Didn't post yesterday for some reason...oh well. Reposting.
Giles had seen Jenny in the hallway the day before. She had been reading a rather large and ancient-looking book, struggling to hold it up as she maneuvered through the students. His heart had leapt up into his throat and he'd felt a conflicting mix of happy-sad, because she was always so beautiful but she looked so tired and upset, and he didn't know anymore if Jenny Calendar was his vivacious, sweet girlfriend who he had the right to offer comfort to or someone he didn't know in the slightest.
Buffy had seen Angel during a patrol that night. He'd been walking in the moonlight with Drusilla's arm tucked into his, gesticulating flamboyantly, and she'd made a comment that had evoked a boisterous laugh from him that she didn't recognize at all. Angel wasn't boisterous laughter and waving hands, and she'd loved him for that.
They were researching in silence the next day, Giles thinking about the dark circles under Jenny's eyes, Buffy thinking about the freedom in Angel's smile. Neither of them broke the silence, but every so often, each would look up at the other a little furtively.
"How are you?" Buffy asked suddenly.
"Fine," said Giles in a very unconvincing tone. Then, "You?"
"Okay," Buffy replied, and reached across the table, awkwardly resting her hand on top of Giles's. They weren't one for hugs or hand-holding or things like that; this was probably the first time she'd reached out to him like this. It felt appropriate, though, and Giles didn't brush her off or become flustered by the affection in the gesture.
He surprised Buffy by giving her a wan smile in return. "Thank you," he murmured, and turned his hand over to briefly squeeze hers.
Buffy felt better. Not much—everything was too screwed up to feel significantly better just from a moment of compassion—but she did feel better. "Yeah," she whispered back, and almost sniffled. "We're gonna get through this, right?" she asked him, still in a quiet voice. It was silly, because there was no one in the library, but this felt like something that shouldn't be talked about loudly. Besides which, if she talked any louder, she though she might cry at least a little.
Giles was quiet for a moment, and then he replied, "I know we will all be alive at the end of it. I have faith in my ability to protect you all, at least."
Buffy wanted to ask him if he would protect Ms. Calendar even though she'd turned out to be a lying spy, but she knew it would hurt him that she'd asked and the answer would most likely hurt her right back. "I can protect us too," she informed him. "It's my job."
"We can share for a while," Giles quipped, and let go of her hand. Buffy smiled at him. Her smile felt a little wobbly, but she quickly hid the wobble by turning back to her books.