__A Real Job__
By Jolene Beasley
The factory was old, tall, and imposing. Ten foot letters mounted to the top of the building proclaimed, "Purfine Baby Food... Only the Best for Baby!" A much smaller sign, taped to the glass of the office door, read, "Now accepting applications." The receptionist smiled encouragingly at the blonde teenager as she asked for a job application. Within minutes, the girl was busily filling in the blanks, her face drawn into a frown of concentration.
The kind-faced lady at the reception desk watched the teenaged girl closely, and thought ‘They’re getting younger every year. This one can’t be a day over eighteen. She should be in college, not applying for a minimum-wage job like this.’ The telephone rang, and the receptionist answered quickly, efficiently, her mind wandering as she automatically sent the call to the right department. ‘I’ve probably been at this job longer than this child has been alive. No, she needs to get her education, otherwise she’ll end up with a boring job instead of an exciting career!’ The lady sighed as the phone rang again.
Intent on her application, Buffy didn’t notice the scrutiny she was under. She was trying to ‘put her best foot forward, on paper,’ as her husband would say. She just couldn’t think how to convince a prospective employer that her slayer skills would help her squirt pureed prunes into baby food jars. The thought made her giggle, and she stole a glance around the room to see if anyone had noticed.
‘I wish I could write down what I’m really good at...’ She paused, holding the pen to her lips, thinking. "Faster than a speeding crossbow bolt, more powerful than a chaos demon, able to dust a dozen vampires with a single stake...... heals quickly, doesn’t scar, has plenty of stamina..." She smiled secretly at that idea... good thing Rupert’s stamina was almost a match for hers... it made for some really... interesting evenings at home.
Suppressing another giggle, she shook her head. ‘Oh, grow up, Buffy. This is no time for daydreams...’ She grasped the pen more firmly, and continued to write.
A half hour later she found herself on the sidewalk in front of the baby food factory. Dejectedly, she swung her purse at her side as she started for her next appointment. "Who knew you had to have experience to squirt baby food into a jar?" She mumbled, unfolding her newspaper for the umpteeth time. She looked at the next newspaper ad with little enthusiasm. It was another fast-food place, promising great things for industrious youths. She whined to herself... not even McDonald’s wanted her.
What she needed was something athletic, something that moved around; preferably something that didn’t involve beef fat, hair nets, and weird hours.
She sighed at her own thoughts. ‘I have the weird hours thing going already... don’t need any more of that.’
As she turned the corner and started towards the bus stop, a hastily written poster perched in a storefront window caught her eye. She stopped for a minute, staring at the notice, then a brilliant grin broke out across her face. She tossed the newspaper into a nearby trash can, and bounced into the building.
********
Giles was just putting the finishing touches on dinner. He was pouring mixed vegetables from a steaming colander into a bowl when his wife burst noisily in, tossing her purse on the couch and kicking her shoes in a corner. She was singing "Macho Man" at the top of her lungs. He scrunched up his face at her slightly off-key rendition, then plastered a good-natured smile on his face as she grabbed him from behind and spun him around. The bowl of vegetables clattered onto the counter, forgotten momentarily, since he was being thoroughly kissed by an enthusiastic blonde. His heart rate automatically soared, and he reached for her before he thought.
"ICK! Rupert, your hands are all clammy and wet!" She pulled away, still smiling, and reached up to give him a quick peck on the nose. "But, right now, I don’t really care, because I...." She drew herself up proudly. "...Have A Job!"
"Really, darling? That’s wonderful news! I’m very proud of you. I knew you’d find something soon. Uhm, what exactly did you find?"
She glanced behind him at the steaming veggies, and cooed, "Ooo... you cooked!" She darted around him and snatched a broccoli flowerlet from the bowl behind him. As she munched, she grabbed plates, napkins and silverware and started setting the table as she spoke, punctuating every few words with a clatter of dishes.
"Well, first I gotta tell you what happened before. I was out all morning filling out those stupid applications, see, I went to, like, fifteen places, and I even got a cramp in my hand, for pete’s sake, but no one was interested, cause I didn’t have experience, y’know, ‘cept waitressing, yuck, and I was gettin’ really bummed, so I was going from the baby food factory (gag me with pureed prunes, ha ha...) over to some burger joint, when I saw this sign in a window, and it said they needed help, and you know how helpful I am..." She illustrated her point by waving a fork at him as she finished setting the table. "...but it didn’t say what the job was, but when I saw the sign over the door, I knew I could do whatever they wanted done, so I went in, and they hired me, just like that!" She punctuated the sentence with a snap of her fingers.
"Just like that? Really?" He went back into the kitchen and began tossing dressing, vegetables and pasta as she talked. He wasn’t sure he had followed the whole of her run-on narrative, but he understood the last phrase perfectly.
She conceded his point before he could make it. "Okay, not just like that, spoil-sport! I had to do some fast talking... and a few visual aids... to get their attention. But it worked, and that’s the main thing!" Giles just had time to put the last plate of food on the table before Buffy grabbed him and swung him around happily. "I have a job, a real job, with a paycheck, and 10 minute breaks, and after school hours, and everything!"
Giles laughed with her, unable to resist her exuberant mood. "You still haven’t told me exactly what this ‘job’ of yours is... should I be worried?"
She placed two glasses of water on the table, then whirled and grabbed him by the shoulders. Maneuvering him down into a chair, she straddled his lap in a flash and ruffled his hair. "No worries, man o’ mine. You are such a lucky fella, ‘cause you are now living with the newest Tae Bo instructor at Main Street Athletics!"
"Tae Bo? Good heavens, what is that?"
Buffy kissed him soundly before he could ask any more questions. After she had sufficiently distracted him, she looked at him sweetly and murmured, "I have no idea. They gave me this book, and a video tape, to study over the weekend. But it has something to do with martial arts and keeping fit, and that’s two things I do better than anyone else, present company excluded, o’course, so... I start Monday after school."
"That is excellent, my dear. Although... perhaps I’ll drive you... not that I’m worried, mind you, I trust you completely. But, just for my silly testosterone-influenced peace of mind, I’d like to see the place myself." He gave her a gentle kiss before continuing. "Would you mind terribly?"
"Not when you ask so nicely. And the smoochies don’t hurt, either." She lowered her head and rubbed her nose against his. "And just so’s you don’t get confused, Here’s something else I’m majorly good at..." She proceeded to demonstrate her ability with sensual kisses and caresses that drove reason right out of his mind. Several minutes passed as he basked in her happiness, the Bond between them humming like cars on a busy highway as emotions sped back and forth between them.
A glimmer of rational thought reminded him of something. His lips were busy, so he forced himself to compose a cohesive sentence, and sent it to her. ‘Buffy, love, our food is getting cold.’
"Oh! Food! I need food. I’m hungry!" She gave him a final smacking kiss before hopping up and settling into her own chair. She grabbed the bowl and began dishing a healthy portion of Giles’ culinary endeavors onto her plate. Just before digging in, she looked over at her slightly disheveled partner. "After food, though, we’ll continue where we left off, babe, I promise."
He shook his head slightly to clear it. "Uhm, well, dinner first, then training, don’t forget. But after that, I’m going to hold you to your promise, young lady." He tried to give her a stern look, but failed miserably. The corners of his mouth kept turning up on him. He scooted up to the table and waited for her reaction. He enjoyed cooking, and it was certainly more fun when he could share it with someone. Buffy’s hearty appetite made it all the more enjoyable.
She took a huge bite of pasta, and hummed appreciatively. "Rupert, love, this is good! What is it?"
