own stack of books. "You can start anywhere," he said, and then he noticed what book she was holding. "But not there," he said taking the book from her hand.

"Why not?" questioned Joyce.

"Well, you see, that book is the Pergamum Codex. I've already read it cover to cover. Several times in fact. If the symbol that we're looking for was in that I would have remembered." Giles scanned the books in his immediate vicinity. He grabbed a small one with a red, leather cover. "You can start looking through the demonology texts while I read the ones on transmogrification." He handed her the red book. "This one is about souleaters."

Joyce smiled faintly as she took the book. She had only been looking through it for about ten minutes when Giles heard her moan. He took of his glasses and peered at her. "Are you alright?"

Joyce looked slightly green. "Um, yes," she said shakily. "It's just some of these pictures are a bit graphic."

Giles took her hand in his. "Joyce, if you don't feel up to it, you don't have to continue."

"No," she said. "I'm fine. Are all the books like this?"

"Most of them."

Joyce looked around the table. She read the titles of a few of the other books aloud. "Werebeasts of India, A History of the Modern Exorcism, Blood Rites and Ritual Sacrifices?! Rupert, are these books in here all the time?"

Giles looked up from his book. "Um, yes."

"Where any of the students can get to them?"

"I suppose so, though not many of the students here can even tell you where the library is located, let alone visit it." Giles saw the expression on Joyce's face and quickly added, "Don't worry. I keep all the dangerous books safely locked in the book cage."

"Dangerous?"

"The ones involving powerful dark magicks." If it was possible, Joyce's eyes seemed to grow wider. Giles sighed. "Darling, are you sure this is how you want to spend an afternoon? Research is usually quite dull. I can give you call this evening and let you know if we find anything."

"Buffy said that you needed my help. Besides, I won't be home tonight."

"Where are you going?"

"I've called everyone I knew and we organized a meeting at City Hall for this evening. Half the town is coming. Even Mayor Wilkins is going to be there. It's time that we were responsible and got the word out."

Giles looked at Joyce apprehensively. "What do you mean 'got the word out?'"

Joyce looked at him. "Just what I said. We need to tell people. About the vampires and the demons and the witches. If people knew they could be prepared- protect themselves."

"Joyce..." Giles started.

"No, Rupert. I'm right. I know I am. How many lives would be saved if everyone in Sunnydale carried a cross with them when they went out."

"Joyce," Giles tried again.

"Or a bottle of holy water," Joyce continued unhindered. "And the witches. We tell people what to look for. We could find-"

"JOYCE!" Giles roared. When he saw that he had her attention Giles lowered his voice and spoke calmly. He reached out and took her hands in his. "Joyce, if people wanted to know, they would know. The evidence is there. Often, right in front of people's eyes." Giles reached up and tucked and errant strand of hair behind Joyce's ear. "People will believe whatever they want. And they don't want to believe that the monsters under the bed are real. Backed up sewer lines, gangs on PCP, tricks of the light. All preferable to the truth." Giles raised Joyce's hand to his lips and gently kissed her palm.

Joyce sighed at the touch of his lips on her skin. She shook her head. "No, I have to try."

Joyce stood quickly to leave. Giles held fast to her wrist, keeping her restrained. he turned his head to look up at her. "Please don't. I beg of you, Joyce. Please do not do this. If not for me, for Buffy."

Joyce broke away from his grip. "I have to," she said more firmly. Her expression was a mixture of determination, worry, and betrayal. Giles didn't know which concerned him the most. He watched as the woman he loved ran out his library, the doors swinging wildly behind her. Love? he thought. Where had that come from? Giles thought about it. Joyce was a wonderful woman. She was intelligent, kind, and caring. In fact, the traits Giles admired most in his Slayer were reflected in the woman that gave her life. Buffy's zest for life, her sense of duty, her compassion for others had all stemmed from her mother. The more Giles thought about it, the more right it seemed. He loved Buffy with all of his heart, but as a father loves his daughter, or a mentor loves his student. Was it so strange that he had fallen in love with someone so similar.

