Chapter 8

Magic

Giles was worried. He hadn't seen Buffy in a few hours. After a dressing down from Athena, he knew he could have handled the situation better, but the whining, or what he'd mistaken for whining, had truly annoyed him after the training session.

"I can't locate her Rupert," Athena said as she set down a large crystal, which abruptly stopped glowing.

"She'll be back eventually."

"You hope."

"I hope."

"She went to get away from you."

"I know."

"Do you?"

"Yes."

"I don't think so. I think you know she went away, just not to get away from you." He didn't answer her truthful words.

Half an hour later, the back door opened and closed almost silently. Giles and Athena pretended not to notice Buffy had returned. Or Giles did at any rate. Athena sighed and went towards the stairs the Slayer was mounting, wondering when her friend had gotten so stupid.

"Buffy."

"Athena," Buffy said, limping up the stairs. The witch hurriedly went up to when she was and offered to help her the rest of the way, which made Buffy very thankful.

"Sorry about earlier."

"Think nothing of it. Rupert can be very...ignorant when he wishes."

"And that's putting it nicely," Buffy muttered under her breath. Athena heard what she said, and just smiled, forgoing her own comment.

"Come, you should rest. We can talk before we work tomorrow." With and, Buffy went into her room and shut the door. Athena went back downstairs.

One nightmare was all that disturbed the night. Athena had sent a guilty Giles back to his own room and dealt with Buffy.

Buffy sat in the kitchen, a coffee between her hands.

"You shouldn't drink that," was all Athena said as she swept through the kitchen, grabbing a bottle of water on the way. Shrugging, Buffy dumped the black liquid down the drain and followed the witch out the back door.

The moment the door shut behind her, Buffy noticed the difference in the air. It was charged with magic. The sword she'd been working with flew through the air, strait for her. She caught if effortlessly and moved off the sitars, towards Athena.

"Usually I would work with you in the smaller aspects of magic, but we have no time for that. You must learn to work with the magic of the sword, and also how to avoid magical attacks."

"Ok. How?"

"By using the fear you have. Change it to something you can use to fight with." And with those words, they began working.

Through the hours of work, Buffy learnt what Athena meant by changing the fear into energy. Athena taught her to dodge magical attacks and use the sword's magical properties.

By lunch, Buffy was so into her training, she noticed nothing, not even when Rupert stood by the house and watched for a hour.

By mid-afternoon, Athena had the Slayer working so hard, she was literally mentally absent, focused only on the words and actions of the witch.

By dinner, both women were beyond tired, but Buffy had made progress, both with training and with her fear.

"I hurt."

"Not unexpected," Giles comment as he placed a dish on the table and taking his seat.

"I feel like I can't move."

"Buffy, try."

"Giles, as the Slayer, it's kinda worrying when I feel like I can't move," Buffy said.

"You should feel better in the morning," Athena said, cutting Giles off. "Your body isn't used to the magic. The residue will be gone by dawn, I assure you."

"I can deal with that," Buffy said with a nod. The rest of the meal was finished in silence.

After retiring for the night, Buffy laid awake in bed, despite her fatigue. With a frustrated sigh, she stood and left her room silently, moving slowly the entire way. After navigating the dark house, she stood before another bedroom door an knocked.

Inside the room, Giles put down his book and went to the door, already knowing who it was. The oiled hinges didn't squeak as he opened the door and let her in. Buffy sat on the bed and got under the covers before curling slightly, waiting. She didn't have to wait long as he shut off the bedside light and wrapped his arms around her.

The way they would describe the feel of being in each others once more was:it felt like magic.

AN: Not long, what can I say?