By "Painbow"
Summary: Buffy's dad returns; S6, post DoubleMeat Palace
Slightly Updated Summary: Giles is back, jealous, and trying to find a way to earn back Buffy's trust.
Disclaimer: Still not my characters.
A/N: Sorry about the lateness, again. Essays, exams,and some RL issues that needed to take priority.
Again, hugs and smooches to spikeNdru for the beta.
Chapter 16
Giles fumed as he adjusted his suit in the mirror. He was lucky to get a crack at the bathroom, what with two young women in the house. No tux tonight, rehearsal dinner and all, so he'd put on a rather expensive suit he'd bought on a trip to London.
Could have paid for the mortgage on the Summers residence, said an inner voice. But, no. That was the coward's way out. That was the weakling's way out. That was the Hank Summers way out.
Did the man truly not know when to set a child—no—young woman on her feet and let her find her own way in the world? Did the man really think that people should be coddled until they were thirty? Did he really think that buying back his daughter's love was the way to forgiveness?
But deep down, Giles knew. He knew that all the excess venom was because he felt guilty. Dawn had said it: they hadn't been better off without him. And all the things he'd seen pointed to her being right. Buffy did seem better then she had when he had left. Not that he could formulate his own opinion on the subject, considering the startling proficiency Buffy had for avoiding him. He honestly didn't know why he was surprised. He'd seen her avoidance tactics many times before.
He had great hopes for tonight. If he could steer clear of The Wanker and stick close to Buffy he should be able to get her to open up. He'd used that method before, although not, admittedly, when she'd been this furious with him. Furious was probably the wrong word. Her anger was more of a simmer then an outright boil…
Buffy fumed at the mirror. Well, she primped in the mirror, but she was fuming the whole time. It was a general fume, all encompassing, but leading back to one source: Giles.
Dawn stood next to her sister, putting on her earrings and judging Buffy's mood. Time for some distracting babble. Buffy looked ready to pop.
"So, Spike looked terrible this morning…"
Irritation flashed across Buffy's face, which found good company in the rage already present. "He's lucky he did. It's the only reason he's not dusty."
Dawn rolled her eyes. "C'mon, Buffy. The I'm Gonna Dust Spike routine is getting old, especially now that you two have dated."
Buffy looked horrified. "We did not!"
Dawn was confused. "But…" She watched as Buffy's face turned red. "Oh." She stared in the mirror for a second, organizing her thoughts. "You know, it's less…it's…I wouldn't be more ashamed of dating him. It's better to say that you dated him."
Buffy smiled a little. "You've got a bad mental picture."
"Yup. Uh huh. Definitely."
Buffy grinned. And then turned red. "Um…please stop having it now."
Dawn grimaced. "Wish I could." She searched desperately for a subject change. "So Spike this morning…"
Buffy latched on to anything that would remove the embarrassment. "Yeah, he looked awful. At first I though he'd just tried his best to get Dad drunk because he wanted to watch something funny, but he was actually pretty gone too, and he looked…not good."
"Yeah, he sort of mumbled something to me when he left. I think it was 'nibblet'. And then Dad tried to talk to me about the Evils of Alcohol, which was just really awkward. He was so embarrassed the whole time. I wouldn't want him to give me a sex talk." Dawn's eyes grew wide. "Oh, god! You don't think he's gonna give me a sex talk, do you?"
Buffy grimaced at the thought. "He'd probably ask me to do it."
They both reflected on how awkward that would be before realizing that they'd managed to circle right back into dangerous conversation territory. Time for another topic change…
"So…" started Dawn. "Is Spike coming tonight? What with feeling 'not good' and all?"
"Xander invited him…no, wait, Anya invited him. Xander complained about Anya inviting him and she said, 'more guests means more valuable gifts, Xander," and he gave in…and had more chips." Buffy frowned. "I'm going to need to use slayer strength to get him into his cummerbund tomorrow. But I don't think he'll show tonight."
Dawn looked confused. "Xander?"
"Spike."
"Right," said Dawn, feeling stupid.
"It's not really Spike's thing, you know? Although, Xander's family is here and he does enjoy impromptu theatre…"
Dawn looked mournfully into the mirror. "Xander's family…"
Giles and Hank stood on opposite sides of the room, similar looks of horrified curiosity on their faces. It became very clear to Giles why he'd never met Xander's family before today...well, except for his mother. The woman had spent most of the time plying him with raspberry punch. Hank stared as he sipped his drink. He was amazed that the boy was able to function in society at all.
They both glowered as Mr. Harris' hands snaked their way towards Buffy's 'assets', and they both smirked when she politely and firmly shut him down, employing a little slayer strength on the offending hand. And they both winced when he threw up in her small, pinkish purse.
Buffy stared mournfully into her new bag. She'd been saving up to buy new clothes and accessories for the wedding. She'd have to burn it now. She looked up to see Giles give her a sympathetic look and smiled…until she remembered that she was angry with him. Her smile turned into a frown and she turned away.