But on the heels of this joyous revelation came a fear that twisted into Giles's heart like a knife. Something was wrong with Joyce. Giles knew it like he knew his own name. She was acting erratically, even more so than was expected after the shock of finding those children. Come on, old man. Give the woman some slack. You and Buffy and the rest of the Scooby gang deal with death and dismemberment on a daily basis. Allow the woman some time to adjust. Giles shook his head. No, it wouldn't fly. Whatever was causing Joyce's bizarre behavior was-

*Ring Ring* Giles thoughts were interrupted by the telephone at the front desk. Odd, he thought. Only twice in his entire tenure at Sunnydale High School had he ever received a call here that hadn't been from a member of the Scooby Gang. He almost believed that he had imagined the ringing when the phone did it again. *Ring Ring* Giles hurried out of his office to the desk. The two short rings instead of one long one meant that the call was coming from outside the school. He wanted to find out was on the other end. Giles managed to grab the handset before the third set of rings began.

"Sunnydale High School Library, Rupert Giles speaking." Giles said when he answered.

"Ah, yes, Rupert. So good to hear you again," said the voice on the other end of the line. Giles needn't ask who the caller was. He would recognize that patronizing tone anywhere.

"Quentin Travers," Giles said with thinly disguised disdain. "To what do I owe the pleasure."

"Ah, Rupert. Try not to sound so hostile. I'm only calling to make sure that everything has been arranged for the Council's arrival next week."

"Yes, I've procured the building that is to be used. Is that all Quentin? I'm rather busy at the moment."

"That is all, Rupert. However, I must say, I am looking forward to seeing how your Slayer measures up."

"Buffy has a tendency to exceed expectations."

"I certainly hope so, Rupert. For her sake."

"Good day, Quentin," Giles said as he put the receiver back on the cradle. This was the last thing he needed right now. Bloody council with their bloody tests. There is an unknown threat emerging, Buffy and I had a fight and now she distrusts me, I fear Joyce may be under a spell, and, oh yeah, I finally realized I love her, but I can't tell her, because I intend to get her daughter killed next week and that tends to put a damper on any romance.

Giles was so frustrated he could scream. Or punch someone. But he settled for throwing something. With a ferocious howl full of frustration and rage, he grabbed the first lightweight object he could find and hurled it at the opposite wall with all of his strength. Unfortunately, that object happened to be his coffee mug from earlier that morning. Even more unfortunately, it hit the wall and exploded into hundreds of tiny ceramic shards just as Willow was entering the library.

The redhead looked shocked as the mug only missed her by a couple of feet. She let out a nervous laugh and tried not to let her fear show. "Gee, Giles. I knew you didn't like coffee, but..."

When Giles saw her standing there he was instantly contrite. "Oh Willow. I'm so sorry. Please forgive me. I didn't see you come in. I... it's... Damn it!"

"No, no," Willow said, trying to reassure the older man. Her forehead crinkled with a concerned expression. She held out her arms as if modeling a new outfit. "See, look. I'm fine. Nine kinds of good."

Giles sighed. "No, that isn't what I--," Giles stopped as soon as he saw the frown on Willow's face. "Not that I'm not relieved that you're uninjured," he quickly amended. "It's just-," Giles stopped and took a deep breath. "Let me start over. Willow, I'm dreadfully sorry that I threw that mug. It was a stupid and childish thing to do, and I should know better. I am thankful that I didn't inadvertently hit you."

Willow nodded sagely. "Apology accepted." She walked across the room and gave Giles a firm hug. As she pulled away she looked up into his tired green eyes. "Now, do you want to talk about it?"

Giles let out a throaty chuckle. "No, thank you. I just was feeling a tad overwhelmed. For a moment, it seemed as though the universe was conspiring against me."

Willow nodded again. "I understand." Then she grinned. "Don't worry about it. If the universe tries anything, Buffy and Xander and I will protect you. Not even cosmic forces will want to go up against an angry Slayer.

Willow's mention of Buffy unintentional brought up Giles's memory of the unwelcome phone call he had received only minutes before. Willow noticed the frown that crossed his features. "Giles, are you sure you're okay?" she asked.

"Hmm, what?" Giles looked down as if suddenly remembering the girl before him. "Yes, yes. I'm quite alright." Desperate to change the topic he said, "So, what did you need?"

Willow had to stop and think. "Need? Oh! I just came to tell you that there's going to be this thing at City Hall tonight. Mrs. Summers organized it. I think you should go."

"I was intending to." At Willow's puzzled expression he added, "Joyce stopped by to see me."

