Warnings and disclaimer in Chapter 1. Enjoy.
Ethan looked up when he heard the stairs creaking. "When are you going to let me out of this cage?" he asked.
"I thought about letting you out when Hell froze over," Giles said, passing a tray through the bars. Ethan took it and looked at his breakfast hungrily. "But then I realize we're on a Hellmouth and that could actually happen so I decided to go with something much more unlikely and go with when you grow a conscience." Ethan grinned roguishly at him then attacked his food with a vengeance. Giles watched him thoughtfully. "Why are you here Ethan?"
"I told you," he said between mouthfuls. "It's not my fault you don't believe me."
"So you're telling the truth," Giles murmured, "as opposed to all those times you lied to us." Ethan frowned.
"I see your point," he admitted coyly, finishing his breakfast quickly. "But I'm not lying now."
"You'll forgive me for not believing you just yet," Giles said, just as Joyce came rushing down the stairs.
"Rupert!" she cried out while still on the stairs. Giles turned to her as she came running through the doorway.
"Joyce?" he asked.
"Buffy's missing," she said, the worry plain to hear. "I checked her room but she's not there. The bathroom, the living room, the kitchen. I can't find her."
"Calm down," Giles said. "Take a deep breath." She did and a few minutes later she was much calmer. "Have you checked the door?" She nodded.
"It's still bolted, and it's too high for her to reach it."
"Let's call the others then we'll start searching," Giles said as he began leading Joyce back upstairs.
"Oh Ripper," Ethan called out before they made it more than a few steps. "You might want to start your search in the corner." He pointed to the far side of the room. Buffy was huddled in the corner, watching Ethan with a mesmerized gaze. "We've been having a staring contest all night long."
"Buffy?" Joyce called out in relief as she and Giles rushed over. "Are you alright? You're filthy. Where's your chair?"
"Did you crawl down here?" Giles asked. She had dirt everywhere, but especially on her hands and legs. Buffy ignored them though, instead she just kept staring at Ethan. "Buffy?" Giles asked as he put himself between them again. She blinked and turned to him, smiling.
"What's all the commotion?" Andrew asked as he entered the basement. He saw the empty tray in the cell. "Did you enjoy your breakfast? I can make you something else if you're still hungry."
"It was quite lovely," Ethan answered, picking up his cup of tea and tipping it in his direction. Andrew beamed, but it turned into a frown when he saw Buffy there.
"How did she get down here? Her chair is still upstairs. I saw it when I checked on the twins a few minutes ago."
"Andrew," Joyce sighed tolerantly. "Are you watching my daughter sleep again?"
"No," he answered. "That would be weird. I just open the door and take a quick peak to make sure everything is okay, just like I do with the twins." Joyce closed her eyes, her fingers massaging her forehead in an attempt to keep the headache away. Ethan smirked as he watched the exchange.
"Andrew," she forced out, opening her eyes and forcing a smile onto her face. "Do you think you can take Buffy back upstairs?"
"Sure," he said eagerly. He came over and put an arm under her legs and the other under her back and lifted. Or at least tried to lift. "Just give me a second," he whispered as he tried lifting her another way. She helpfully put her arms around his neck and he almost lifted her up a few inches before he slipped. Giles groaned and was ready to give him a hand when Ethan gasped.
"The Ring," he whispered breathlessly. Giles glared back at him but was unprepared for the naked terror in his old friend's eyes. He glanced back at Buffy. Her shirt had ridden up during Andrew's attempts to move her and a few of the markings on her back were visible. Giles quickly pulled the shirt back down before speaking to Andrew.
"Why don't you go get her chair?" he suggested.
"Okay." Andrew quickly went back up the stairs. He turned to Joyce.
"Why don't you go help him?"
"No." She looked at him quizzically before turning her eyes to Ethan. Her eyes narrowed as she realized something was different. She looked back to Giles. "What is going on?"
"I'll tell you in a minute," he said, gesturing toward Buffy. Joyce nodded and turned her attention to her daughter. Buffy let her mother cuddle with her for a few minutes, something she had been doing less and less as she got stronger. Joyce reluctantly pulled away when the lift started moving. A few seconds later Andrew was there with the wheelchair.
"Milady," Andrew bowed as Giles effortlessly picked Buffy up and placed her in the chair. Andrew nodded to each of them as he wheeled her back onto the lift. Seconds later she was gone.
"What's going on here?" Joyce demanded, but Giles was already moving to the cage. He pushed his hand through the bars, intending to grab Ethan, but he already moved out of reach. "Did he do something to her?" she asked, as she pulled his arms back.
"Yes," Giles growled.
"No," Ethan countered, before slumping onto the cot. "At least not directly."
"Explain yourself." Joyce glared at the man. Ethan sighed.