He'd been trying to make contact with her all night. Dropping a comment or giving her a smile, expecting her to say something. She knew what he was doing. Classic Giles. He'd wait patiently until she was ready to start talking and then sit passively as she said what was bothering her.
Well, she wanted something other than the passive approach. A simple "listen to the problem, then say sorry" wasn't good enough. He's the one who didn't care enough to call and check up. Why should he be at all surprised that she was angry? Her father figure, abandoning her like that…
Buffy's eyes landed on Hank. He wasn't just a father figure... He'd come home because he though she'd needed help. Buffy smiled at him and headed over.
"Having fun, sweetie?" he asked, glancing over to the bar, where Mr. Harris was still ordering drinks.
Buffy followed his look and grimaced. "Poor Xander."
Hank nodded his agreement, a sympathetic look on his face. "Hey, sweetie?"
Buffy turned from where she was watching Mr. Harris berate the bartender for not making his drink a double. "Yeah, Dad?"
"I have to slip out a little early. Got a call from work. There are some problems cropping up now that I'm in Sunnydale."
Buffy tried not to look worried. She trusted her Dad to come back. He'd proven himself…right?
"Alright, Dad. I'll see you tomorrow for the wedding…"
"I sure hope so," said Hank smiling. "See you, sweetie."
Giles came over as Buffy watched her dad leave the rehearsal dinner.
"Where's he off to?"
Buffy detected a note of…something. Jealousy? Snark? She shoved away any misgivings.
"Work. He'll be back tomorrow."
She walked away to talk to Dawn, leaving Giles to grind his teeth in frustration.
The gavel banged on the desk. Giles placed it on the table and allowed his eyes to travel the room.
"I call to order the meeting of the men that have been a part of Buffy's life. I'm pleased to see that everyone made it."
"Wouldn't miss it," said Parker, giving the room a charming smile.
"It was hard to get here from South America, but these meetings are important. We need to meet and plan these things." Riley glared at Parker, gripping his gun. Despite his words he was clearly not happy to see everyone in the room.
"Then lets get started," said Hank, rubbing his hands together. "We need to figure out how we're going to meddle with Buffy's life."
Spike sneered. "Someone's anxious. Just have to wait for the secretary."
"I'm here." The room turned to look at Buffy. She sat in the corner, fuming, and yet she didn't seem to be able to say anything more. She just sat, note pad, glasses perched on her nose, and some kind of drug store hair clip giving her that corporate up-do.
"Good! Let's get started." Angel materialized from the shadows in the corner of the room and sat down beside Parker, also glaring at the boy.
"Now," began Giles, "all in favor of Buffy returning to school, say 'Aye'."
There was a chorus of 'ayes' from the room.
But I was going to go back anyway! Buffy tried to say it out loud, but there was something stopping her.
"All those in favor of Buffy getting a normal boyfriend and living a normal life say 'Aye'."
Another chorus of 'ayes,' with an extra loud one from Xander and Angel, while Buffy struggled against her inability to talk.
"And," Giles continued, "All those in favor of leaving because we know best, say 'Aye'."
"Aye!" came the chorus again, and Buffy could do nothing but take the minutes.
Suddenly Giles was next to her. "You know this is for the best, Buffy. I wish we could stay, but…this really is for the best." He walked out of the room, leaving it empty, and Buffy suddenly found herself able to stand. She chased Giles out the door and found herself in the Bronze.
The club was crowded, and she pushed her way through people, trying to find Giles.
"Dad!" she called.
"Yes?" said a man who looked like Giles, followed closely by one who resembled Hank.
Another man who resembled Hank turned around. "What is it, sweetie?"
"Can I do something for you, Buffy?" said a Giles-clone.
Suddenly Buffy was surrounded by men who looked like either Giles or Hank, all asking her if she was all right.
"Yes!" she screamed. "I'm fine! Leave me alone!"
All the men looked taken aback, and suddenly they, too, were gone.
Buffy whirled, searching the club frantically. She saw something over by the door, a hunched figure at a table. She approached it, grabbing the shoulder. The figure looked up at her, the face indiscernible. Sometimes it was Giles, sometimes Hank.
"Dad?"
The figure settled on Giles. "No, no I suppose not, although it felt that way."
"Why did you go?"
"I didn't."
Buffy's mouth became a thin line.
"I suppose I did," conceded Giles. "But it was only for you, Buffy. To get away from you. You really are quite trying."
Buffy gaped. The figure became Hank.
"I mean, who wants to deal with that? A teen who always gets into trouble and, lets face it, an adult who's no fun." The figure became Giles again. "You know, Buffy, you keep searching for the reason why men leave. Have you ever thought it was you?"
And suddenly she was alone again. She walked slowly to the door of the Bronze and found herself in the desert, looking out at an endless landscape. Ahead of her stretched a trail of footprints. She was about to follow them when she felt a hand clap on her shoulder. She whirled around, arms in a fighting stance.
"Buffy?"
"Oh, sorry, Dawnie." Buffy shook her head and sat up. She wasn't in the desert anymore, but her room.
"C'mon, Buffy. If you don't get up now we'll never be ready in time."
Buffy sat in her bed for a moment longer. "Right."