"Oh." Willow bit her bottom lip, unsure about her next question. "Giles," she asked, "do you think Mrs. Summers is alright? When we saw her she seemed kinda-"

"Intense?"

"I was going to say gung-ho, but yeah."

Giles sighed. "I'm not sure, Willow. I suppose we'll find out tonight. Say, shouldn't you be getting to class?"

"Yeah. I'm on my way, but I just wanted to ask you something. What's up between you and Buffy?"

"Buffy?"

"Yeah. When I told her I was going to stop by she got this weird look on her face like 'I'm mad at Giles and I don't know why, but I'm sure it's his fault.'"

Giles laughed a little at her description. "Don't concern yourself with it. We had a small argument, but I suspect everything will be right as rain soon."

"Good, 'cause I don't like it when you two fight." With that she turned around and headed to her next class. She would be a few minutes late, but in the grand scheme of things, Willow would rather have a few tardys on her record and happy friends than the opposite.

Giles watched her go, amazed once again by the girl's capacity to care for and love others. Giles glanced back at the desk behind him, overflowing with books. Then at the mess in front of him- tea streaming down the wall and shard of broken glass spread over a four foot radius of the point of impact. Well, first thing's first, he thought as we went over to dispose of what used to be his favorite mug.

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~Sunnydale City Hall: Later that evening~

"...This isn't our town anymore. It belongs to the monsters and the witches and the Slayers. I say it's time for the grownups to take Sunnydale back." Buffy watched her mother in openmouthed horror as Joyce concluded her speech. "I say we start by finding the people who did this and making them pay."

Giles wasn't fairing much better. He took off his glasses and furiously started to clean them, as if by doing so he could fix what he had just seen. He felt a tug on the sleeve of his tweed coat. He replaced his glasses, looked down and saw Buffy, one of the strongest, most talented Vampire Slayers that ever lived, looking for all the world like a scared little girl. "Giles," she said, her voice pleading with him. "Why is she saying these things?"

Giles knew instantly that everything that had transpired earlier between him and Buffy was forgotten. They were back to the way it was before, with Buffy turning to Giles for support and comfort. Giles couldn't have been happier that his Slayer trusted him again, but it broke his heart that this was the way it had happened. Giles looked down at the girl beside him, struggling to hold back the tears and he wished he could wave a magic wand and make everything better. He couldn't though. All he could do was lend her a shoulder to cry on. With one arm he reach around and gathered Buffy up, drawing her close, shielding her. With the other, he did the same with Willow. Giles observed the redhead and was suddenly grateful that he had gathered her into his embrace when he did. The teenager looked unsteady, as though her legs suffered a terrible burden just trying to support her petite frame.

Whatever was making Joyce act like this was clearly an extremely powerful dark force. Giles squirmed and felt uncomfortable at his own lack of knowledge. He had been unable to turn up any information on the symbol that Buffy had drawn and nothing in the Watcher Diaries described anything like this. Like a retired police officer reaching for a gun in a holster he no longer wore, Giles racked his brain for the information he knew it didn't contain. Giles's thoughts were interrupted by Mayor Richard Wilkins III as the man attempted to retake the stage.

The Mayor of Sunnydale strode to the podium, oozing the confidence and charm that had gotten him re-elected more times than Giles could count. The Mayor came up behind Joyce and gestured for her to step back. Rather, Joyce moved sideways, and only as far as the minimum courtesy called for. Unwilling to share the podium with this woman, yet aware that he evicting her would cause more fuss than he cared to deal with, the Mayor stood in front of the microphone and angled his body away from Joyce as he prepared to speak. Giles watched this subtle maneuvering with a detached interest. Mayor Wilkins and Joyce, he thought. Irresistible force meet immovable object.

The Mayor cleared his throat and began to address the crowd. "I would just like to thank Mrs. Summers for her words. I would also like to remind everyone that the fine men and women of the Sunnydale Police department are on this case, so there is no excuse to do anything rash." The Mayor let out a little laugh. "After all," he said, "that wouldn't be very neighborly, now would it?"

