WDWG - Chapter 8: Mentor
The Scoobies entered camp much more relaxed than when they had left. Willow and Dawn quickly made their way over to the supply tent to start inventory and packing what they wouldn't need that evening or the following morning, enlisting Andrew's help, since he was in charge of dinner and breakfast. Buffy called the Slayers together to begin their hand-to-hand training session, and Giles took Xander with him to find Robin, so that they could fill each other in on future plans for the Slayers and the Council.
"So, what's the scoop with the Scooby Gang? Did you get things knocked out?" Robin asked as the two men approached.
"I think so. You have time to chat?"
"No time like the present, Giles. Looks like Buffy has all the Slayers accounted for, so we have some privacy."
"Yes, no need to have rumors flying about." They sat down at one of the camp tables and Giles pulled out his notebook and pen. "How did it go with you all this afternoon?"
"Looks like out of the nine remaining Slayers, we have five coming with Faith and me to Cleveland, two undecided, and two returning to their homes. The two youngest girls are returning to their families and once they finish school, they will head up to Cleveland to report for duty. We also decided that they would patrol in their areas and check in regularly." Robin stated. "Give you two guesses as to who the undecideds are."
"Rona and Kennedy." Giles replied in a monotonous voice.
"Yep. Kennedy wants to discuss what's next for her and Willow and Rona wants to talk to Buffy before she decides if she's going to go back home."
"Buffy? That's interesting." Giles sat back with an amused smile on his face. "Did she say why?"
"Just slayer stuff." Robin pressed the tips of his fingers together. "Do you agree that she is good?"
"Hmm? Oh, yes, quite good. Xander, what have you observed about Rona?"
Xander had, despite his silence, been following the conversation with interest. He wasn't sure whether he was there as a friend or in his new role as Giles' Director of Operations, but either way, he needed to answer the question objectively, "She's got a lot of potential. She trains intensely, she's loyal and brave, and she no doubt can get the job done. But, she doesn't seem to have the same focus as the other girls right now."
Robin looked over his fingers. "Why do you think that is?"
"I think she lost some really close friends in the fight with the First. I think she's tired. And I think she never wanted the gig to begin with. I don't know what her background is, but she seems more sensitive than the others."
"Indeed. Well, let's see what happens after she has her chat with Buffy. I suspect she will also go to Cleveland. Moving on to Kennedy. I presume she will follow Willow. And to be honest, I hope she does. I would like some extra muscle in England. I don't think we'll need it, but it would make me feel better." The tall Brit mused, stretching his long legs before him.
Leaning back in his chair, the former principal viewed his counterparts with interest, "So, what plans have you all made?"
Giles and Xander filled Robin in on the short and long term plans of the Scoobies as well as the Council. The senior Watcher asked Robin to take on the position of Watcher: Americas Division, reporting in to Xander.
Xander raised an eyebrow, "Umm, Robin, do you know what Andrew's plans are? He wasn't mentioned in the count earlier."
"Oh, yeah. I need a den mother to keep all the girls fed and organized, so he's going to take on that role. It's really not anything different than what he's been doing, really. Oh, and I should mention, that I want to leave for Cleveland by the end of the week. The natives are getting restless."
They continued to discuss logistics, finances, and a cover for the group, and by the time the Slayers were done with training, the three men felt they had a pretty good plan to set up operations at the new hellmouth and would break the news to the rest of the camp around the campfire later that evening.
XxXxXxXx
As Buffy toweled off and grabbed a sip from her Gatorade bottle, Rona walked up, "Hey, Buffy, you got sec?"
"Yeah, Rona, what's up?" She asked gesturing to some empty chairs.
Rona took a second to sit down before looking over at Buffy. "I don't know what I wanna do. A couple of the girls are going to their homes, the rest are going to Cleveland... and it's not like there is much of a home for me to go back to, but I don't know if I have it in me to keep fighting."
Buffy looked at Rona, aware of what the younger girl was feeling. After defeating Lothos and the Master, she had felt like giving it all up too. "You know, Rona, you don't have to fight, but, you're good at it. I watched you during training and that was an awesome hip throw you got Vi with. She never saw it coming! And during the fights with the Bringers and the First, you held your own, covered your peers, and kicked some major ass."
"I couldn't save Amanda and Jen." Rona mumbled, fighting the tears that threatened to fall.
"Oh, I see." Guilt. Buffy knew a lot about that.
"We were covering each other. Had each other's backs and then I stepped up to get an über vamp and they didn't come with me. When I dusted the thing, I turned around and they were dead. Lyin' there, eyes open, starin' at me. I left 'em and they died!" Tears were now falling unrepentantly down the girl's cheeks.
