Summary: Buffy's dad returns; S6, post DoubleMeat Palace

Slightly Updated Summary: Buffy's Watcher returns; S6, post Hank having drinks with Spike ;)

Disclaimer: These characters still don't belong to me.

A/N: Thanks once again to spikeNdru for another fabulous beta and MJ for giving it the once-over and saying, "OUCH" at just the right place ;)


Chapter 15

Pain. Thumping…no, pounding pain. Throbbing…aching…excruciating…um, whaddya call it…sore? No…no good. Hurting?…Throbbing. Yeah, that's the one.

Hank groaned as he rolled over. His head…oh, god. His head. He turned to look at the nightstand, hoping against hope that some kind soul had left him a glass of water. His mouth tasted like something had crawled in, had a party, and then died.

Ha, hah! Success! Water!

Hank reached a shaky hand over to the bedside table and closed his fingers around the glass. Next up: brining it to his mouth without spilling…

Only a little water dribbled out, as Hank took small sips. That'd learn 'im to try and match drinks with a vampire. It's not like Spike could die from alcohol poisoning. The guy was already dead. Hank wished he could join him.

He heard someone quietly open the door and step in.

"Oh, you're awake."

He tilted his head towards the door. "Hey, sweetie," said Hank, voice a little raw. "Spike sure can drink."

Buffy half-smiled. "Yeah, he sure can. You okay, or do you want me to dust his ass?"

Hank considered the pros of this plan. "No," he said after a few moments. "I'm the idiot who tried to match him." He sighed. "Check out the example I'm setting…Father of the Year award now, please."

Buffy sat on the bed next to him. "I already hand a drink-a-thon with Spike. Not an experience I feel like repeating. You want more water, dad? You look…" Buffy searched for an adjective, but gave up. "…Not good."

Hank groaned a little, unintentionally. "I wouldn't say no to some more water."

Buffy headed to the door and Hank stopped her. "Sweetie, could you…er…not mention this to Dawn? I'd rather she thought I was feeling a bit sick." Hank was pretty certain his youngest would know the cause of said sickness, but he didn't want Buffy to confirm it. He'd talk to Dawn later…when his head wasn't pounding

"Sure, dad," said Buffy, who had already intended to do just that.


Buffy headed down the stairs with Hank's empty glass. She wondered if he could stomach some bread as well…

"How's your father?" asked Giles, disentangling himself from his 'so cute you could die' sheets. Buffy noted a hint of reproach. Right…she hadn't told him her dad was back. Well, to be expected, what with the showing up unannounced and…happy. She was happy Giles was back…right?

"Fine," she said. That didn't sound happy. She had to sound happy. This was what she wanted…right? "Not really fine," she said, looking in Giles' direction, if not right at Giles. "I have to get him some water." She left for the kitchen.

Giles watched the place where she had been standing. He had wanted his return to be a surprise. In retrospect, he probably should have called first.

Dawn came running down the stairs.

"Morning, Dawn," he said.

"Morning," she said shortly, and then continued to the kitchen.

Yes…calling would have been a good plan.


Dawn came into the kitchen. "Morning," she said, watching Buffy fill a glass of water. She smirked a little. "That for Dad?"

"Um…yeah. He's feeling sick."

Dawn snorted. "I'll bet he is."

Buffy tried to cover. "No! It's-he-the flowering onion thingy didn't agree with him."

Dawn rolled her eyes. "Right. And Anya's going to start a bunny farm."

"Really, Dawn. He's just feeling sick."

Dawn's mouth tightened. "You'd think getting everyone locked in the house would be enough of an hint that I need to stop being treated like a child."

"I'm not—"

"I could do it again, you know, if the first time wasn't enough," said Dawn, deciding to tease her sister. Getting angry would accomplish nothing, but she could poke fun in a completely un-passive-aggressive way. "Or I could make out with another vampire…let me know if any cute ones are sired next—"

Buffy slammed the glass down. "Stop it, Dawn!"

Dawn took a step back. "Whoa…just a joke, Buffy."

Buffy sighed. "I know. I'm sorry. It's just…the stress is back."

Dawn nodded towards the living room. "Giles?"

Buffy finally looked up at her sister. "A month ago I would have given anything to have him back. Now…"

"You're angry? Because I am. Angry."

"Why didn't he call?"

"It would have been nice before he just showed up if—"

"Not just then, but before. He never called. He didn't know if I was all right. Just decided what was best for me and left."

Buffy picked up the glass of water, braced herself, and headed back into the living room.


"Buffy?"

She stopped. Damn…she'd almost made it to the stairs.

She turned. "Yeah, Giles?"

"Buffy, I—"

"Can it wait for a bit? I have to get this water to Dad. The rehearsal dinner's tonight, so…"

Giles blinked. "O-of course. It can wait." He smiled.

Buffy tired to return it. Her smile was rather strained.

Giles watched her back as she made her way up the stairs. What was he supposed to say to her? She was clearly upset with him. He'd hoped that she would eventually see his side, why he left. Obviously she still didn't. He wanted to her to be self-reliant, not brining water to people…

Giles glared at the stairs. Her father…she was running around doing things for him. Why was she running around doing things for him? All accounts Giles had heard of Hank Summers pegged him as a self-involved ass. All actions, or lack thereof, that he'd seen said the same. Buffy should have sent him packing, but, from what Willow said, he'd been here for a while and…Willow had almost grudgingly admitted that Buffy was doing better because of it.

But that wasn't what he had wanted for her: to latch on to another male figure. So the question was, did Buffy actually care for Hank, or was he around simply because Buffy had found someone else to lean on?


Buffy knocked softly on her dad's door and stepped inside. He was right where she had left him, lying on the bed, looking…not good.