"Vegetable pasta primavera. I tried something new."
"I Love it! Am I ever glad I married a man who likes to cook..." She took another healthy bite and closed her eyes happily.
He helped himself to some pasta, but before he took a bite, he commented casually, "So glad you like it, my dear. Just don’t forget our kitchen rule this time. One cooks, the other cleans up."
She frowned and wrinkled her nose at him. "Meanie! Spoil my happies with your nasty rules, will you? No more smoochies for Rupert!"
He shrugged impassively. "No smoochies for Rupert means no smoochies for Buffy, remember."
She made a face at him. "You’d rather me do dishes than jump your bones? You’re weird."
"Buffy..." Giles gave her a warning look and fought down a smile at her incredulous expression.
She pouted prettily. "Legalist."
He raised an eyebrow in response. She did her best to out stare him. It didn’t work.
Finally, she threw up her hands in mock surrender, grinning at his determined look. "Okay, okay! I’m on dish duty." She smiled a crafty smile, and continued, "But, you could help me dry... it’s a lot more fun that way."
"Do you imagine for one moment that any dishes would actually get washed if I did?"
She burst into giggles at his smug expression. "Conceited, much? I think I can resist you long enough to wash a few pots and pans, unless fondling dish towels really turns you on."
He immediately sat up stiffly in his chair, then said in his most supercilious tone, "We shall see, then, shan’t we?" He managed to keep a straight face for all of fifteen seconds, then the ghost of a grin began to play across his face.
Buffy could barely eat for laughing.
********
Rupert Giles was looking forward to a marvelous evening. When Buffy was happy, the world was happy, whether it wanted to be or not, and that made him happy. He resolved to savor every moment of her upbeat mood. It was, in a word, exhilarating.
They discussed her new job as they ate. The opportunity to contribute financially, small though it was, quite obviously thrilled Buffy to no end. Giles understood the feeling completely. Money wasn’t a worry; they were getting along quite well on his University salary. He recognized the job as a statement of individuality on her part... something she would do entirely on her own. From her description of the gym owners, it sounded like an easy-going, relaxed atmosphere... ideally suited to a free spirit like Buffy. He wanted to let her try her wings, even if he had to curb his naturally protective nature to do it.
After their meal, Buffy actually did wash the dishes, and he did dry, even though he had to endure her usual horseplay with soap bubbles and the spray nozzle. He responded rather enthusiastically in kind, and by the time the chore was done they were both damp, relaxed and cheerful. His Slayer’s slightly warped sense of fun had rubbed off on him to a large degree in their years together. The bubbly attitude that he had at first labeled as ‘childish’ proved to be much more than that. She had an unyielding sense of optimism about her that he loved, and she wasn’t afraid to express her pleasure when something good happened.
As they warmed up in the exercise room for their evening workout, his mind drifted back to the events of the past two years. He thought about the sad, hurting girl she had been after defeating Angel and closing Acathla’s portal. Running away did nothing to ease that sorrow, and she had returned, tentative and afraid, not sure of being welcomed home. How far she had come since then! She had overcome amazing obstacles to become a bright, cheery, and responsible young lady. She was a joy to be around.
"Being in love with the right guy does that to a girl, y’know." Giles turned and smiled at her, a little embarrassed at becoming so lost in his own thoughts. The meaning behind her words slowly sank in, and his expression went from embarrassment to delight. She patted his shoulder gently, then broke the sweet mood by adding, "But don’t get all big-headed about it, okay, cause I’m gettin’ ready to kick your butt."
He gave her a challenging look. "Oh, really?"
"Yes, really." She mimicked his inflection perfectly. She bounced on her toes in anticipation. "C’mon, Romeo, let’s party! Winner gets... anything she wants!"
He grinned at her as they faced off with quarterstaves to begin their session. "Anything he wants, you meant to say."
She whirled the staff above her head, spinning it like a cheerleader would spin a baton. The air whistled around it as she retorted, "Ooooo, you challenge me, sir? Watch out, ‘cause I feel really energetic tonight." She stopped the whirling weapon abruptly, then settled into a fighting stance.
He matched her position, waiting for her to make the first move. "As do I. Bring it on, m’dear. I’m quite ready for you."
She barked a laugh at him. "Tell me that again later, and see what happens."
The thought of just what might happen distracted him for a split second, and he suddenly found himself on his back on the floor. He gave a strangled growl and jumped to his feet, irritated that he had been so easily outwitted, and a little miffed at Buffy for taking advantage of it. He spun his quarterstaff more cautiously as they squared off again. The sting from his impact with the floor reminded him to keep his mind on the present.
Buffy smirked at him as he focused on the contest. It was all she could do to keep from laughing out loud... she loved a good sparring match, and few humans on this earth came as close to matching her skill as her Watcher. He was in rare form lately, challenging her at every turn. She alternately loved it and hated it, but she was never coddled, and rarely bored.
The mock battle went on for a good while, but finally the Slayer’s superior strength, speed and stamina won out. The third time he landed on his backside, he held up a hand, stopping the action. He gulped a few lungfuls of air before admitting, "I think I’ve had enough ‘staff meetings’ for one night, love. Shall we move on?"
She laughed dutifully at his little joke, and extended a hand to help him to his feet. "What next? Running or aerobics? I’m good for either."
A year ago he would have collapsed and told her to run by herself, or followed in the car. He was in far better shape now, so he grabbed a bottle of water and shrugged. His breathing had already begun to level out, a fact that surprised him slightly. His curious mind latched onto the small detail, and he reached for his pulse point, glancing at the large clock on the wall to count off ten seconds.
Eleven seconds later, his eyes registered surprise. His heart rate had slowed in less than a minute to a comfortable resting rate. His breathing was nearly normal in the same amount of time. Buffy noticed his preoccupation, and took advantage of the break to stretch her calf muscles in anticipation of their evening run. She watched him as he concentrated fiercely for a few minutes, effectively blocking her from his thoughts. She waited for him to reestablish their Bond so he could explain why his eyebrows had decided to crawl up under his hair.
Finally, his thoughts coalesced into something she could read. It was her turn to react with surprise as she began to understand why he had reacted the way he did.
‘My physiology has adapted rather well to our increased training schedule.’ She smiled slightly... his vocal inflections invaded even his deepest thoughts, as thought he was speaking into her mind. ‘If we were talking about your stamina, that would be of some interest, but I am not a teenager. My vital signs should reflect my age, but the exact opposite appears to be true.’
She grinned at his consternation. "Bein’ around me is good for ya, Rupert. Maybe I’m like Wheaties, or something!"
He smiled again, still a little concerned. "Could be, I suppose. You have been awfully good for me." He winked evilly as he added, "And good to me, as well. Shall we test that with a nice long run? Or would that tire you out too much for later... activities?"
Once again, she accepted his challenge. "C’mon, tough guy, let’s book. But don’t expect me to carry you home!"
"Wouldn’t dream of putting you out, love. Now, try to keep up, all right?"
Twenty-seven minutes later they stood on their doorstep, breathing heavily. Buffy gaped at her watch as she realized they had just completed their run in record time. They had a set path mapped out, and knew exactly how far they had come. She wasn’t completely winded, but she had pushed herself a little, just to see if he could keep pace. He had, easily, and even outdistanced her on the final block home.
She waited until they had gone inside to voice her surprise. "Babe, you’re not gonna believe this, but you just came close to setting a new land speed record. And you’re not having a stroke, or anything!"
