A Note From the Author: *ominous voice* Second chapter…

This chapter will be longer than the previous chapter, because…it just will.

//flashback//

Disclaimer: I own a very large nothing

POV: Giles

As we were walking back to her house, Buffy stumbled a few times, but I figured she was just concussed. It didn't occur to me that there might be something really wrong. But it did make me think.

//We sat at the dinner table in Buffy's house. Xander talking animatedly to Willow and Anya, Dawn listening intently, but not adding anything to the conversation. Tara had gotten up to use the bathroom and I was mostly thinking. I looked over to Buffy and saw that her face was paler than usual and there was a dark colouring under her eyes. I figured she was just tired, but later on through the night I saw her cradling her head in her hands. A migraine?//

That was three weeks ago. I had been noticing some other things in between as well. There was one instance in particular that stuck out as abnormal Buffy behaviour.

//I was walking to Buffy's house. It was sunny and I needed the fresh air. I reached the door and knocked softly. I waited for a few minutes and no one answered.

"Buffy?" I called as I knocked a bit louder.

Yes

When no one answered again, I was about to turn away when I noticed the door was actually slightly ajar. I pushed it and stuck my head in the doorway. I couldn't see anyone, but I continued into the house; I knew that it was very unlikely that she would leave her door open.

"Buffy?" I called again.

Still no answer. I walked further into the house, expecting at any moment to come across Buffy, concentrating on something…a book maybe? Perhaps she is asleep. Yes, that must be it. I wander upstairs and peek into her room, but I am met with a messy floor and vacant bed. Well, at this hour, that was pretty unlikely anyway.

As I convince myself that she must have just accidentally left the door slightly ajar, I see a pair of feet poking out from the couch. I walk quietly over to her and see that she is, in fact, asleep. It doesn't look like she settled down for a sleep though, more like she fell like that. But I know better than to wake a sleeping Slayer.

As I let myself out, I think again that it is an odd hour to be sleeping, but brush it off with the thought that maybe she was up all night patrolling? Or…something like that?//

But that was probably nothing. Buffy's house soon came into view and as we were walking up the stairs, she stumbled a bit, but I caught her before she could fall.

"Are you sure you're ok Buffy?" I asked with a serious voice.

"Yes Doctor Giles," Buffy smiled at me, though it seemed somewhat forced.

I paused before replying, "Ok then," but as we walked into the house, I made sure to keep a close eye on her.

She went to sit on the couch and I went into the kitchen. I quickly fixed myself a tea and got Buffy a cool glass of water. I went back to Buffy and sat down next to her. It took me a while to notice that Dawn wasn't there.

"Where is Dawn tonight?" I voiced my thoughts.

"Oh…she's, uh…she's camping with a few friends for two nights," she replied, then, upon seeing my face, added, "Oh, but I asked Willow and Tara to stay close by. Willow had been looking for somewhere to use her new tent anyway. It's a pretty cool tent," she smiled, this one looked more genuine, but I could tell there was some pain behind it.

"Your head?" I asked.

"My head," she replied, lying back on the couch.

"I'll get you some ice," I said, wondering why I didn't think of it before.

"Thanks," she sighed as I sat back down, handing her a bag of ice wrapped in a tea towel.

She pressed it to her head and closed her eyes. I noticed the angry, red gash down her arm when she lifted it. I must have been too lost in thought on the way home to notice.

"How's your arm?" I asked.

"Oh…it feels pretty deep, but I'll live," Buffy replied, looking over the gash.

I went to get some dressings and cleaned it up as best I could. It had already started to heal a bit, so it didn't need stitches, but the area around the wound was turning a bit purple; probably bruising.

"You don't think there was anything in or on its claws?" I asked, just to be sure.

"I don't…I don't think so," she murmured, "I mean, it all happened pretty quickly, and…I can't…remember too much because of my head, but…I don't think so. Anyway, I think I'm gonna go to bed. I guess I'll see you tomorrow. Thanks for your help tonight."

"Anytime," I smiled, even though she couldn't see me because she had closed her eyes again, "Are you sure you're going to be ok?"

"I'm the Slayer Giles, healing is what I do. A bump on the head is easy fixed. My neck is a little stiff, but I'll be fine," she said vaguely.

"Well…ok then," I said warily and closed the door behind me.

As I walked down the pathway, I couldn't help but notice the bad feeling establishing itself in the pit of my stomach.

A Note From the Author: Ok, ok, this chapter wasn't that much longer, but something big will happen next chapter, I promise. And I'm not necessarily excluding Dawn, Willow and Tara from the story, I just needed to do that at the moment for convenience's sake.

So, again, review if you want, I will reply.

Oval and Out

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