"Alright," he finally conceded, "but I have one condition."
"That we let you out?" Giles anticipated.
"On the contrary. I want to stay in," Ethan told them. "I feel quite safe right now, safer than I've felt for a long time. Toss me the keys so you can't open the cell door and drag me away. Then we'll talk." Giles looked at Joyce, who shrugged. He reluctantly pulled the key to the cell from his pocket and tossed it to Ethan.
"Talk," Giles ordered. Ethan looked at the corner where Buffy had been sadly.
"She was a victim of The Ring." It was a statement, not a question, but it triggered their protective instincts.
"What do you know of it?" Giles demanded, again trying to reach Ethan through the bars. "Did you help them? Was that a bit of harmless fun you partook of?"
"No," Ethan said softly. "You could say I was a victim too, though not in the same way."
"In what way?" Joyce asked, placing a calming hand on Giles's arm. She wanted to rage at Ethan, but she couldn't ignore the terror she saw in his eyes or the shivers that were running down his spine, despite his best efforts to cover them up. He took a deep breath and started.
"You, of course, remember the last time we crossed paths?"
"We went for drinks and I woke up as a demon," Giles snarked. "It's hardly something one forgets."
"Yes," he smiled fondly before turning serious again, "you remember how that incident resolved itself?"
"You were arrested by the U.S. Government and sent to prison," Giles said. Ethan shook his head sadly.
"This is where our recollections differ," he said. "I was sent to no mere prison. I've heard of Nazi concentration camps that were more humane than that place. The warden was quite insane. His protégé, Maggie Walsh, kept him stocked with various demons she no longer had any use for. His experiments made Adam look like a boy scout."
"What did they do?" Joyce asked, but Giles scoffed.
"Why should we believe you?" he asked. "You're track record is hardly the shining star of truth telling." This seemed to anger Ethan.
"You know what kind of person she was," he spat out. "What she was willing to do to her own men. Do you think she gave a damn about any of her toys? You gave me no more thought, even when you found out what was really going on, so I had to do what I do best. I had to look out for myself." Giles sighed and started rubbing his eyes when he realized Ethan was right.
"What did you do?" Joyce asked.
"I made a deal. There was a demon they captured called a Voulard." He missed the look Joyce and Giles shared but continued with his story. "He said his friends were coming for him and they could take me with them if I would help them."
"What did you promise them?" Giles asked wearily. "What did they need help with?"
"They needed a sorcerer," Ethan explained. "They needed three spells. One right away and the other two later on when they got more established."
"What spells?" Giles asked.
"The first was a simple teleportation spell," Ethan told them. "Then a cloaking spell and finally a secrecy spell. I agreed and within a few days we were freed. We went to a fancy law office, Wolfram and Hart."
"In L.A.?" Joyce asked.
"In Las Vegas. There I performed the first part of my bargain. I created teleport locations throughout the world."
"But can't demons teleport on their own?" Joyce asked Giles. "Daniel can and he's only half demon."
"Teleportation is a demonic ability," Giles said, "but only certain demons can do it unassisted."
"The rest of them need help," Ethan further explained. "Magical help. And since demons can't use magic, they need a sorcerer to cast for them." Giles frowned but let Ethan continue. "After my spellcasting was complete they dropped me off. They told me they would call on me later on for the next part." He paused as he tried to read their expressions. "A couple of years passed until they called on me again. The little band out misfits had changed. They had grown up, for lack of a better word. They had demons and humans working for them and had the world in their hand, but they wanted more. They said it was time they started branching out, but needed certain safeguards before they could truly expand."
"That was around the time they captured Buffy," Giles murmured, thinking out loud.
"What?" Joyce asked, her eyes wide as she looked at Ethan with new understanding. "Did you hurt her in any way?" she demanded, leaning closer to the bars. Ethan took an unconscious step back, feeling her anger and protectiveness.
"I never saw her," he told them. "If I had I would have come to you. I like the girl. She has spunk."
"But you knew what kind of place that was," Giles argued. "What kind of demons you were working with."
"Of course I knew," he all but shouted, getting some fire back in his eyes. "But I had no choice. I was left to rot in that Hell hole and got out the only way I could. I made a deal with demons and had no choice but to fulfill my end of the agreement."
"What safeguards?" Giles asked, forcing his anger to the background. Ethan calmed down and looked back at him.
"They wanted to cloak their main lairs," he explained, "and they wanted a way to ensure their business never reached the wrong ears."
"How?" Giles asked. Ethan smirked.
"The first part was relatively simple. A cloaking spell mixed with a disillusion spell. I was able to convince them the easiest way of allowing entrance was a tattoo. I enchanted a jar of ink and a pattern and entrusted it to their leader. I had no idea who he gave access."