She brushed his damp hair back and looked at his face. His eyes were bright, his face slightly flushed, but not excessively so. He was breathing deeply, but comfortably. She held a hand to his brow, testing his temperature, and suddenly realized that his face seemed less lined than she remembered. She was about to comment on that remarkable fact when he seized her hand and kissed it hungrily. His eyes flashed as he drew her to him and whispered into her hair, "I seem to remember something about continuing where we left off earlier..." His voice trailed off as he covered her neck with heated kisses, pressing against her urgently. "Shall we call a ‘staff meeting’ of an entirely different kind, hmmm?"
Her giggle was interrupted by sudden gasp of pleasure as his hand began to explore underneath her top. Her mind spun slowly out of control, but she managed to quip, "I now call this meeting to order..."
"First order of business," His voice was nothing but a low growl. "Is this..." He kissed her savagely, ravishing her mouth, knowing she would meet him strength for strength. Their tongues danced frantically, and somewhere in the back of her mind, she decided she really had nothing to worry about. She forgot all about his newfound stamina and concentrated on how his mouth felt on her skin, and that thought kept her occupied for quite a long time.
********
Moonlight bathed his face as he slept, washing away time and care, highlighting his chiseled features. Buffy gazed down at him, content. He slept soundly and quietly, breathing easily and deeply with just a hint of a smile on his face. She felt a sudden surge of satisfaction at the thought that she had put the smile there.
It had only been in the past few weeks that his sleep had been uninterrupted. He had always been a restless sleeper; waking at the slightest noise or rousing from a half-remembered nightmare. Often, in those early months together, she had found him downstairs on the couch with his nose in a book and a cup of tea at his lips. More recently, however, he had been sleeping like a baby. In fact, he was so still and quiet she kept waking up and checking to see if he was still breathing.
She reached over and ran the back of her fingers down his cheek. He snuggled into the caress, sighing happily, then relaxed back into deep slumber. She slid down, spooning against his back, and closed her eyes. As she drifted into pleasant repose, she wondered briefly if this recent spurt of good heath was something Hellmouth-y. In her experience, strange occurrences usually were. Sleep claimed her before she could follow the thought.
********
Ever the dutiful husband, Giles kept his word and drove Buffy to her first afternoon at the gym. She was so busy gathering her ‘working clothes’ and making sure her ‘face was on straight’ she didn’t notice the absence of his dress shirt and tie. He was wearing a gray-blue henley shirt and dockers... not his usual ‘teacherwear.’ If she had noticed, it might have surprised her that he had rushed home to change clothes just to escort her to work. She also neglected to spot his gym bag sitting in the back seat of the car.
They chatted casually as he walked her into the lobby area. His practiced eye examined the room for signs of misrepresentation. All was as it should be... a reception area, complete with receptionist and signs for registration, light gray walls, music blaring from hidden speakers, and a dozen or so people working with free weights. There were several more people using the Nautilus equipment under the watchful eyes of two strong-looking men. Their armbands identified them as ‘staff.’ A third staff member was concentrating on his own workout, his muscles bulging and gleaming from the effort.
Giles’ eyes narrowed as he scanned the room for potential trouble. His lady was a true beauty, and he wasn’t about to pretend that no one would notice. ‘I’ll just stay around for a bit, check things out, maybe lift a few weights... nothing overly protective, but just in case...’
Buffy raised an eyebrow and responded verbally to his unspoken thoughts. "Jealous, much? Oh, wow, you really are! Silly man. I am so taken it’s pathetic." She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek as he flushed at her sentiment. With a decidedly licentious look, she stood on tiptoe and whispered, "The only ‘staff meetings’ I’m interested in are ours." His face went from pink to beet red, but he found himself grinning from ear to ear. Satisfied, she headed to the dressing room, waving jauntily at the girl behind the desk.
The receptionist examined Giles from head to toe before shaking her head and going back to her computer screen. He caught the perusal out of the corner of his eye, and tried to maintain a nonchalant air as he approached the desk. ‘No reason to be rude,’ he thought, ‘since that look she just gave me seemed to be complimentary.’ He tried a small, friendly smile, hoping it didn’t seem too forward. "Hello, I’d like to sign up for a trial membership, please, Miss. My wife..." he gestured in the direction Buffy had gone, "is going to work here after school. I might as well get a little exercise in the process."
The girl snickered. "You don’t look like you need any exercise. Matter of fact, you look pretty fit. But, they’d shoot me if I turned down a potential customer, so if you’ll fill out this front part of the registration form, we’ll get things started." She unconsciously batted her eyes at him, and he almost did a double-take. He caught himself just in time, grabbed the clipboard and pen, and retreated to a chair to complete his assignment.
He filled in the blanks on auto-pilot, waiting impatiently for Buffy to re-emerge. He really hated to let her out of his sight, even for just a few minutes. He hated even more to leave her in a room full of hormone-charged body-builders...
‘Good Lord, old man!’ He chided himself, shocked at his juvenile behavior. ‘Stop acting like a love-struck schoolboy. She’s your wife, and she’s permanently yours by her own choice. Don’t get her fired her first day because you want to play jealous husband.’
Buffy’s hearty agreement filtered into his thoughts from across the gym. Her reaction made him laugh aloud, which brought him several strange looks from the people around him. He finished the application in silence, then handed it back to the receptionist.
"I suppose I should ask how much this is going to cost me before I sign on the dotted line, eh?" He tempered the statement with another restrained smile, and he saw her flush slightly before she answered. ‘Dear God, I’m not flirting with her... at least I hope I’m not. It’s been too long for me to remember for sure...’
"Uh, okay, Mr., uh, Giles... uh, Giles?" She pronounced his name with a soft ‘g’ the first time, but amended it as soon as she saw him shake his head in admonition. She got it right the second time, and he rewarded her with a genuine smile. She blushed again, looking as if she’d been given a dozen roses. "Okay, since your wife is working here, you get a discount. Here’s the price list for employees. If you wanna pay by credit card or cash, you can start using the equipment today. Personal checks have to clear the bank first... it usually only takes a couple of days."
He handed her his Visa. "I think I’ll start right now, unless that presents a problem."
"Oh, that’d be fab! Uh, I mean, you can start anytime you want." She leaned around the dividing wall and shouted, "James? Hey, could you show a new guest around?"
The burly young man carefully detached himself from the butterfly machine and draped a towel around his neck. The fellow looked like a youthful Arnold Swartzenegger... tall, blond, and buff. He smiled his best ‘new customer’ smile, and shook Giles’ hand, making an impressed face at the strength of his grip. "Hi, there, I’m James, and I’m one of the coaches. Mr...."
"Giles," the receptionist called out.
"Thanks, Susan. Mr. Giles, what kind of training are you interested in? We’re expanding, so if we don’t have what you need just now, we just might have it in a month or two. If you’re into Tae Bo, we’re starting a new class tonight."
"I know. My wife is teaching the class." Giles couldn’t help gloating inwardly at James’ expression of envy and admiration.
"The new instructor’s your wife? Woah, are you a lucky man!"
"I’m well aware of that." He smiled to take the edge off the statement.
"Uh, okay, Mr. Giles, if you’ll follow me around for a few, I’ll show you the layout, then you can change and try stuff out..."
A little over two hours passed quickly as James walked Giles through all the available equipment. The young body builder was impressed with Giles’ wiry strength, and they fell into easy conversation as they worked. Giles failed to notice that several of the ladies had stopped working out to watch him. James watched with amusement as the oblivious man concentrated on learning the unfamiliar machinery. ‘Yep. He’s definitely taken. Those other girls don’t stand a chance. I wonder if any of ‘em might be desperate enough to take second best...’ he grinned and brought his attention back to his guest, adjusting the pads on the ab machine until they were comfortable for Giles.