Giles looked around at the crowd that, minutes before, had been cheering Joyce's words. No matter what placating words the Mayor found, there would be violence. Giles could feel the bloodlust that now consumed the adults of Sunnydale. Giles glanced from face to face. Everywhere he looked, the rational, thinking people he had come to know were gone. In their place were mindless sheep willing to do whatever they were told. Giles felt a small shiver run through his body. He instinctively tightened his hold on the two girls beside him.

On stage, Joyce leaned around the Mayor to make one last announcement. She spoke loudly and her voice was further amplified by the microphone in front of her. "I just want to say one last thing. We are having a meeting in..." Joyce paused to look at her watch, "half an hour at my house- 1630 Revello Dr. It's for all the concerned citizens of Sunnydale that want to keep our community safe from the unholy menace." At hearing this Buffy let out a small whimper.

Giles looked at Joyce and then the two girls whose safety was currently paramount. He knew he had to get Buffy and Willow out of that room right now, or they might not leave at all. he leaned over a softly whispered in Willow's ear. "Willow, I need you to listen very carefully. Did you and Buffy walk here?" Willow nodded, but did not speak. Giles continued, "Good. Do not run but leave here quickly and quietly. Once you get a good distance away from this building, call Oz, Xander, and Cordelia. Have them meet you in the library. After you're all there, barricade the entrances, and don't forget the one in the stacks. Admit no one save Buffy or myself. Do you understand?"

"Yes," Willow said quietly, her voice matching Giles's discrete tone. "But what will you be doing?"

"Buffy and I will be in my car. In case they decide to apprehend her, we'll take them on a merry chase into the hills and return the back way into town." Giles spared a glance at the redhead, then his eyes went back to searching the crowd for a threat to his Slayer. "Are you okay," he asked her.

Willow swallowed visibly. "Yeah, I'll be fine."

Giles nodded in understanding and then whispered one word: "Go."

Willow took a deep breath and quickly made her way to the back of the room. She only moved as fast as was prudent. Giles watched her go out of the corner of her eye. He was proud of her. Willow's movements were easy and betrayed nothing. For as much as anyone else knew she was just another girl going to the ladies lavatory. Or perhaps outside to make a call where her cell phone reception was better.

Giles watched as Joyce made her way to them. Joyce was grinning from ear to ear. She walked up to them with an easy care-free gait. Joyce didn't see Buffy grabbed tighter onto Giles, her perfectly painted fingernails digging into his bicep.

"Buffy, isn't this great!" Joyce enthused. "Now we can kill all the monsters and you won't be a Slayer anymore and our lives will go back to normal."

Buffy flinched as her mother said the word normal, but it was a small movement. Giles doubted Joyce even noticed. "Yeah, that's great, Mom," said Buffy attempting to hide the strain she was suffering.

"Joyce," said Giles in an unconcerned tone, "if you don't mind I'd like to take Buffy home. She's had a long day."

"That's fine." Joyce reached out an held the back of her hand and felt Buffy's forehead. "Are you feeling alright, Sweetheart?"

"Um, yeah, Mom. I'm fine. Just tired," Buffy said as she gripped Giles even tighter. The librarian was certain he'd have bruises in the morning.

"Okay, Honey. You just go home and get some sleep."

Buffy affected a tired smile. "I will."

Giles and Buffy headed for the door. No one attempted to stop them or hinder them in anyway. Giles thanked his good fortune and hurried to his car with Buffy.

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~Two hours later~

Willow was startled out of the book she was pouring over by a knock at the library door. Xander and Cordelia looked up from where they were also reading. Oz, sitting on the carpeted steps, stopped fingering cords on his guitar and motioned for everyone to remain silent. Xander picked up a sword from the table and stealthily walked towards the door. Ox followed close behind him with a baseball bat. Willow and Cordelia stood from their seats and moved as far away from the door as possible, Willow still clutching the book she was reading.

Xander crept closer to the library's tandem doors and looked out one of the circular windows. Suddenly there was a face staring back at him! "Aaahhh!" Xander screamed. At Xander's holler, the other Scoobies yelled also.

Through the noise a voice could be heard. "Xander! Open the bloody door this instant."

As he recognized the aggravated tone on the other side of the door, he felt relief wash over him. "Hey, everyone," he said. "It's Giles. Not the crazy people come to kill us."

The Scoobies let out a collective sigh of relief as Xander and Oz hurried to remove the card catalogue and other furniture they had used to barricade the door.

