If There Was No Buffy

Chapter Ten

Rupert Returns Again

Willow was having a relaxing morning: Dawn was at school, Tara had an early class, Spike was asleep in the cellar, the Buffy-bot was repaired, fully charged, and was in standby mode. And Willow's first class of the day wasn't for three more hours.

She was having a relaxing morning when the doorbell rang. Opening it she was surprised to see Giles there, and he was alone.

"Hey. Didn't expect to see you again so soon. Come in."

Giles followed her into the living room and took the chair. Willow parked on the sofa, her feet tucked under her. She didn't offer him anything to eat or drink.

"What's up?"

And in his usual manner, Giles took off his glasses and began to clean them with a handkerchief; Willow knew he was about to say something unpleasant. He waited until he put them back on his nose before he spoke.

"I am well aware that Spike and Dawn have been shadowing Mary and Marie as they patrol the cemeteries and streets of Sunnydale. And it HAS to stop!"

"One night, that's all, right after you guys showed up. But we were just curious, that's all."

"No, not just one night. It has been going on every night since we arrived."

"That can't be. You must be mistaken."

"I can assure you, I am not."

"Then they've been sneaking out after Tara and I have gone to bed. But if that's the case, then I'll make sure it doesn't happen again. I will certainly read Dawn the Riot Act."

"And what about Spike?"

"I think he can take care of himself. And I did do a protection spell."

"Which will do him absolutely no good. Nor will the one for Dawn."

"What are you saying?"

"Why do you think the crystal went black? Mary and Marie let Spike and Dawn follow them only so long, then they cast the counter-spell to kill it."

"I don't understand. Are they Slayers, or witches?"

"Both. You see, the Council has forged an alliance with a coven of very powerful witches located in Devon. And considering the evil forces they are about to face, they were imbued with certain magicks the Council deemed necessary to overcome and defeat this enemy. So you see, as powerful as you may think you are, your limited abilities are no match for the two of them. And if necessary, they can call on the coven to reinforce their magicks."

Willow was at a loss for words. She was angry that Giles so easily dismissed her magical skills, which she considered as being far above average. But at the same time, she appreciated that he was giving them fair warning not to cross the Slayers. And for giving her information that might prove useful later on.

"So you're saying they are the ultimate Slayers – that they can never be defeated; never be killed?"

"Not in so many words. But between the two of them, I doubt that anything the Hellmouth can spawn would long stand against them."

"So this Big Evil is coming out of the Hellmouth." It wasn't a question.

"I'm not at liberty to say."

"You know, I don't understand this attitude of yours. We fought alongside Buffy for five years. We helped defeat the mayor. We joined our essences against Adam. And we teamed up to help fight Glory. And now you want to cut us out? Did it ever occur to you that we might be able to help?"

"Willow, believe me, no one appreciates everyone's dedication, and sacrifices, more than I. But this decision comes directly from the Council. As far as they are concerned, all of you are little more than experienced civilians. The Slayers are the professionals. It is their lives the Council is willing to risk, not yours."

"And just when did you get so lovey-dovey with the Council?"

"Since Mary and Marie were endowed with limited telepathic powers. They are willing to go along with what I believe to be the best course of action, but their loyalty lies firmly with the Council. Trust me when I say they will not hesitate to report any deviation from the Council's directives, real or perceived, to Quentin Travers himself."

"Gosh, if I didn't know better, I'd think somebody was on probation."

Giles didn't answer, but from the look on his face, Willow knew she struck a nerve. But not wanting him to leave before she found out everything she could, she changed the subject.

"So – just what kind of telepathic powers do they have?"

"Well, obviously, between them it is one hundred percent. What one thinks, the other knows."

"I kinda figured that out."

"But when it comes to actually reading other people's thoughts, they are mostly limited to being aware of the auras of others around them, and to reading emotions. Particularly when there are inconsistencies in what one may say and what one is thinking."

"In other words, they can tell when somebody's lying."

"In a nutshell, yes. Also, when we were here before, they were cognizant that either you or Tara were attempting to touch their minds. But they suspect it was you."

"Actually, it was both of us. I'm not so much into the wait-and-see. I want to find out things right away. So I'm sometimes kind of pushy. But Tara is more subtle, more patient. She just waits until the information she wants comes to her."

"I see. "

And changing the subject again, she asked, "Do you think they would actually go after Spike, and kill him?"

"Spike is very much a concern. On the one hand, they realize that the device implanted in his brain keeps him from killing. But what if the device stopped working, or malfunctioned?"

"Don't you think all of us have had that very same thought at one time or another? We have. But we trust that if he was able to – function again, the feelings he has for us would keep him from killing us."

"But even if that were so – would it prevent him from feeding on random strangers?"

Willow had no answer for him.

At this point Giles stood up. "I should go."

"You won't get in any trouble, will you, telling me all this?"

"No. I've said nothing that would compromise the upcoming confrontation. So, tell the others I said hello, and at the risk of repetition, stay safe."

"See? I don't understand. How are we supposed to…? Never mind."

Just as Giles got to the front door, Willow stopped him.

"Giles, I need to know – can we trust you?"

"Willow, you can rest assured that I would never let harm come to you – to any of you. You have my word."

"Okay. That makes me feel a little better. And thanks for coming by and giving us the heads up."

As Willow closed the door, she said without turning around, "You heard?"

"Yeah," Spike answered. "I heard. Most of it anyway."

Then Willow turned around and yelled at him, "What the HELL were you thinking? Sneaking Dawn out after we went to bed?"

"I didn't sneak her out. I would go out, and there she was. What was I supposed to do – let her go wandering off by herself?"

"How about marching her ass back here to this house?"

"Oh. Yeah. I suppose I could have done that."

"Well, it stops now. If I have to put a protective bubble around this house before I go to bed, I'll do just that. But Dawn stays in at night. In fact, it might not be a bad idea for you to stay in for a while, maybe a couple of days, or a week."

"Oh, right! I'll sleep all day, and then – oh, I'll sleep all night! I do have an un-life outside this house, you know."

"I suppose I can't make you stay here if you don't want to. No. Wait. Yes I can … but I won't. But if you know what's good for you you'll give the platinum twins a wide berth."

Willow looked at the clock. "It's still early, but I think I'm going to the college and catch Tara before my first class and let her know what Giles said. When Dawn gets home from school you can tell her there WILL be a conversation about her sneaking out."

"I'll tell her."

As Willow climbed the stairs to get dressed, Spike touched the side of his head where the chip produced the blinding pain, and wondered just what WOULD happen if it stopped working?

To Be Continued