chapter seven
TITLE: The Power of XION
AUTHOR: Methos if ya want to host it somewhere else just tell me where ya putting it ok? ;)
DISCLAIMER: All things BtVS belong to Joss Whedon, Green Lantern, ION, Batgirl and any other mentions of DC characters belong to DC Comics ok? I own nothing ;)
SUMMARY: On Halloween Ethan's little costume stunt may have changed the future more that he knows. And created something completely new in this dimension.
FEEDBACK: love it :) my first fanfic and so many reviews already :) more please lol
RELATIONSHIPS: None as yes, copious amounts of flirting yes but no relationships planned.
RATING: FR18
SPOILERS: Anything from the Halloween episode onwards. I plan on taking the story through to the bitter end of Buffy. Changing a few things along the way of course ;)
AN: well other than a few (ahem) grammatical errors I'm quite happy with this fic so far.
Thanks to Demona for helping me through a lot of them.
Hope you're all this enjoying this and here's the next chapter/episode for you.
Enjoy :)
M
Hurrying across the Sunnydale high school parking lot the man nervously glances around him. Stopping for only a brief moment to make sure he hasn't been followed before running off again towards the building in the distance.
Seeing the building he quickly looks for a door inside hoping for safety and sanctuary. A door, hopefully unlocked. He runs over to it. Pulling on the handle to find it's locked he started banging on the door yelling for anyone to hear him.
"Please, you've got to let me in. I need to speak to Rupert Giles." Banging on the door again before seeing the shadow pass over him.
Turning round he sees the thing he'd been running from all this time. The screams of the man echo through the night. No one comes to rescue him.
Once the man is dead the murderer collapses. Dissolving into a puddle on blueish green ooze.
The following day.
"Well Buffy, Tonight is the monthly delivery at the hospital. They are in need of these blood packets and I want you to make sure that they arrive unmolested by vampires." Looking at Buffy exercising on the mat.
"Yeah I get it Giles. Make sure the doctors get the blood and dust any vamp's who try anything. I got it," continuing with her exercises she quickly glances up at Xander who is sat at the table sketching again. "Xander, what ya drawing this time?"
Glancing down at his pad Xander grinned. "Oh nothing Buffy. Just some doodles." He quickly puts his sketch pad away. He'd been drawing Buffy staking Angel, one of his favourite subjects but he didn't think Buffy would see the humour in it.
"So Xander, you going to join me in this patrol tonight? Make sure the blood get's to the doctor's ok?"
"Nah, sorry buff but I've been making some headway with my powers. Last week I managed to get a construct to move and rip a door apart. Not quite sure how I managed it but I seem to be getting a better grip on them now. Like how I got everyone outside the club? I didn't think about how I was going to do it. I just did it and that seems to be the key. Not thinking too much." Grinning Xander looked over at Buffy who was now stretching her body in ways that Xander could find much better uses for than gymnastics.
"Ok Xand. Well you shouldn't have much trouble then if the way forward is not thinking." Smiling she stood back up and walked over to get the towel and juice off the table.
"Hah hah buff. Nice to know I'm appreciated," Smiling through the retort Xander stood up. "Well I'd better be off. I'll do a quick sweep of the graveyards tonight while you're dealing with the hospital if it makes you feel any better?" At Buffy's nod he smiled. 'So I guess I am appreciated after all' he thought to himself
"Well see ya later buff, you too G-man." With that Xander left the library and started to make his was home passing Ms. Calendar in the halls on his way out of the building.
"Xander? What are you doing here so late? School finished hour's ago." She asked. It was well known Xander didn't like school and always seemed to be the first one out of class rooms. It wasn't like him to be hanging around school after hours.
"Just helping Giles with some books Ms C. All finished now so I'm heading home. See you tomorrow?"
"Yes I'll see you tomorrow Xander. Is Mr Giles still there? I needed to talk with him about something."
Quickly coming up with an explanation for Buffy's presence still in the library he smiled back at the teacher. "Yeah he's still there. He's got Buffy helping him with some filing. A punishment from the Principal for something or another, though knowing Buffy's filing systems a punishment for Giles is more like it."
Smiling Ms. Calendar continued down the hall to the library as Xander went round the corner to the back entrance of the school, the front entrance being locked at this time of night.
Entering the library she saw Mr. Giles and Buffy looking through a book of some sort on the table with numerous other books lying around them.