Giles himself was feeling no pain. The workout only heightened his senses, and he wasn’t tired at all. The thrill of mastering something new always exhilarated him. The pounding rock-n-roll music provided a perfect tempo for pacing. He decided he liked the place. He only hoped Buffy didn’t feel too stifled by his presence. He was looking forward to spending his afternoons working out.
He had just finished a Nautilus circuit when he felt a tap on his shoulder. He looked up from where he was straddling a workout bench, and saw a glowing Buffy smiling at him. He relaxed as her emotional reaction indicated she was glad he was here. He never noticed when several disappointed females sighed and returned to their own training.
"Hey, gorgeous, how was the workout? You didn’t wear Jimmy out, did you?" She waved at her new co-worker as he assisted another lifter across the room. He grinned back and gave her the ‘OK’ sign in response.
"No, love, I think I left him with a modicum of energy. So, how was your first night as instructor?"
She patted his cheek happily. "I am soooo liking this. I had ten people in the first class and seven in the second. They all kept up pretty well, actually. And I feel great! This martial art-exercise stuff is definitely me."
"That’s wonderful! Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to shower and change. If you’re very good, perhaps I might be persuaded to stop for frozen yogurt on the way home."
"Oooo! I oughta bring you to the gym more often... makes you generous!" She kissed his cheek quickly, then whispered, "And you know I’m always very good."
* * * * *
It was nearly midnight, and someone was leaning on the doorbell. Buffy groped around in the darkness for a robe, not caring if it was hers or his. It had been a most energetic evening, and she wasn’t thinking about the gym, either. Ol’ Rupert certainly had found his second wind... and his third, and... Yawning, she stumbled down the stairs and yelled, "Keep your shirt on, will ya? I’m comin’." She swung the door open, going from annoyed sleepiness to full-blown amazement. The last person on earth she expected to see was standing on the doorstep.
Leave it to Cordelia Chase to pop in at the most inconvenient time possible.
"Geez, Buffy, how long does it take to answer the door? Or were you and Tweed Man still gettin’ busy?"
Buffy was speechless. She hadn’t seen Cordy in almost a year, and here she was, acting like they’d had pizza the day before.
"Look, save the shock and dismay, okay? I need to come in before I’m dinner for the fang gang."
Buffy stood aside, still unable to think of a thing to say. She heard soft footsteps on the stairs, and looked up just as Giles came down, wearing only his pajama bottoms and glasses. He looked so good without a shirt that she smiled up at him in spite of her stupor.
"Who on earth would be ringing our doorbell at midnight... oh, hullo, Cordelia! This is a surprise. What brings you to our neck of the woods?"
It was Cordelia’s turn to stare, speechless, as Giles joined Buffy at the bottom of the stairs. His hand automatically reached for his wife, giving her back a gentle caress and coming to rest around her waist. Buffy was still staring at Cordy, and Cordy was still staring at him. He looked back and forth at the two girls, confused, then shrugged and walked between them to close the front door. Buffy had forgotten all about it.
Finally, Cordelia’s mighty vocal chords rallied, and she shrieked, "OHMYGOSH! GILES! What have you done to yourself?"
He looked down, suddenly realizing he was naked from the waist up, and started apologizing. "Oh, my, uhm, ah, sorry to greet a guest like this, but, Buffy, you took my robe, and I can’t very well wear yours, unless you really want to see me in peach satin." He considered for a moment, then decided the damage had already been done, so he waved the girls into the living room and took a seat. "Cordelia. Why are you here? Not that we aren’t pleased to see you."
"Sure you are. But, that’s not important... My God, Giles, have you had a face lift? And where’d the gray hair go? I didn’t figure you for a ‘Just for Men’ kinda guy! You haven’t been casting spells again, have you? I thought Egyhon would’ve been lesson enough for any adult, much less you." Giles just glared at her, refusing to answer.
Buffy shook herself as Cordy’s words sunk in. "He’s been working out, Cordy."
Cordy snorted derisively. "Takes more than working out to turn back the clock like that, believe me. Giles, you look... great. Never mind, I have more important things to discuss. I’m here because Angel..."
Buffy automatically stiffened. She hadn’t laid eyes on him in almost two years, and she was content to let that lapse continue indefinitely. She wasn’t sure just how he had come back, and she certainly didn’t want to know now. He wasn’t her Angel any more... maybe he had never been. She most certainly wasn’t the same Buffy.
She glanced at Giles, worried about his reaction. His face was impassive, but she heard him growl mentally, then shrug the emotion off. Curiosity won out, and he fell into Watcher Mode.
Cordelia continued, oblivious. "...says there’s this big wicked power source shooting out of Sunnydale like a giant searchlight. Sounds really stupid, but it has him worried. He’s afraid it’s, like, a giant Bat Signal for demons. So, I decided to pop in on you guys, the original creep fighters, and see what you know, before I head over to Wesley the Wimp’s with all this paperwork and get bored out of my skull." She sighed. "I don’t know how Faith stands it."
Giles stood decisively, and said, in his best Watcher voice, "Well, then, I’ll go get my books. You ladies can talk girl talk while I check a few references in the library. I’ll be back in a bit."
"You have a library here? Oh, excuse me, I forgot who I was talking to for a minute."
As soon as he was out of the room, Cordy leaned over to Buffy and stage whispered, "Okay, Buffy, give! What happened to Giles? He’s actually young-looking, and buff.. and cute. Way strange. And his hair is a lot longer than I’ve seen it before, and not gray."
Her persistence made Buffy stop and think. When had he started looking younger? She had no idea. "I don’t know when... I never noticed until a few days ago, really. I guess I thought he looked so good ‘cause I loved him, not ‘cause he was actually, uh, un-aging."
"I’ve heard of love being blind, but this is ridiculous. He’s dropped ten, fifteen years, at least! I mean, granted, late thirties is still not young, but..."
"He’s forty-six, Cordy."
"No way! I’m telling you, something’s doing the anti-old thing on your honey. You guys had better find out what’s going on, before he hits sixteen again."
Buffy blanched at that thought. She was not anxious for Teen-Ripper to put in an appearance.
"Okay, we’ll research the fountain of youth after we research your searchlight from Hell."
********
"Well, then, what have we learned so far?" Giles leaned over Buffy’s shoulder in a familiar, and somewhat comforting, pose.
Buffy frowned. "Not much. The power thingie is neutral, not bad or good. It just is. It goes along with the Hellmouth, kinda like a safety valve, but something’s bleeding the power off, and that is definitely not good. Sounds like the prelude to a demon-y coming-out party."
He began to pace. "I was afraid of that. Not a lot of information from my sources, either. The existence of the power stream is noted by every Watcher that chronicled the activities of a Hellmouth, but nothing was written about its potential, its strength, or its possible misuse." He surprised them both by slamming the ancient book down on the table, raising a huge cloud of dust that would have been comical, if the situation hadn’t been so frustrating. "These bloody books are useless! Watchers! They meticulously record what time they brush their teeth every morning, but can’t pay attention when a mysterious power source fluctuates wildly right under their noses!"
Buffy put a soothing hand on his shoulder. The contact calmed him immediately, and he looked at the two startled girls sheepishly. "Sorry, I shouldn’t be letting this get the best of me. I... uhm... well, sorry."