"Hey, Dad…I brought you some more water. And, do you think you could eat some bread? Because we have some of that downstairs too, so—"

Hank interrupted her with a smile. "Thanks, sweetie. And stop running around for me. The water is fine. I'll come down in a bit and get something to eat."

Buffy's eyes widened briefly. She wondered if the living room would implode when Giles met her father.

"You know, dad, I could bring some food up here. I mean, it's no trouble…"

Hank noticed something in his daughter's tone. "Buffy, what's wrong?"

Buffy sighed. "Nothing, I just…Giles came back yesterday. To visit," she added hurriedly when her father's face darkened.

"Why?" he asked, attempting to sound causal and failing miserably.

Buffy sighed internally. The living room was definitely going to implode. "He came back for the wedding and…to visit."

"So, you told him I was here?"

Buffy blushed a little. "He knows."

Hank frowned. "That's not what I asked."

"I have to go talk to him. He…we…have to figure out a better place for him to stay than the couch." She quickly left.

Hank felt the jealousy rising and tried half-heartedly to push it down. Buffy was avoiding him.

He got up from the bed, arms still shaking, and slowly made his way out the door and towards the stairs. He needed to get something to eat and meet this Giles person. And then he needed to have a short conversation with the man.

When he got to the landing he paused. He could hear voices in the living room. They didn't sound very happy. So…to eavesdrop or not to eavesdrop. Last time had not turned out well, but…

Who was he kidding? Besides, it would be rude to interrupt their conversation. He sat himself down on the landing, wishing he could see them better.


Giles watched Buffy walk stiffly into the kitchen and then walk stiffly out with a mug of tea. She placed it in front of him and then made to leave the room.

Giles didn't quite know how to begin talking to her. But she continued her stiff movements until something in Giles couldn't stand it anymore.

"How are you doing, Buffy?"

She looked up sharply. "Fine," she said, shortly. "I have to go to work."

"Where is it you're working?" he asked, proud that she was not relying completely on her father's money.

"At the Doublemeat Palace," she said, picking up an already packed shoulder bag and stuffing her keys into it.

"Well, that's wonderful, Buffy." Why was she working there? She was capable of so much more.

"Yeah, I did it all by my lonesome. Check me out. Strong and everything."

She left, closing the door firmly behind her. Giles' shoulders slumped a little. Mending this fence was going to take some time.

"She's angry with you," said a voice behind him.

Giles turned. "Dawn," he smiled.

Dawn stood in the door to the kitchen, arms folded across her chest. "She won't say that she is, but the way she keeps accidentally crushing cups is a pretty good indication."

Giles removed his glasses. "And you? Crushing cups right along with her?"

Dawn pursed her lips. "It wasn't better with you gone. Buffy needed someone to help her. It's a good thing Dad came back."

Giles paused, glasses halfway to his face. He felt a surge of jealousy and hurt. He focused his eyes on the teacup on the table, trying to maintain a look of calm.

Giles replaced his glasses and watched her leave the room. He turned as someone started coming down the stairs. It was a man and he looked…ill. Giles gritted his teeth. This must be Hank.

Hank noticed a middle-aged man wearing glasses glaring at him from a set of incredibly girly sheets pulled over the couch cushions. Giles…

The be-spectacled man got up from the couch and held out a stiff hand.

"Rupert Giles."

Hank took it, squeezing harder then was really necessary. "Hank Summers. Nice…to met you." Carefully timed pauses: nobility's gift to the subtle insult.

Giles raised an eyebrow. "Likewise," he said after a moment. The British had invented the carefully timed pause.

Hank eyed the man and was eyed in return. He was surprised that Giles was standing his ground so firmly. He was English after all…weren't they supposed to be all proper or dead inside or something?

It looked like the man had reached a decision. Hank's hand was released.

"You leave them again and I will personally hunt you down and—"

Hank cut in. "Eviscerate me? Tear me to pieces? Pound me into a sludgy substance? Turn me into a toad…um…I think I'm missing one."

Giles smiled unpleasantly. "I'll think of something original."

Hank raised an eyebrow. "Look, as I see it, you have no business throwing stones, pal. I'm not the only one who left. At least I was here when they needed me."

Giles stepped forward, eyes dangerous. "Oh, you were, were you? You were here when they needed you? When Buffy died fighting the Master? When she wanted to see the ice show on her eighteenth birthday? When there was a Hell God hunting Dawn? Or when Joyce…you were not here when she needed you. You showed up at the last possible moment and took the credit." Giles took another step forward. "As far as I'm concerned, you've lost the right to make snide comments. As far as I'm concerned they've let you off a hook that I would have let you wriggle on."

Hank didn't allow the guilt to surface. He may not have been a good father, but he didn't want to be told that by someone who had made the same mistakes. "And as far as I'm concerned, you're getting just what you deserve. I may have left, but at least I know it was a shitty thing to do. You're still convinced you were right."

Giles took a step closer. "You have no idea what I'm convinced of," he said in a low, even voice. "And you weren't here to know the reasoning behind my decision. You were gone, flitting about Spain like a besotted student, not giving a duck's ass about your daughters. How can you even claim to know what was best for Buffy at the time I left?"

Hank took a step closer too. "Leaving a depressed and debt-ridden girl alone to raise her younger sister…that's what was best for Buffy?"

"And having her father buy back her affections? How do you think that effects her?"

Hank glared at Giles, who glared right back. He really needed to sit. He was still hung over, and speaking with Giles wasn't helping. He stepped closer, until he was nose to nose with Giles, ignoring the inches he was lacking in height. I was all about the attitude.

"How it effects her is none of your business. I am her father and I will take care of her."

Hank took a step back, eyes still on Giles, before he turned towards the kitchen.

"Was it before or after you paid off the house that Buffy forgave you?"

Hank paused briefly and then kept walking.