"You know Mr. Giles if you had all these on computer then it wouldn't take you have as long to find anything," Smiling at Mr. Giles she walked over to the table. "Buffy, anything I can help with?"
"Nope, just finishing up here. Found some old books and I didn't know where they went so I asked Giles and he started talking about making sure I treat the books properly and where they belong."
Interrupting Buffy before she dug herself any deeper Giles cleared his throat. "What can I do for you Jenny?"
Before jenny had a chance to explain Xander burst back into the room. "Ah... Giles can I show you something?" Seeing Giles bemused expression he continued. "It's something of a 'green' nature." He said vaguely hoping Giles would put two and two together.
"Ah. Ok Xander. Jenny if you would just wait here I won't be a second," Moving over to Xander he quietly asked "what's wrong? And start looking before you enter room's anyone could have been in here."
"OK I get it, but there's something outside, or rather there was something outside but now all I can see is the energy of what was out there. It looks like there was a puddle on the ground Giles, but it's not there anymore. The energy of it is... and Giles it's the same energy vampire's have. Like death or something."
"Well since it's not there anymore there isn't much we can do about it. You say it's the same energy as vampire's have? Well it doesn't really narrow it down," taking his glasses off to polish them. "I don't know of any vampire's that turn into a 'puddle' as you say when staked. There are numerous demons that do though. Too many to count actually. This energy could have been there for months Xander, maybe years. I'm sure it's nothing to worry about." Smiling at Xander, Giles made his way back into the library.
"Well don't come to me when it's not. I warned you first." Xander muttered to himself as he made his was outside again carefully avoiding the patch of floor where this 'energy' was.
"Now Jenny what was it you needed to speak to me about?" Giles asked sitting down at the table and piling the books up that Buffy had left on the table.
"Look Giles, before you two get all teachery I'm going to go ok? I'll swing by... where you asked before I call it a night ok?" Smiling at Giles and Ms. Calendar before making her way to the doors and passing through them.
"Uh, Giles? I think these people want to speak to you?" Buffy came back into the library followed by several police officers.
"Mr. Giles? Rupert Giles?" the man at the front asked.
"Yes that's me. What's this about?"
"Can we talk in private please? This is a personal matter."
"Certainly. Buffy you can go now and Jenny if you wouldn't mind? I will speak to you tomorrow ok?" smiling at the teacher Giles watched her and Buffy leave the library.
"Now, Mr?" Giles asked the officer in charge waiting for a name.
"Jones, detective John Jones. I'm afraid we have some bad news for you Mr. Giles. Would you please come with us?" The detective asked politely as he motioned for Giles to follow them out of the library.
Summers residence
"I'm telling you Willow there were police there. They took Giles away for something."
"Well maybe they needed his help with something Buffy." The reply came over the phone.
"No Willow. It looked serious."
"Well I'm sure we'll find out Buffy. Besides aren't you meeting Giles to deal with that hospital delivery tonight?"
"Yeah, I'd better set off to meet him in a bit. Your right I'm sure it's nothing. Goodnight Willow."
"Night Buffy"
With that Buffy put the phone down and rolled over her bad to get ready for tonight. Picking up her stake and coat she quietly slipped out the window and down the tree. Looking around to make sure she hadn't been caught she then ran off down the street.
Later that night outside the hospital.
"Come on where is he?" Buffy asked herself as she waited for the van to arrive.
"Well here comes the blood," She noted as the van drove up to the hospital and two doctors came out of the door to take delivery of the cases. "Hang on a minute, since when do doctors take deliveries?" sensing something was wrong Buffy spring into action running up to the doctors who immediately slipped into their game face.
"Slayer." One of the vampire doctors hissed.
"Slayee." Buffy quipped back before staking him.
Hissing the other vampire ran off, only to be grabbed and staked by Angel as he rounded the corner.
"Buffy. I've been meaning to come and see you. Do you know anything about a 'Green Death' or something? It has all the vamp's running scared. Normally they would have attacked this delivery in force." Handing the stolen blood bag back to Buffy he waited for an explanation.
"Nope, nothing about a 'Green Death' Angel. Though I have noticed there aren't as many vamps as normal. I'll make sure the doctors get this," Taking the blood bag and placing back into the case with the others. "Oh and Angel, Angel?" she looked around but he was gone. "Humph. He could have at least stuck around to make sure everything was ok, and where is Giles?" Turning back to the hospital she picked up the case and carried it inside.
Back at the Summers residence.
"Giles? Where were you?" Asking down the phone Buffy tapped her foot waiting for a reply.