After Buffy and Giles were safely inside and the door reinforced once again, everyone went back to their respective seats. Buffy joined her friends at the table, though electing to sit on top of it rather than in a chair. Giles decided not to sit at all and began to pace.

The Librarian excitedly looked over the table all ready heaping with books. "I'm so proud. You've begun research without me. You've all shown wonderful initiative."

"Well some of us have," said Willow, glaring pointedly at Cordelia and Xander.

"What?" said Giles somewhat confused, and then he looked over at Xander's pile of books and understood. Peeking out from underneath a particularly weighty tome was what appeared to be a comic book. Cordelia, meanwhile, was unashamedly flipping through the fashion section of the latest issue of Cosmo.

"Well, nevertheless," said Giles, "I'm impressed that you knew what to look for."

"Not really," said Willow. "We just came up with a few possibilities. They might not even be right."

Giles grinned kindly. "We all have to start somewhere." Willow blushed from his praise.

"Yeah," said Oz from his place on the stairs. "We thought Mrs. Summers might be, like, possessed. Maybe a spell." Having spoken his piece Oz turned his focus back to the instrument in his hands.

"Or..." prompted Xander.

Willow rolled her eyes and said, "Xander thinks that it's a Beazor, but I told him that it's unlikely 'cause no eggs and Mrs. Summers was acting way too lucid."

Giles nodded. "I'm inclined to agree. I think we can also rule out demonic possession, because of the way the crowd was responding. If she was possessed, only Joyce would be affected. I fear we may be looking at some form of spell."

"Wait a minute," said Buffy. "This is my Mom. Hasn't any one given any thought to that fact that she might just be stressing. She doesn't have to be under a spell."

"Buffy," Giles said, "Given your mother's behavior...."

"Listen, I know she's acting weird. I saw it too. But this is my Mom! And Giles, she didn't try to attack me or anything. We drove around forever, but nobody followed us. If she was being controlled by something evil, don't you think she would have made her move while they had us outnumbered."

Cordelia put aside her magazine and said, "Not necessarily. She could have just remembered your freaky Hulk strength and decided to kill you in your sleep."

Everyone just stared at the brunette for a moment. Buffy was the first to speak. "Thanks, Cordy. Real reassuring." Cordelia just shrugged her shoulders as if to say, 'hey, I'm just saying.'

Giles cleared his throat. "Yes, well," he began. "Despite Cordelia's utter callousness and lack of discretion, I find that I am forced to agree with the salient points of her argument." Giles turned towards his Slayer. "Buffy, I do not believe that your home is the safest place for you to be. I would prefer it, as you Watcher, if you would spend the night at my flat. You can have my bed and I, of course, will take the couch."

Buffy smiled at Giles's nervous formality. "Thanks, but I'm not going to stay someplace else. I won't let myself be scared out of my own home. Especially not if my mother is the one doing the scaring.

Then Willow timidly piped up, "But, Buffy. What about that meeting? It's tonight at your house." Willow looked at her watch. "It's probably still going strong."

Buffy blanched. "Oh. In that case, can I stay at your house?"

Willow grinned. "Sure."

"What about not being frightened out of your own home?" Giles asked, somewhat amused at Buffy's quick turn around.

Buffy shook her head defiantly. "I'm not scared. I'm wigged. Super wigged. And I never said that the pod people couldn't creep me out of my house."

Giles marveled internally at Buffy's unique brand of logic. Aloud he said, "Good. That's settled. Willow, since your mother was also at the protest, is there a way for you and Buffy to return to your house without running into your parents?"

Willow nodded eagerly. "Totally. Tons of ways. I mean, I hardly ever see my parents even when I'm not trying to avoid them. My room has a balcony with a door."

"Excellent," said Giles. "Now that we've that settled, I'd like to concentrate on finding whatever is doing this. How far have you gotten on the research?"

TBC........

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*A/N* Okay, I swore up and down that I was going to do Gingerbread as one whole chapter, but as you can see... Anyway, it was already super long (13 pages) and I felt breaking it up would be easier on you, the readers. I should have the second half (Gingerbread Part 2) written and up after I finish with finals. Stupid exams. Please review and let me know how I did with making this chapter understandable to people who haven't seen the episode Gingerbread and how well my original scenes fit in with the canon. Thanks.

-Leanne