Cordelia sent an ‘I told you so’ look to Buffy. Buffy gulped, and nodded. "Uh, Rupert, I think we may have two problems going on, here." He looked baffled, so she continued. "One is the power thingie, and the other is... you."
"Me? What’s the problem with me? Other than a short fit of pique?"
"Have you looked in a mirror lately? You’re changing. I thought, for the better, until just now."
"Changing? How?" He stepped over to the mirror hanging by the door, and gave himself a good look. He started to turn and say something, then he took another look. He took off his glasses and looked a third time. His hand stole upward to his face, feeling the smooth skin around his eyes and mouth. He pulled at his hair, noting its lack of silver highlights. "Oh. Good Lord." Understanding began to dawn, and he replaced his glasses as if in a daze. He turned slowly and pulled up a chair, turning it backwards and straddling the seat. He rested his forehead on the back and fell silent.
"Back to the research." Buffy handed Cordy another book, and they started all over again.
********
After hours of fruitless searching, Cordelia gave them a ride to Wesley’s place, calling ahead to warn the Watcher that she had company. She breathed a sigh of relief when she found out that Faith was out patrolling. ‘No nasty confrontations... yet. I’ve never been one of Faith’s favorite people.’ She mused, as she pulled into the driveway of a small apartment complex.
Wesley Wyndam-Price was overjoyed at the opportunity to flex his Official-Watcher muscles for the benefit of the famous and revered Rupert Giles. He tried not to look smug, failed miserably as usual, and set about to call the Council with this new puzzle. To Buffy’s surprise, Giles didn’t object. He still was a bit overwhelmed by his renewed youth and vigor, and was wearing a hole in Wesley’s dining room rug. Every few laps, he would stop, bounce a few times on his toes, pop his knuckles, and resume pacing.
Wesley finished his cryptic over-seas conversation, and rejoined his three guests at the dining room table. Three worried, but hopeful pairs of eyes focused on him as he nervously cleaned his glasses and replaced them on his nose. He tried to look as if he had good news, but after a few seconds, he shook his head. Three people sighed heavily. Giles started pacing again.
"You don’t think this is permanent, do ya, Wes?" Buffy gave her pacing husband a worried look. "Not that I mind him being young, it’s kinda nice, but I’d hate for him to have to relive sixteen. I’d hate for me to have to relive him being sixteen. I don’t even wanna relive sixteen, and it hasn’t been that long." She rolled her eyes dramatically. "Everything’s so life-and-death when you’re sixteen."
Wesley nodded in agreement. Giles stopped pacing long enough to mirror the nod, and it struck Cordelia that the two men looked to be about the same age. She pointed at Giles. "Oh, hey, this thing is moving faster and faster. He looks younger than Wesley now."
Wesley took a step closer to Giles, studying him closely. Giles leaned away from the intense gaze, wincing slightly. Wesley took no notice of the recoil, standing almost nose-to-nose with the former Watcher. "Hmmm. Yes. Yes, I can see a difference, just since you arrived. It is, as a matter of fact, accelerating. Yes. I think we can assume, for the moment, that this phenomenon is related to the power source we are researching. According to Angel’s data, the drain on its supernatural power has been steadily increasing since it first appeared some months ago. Only recently has it become pronounced enough to be worrisome."
"Dear God, was I ever that pompous?" Giles snorted in disgust.
Buffy stifled the urge to laugh. He glared over his shoulder at her as she giggled silently. "Thanks, love, for the vote of confidence." She sent him a soothing thought through the Bond, and he smiled, forgiving her instantly. They connected solidly through their mental link for the first time since Cordelia arrived, and they both realized something at the same time.
"The Bond!" They shouted in unison.
Buffy turned, wide-eyed, to Wesley and Cordelia. "It’s channeling the power somehow!"
"It’s causing me to retrogress!" Giles grinned happily at the discovery and his ability to remember a nicely stuffy word.
"Retro-what?"
"I’m getting younger." He patted his chest for emphasis.
Buffy swung to face Wesley. "What if he’s the source of the power drain?"
"Can we shut it off? Not that shedding a few years isn’t appealing, in fact..."
"Maybe we could, like, put a cork in it, or something!" Buffy slapped her flattened right hand against her raised left fist, making a distinctive popping sound.
"...I wouldn’t mind staying a little younger." Giles finished, bounced on his toes, too wired to stand still. "All the better to keep up with you, my dear," he said in a decidedly salacious tone, and winked at her. She felt herself blushing, and tried to keep the conversation on topic.
"You’re hard enough to live with in normal Rupert-mode, babe. I don’t know if I can stand five to ten with Ripper."
"I’m not Ripper! I just look like Ripper... and I, well, feel like Ripper, but I’m your Rupert. Really, luv, I am!"
Cordelia looked highly skeptical of this claim. "You look like Ripper, you feel like Ripper. You’re Ripper."
Giles shook his head and gave her a sneer. "Nah, I’m not!" He froze, horrified. "Did I just say, "Nah?" I didn’t say that, did I?" He clapped a hand to his forehead in disgust.
Buffy turned a desperate face towards Wesley again. "This is really messing him up, Wes! He could lose his job if he shows up tomorrow like this. Can we make it stop?"
Wesley tried to keep up with the rapid fire conversation, but he was becoming dizzy, so he stopped them with a raised hand. "Please! One step at a time. First, we have to identify the connection between the power source and our Mr. Giles, then we’ll see what we can do about it. This looks like a job for Willow. Can you call her?"
Buffy hopped up from her chair and grabbed the phone. "Sure, no problem. She’s used to me calling her at two in the morning. At least, she used to be."
"And I’ll try to contact Faith, and get her to meet us here. She’s not much for research, but she does have a certain touch dealing with demons." Wesley sounded just a tad boastful.
Buffy smiled at his obvious pride in his Slayer. Maybe there was potential Bond material in him, after all.
********
"Okay, guys, take a look at this!" Willow didn’t look or sound like a person who had been rudely awakened from a sound sleep. She had appeared at Wesley’s in under ten minutes, bright-eyed and enthusiastic, quickly set up her laptop on the dining room table, and started her search. It had taken her another ten minutes to find the first clue.
She waved the others over and scooted the chair back to allow them to see the screen. They huddled around the small computer, hoping for a solution that wouldn’t leave Giles in diapers.
Giles read the small words easily, his glasses forgotten on the coffee table. No one noticed but Buffy, and her face registered pleased surprise, then worry. She looked back at the screen and tried to concentrate.
There wasn’t much to build her hopes on in the cryptic statements in front of her.
They finished reading and straightened almost simultaneously. Giles fidgeted in the background as Buffy turned to Wesley, fear plain on her face. "Well, Wes? Do your Watcher Thing. Figure this out. Give me something to fight!"
Giles laughed harshly, startling everyone but Buffy. She had heard the sound before. He returned to pacing, fists balled tightly in frustration. In a deceptively light-hearted voice, he said, "Don’t leave me out of the loop just ‘cause I look different! I still remember all this stuffy data, but it’s getting harder to put it into stuffy words. What we read just now... the power source has tides, like the ocean, right?"
"Yes, that’s right." Wesley tried to sound neutral and non-threatening. Giles at forty-six was not a man to get on the bad side of. Ripper was just as dangerous, and twice as volatile.
"So, we’re at high tide now, right?"
Willow’s eyes widened. Her mouth formed an ‘O’ as the implications hit her. Giles spun around and faced her, knowing she was following. His eyes encouraged her to draw the same conclusion he had.