"Buffy? What's wrong?"
"You know. Hospital, Blood delivery. Ringing any bells here Giles?"
"I'm sorry Buffy I completely forgot. Are you hurt?"
"Well my feeling's a bit. Giles what's going on? What happened with those police earlier?"
"Buffy it's a private matter. Now if you're ok and everything went ok tonight then I will say goodnight and I will see you tomorrow," Putting down the phone Giles looked over to his glass of whiskey and in a fit of rage threw it against the wall smashing the glass.
Holding his arm out Giles looked at the tattoo on his wrist. "So your back are you."
The next day after school.
"He said he forgot Xander. Come on this is Giles who counts tardiness as the 9th deadly sin."
"Maybe he did forget Buff. Who don't we just go the library and ask him?" Xander replied looking towards the school.
"You might be right Xander. He just sounded weird on the phone. I just wanted to give him some space." Standing up Buffy looked over at Xander.
"I'm sure he's ok Buffy. He's Giles." Grinning Xander and Buffy made their way over to the school building.
"Giles? You in here?" Buffy called out on entering the library.
"G-man. You about?" Xander echoed her call.
"Shh." Buffy moved her hand to silence Xander and pointed to the other side of the stacks as she made her way up the stairs to her side.
Watching Buffy, Xander made his way quietly up the stairs and round the corner into the stacks when he heard Buffy throw someone to the ground.
"Well if it isn't Ethan Rayne. Looking for another beating?" Buffy threatened holding Ethan by the collar.
"Ethan," Xander said walking over. "Didn't think you'd show your face around here again? What are you doing here?"
"Snooping about." Ethan answered honestly.
"Wow, honesty. That's a new one." Buffy quipped still holding Ethan's collar.
"Well it's one of my virtues," Ethan said then seeming to think about what he had just said. "Well, not really."
"What are you doing here Ethan? And why shouldn't I punch your teeth so far down your throat." Buffy trailed off the threat.
"I came here to see an old friend of mine. Rupert Giles." Ethan said enjoying the look of confusion that passed the two teen's faces.
"You came here to see Giles? Why don't I believe you?" Xander was the first one to recover.
"Well why don't you ring old Ripper and find out?" Ethan said as he found himself being pulled upwards.
"I think we'll just do that," Buffy said dragging Ethan down the stairs and throwing him into a chair. "Xander, watch him please while I call Giles."
"Sure thing buff." Xander just sat next to Ethan not taking his eyes off him.
Recognizing him at last Ethan chuckled to himself. "Did you like the costume? Enjoy your night or don't you remember it?" Ethan asked Xander smiling to himself.
Xander just smiled and let the power leak out of his eyes making them shine an intense green. To his amusement Ethan just looked as if he wet himself. "Want to try running Ethan?" Xander just commented.
Looking at the floor Ethan just thought to himself that he was now well and truly buggered.
"Giles," Buffy said finally into the phone. "Where have you been I've been ringing for ages?"
"Buffy what is it?" A tired voice came back down the phone.
"Giles do you know an Ethan..." looking over at Ethan expectantly she waited for him to notice her.
"Rayne." He finally answered the unasked question never taking his eyes of Xander.
"Rayne, Ethan Rayne. You remember the costume shop guy?"
"Have you seen him Buffy? Is he back in town?" Giles asked frantically down the phone.
"Yeah he's right here Giles. He's sat in the library with me now."
"Buffy listen to me. You must get away from him. You're in great danger while you're with him."
"Giles chill. I'm here with Xander. I'm sure we can handle anything that costume guy here throws at us."
"Very well Buffy be careful. I'll be there shortly ok?" Hanging up the phone Giles raced outside and started his car up.
"Well he did say he knew you. Didn't say how though just that he was on his way here." Buffy finally said after staring at the phone for a while.
"What else Buffy?" Xander asked sensing a second comment coming from Buffy.
"He also said that we were in danger around you. Seemed very sure of that. Not in danger OF you. Danger of being
AROUND you," Watching Ethan with renewed interest Buffy took a seat next to Xander and looked at the man. He looked as if he had wet himself. "Xander what did you do?"
"Nothing buff. He was just a little scared when he realized that I kept my powers from the Halloween night." Smiling Xander looked at Ethan.
"Yes well I didn't expect that. I suppose you have another member of your group as well now, a real 'Supergirl' I suppose." Chuckling to himself he missed the questioning looks of both Buffy and Xander.