"Buffy has one of these tattoos?" Joyce asked. Giles shrugged thoughtfully. He handed Ethan a small notebook and Ethan quickly drew the symbol.
"One of the few we have yet to identify," he said after Ethan handed the notebook back. He looked hard at Ethan. "They got the idea of the brandings from you." He shrugged.
"That wasn't my intentions," he told them, "but you have to admit the idea is brilliant."
"The second part?" Joyce all but growled. He frowned slightly.
"That was a bit more difficult. It's hard to advertise something but keep it secret at the same time. It took us a few days to agree on everything." He paused and sprawled out on the couch. "I created a secrecy spell, a spin on a blood oath. Anyone speaking about things they swore to secrecy would be cursed."
"What kind of curse?" Joyce asked. Ethan grinned.
"Oh it would be different for each person," he said. "Whatever they feared most." He paused, relishing in the chaos the spell would create, before turning serious again. "Of course there was one clause. One person, their leader, would have the power to tell the secret without punishment, which would allow him to recruit new members and solicit investors."
"You mean so he could sell boys and girls to the highest bidder," Giles snarled angrily. Ethan simply rolled his eyes and continued.
"He could also share that power with others, say if he wanted to start another branch. The new boss would have that power, but also take the responsibility if their people snitched. It actually worked out rather well, but of course the more people who can tell the secret without fear or consequences the more chances the secret will get out."
"Which it did," Giles said. "How did you enforce the spell?"
"A tattoo," Ethan said. He rolled up his sleeve and showed them the tattoo on his inner arm.
"Buffy doesn't have this," he said quietly.
"She wouldn't," Ethan said. "They never considered their property worthy enough to be brought into the Oath. If any of them escaped they were simply killed before they would talk. Not that they would with all the training they received." Giles growled and lunged for the bars once again, but Ethan was well away from his reach. He dangled the key provocatively.
"You said you never saw any of them," he screamed. Joyce was barely able to pull him back.
"I said I never saw your girl," he said. "I never said I didn't see anything." He got to his feet and approached the pair, stopping just out of reach. "Besides I was sworn to secrecy as well. They made me perform the Oath just like them."
"Why can you tell us now?"
"The Oath has been broken," he said simply. "The secret got out and The Ring got shut down."
"That was over a year ago," Giles growled. "You could have told us."
"Told you what exactly?" Ethan asked incredulously. "The prostitution ring the coppers just busted up was actually a demonic slave ring? The boys and girls who were the victims need help. Oh wait. They are receiving help from their governments, even from the Watchers Council from what I hear." He paused, taking a few deep breaths to get back in control. "I told you, I never saw your girl. If I had I would have said something." Giles lunged again.
"Rupert," Joyce rolled her eyes and grabbed his arm, "umm Mr?"
"Just Ethan love," he smirked, enraging Giles even more. Everyone stopped as they heard the lift move. Ethan's smirk left and his face paled when Buffy pushed herself out of the lift, staring at him intently.
"Buffy," Joyce asked, shooting Giles a quick glance. He sighed, nodded, and pulled his arms back and took a step back. Joyce rushed over to Buffy, lowering herself right in front of her daughter. "What are you doing down here?" She shrugged, looking past her mother at Ethan. They both looked up when they heard the door open upstairs. Several footsteps could be heard traipsing through the walkway. "Come on," she said, forcefully twisting the chair around and pushing it back into the lift despite Buffy's protests. "Let's go get some breakfast. Then you're going to come to work with me today." Giles sighed loudly, pulling his glasses off to clean them before looking at Ethan. He was obviously shaken up.
"I swear I never saw her," he said without his usual trace of snark.
"Why does she keep coming down here?" Giles asked tiredly.
"It's possible she saw me and thinks I am one of her Masters," he admitted, feeling sick at the thought. He sat back on the cot, gaining some of his usual confidence. "I like your girl. She's not afraid of a little chaos." Giles glared before he went upstairs. "Rupert?" Giles turned back, the naked need in Ethan's voice catching him off guard. "I'm telling you the truth."
"I wish I could believe you," he said sadly before he turned his back on his onetime friend and headed upstairs. The others were surprised to see Buffy up, but Joyce wasn't answering any of their questions. Instead she was starting breakfast with an unusual fury.
"Did he do something to her?" she asked when she saw him come upstairs. He shook his head.
"I don't think so," Giles admitted. "He's made no attempt to escape and, as much as I don't want to admit it, that cage can't stop him if he truly wants out." Joyce tiredly leaned against the counter until something caught her eye.
"Buffy!" she commanded. "Stop!" They all turned to see Buffy slowly pushing herself toward the lift. She didn't stop though and Joyce quickly closed the distance between them and grabbed the chair. She pushed her daughter back toward the kitchen. "Why is she acting this way?" she asked. Giles sighed.