"And what follows high tide, ducks?"
"Ebb tide... oh! We need a timetable, pronto! Something so we’ll know when it’s weakest, and can be plugged again! If we try too soon, the force of the flow will push the cork out!"
"Ohhhh, she’s quick, she is." Giles crooned, and Willow blushed brightly.
Wesley harrumphed, uncomfortable with the simplistic explanation... and the strange metaphor. "Well, actually..."
Giles grabbed his shirtfront before anyone could react. Their eyes met as Giles growled, "It’ll work, won’t it?"
Wesley nodded, stammering, "I-I-I b-believe it w-will!"
Giles let him go, and resumed his marching. "Then we’d best get cracking. I’m havin’ t’ fight the itch to take off an’ go cruisin’."
********
At four o’clock in the morning, the researchers stopped and took stock of what they knew. The power source ebbed and flowed in fourteen hour intervals, give or take a few seconds either way. During each outbreak, the current Watcher had recorded the time frame; Angel’s calculations had confirmed the data. With every high tide, the power emanation grew, until it was almost visible at night to those with magick-sensitive eyes. It remained at full strength for three nights, then quickly waned into insignificance. The entire cycle took almost a year to complete. They were one day away from the apex.
They still had no idea why the connection had been established between the power source and Giles. It was obvious that the connection was there, however, since the anti-aging effect had accelerated at precisely the same time as the latest fluctuation. They decided to try to stop the effect, and worry about the why of it when they had more time, for time was quickly running out.
Wesley cleared his throat once the final calculations had been made, and began explaining what the figures meant. The curve of influence was so steep that, in less than twenty-four hours, barring outside intervention, Giles would be reduced to near infancy. Wesley also surmised that he would be unable to communicate with them on an adult level after sixteen hours. The ebb of the fluctuation was mere hours away, so that became their deadline. They simply couldn’t wait another day for a better plan. Giles didn’t have another day.
After another hour of study and speculation, they drew their conclusions and decided on their plan of attack.
Faith walked in just as they were gathering their arsenal together. She sauntered up to Giles, standing a little closer than Buffy would have liked, and checked him out thoroughly. Her stance was a challenge, and the Ripper in him showed in his posture; he loomed over her, his face arrogant, daring her to comment.
Faith had the good sense to back off before Buffy lost her cool. She gave her Sister-Slayer an approving smile. "So, B. Whose butt do we kick this time?" She glanced back at Giles briefly, and shook her head. She leaned towards Buffy and confided, "I’d take him just like he is, if it was me. He’s hot."
Wesley gave his young charge a warning look, and headed for the door. "It’s time to go, people. The sooner we curtail this runaway energy emanation, the sooner we free Mr. Giles of its influence, and the sooner our lives go back to relative normality."
Giles gave a short half-laugh. "Pompous ass." He sounded more amused than derisive. Faith laughed out loud as the rest of them tried to hide their smiles. Wesley wisely declined to comment.
Armed to the teeth with every imaginable weapon possible, the small team piled into Wesley’s car and started for the source of their dilemma... the sunken church that had been the site of Buffy’s fatal confrontation of the Master... the last place on earth any of them wanted to be... the Door of the Hellmouth.
And, they were going to swing over it... with water pistols.
* * * * *
Wesley drove in silence, thinking about the job ahead. Willow checked and rechecked the Super-Soakers, guarding every drop of holy water as if it was made of gold. Actually, it was far more valuable than that. She methodically tightened the makeshift connections that tripled each plastic toy’s capacity. She counted the gallon jugs of reserve water resting on the floorboard of the car, making sure she knew just how many there were. Concentrating on the little details allowed her to avoid thinking about the last time she’d stared into the open Hellmouth and fought one of the creatures that emerged from it.
Cordelia and Faith sat scrunched in back next to Buffy... well, not exactly next to her, since Buffy was sitting on Giles’ lap. They were doing a startlingly accurate imitation of a couple at Lover’s Lane. Cordy rolled her eyes and avoided watching them. Even if he did look about the right age now, he was still Giles, and therefore rated an automatic eww in the kiss department. She contented herself with staring at Wesley’s profile, wondering if he’d ever loosen up. Probably not, she decided.
Buffy almost wished the ride would take a good long time. Her Rupert would never make out with her in the back seat of a car, with their friends actually present. It just wasn’t his idea of fun... but this Rupert... oh, boy, he wasn’t quite so reserved... and he still knew how to kiss. His hands were roaming, surreptitiously, and she found herself wishing they were back at home, in the privacy of their bedroom, where she could do a more detailed comparison of this Rupert and her Rupert. She had to remind herself that this Rupert was a part of what became her Rupert, but only a part. She suddenly found herself longing for the return of her forty-six year old, tweed-clad, practical, old-fashioned and familiar light of her life.
Their close contact assured that the Bond was in full force, and Giles was almost overcome by the rush of love that poured from Buffy and engulfed him. He met the emotional onslaught with one of his own; passionate, stubbornly hopeful, and, as always, fiercely protective. He didn’t want to stop holding her, kissing her, sharing his innermost feelings with her. Their communion bordered on desperation as they clung to the vestiges of their relationship, knowing that he could slip below the threshold of adulthood and beyond her grasp at any moment.
He drew back, breathless. He took her face in his hands and gazed into her deep blue eyes. His jaw worked as he tried to find something to say, something from his heart. His jade eyes implored her to understand, conveying what he could not put into words.
She shushed him gently. "It’s okay, you don’t have to say anything." She took in his smooth features, the wavy, unkempt hair, and realized ‘he’s beautiful! He’s always been beautiful... For so long I was just too blind to see...’
Finally, he murmured, "I don’t wanna get out of the car, I don’t want... anything to mess this up, what we have. I want... it to be like it was before. I..." He let out a shaky sigh, "...I’m scared, Buffy."
She smiled, resting her forehead against his. "So’m I, babe. We’re all scared. But, this is how we deal. We see big trouble, we get scared, we charge in anyway, we kick butt, and then we party. It’s what we do."
"I love you," he said, his voice still quivering.
"Love you back." She giggled, trying to lighten their mood. "And ‘you front,’ too."
He laughed in spite of his fear.
Wesley pulled up to the safety gate that barred entrance into the sewer run-off. He stepped out and nonchalantly cut the chain in two with a large set of wire nips, then drove down to the access tunnel. This was the closest access point to the Hellmouth, but they still had fifteen or twenty minutes of walking to do, and in hostile, vampire-ridden territory as well. As he helped Willow gather their supplies, he glanced in the rearview mirror at the couple behind him. He couldn’t hear what they were saying, but there was no mistaking the soulful looks. He felt a pang of sympathy. He couldn’t imagine what it would be like to watch someone you love slip away right before your eyes. He steeled himself and got out of the car, armed to the teeth and determined.
He made sure Willow and Cordelia were well stocked with weapons and double-checked their water rifles as they waited for Buffy and Giles to join them. When they finally did, Wesley was startled to realize that Giles was now only slightly taller than Buffy. He had lost some bulk, as well, his frame slimmer and less muscled than before. He shushed Cordy before she could comment and handed Buffy her favorite stake and Giles two gallons of thrice-blessed holy water. Willow, ever kind-hearted, sent an encouraging smile to her best friend as they began their descent into the dark.
Just before Giles reached the entrance, he swore sharply, and began a frantic search of the ground around him. He became so agitated that the others came back into the open to see what was happening. Buffy finally had to grab his shoulders to get him to look at her. "What is it? Rupert, what’s wrong?"
