Giles hung up the phone and prepared to dial Buffy and tell her the news of Xander being held in LA by the authorities. He heard a knock at the door, taking a breath and walking to answer it, he was hoping to make this quick. Giles opened it to find a bruised in the face Ethan giving him a weak smile and a taller man behind him, resisting the urge to to add more bruises to Ethan, he stepped back and waited to see if there would be an issue with either of his guests walking through his doorway. They entered his living room and Ethan sat and said "Rupert, I know it's late, I can read the unspoken threats in your face, let me save you time, this bloke kicked the piss out of me" "for starters, why the blazes are you here, and you have my thanks, mr.?" interjected Giles. "My name is a little complicated at the moment, please call me Bill, thank you for allowing us in Mr. Giles" spoke Bill.
"He then continued "If I may, Mr. Giles, I am sure you are aware that Mr. Rayne here cast a spell that turned people into their costumes last night? While I have been made aware by him that you broke the focus for the spell, it seems neither myself nor possibly this Superman I saw on television have reverted back to our mortal forms. Mr. Rayne told me the identity of the individual as Alexander Harris. I feel both of us are in danger the longer we spend in existence, I have tried to change back if you will to my mortal form but the only way I know how doesn't work. I was hoping you could help me," Ethan cut-in smugly "won't work mate ""yes yes, so you said, but second opinion time you jerk" Bill responded. "I am sorry Bill but I do not have time for this right now, Xander is being held by the military in Los Angeles and I need to go find a way to get him out" Giles said, "I will help in any way I can, at the very least, protect you while you are there. I need your help and I would like to meet Alexander, this is a bit overwhelming and I could really use someone to talk to about it." Bill hurried to say.
Giles was quick to respond "I will try to help you, If I can release you and Xander from this burden I will, that being said, it will take time to research it safely. As much as I don't trust the government or the military and I am loath to provide them an opportunity to get two super humans, I welcome your company. What are your abilities?" Ethan chimed in "Read on the car ride there Ripper, we got to make good time to avoid traffic" Giles throwing back "why the hell would I want your assistance?" "because you know my abilities, because it will be like old times, because I created a pair of demi-gods for the chaos that would follow, not for military buggers to brainwash a pair of killing machines, regardless, we are stopping for a pint at this pub I know when we get there" Giles processing quickly the merits of Ethans preposition however annoying, he turned to Bill, who had a comic book in his hand, and took it walking to the front door, "what in god's name is a shazam?" Bill laughed, "I told you the name thing was complicated, personally I prefer Bill" and closed the door.