"Ethan thinks she saw him and thinks he is one of her Masters," he said sadly.
"What?" Xander shouted, heading for the stairs.
"Xander," Joyce called quietly, stopping him in his tracks. "I've already got one child being a pain in the ass. Please don't make it two."
"Okay," he relented for now, "but if he hurts her in any way."
"I don't think he will," Giles mentioned, "at least not directly. There's no fun in that."
"Is he a danger?" Faith asked. Nobody saw Faith and Daniel come down and turned to look at them in surprise, but her gaze was firmly fixed on Giles. "If he's a danger I am perfectly fine taking him out." Giles shook his head.
"I don't think he's a danger, and if he is we are more than capable of dealing with him." Faith nodded.
"Me and Daniel are about to head out, but we can stay if you need us." Joyce smiled.
"We'll be fine," she said, "but can you do me a favor?" Faith nodded. "Can you stay with Buffy while I get ready?"
"She trying to be a jailbird?" Faith grinned. "We can go up and kill some zombies and spend some quality time with the little ones before we have to bail." Daniel nodded and went over to Buffy. Instead of pushing the chair he simply picked her up in his arms and followed Faith up the stairs. Joyce sighed, finally relenting and letting Andrew have his kitchen back.
"So, what do you want for breakfast?" he grinned, happy to be at the oven again. The group just looked at each other confusedly.
"Willow," Giles started tiredly.
"It wasn't me," Willow nearly shouted. "Whatever Ethan told you wasn't true. I was in L.A. but I never even saw him."
"I believe you," he said, interrupting her rant.
"Oh," she said. "What did you need?"
"Ethan is still maintaining you approached him," he told her, "and while lying isn't uncommon from him, I can't see what he has to gain from this lie. Even so, I think it would be wise if you refrained from using magic for the time being, until the situation is resolved." Willow nodded, she had been expecting this request.
"Already done," she said. "I won't be doing any magic unless you specifically request something, then Tara will be there the whole time."
"As will I," he nodded, "but I have one other request. Please don't go anywhere alone for the next few days."
"Fine," she exhaled loudly, "but I draw the line at the bathroom." Giles smiled.
"Agreed."
"Giles," she said, sounding extremely unsure and timid, much like she had when they first met. "Do you think I am doing this? Subconsciously and totally accidentally I mean?"
"No," he reassured her, "but until we know for sure it doesn't hurt to be safe." They nodded. Andrew cooked them a quick breakfast which they ate while Joyce and Giles got ready. Daniel and Faith took turns coming down to eat between watching Buffy, who continually tried to get back downstairs. It was almost a relief to the couple when Joyce came into her room and took over. Twenty minutes later Joyce brought Buffy down, clean and dressed.
"Mom?" Dawn asked. She had been sleeping earlier and didn't know what happened and was confused when she saw Buffy dressed to go out. "Everything okay?" Joyce shook her head as she headed for the refrigerator.
"Ethan is causing his usual trouble," Giles said as he sipped his tea.
"Oh," Dawn commented as she grabbed the plate of pancakes Andrew handed her. Joyce grabbed a cup of yogurt and tried to feed Buffy. She allowed a couple bites before turning her head, looking longingly at the basement door. Joyce sighed and finished the yogurt herself before grabbing her coat and purse.
"I'm heading to work," she said as she grabbed the keys to the van.
"You're taking Buffy?" Dawn asked when Joyce came back to the kitchen and draped a blanket around her lap. She nodded.
"Today I am. I can take whoever is ready." It was still a bit early for them, but Anya jumped up, eager to open the store and start making money. The rest of them stayed seated, finishing their meal calmly.
"I'll go too," Willow said suddenly, pushing her nearly full plate away from her.
"You didn't finish your breakfast," Tara said worriedly. Willow smiled at her.
"I'm just not really hungry right now." Tara nodded. She knew how much the current situation was weighing on her girlfriend.
"Just promise me you'll eat a full lunch."
"I will." They smiled at each other before Willow moved to push Buffy. Joyce gratefully let her take her place as she went to pull the van around. The witches smiled at each other for a minute before Willow pushed Buffy into the hallway.
"Willow isn't staying?" Andrew asked. He didn't like it when his routine was disturbed.
"No," Giles told him, "but I will be staying."
"Oh," Andrew said as he started cleaning up. The others finished their dinner and got ready to leave while Giles slowly sipped his tea. After they waited for a few minutes Andrew turned to Giles. "Was there something you wanted me to do or not do?" he asked, unsure of what Giles wanted. He didn't spend much time with him.
"Just take care of the twins," Giles said, smiling softly. "I'll be spending most of my time with Ethan."
"I can do that," he said energetically. He began his usual routine as Giles slowly sipped his tea and tried to figure out what to do with his once best friend.