"I’ve lost my wedding band! It slipped off my bloody finger... its gotta be right around here somewhere! I just had it in the car..." He began sweeping the area in arcs, trying to catch a glint of the bright metal in the cold glare of the street lights.
"We’ll find it when we come out." Buffy soothed, following him. "You can be sure no one’s gonna come down here and steal it in the dark."
He was almost sobbing. "But I haven’t taken it off since we got married, y’know? It’s bad luck, to take it off. It’s all I have left..."
Buffy cupped his face in her hands, gently raising it back to hers. "It’s not all you have left, not by a long shot." She kissed him with tender passion, and saw a gleam of hope in his eyes when she pulled away. "Now, let’s go get you straightened out. We can go ring-hunting later, okay, baby? I can call you baby now, and it doesn’t sound so weird, does it?"
"It’s not weird... I kinda like it. The ring, though, losing it... it hurts."
"I know. But we’ll get it all back, I promise."
The sewers were strangely empty of lurking vampires. No demon stepped out of the shadows to bar their passage. The tunnels seemed to lead nowhere and extend forever, but finally they reached the cavern that Buffy had vowed she never would return to again. She was terrified, but this was for her husband, her lover and friend, so she took a deep breath and strode in, leading the way.
It seemed so out-of-place... the pulpit with its desecrated cross, the pews, covered with dirt, slime and cobwebs, the chandeliers hanging at crazy angles. Legend told of the earth opening up and swallowing the little chapel after its pastor had gone over to the ‘dark side.’ She didn’t want to believe the story, but the place gave her a major wiggins just being there. Her personal history with the Master only heightened her nervousness.
Giles felt emotions boiling up within his Bond-mate, and stepped to her side protectively. He looked little more than sixteen now. The connection between them was weaker, but still there, and they grasped hands, savoring the link. As the group proceeded down the aisle, avoiding chunks of rock and wide cracks in the floor, they noticed a protective cloak of distortion hiding the Hellmouth entrance, and Buffy beckoned to Willow, inviting her to dispel the shroud.
Willow closed her eyes and held a hand out to the force field. Her eyes popped back open, and she said in bewilderment, "This isn’t magick! It’s electrical! Someone’s generating the shield!"
"Electric, you say? Let’s see what happens when I do this!" Faith stepped up and matter-of-factly shot a heavy stream of holy water at the top of the distortion field. It sputtered, sparked, and collapsed in on itself. They all tensed as they took in the scene revealed before them.
A man was standing with his back to them. A large metal collar surrounded his neck. Two heavy chains ran from either side of the neckpiece, anchoring its wearer firmly to the ground. He was surrounded by at least a dozen vampires, as well as a few other demonic creatures that Buffy couldn’t identify. They looked like a cross between a Chaos Demon and a Hellhound... which made them surpassingly ugly. The demon guard began snarling as their hiding place was unveiled, and they moved in a semi-circle to defend... what were they defending?
The thing they defended was sitting almost on top of the Hellmouth, straddling the pool’s surface on four long, thin metal legs. It looked like something out of a mad scientist’s worst nightmare... a maze of bubbling tubes, arcing static electricity, knobs and wires. A bluish glow surrounded the device, reflecting into a large, ornate mirror that had been carelessly strapped to the top of the machine. The beam was being redirected into a cavern recessed in the wall of the cave, its purpose hidden from view.
Buffy had a sudden feeling that she’d seen the human male somewhere before...
Giles knew that man... all too well. He snarled. The man turned in recognition at the sound.
Buffy and Willow saw who it was immediately. They shouted his name in unison...
"ETHAN!"
Ethan Rayne grinned widely at his sometime nemesis, despite the uncomfortable collar. "Ripper! My, you’re looking well! So good of you to rescue me! I was beginning to think you didn’t care."
The vampire guards attacked, and there was no time to engage in casual conversation. Between the super-soaker rifles and Cordelia’s triple-action crossbow, they managed to even the odds rather quickly. The hybrid demons were a different story, however. The holy water rolled off them, steaming, and Cordy had to stop and reload the crossbow, so she wasn’t much help. Buffy looked at Wesley, and they both shouted, "Swords!" as the demons attacked again. She didn’t have time to worry if Giles remembered how to handle a sword; she was busy fighting for her life.
Wesley was terrified of the slimy, fetid creature accosting him. Still, he kept his head and managed to keep the demon at bay. Giles, although physically weaker than any of them, was expertly dismembering his opponent... first an arm, then an ear, then a foot... before finishing it off with a proper beheading.
Obviously, he remembered how to use a sword.
He turned to assist Wesley, but stumbled on a large rock and fell directly into the power beam that reflected from Ethan’s device. The beam caught him, and he froze in mid-fall.
Buffy had just gutted her demon, when she felt the sudden loss of the connection between her and Rupert. She staggered a bit, weakened by its absence, then cried, "NOOOOO!" Sobbing in anguish, she turned, ignoring the last monster, and saw Giles imprisoned in blue light. She screamed his name and ran towards him, intending to hurl him out from the flow of supernatural power.
"Buffy, NO!" Ethan’s voice came out harshly strangled as he pulled against his restraints. "Leave him! It’s the only way!"
"No... no I can’t... Rupert!" She wailed, reaching for him. The beam sizzled, and she snatched her hand away with a cry of pain.
Willow and Faith dispatched the last demon as it tried to sneak up behind the distracted Ex-Slayer. Willow grabbed her satchel and held up her make-shift talisman so Ethan could see it. "I have this! It’s a cork!"
Ethan shook his head desperately. "It won’t work, little Willow. Ripper... Rupert... he’s the cork."
Buffy stood helplessly, tears streaming down her face, watching blue light dance off her husband’s face. "Why him?" she managed, her voice thin and tight with emotion.
"Well, you see, the local vampires kidnapped me and wanted me to resurrect the Master, using the regenerative power of this time-stream and some bone fragments they had saved. I couldn’t very well do that, now could I? So, I re-focused the stream, and used your little Bond to locate Rupert. The bloody idiot vampires had no idea of what I was doing. I used his psychic signature to open the portal wider, and only he can close it again. I had no idea what the effect would do to him, but I hoped it would bring you all here to handle the trouble and get me out of here. And stop the Master from being raised, of course."
"You had no idea... Ethan, I oughta kill you for almost killing him!" Buffy advanced on the prisoner, shaking in anger.
"Hey, now, I knew it wouldn’t kill him. At least, I felt sure it wouldn’t. From the looks of him, I’d say it didn’t do him any harm. In fact, he looks pretty healthy."
"Can he hear us? Does he know what to do in there? Will he be able to get out? How do we know when the flow is plugged?"
"One question at a time, Slayer! He can hear us, and I’ll just bet he’s already decided what he has to do."
"But, he’s only sixteen or seventeen now! How does he know?"
"In chronological age, you’re right. But it shouldn’t affect his memory... I hope." He shrugged, then winced as the collar dug into his neck. "Uh, Buffy, dear, do you mind? This is quite uncomfortable, and I would like to be free to destroy this device before any demonic reinforcements appear."
She snapped the chains with simple ease. Grasping the ends in one hand, she gave Ethan a severe shake. "You’d better hope he comes out all right, or you’re gonna suddenly become more intimately acquainted with this chain than you ever thought possible!"
"Buffy?" Willow’s small, frightened voice cut through the red haze of anger and caused Buffy to turn. Her friend was staring at Giles, too confused to say anything more.