Opening the library doors Ms. Calendar walked into the library seeing Buffy and Xander and a new man. "What's going on here you two? Schools been over for hours. And what's he doing here?" Jenny asked recognizing the man from the costume shop.
"It's a long story Ms. Calendar," Buffy started. "He claims to know Giles and what's happening round here."
"Where is Rupert anyway? Shouldn't he be here by now?" Jenny asked looking round the library.
"Giles is on his way. He said to keep watch over him until he got..." Buffy was broken off by the sound of glass smashing behind her. Twirling round to the sound she saw a man getting up from the floor covered in glass. "What the hell?" she exclaimed moving over to Xander's side.
"Oh bloody hell. Phillip," Ethan said standing up as well. "So it's just me and ripper now is it old friend? I'm sorry."
"What the hell is going on?" Buffy asked turning to Ethan.
"He's dead slayer," Ethan said. "and now he's after me and your watcher." Moving behind Buffy and Xander Ethan watched 'Phillip' stumble towards them.
"He's dead Buffy," Xander confirmed. "And he's got the same energy as the floor outside that I tried to tell Giles about the other night."
"Demon?" Buffy asked.
"Defiantly." Xander replied quickly. Looking round he spotted Willow and Ms. Calendar moving round behind the counter away from the action.
"Willow get Ms. Calendar to safety. Me and Buffy will handle this, and as for you." Xander quickly created a construct of a wrestler who picked up Ethan and carried him into Giles' office.
Looking at the display Jenny just stood there open mouthed. She knew Buffy was the slayer but she thought Xander was just a normal teenager.
"Ms. Calendar come on." Willow said tugging at the teachers arm. Quickly they both took off out of the library only to run into Giles round the corner.
"Willow what's going on?" Giles asked looking at Jenny and Willow's panicked state.
"Dead man, came through the window. Ethan said he's after him and you." Willow babbled out.
"Willow, get Jenny to safety. I'll take care of anything in here." Giles stated matter of factly as he stalked through towards the library stopping only for a second when a bright emerald flash shone out through the circular windows of the library doors.
Walking in through the doors Giles looked around. Buffy was stood there looking at a puddle on the ground and Xander was floating a good two feet off the ground shining with green power.
"Buffy, Xander are you two ok? Willow said something about a dead man." Giles asked looking round the library for any sign of the aforementioned corpse.
"We're good Giles. Buffy was hitting him but it didn't seem to have any effect so I sort of powered her up with some of my own energy, when she hit him then the guy just turned to goo." Xander explained.
"Uh yeah Giles." Buffy said walking over to Giles, wiping her hand on her pants as she walked.
"And Ethan? What happened to him?" Giles asked looking round the library a second time for his old friend.
"Oh he's in the office with a wrestler." Xander said off hand, sitting down.
"A what? Never mind," Giles muttered. "Can you just get rid of the wrestler so I can go in and talk to him?"
"Sure thing." Xander said waving his hand as Giles went over to his office.
"Bloody sneaky bastard," Xander heard the yell from the office. "He's gone out the window. He'll be long gone by now." Giles said emerging from the office.
"And speaking off long gone," Buffy started standing up. "Do you mind if I head off Giles? Having Xander do... whatever he did to me really wiped me out."
"No, go home and rest Buffy. I'll find Willow and Ms. Calendar to make sure they are ok." Giles said smiling at the slayer as she picked up her bag and walked out of the library.
"Xander you did well," Giles said sitting down next to the teenager. "You weren't to know he would escape out the window."
"I know Giles but there's something else Ethan said. He made it sound like we should have someone else with us. 'A real Supergirl' is what he said Giles. I think he meant someone else kept their powers after Halloween. Think about it Giles, somewhere out there is someone running round with power's equal to Superman."
Chuckling Giles looked at Xander. "Xander if there was someone flying round Sunnydale in a red cape and tights I think we would have heard about it by now don't you? It was probably Ethan just trying to put you off your guard to he could find a way of escape."
"I guess so Giles. I just don't want to think about it. I mean Superman is vulnerable to magic and I guess since vampire's are magical they could hurt someone with the same powers. Can you imagine that? A vampire with kryptonion power's?" Xander drifted off not wanting to think about the consequences that would have on the world.
"As I said I'm sure it's nothing, but if you're worried why don't you take another patrol tonight to make sure? Practice you're flying skills and see if anyone joins you up there?" Giles smiled to himself.
