Buffy sighed and shut the book she was looking through. Her dad and Dawn hadn't stayed at the shop long. He had taken a quick look around and then they had gone home. As soon as they had gone, the others had returned to the front of the store and resumed research. "This is pointless," she said in frustration. "It's not like the Watcher's put their plans in some book." Giles, who was sitting next to her at the table, rubbed her back soothingly.
"I realize that," he replied, "but we're looking more for spells that we can use against them."
Standing abruptly Buffy said, "I should be training." She marched into the back and slammed the door. All eyes turned to Giles as he sighed and followed his Slayer into the back. He knew she was just nervous about what was going to happen. Cautiously opening the door, Giles peeked into the training room. Buffy was wailing away at the punching bag as though her life depended on it. She spun on her good leg and kicked the bag with her prosthetic limb. She wobbled, but managed to catch her balance on the bag before she fell.
"You're getting pretty good at that," Giles commented mildly. Buffy spun around at his voice, surprised that she hadn't heard him come in. She shrugged.
"That's the point right," she replied. Giles went to her and wrapped his arms around her.
"It'll be all right," he said.
"You don't know that," Buffy replied, her voice muffled against his chest. He tilted her chin up so he could look her in the eyes.
"We will get through this like we get through everything, together," he said. Buffy smiled, leaned up and kissed him.
**************
Willow's eyes were getting bleary from staring at the computer screen for so long. It seemed that the Watcher's had finally figured out that there software was incredibly simple to hack into and had beefed up their security. It wasn't anything Willow couldn't break; it was just taking longer than she had thought it would. Suddenly the screen shifted. She was in! Everyone looked up when Willow started making her excited, "Ooh! Ooh!" noises.
"What did you find, sweetie?" her girlfriend asked.
"Go get Buffy and Giles," Willow said excitedly. Xander stood and went in back.
"Do you guys ever stop?" he complained. Buffy and Giles broke apart. Giles flushed slightly with embarrassment, but Buffy just laughed.
"I can't help it, Xand," she replied. "He's just so irresistible."
"Well, if you could pry yourselves apart for a minute, Willow's found something." The pair quickly followed Xander into the main room.
"What've you got, Will?" Buffy asked, eager for any news about the Watchers.
"Well, it looks like our friends Quentin and Nigel arrived in LA on Thursday. Judging from the other tickets booked on that flight I'd say they have at least eight others with them," she replied. Buffy did some quick calculating in her head.
"Well then, it's the ten of us versus the ten of them," she said. "That shouldn't be too hard, right? You said they were in LA Thursday. Do you know where they are now?"
Willow nodded. "They checked into the Sunnydale Motor Inn the same night."
"They're already in Sunnydale?" Buffy asked with just a tinge of panic in her voice. "They've been here for two days already? Why haven't we seen or heard from them yet?" Giles was also concerned about this news.
"They must be waiting for something," he said.
"All right," Buffy said. "From now on, no one goes anywhere by themselves." Everyone nodded their agreement. "Oh, no!" she cried suddenly. "Dad and Dawn are home alone right now."
"I'm sure they're fine," Willow tried to reassure her friend. "I mean they're at home."
"I don't like it," Buffy replied. "Ethan, you stay here with Xander and Anya since you're staying with them, the rest of you, come with me. Giles can drop me off at home and then you guys can go back to your place."
"Maybe I should stay with you tonight," Giles said, not liking the idea of leaving Buffy alone. She was getting better with her fighting skills, but she still had a ways to go.
Buffy shook her head, "No. Dad will wonder why and I want to keep him out of this if I can. He'll be gone Monday morning, so hopefully the Watcher's won't make their move until then. I'll ask Spike to check out the motel tonight." With that Giles and the three girls headed out to the car.
Willow and Tara were talking quietly in back trying to ignore the mini-argument that was going on up front. "I really think it would be better if I stayed tonight," Giles reiterated.
Buffy sighed. "I know and I would love to have you there, but I really think that this is for the best. Please just trust me on this." Giles looked at her pleading eyes and knew that he had lost. He had always found it nearly impossible to say no to her. Sighing Giles just nodded his acquiescence. Buffy smiled. "You're the bestest boyfriend ever, you know that?"
Giles couldn't help but laugh. "I bloody well hope so." In the backseat Willow and Tara exchanged a smile. In no time at all they were pulling up in front of the Summers' house. Buffy reached over and gave Giles a quick kiss before getting out.
"I'll call you tonight," she promised before shutting the door. Giles watched her walk up to the front door. As she opened the door, she waved back at him. As soon as the door was closed, he pulled away. He knew she could take care of herself, but he couldn't shelve the misgivings in his mind that something bad was going to happen.