24. Buffy Episode Tags: 6x5 "Flooded"& 6x6 "All The Way"
*So I decided to combine these two episodes because there wasn't much in 6x5 that I could really get into the relationship between Wesley and Giles. I'm guessing everyone is just waiting for 6x7 :)
"So what's your plan?" asked Wesley a bit groggily as he shifted to sitting up on his bed. Giles knew was time it was but Wesley could forgive him, especially with what's been happening in Sunnydale.
"I have no idea," replied Giles. "I mean I want to help her, she's going through a lot…but she's beginning to depend on me like I'm her father—"
"Which you've taken the role of even before I got to America, Rupert," cut off Wesley. The younger man sighed as he totally got up from the bed and rubbed a tired hand over his face. "Why don't you drop subtly hints…Americans tend to do that to their own convenience."
"Like we don't?" asked Giles, a little humor in his voice and Wesley smiled, at least he got the man to cheer up a little. "As long as she doesn't expect me to give lectures to Dawn, then maybe I can tough it out a bit more."
"Let me guess," answered Wesley as he recognized the phone number calling him at the hour. "You just gave Dawn a lecture."
"The girl almost got turned into a vampire because she thought it would be a good idea to sneak out," grumbled Giles as he poured himself another drink. "Not to mention how busy the entire shop was today and that damn wizard robe."
Wesley chuckled, deciding not to push that particular button. Halloween was that one time of the year that they had any paying customers and it did help their situation a bit.
"And of course I ended the day being a punching bag by some vampires," continued Giles, draining his glass once again. "Oh, did I mention Xander and Anya are engaged."
"Anya, Vengeance Demon, Anya?" asked Wesley, slowly getting up and making his way to the kitchen to get himself a cup of tea."
"One and the same," said Giles. "The demon who wants me to leave so she can go back and being the owner of my shop."
Giles sighed and turned to the empty house, both girls already in their rooms. "I need to leave Wesley…I just don't know how to do it."
"Rupert, the longer you stay there, the more she's going to depend on you for things," said Wesley. "Like lecturing Dawn for instance. She should be the one doing that."
"I know that," defended Giles. "But I just don't want to leave her when things are like—"
"Rupert, the problem here isn't one sided," said Wesley, hoping the older man won't lose his temper. "Buffy is depending on you and you're actually letting her because you haven't let go of that girl who you've watched out for years now."
Giles wanted to protest but he just sighed, knowing that Wesley was absolutely right.
"You're right," began Giles. "I just don't know how…I mean before we went to face Glory, she already told me to go. Now, she's asking me stay and I just can't seem to ignore the look on her face."
Giles sighed as he dropped his glass to the sink to wash later. "I'm being a coward…I said I'll only be gone for a while but look how things have turned up."
"I guess, as the saying goes, you'll just know when the right time has come," replied Wesley. "Look, I've still got things here under control. The Council is pretty much leaving me to my own devices and my father has not cornered me."
"That's good," said Giles, wishing he was there as well. Not to be a jerk or anything, but he missed doing spells and having a nightcap with Wesley. They were able to do that while both of them were in the same state but now things were different, time and place wise. "You're right, I'll just wait for the right time…hopefully it's sooner than later."