"Yeah I suppose Giles. Thanks for the talk anyway." Xander said picking up his bag and leaving. Maybe he would go flying tonight. It was the best of his abilities so far. Up there he felt truly free, as if nothing could touch him and bring him down.
Deciding Giles was right Xander ran out of the school and after looking round to make sure no one was watching he changed into his 'work clothes' in a flash of green light and shot upwards into the night sky.
After doing a few circuits of Sunnydale and not finding anything Xander was about to go home when he noticed Buffy patrolling the streets near Giles' house. Flying down and changing into his normal clothes again he quickly caught up with her.
"Buff what's up? Buffy?" receiving no answer Xander put his hand on his friends shoulder. "Buffy? What's wrong?" reeling back in shock he looked at his friends face.
Her face was disfigured by blue and yellow colouring and her eyes were glowing a sickly yellow colour. "Buffy got to say not a good look on you." Xander quipped stepping back away from her.
Quickly encasing her in an emerald cage took off back into the night sky dragging the cage behind himself as he flew to Giles apartment.
Landing outside Xander quickly called for Giles. "Come quick Giles. Something's happened to Buffy."
Poking his head out of the flat windows Giles looked down at the sight in his garden. Xander was stood there with a glowing green cage behind him.
"Giles get down here. It's Buffy."
Giles quickly ran down the stairs and outside forgoing shoes or coat. Looking at the scene he could hardly believe it. Buffy was encased in the cage only she didn't look like Buffy anymore.
"Eyghon," Giles said looking at Buffy. "Xander can you restrain her but bring her inside?" Giles asked looking at him.
"Sure thing, can you help her Giles?" Xander looked at the watcher worriedly
"I'm not sure Xander. I'm not sure."
Inside Giles flat
"Giles come on, there must be something we can do for her." Xander asked looking at Buffy who was banging at the shield that surrounded her with all her strength.
"I don't know Xander. Eyghon should only be able to possess the dead or unconscious. I have no idea how he managed to possess Buffy or how your own powers might have affected it," Giles explained looking at the worried teen. "We will find a way to get Buffy back Xander. I promise you that." Moving over to the phone Giles phoned Willow.
"Yes?" a sleepy voice came back over the phone.
"Willow. We need your help. Something's happened to Buffy can you come round to my place please? And bring your laptop we need to do some research on this."
"Giles what's happened? If Buffy ok?"
"I don't know what's happened Willow. Can you please just come as soon as you can?"
"Sure thing Giles. I'll be there as soon as I can." Giles stood there listening to the dial tone for a few minutes before placing the phone back on the set.
"Willow will be here soon Xander. Hopefully between us we can figure out a way to get this thing out of Buffy between us."
"I hope so Giles because I don't know how much longer I can hold her for. Slayer strength and the demon are making a tough fight against my willpower." Xander just looked at his friend.
Giles could feel the power coming off Xander and filling the room like static electricity. The teen was glowing with power trying to keep Buffy in the cage and he could see the sweat beading on his forehead from concentration and effort at keeping the slayer/demon captured.
The two sat and watched the slayer try and break free for a while until the thing seemingly gave up and slumped to the floor. Eyes open watching them, it just lie there.
A knock at the door startled both Xander and Giles out of their concentration. Giles got up and moved over to answer the door found Willow and angel standing there.
"Willow. Angel I'm glad you came." Giles said gesturing for them to come in. Willow just walked in and saw Xander sat on the couch watching Buffy.
"I can't come in unless you invite me." Angel stated looking at Giles.
"I know. I just don't see what good you can do here." Giles stated honestly.
"I care about Buffy, and I want to do anything I can to help." Angel replied honestly waiting patiently.
"Just so you know the slayer isn't the only thing you have to fear in this house. Come in." Giles stepped away from the door allowing the vampire a wide birth as he entered the house.
"Willow, and you brought dead boy," Xander quipped standing up looking at the shocked look on Angels face. "What did you bring him for?"
"I found him following me here. He was supposed to meet Buffy and was worried about her. I had to tell him." Willow said bending down to look at the Buffy/demon.
"What is this?" angel asked looking at the green shield around Buffy. Reaching out he tentatively touched it.
"It's a shield Angel." Willow stated cutting off one of Xander's sarcastic retorts.
"Just so you know Angel, any funny business and you'll find yourself dusted quicker than you can say 'Mxyzptlk' ok?" angel found himself looking into the boys eyes. Only they weren't funny anymore. They were glowing green and spoke of his death.
