Giles had betrayed them. That was the only thought in Xander's head right now. They'd found out, Giles had drugged Buffy, temporarily surpressed her abilities and all so the Watchers Council could 'test' her resourcefulness against vampires. How the Hell was this supposed to test anything? It had to be a sick joke. But it wasn't. The Watchers had brought an insane Master vampire to test her against. One that liked torturing mothers.

Which was why Joyce was now in danger as well. The vampire had gotten loose, turned one of the Watchers and gone after Joyce. Praying they'd find her alive, they raced to the abandoned house the Watchers were using for their setup. Xander broke down the door and they charged in. He and Faith attacked the vampire, while Cordelia and Willow helped Buffy untie Joyce. Once the vampire had been dusted, they took Joyce to the library. As they approached, they could hear Giles and the other Watcher talking.

Xander confronted the other Watcher.

"I don't know who the Hell think you are, but you do not drug and endanger people in our town or let vampires loose and expect to walk way unscathed."

"Really, young man, our ways have existed for a long time. This is a time honored tradition and right of passage for Slayers. It tests their resourcefulness, makes them better Slayers."

"No, it teaches them that you control them, that you believe you hold their lives in your hands. How many survive this so called test? Not many, I imagine. You're a sick son of bitch. You let that thing loose and it went after Buffy's mother. How many innocent people did it kill between getting loose and getting back to that house? Those lives are on your soul. "

"Incidental to the purpose of the test."

"No, more proof that you don't give a shit. We're supposed to be protecting people, not endangering them. You endanger Slayers, people on the front line of a war against evil, just so you can tell them, your little, I'm big. Get the Hell out of our town and don't come back without an invitation."

"Really, young man, who are you to talk to me that way? Do you have any idea who I am? I could have Rupert Giles deported with one phone call."

"So could I. And all that would do is just prove you're a petty little bastard on top of being a son of bitch. Don't let the door hit your ass on the way out of town."

"I have something I want to add." Joyce said, stepping up to the puffed up with his own self importance Watcher and slammed her fist into his jaw. "You leave and we never see you again or I have you arrested for drugging and kidnapping my daughter. In fact, I should do that anyway, but the world doesn't need to know about the monsters, it would cause too much panic, so you leave or you end up in jail. And you leave us alone, understand me?"

"Mr. Giles, you are fired, we will be sending a new Watcher to take control of this situation."

"I think you had better leave, Quentin. There isn't a person here who wouldn't like to beat you up."

After the Watcher had left, Xander turned to confront Giles.

"What the Hell were you thinking being a part of this? Despite everything Giles, your cowardice, your weakness, we still managed to trust you. And you betrayed that trust in one of the most horrifying ways imaginable. If you truly want to help us, Giles, then stop hiding behind the Watchers and their idiotic ways! Helping the Slayers is one thing, controlling them is something else entirely. And you better not have told them about my hybrid status or Oz's werewolfism. That's our business, not theirs. It your actions endanger Cordelia or Willow or worse, get them killed, I will kill you myself."

"I'll help him." Oz said, glaring at Giles, himself.

"Rupert, I've been disappointed a number of times in your choices." Jenny said, sadly. "But none more then this one."

"I argued against the Cruciamentum."

"But you still went along with it." Joyce said. "That's unforgivable, as far as I'm concerned."

"It's going to take awhile to regain our trust, Giles." Xander said. "I'm not even sure, you'll be able to. Bur if you really are committed to helping us, then start helping us! I've said it before, stop hiding in your books. Be an actual support. Help us, encourage us, guide us. But don't go behind our backs and don't ever betray us again. This is the last chance you get, Giles. Make it count."

"If my hand wasn't hurting so much I'd punch you like I did the other one." Joyce said, cradling her hand.

"Joyce, can I see your hand?" Xander asked.

Joyce held it out to him.

"Joyce I'm afraid you may have broken some bones in your hand. That was some punch by the way. Let's take you to the ER and get you checked out."