Pulling the newbie into a hug, Buffy spoke with compassion, "You had to do what you had to do, Rona. It was chaos down there. You don't know what caused their deaths and you're beating yourself up unnecessarily." She released Rona but kept a hand on the girl's arm. "You know, it's easy to take the blame for things you have no control over, because we believe there has to be a reason things happen, and you start to think that just because you were there, it might as well be you. We're our own worst enemies thinking, 'I could have done more' and 'what if', sound familiar? Amanda and Jen chose to fight, just like you did. They knew the risks. It sucks that they are gone, they were good people and brave fighters, but they died believing in you, in all of us, and in stopping evil. Their lives and their deaths have meaning and they are heroes. We will never forget them."
Rona sat back wiping more tears from her eyes with the back of her hand. "No. I know I won't... forget, that is. I just worry, I mean, you gotta watch out for your sisters and friends. What if I can't do that right?"
"Then you train harder and focus that training on fighting with partners. But I think you are taking too much badness on yourself." Buffy thought for a moment, "Look, you said you didn't have anything to go home to. Go with Faith and Robin. I'll talk to them about focusing your training on fighting in groups until you are comfortable. Then you can ease into patrols and if after a few months it isn't for you, talk to Faith, or me, or both of us, and we can find something else for you to do. You know Faith will look out for you, right? Deal?"
"Yeah, deal." Rona smiled as she brushed away the remaining tears. "Thanks for talking, Buffy. I'm feeling better."
"You know, after my first fight when I defeated Lothos, I thought I was done with fighting. But I wasn't. Giles knew it when he met me. I came back and kicked ass." The veteran Slayer declared giving the rookie a grin and a wink. Rona grinned back and watched Buffy head back to the center of camp.
XxXxXxXx
"God, I don't know how we can all stand to be around each other. Training, no showers, 100 degree weather. Ugh! We're so disgusting!" Buffy complained to Giles, taking a quick sponge bath in their tent with lavender scented baby wipes. "This so doesn't cut it."
Giles was busy writing in his notebook in the "storage room" and distractedly answered her, "Yes, but at least we are all disgusting together. One more night, love. Then we will be back in civilization with running water, electricity, and food that doesn't come from pouches." He stopped writing and turned to her, "I saw you with Rona. What were you two talking about?"
"You know, she was pulling a Buffy, carrying around more guilt than she should. I talked, she listened. I think she'll be ok now." Buffy replied brushing out her hair.
"Good." He crawled over to where she was sitting and looked her in the eye, "And how much guilt are you carrying around, my dear?"
She gave him a shy smile, "You know I'll always carry around some. But I am sure I'll heed a bit of my own advice. And what about you, Rupert Giles? You seem to have a wheelbarrow of your own to carry yours in."
"Well, perhaps my Slayer will impart her words of wisdom to me, then." He touched her cheek lightly, brushing his lips against hers.
"Yes, but would my Watcher listen?" She asked, answering his kiss with one a bit more passionate.
"Depends on how persuasive you are." He moved over her, leaning the lithe warrior back onto the sleeping bag, pulling off his glasses, and setting them down on his overnight bag.
"Oh, I can be very persuasive." She responded huskily against his lips, mingling her hot breath with his, and threading her hands through his soft hair.
"Show me." He breathed as he took possession of her mouth, running a hand over her firm stomach, feeling her shiver at his touch. Supporting himself with his right hand, Giles moved the other over his lover's silk and lace clad breast, lightly pinching her nipple.
She arched her back and let out a soft moan. Breaking their kiss, Buffy nibbled her way along his strong jawline, gently biting down on his earlobe, eliciting a sensual growl from Giles. Emboldened by his reaction, the Slayer moved her hands down her Watcher's back and grabbed his firm butt, drawing him closer to her. He was so intensely aroused that he involuntarily thrust his jeans clad erection against her.
"God, Buffy!" Giles pushed himself up on both hands, drinking her in with desire laden eyes. "We need to stop."
She let out a frustrated sigh, "I know, but I don't want to."
Nipping her lower lip and gently rubbing himself against her core emphasizing his hunger for her, he declared, "God, I want you!" Before rolling off with a groan and drawing her into his chest. As the aroused couple fought to get their passion under control, they heard Andrew calling the troops to dinner.
"I hope it's not chicken chow mien. I don't think I can ever face that again!" Buffy complained. Giles lifted his head and raised an eyebrow at her. "I know, I know. One more night, then the desert adventure is over."
Laughing, they got themselves together before joining the rest around the fire for dinner.