Averting his gaze from Xander's eyes he looked at Buffy. "Eyghon. How did this happen? Watcher?"
"Well Angel..." Giles started only to be cut off by Xander.
"Look who cares how it got here or what it wants. All I want to know is how to get it out of Buffy before it kills her."
Everyone looked at Xander who was now standing in the middle of the room glowing with green energy.
"Xander calm down I think I've got something here, look. Eyghon possesses dead on unconscious bodies to use for his own ends as he can't exist normally in this dimension."
"So?" Xander just looked as if he'd missed the point entirely.
"Look Buffy is alive and she's putting up a struggle for Eyghon or it would have been able to take her over completely. Eyghon needs a dead or unconscious body to survive."
"Great Will's. I'll just fly on over to the graveyard and pick up a dead body for it to inhabit then I'll kill that." Xander smiled moving over to the door.
"You don't get it Xander we need to kill it completely. Not just let it jump from body to body and I think I've found a way. We need to convince it to jump into Angel. He's already got a demon inside so the process should kill it."
"And if it doesn't then I get to kill Angel. Willow a plan with no drawbacks. Love it" Xander said smiling as he moved over and kissed Willow on the forehead.
"Come on dead boy. Let's get you possessed." Xander grinned as he engulfed angel in a shield as well then merging the two he allowed Eyghon to attack Angel." Well if nothing else it's better than cable." He quipped watching Eyghon in Buffy's form beat Angel about inside the shield until angel got the upper hand and knocked Buffy back into the shield hard rendering her unconscious.
As they all watched a blue green ooze dripped out of Buffy and onto the floor making its way towards angel. When it touched his shoe angel shook like he's just received an electric shock.
"Well I guess its truth time gang." Xander muttered looking on as angel's face morphed between his normal, vampire and Eyghon features before settling down to his normal face again.
"Angel are you ok?" Willow asked moving over to the shield. "Xander lower the shield so I can get to him and Buffy."
"No way. Not until I know that's dead boy and not Eyghon." Xander said sealing of the shield in between the two and dissolving it around Buffy's unconscious body.
"It's me Xander." Angel said glaring at him
"And how do I know that? You could be Eyghon pretending to be the king of brooding."
"Look boy. It's me. Now let me out of here so I can help Buffy." Angel snarled through the shield.
"Well it's defiantly dead boy." Xander grinned looking round the room. "But I don't think you're needed here anymore." With a flick of his hand Angels form Glowed green then disappeared.
"What did you do with him Xander?" Giles asked coming up behind him.
"Just sent him away. Don't worry dead boy's still alive, or un dead. Now can we get Buffy to hospital? The bones in her hand don't look right after punching against my shields all night."
"Very well Xander. Would you like to take her or shall I?" Giles asked motioning towards the door.
"You take her Giles, I'm Going to do one last patrol before I call it a night ok?" Xander made his way to the garden and then changing into his 'work clothes' again he took off into the sky in a glow of green light.
The next day at school.
"How's the arm Buffy?" Xander asked sitting down next to her in the library.
"It'll be fine thanks Xander. Slayer healing and all that. Just need to rest it for a few days," Smiling over at him. "Giles tells me I have you to thank for the bruising and damage."
"Well yeah. I had to restrain you or you would have hurt Giles or someone else."
"Yeah I suppose," Buffy smiled looking over at Giles. "I think he took this worse than any of us. God knows how this would have played out if you hadn't have been there, or if you didn't have your powers."
"I know Buffy. But it didn't and we're all ok." Smiling over at her reassuringly he patted her shoulder before standing up and leaving the library.
Walking over to Giles Buffy hopped up onto the counter and looked at him. "So, what do you think happened to Ethan?"
"He's probably moved on by now. Now that he knows that Xander kept his power's he'll think twice about coming back to Sunnydale."
"Giles this wasn't your fault. How were you to know that something you did, like a zillion years ago would come back and try and kill us," Smiling Buffy grinned down at her watcher. "Besides it's kind of nice. Knowing that you make mistakes just like us, Makes you seem almost human."
"Well yes Buffy. You'd be surprised but most grown up's are human and make mistakes of their own from time to time."
Smiling at his slayer he moved off into his office and picked up the telephone as Buffy left the library.
"Hello, Jenny. There was something you wanted to speak to me about. Yes I'm free tonight. Certainly come around about eight. Yes that would be perfect." Giles replaced the handset and smiled. He might finally get the dinner with Jenny that they had been planning for a few weeks now.