Buffy saw the change immediately. Giles was aging rapidly, his features shifting painfully. His eyes were tightly shut, and he was chanting something she couldn’t hear. Terror shot through her, and she tugged Ethan over to stand in front of the time-stream. There was no mistaking the look of pure rage on her face.
He flinched and pulled away as far as the chains would allow. She dragged him back and pulled his face to within inches of hers. "Get him out. It’s hurting him. Do it now."
"Buffy, I told you, he has to stay until the stream is completely plugged."
She rewarded his refusal with a painful yank. "Get him out! He’s aging too fast. He’ll die in there!"
"It will balance out. At least, I think it will. He’ll go back to the age he was..."
"GET HIM OUT!" She dropped the chains and grabbed Ethan by the throat, raising him off the ground. His feet dangled helplessly. He managed to nod, and she released him. He dropped to his knees, coughing, and croaked, "The holy water... short out the machine... break the mirror..."
Faith reacted immediately, showering the device with a powerful spray from her water rifle. Willow and Cordelia joined her, and the cavern lit up with sparks and flames. Wesley dashed under the spray and reached for the mirror, smashing it with the hilt of his sword. He ducked several showers of sparks , but managed to get completely soaked before he could get away. Sputtering, he joined Faith in bathing the area of the Hellmouth pool with most of the remaining supply of water. The intense blue of the power stream faded until only a slight glow remained.
Buffy jumped to catch Giles before he fell, and cradled him in her arms. She gently lowered him to the ground, relieved to see him gasping for air. His eyes were unfocused and dull. She pushed the hair back from his forehead and called his name softly, willing him to respond. Long seconds passed, and still he didn’t recognize her. Finally, his eyelids drooped and he lost consciousness, slumping loosely in her grasp.
Ethan managed to crawl towards the pair, getting close enough to whisper, "Water... soak him in holy water. Wash the... residue... away."
Willow grabbed the last two gallons of holy water and ran to Buffy. They both tore the lids away and proceeded to douse Giles from head to toe. Faith added the last few drops from her super-soaker, then grabbed Willow’s plastic rifle and emptied it. Wesley took his jacket off and wrung it out over the unconscious man’s face. Cordelia looked around, then shrugged helplessly... that was the last of their water supply.
Buffy looked at Ethan. "Was it enough?"
Ethan stared at his former friend. He swallowed hard, and then rasped, "I don’t know. I’m sorry." He managed to stand, and slunk away into the shadows. Buffy let him go. There was no more anger in her, only fear.
"I’ll go over to St. Mary’s and ask Father Denning for more holy water. I’ll be back as quickly as I can." Wesley said gently. He turned to go, then called over his shoulder, "You might want to move him to the entrance whilst I’m gone. It would save time."
Buffy never took her eyes off Rupert’s face. "Yeah, that’s a good idea." She brushed his face softly with her fingertips, whispering, "C’mon, baby, wake up." She tried to connect with his thoughts, but his mind was completely quiescent. Her lower lip trembled as she held back her tears. "I can’t hear him, Willow. I can’t feel him..." Several tears escaped from her brimming eyes and ran down her cheeks. She didn’t seem to notice.
Willow stood and touched Buffy’s hair, stroking it back from her tearstained face. "Buffy, let’s get him outta here, okay?" The other three girls were crying now, even Faith, who was trying hard to hide her sniffling.
Cordelia gathered as many stakes as she could find, shouldered the spent water rifles, and waited for them to leave. Willow moved to help Buffy, but Buffy lifted Rupert’s larger frame easily, cradling him in her arms. She hitched him up until his head rested against her shoulder, and closed her eyes as she rubbed her cheek against his. His free arm dangled limply as she started for the tunnel. Willow led off with a flashlight, and Faith brought up the rear.
The solemn march to the surface seemed to last forever. To Willow and Cordelia, it felt like a funeral procession. Giles never stirred as Buffy carried him carefully, her face set in a mask of determination. Just as they neared the entrance, she saw the lights from Wesley’s car illuminate the last section of tunnel, and she sighed in relief. Now she could get what she needed to help Rupert.
To everyone’s surprise, the stocky figure of Father Denning got out of the car and started towards them. He was carrying a gallon jug in both hands, his broad face reflecting his concern. Wesley trotted right behind him, equally laden. As he approached Buffy, he nodded back towards the car. "We have five more gallons in the car, Buffy. We’ll soon get him sorted out."
Father Denning put his water down and held a hand to Giles’ forehead. He closed his eyes briefly, then stated, "He’s stable. We can take him home first, if you want." Buffy didn’t question his knowledge, just smiled gratefully. "Thank you, Father. Thank you, Wesley. Thank all you guys."
Faith touched Buffy’s arm briefly to get her attention. "Hey, if you don’t mind, B, I’ll just walk. It’s gonna be kinda crowded with the extra collar in there."
She flashed a saucy smile at the priest. He smiled back, taking no offense at the Slayer’s words.
She waved a quick good-bye, then watched as the others headed for the car.
They bundled Giles into the back of the car, stretched across Buffy, Cordelia, and Willow. Father Denning sat up front as Wesley drove as carefully as possible. It seemed as if an hour passed before they pulled up in the driveway behind Giles’ old Citroen. Buffy insisted on carrying Giles, as before. The others relented, understanding her need to keep contact with him.
She carried him upstairs and into the bathroom. Willow and Cordy started carrying the water up the stairs as the men waited awkwardly in the living room. She undressed him quickly and eased him into the tub, not worrying about the others seeing him naked. There wasn’t time for embarrassment. She glanced at the clock... almost six-thirty. She should be getting ready for school. But not today.
Nine gallons of water wasn’t quite enough to bathe a grown man, but Buffy made do. She made sure every inch of him was clean. She pictured in her mind how the water would wash all the tiny demons away. She pictured them swirling down the drain, screaming. She sent comfort and love through her touch and through the Bond, although the communication was still horribly one-sided. On an impulse, she saved a cup of the water, holding it to his lips and carefully forcing it down his throat. ‘It would be awful to drown him after all this,’ she thought.
The others left her alone, waiting for a miracle. They lingered in the kitchen over cups of coffee, not wanting to leave until they heard from their friend.
Giles began to shiver violently as the cool water chilled his already overwhelmed system. Buffy grabbed several towels and began to dry him, propping him against her until she finished. She carried him to the bed and slid him under the covers, trying to warm him. She finally slid in beside him, holding him close. After a few minutes, her body warmth began to soak in, and he stopped shivering. She started talking softly, hoping he could hear. She told him how they’d beaten the bad guys and saved the day. She told him he had been a cork for a little while. She told him how much she loved him, and then she kissed him, fresh tears splashing onto his face.
From the foggy no-man’s-land he was inhabiting, Rupert sensed the presence of the other half of his soul. It was raining; soft, warm, cleansing rain. He felt the cloying mud of unconsciousness break free and wash away, and he began to move towards her, guided by her soft voice. As his mind broke the surface of awareness, he realized Buffy was kissing him. ‘How nice,’ he thought. ‘I love waking up to her kisses.’ He reached for Buffy, and began responding to her kisses with rising intensity. She gasped as she realized he was truly back with her, then sobbed his name as she covered his face with kisses. Every tear that fell strengthened the Bond until it was firm and solid once again, joining them at the heart.
Instinct told Willow to check on her friends, and she was overjoyed to find them locked in a passionate kiss. She reddened in embarrassment, but stifled that feeling and shouted for the others. "Hey, Giles is awake, and I think he’s okay!" Buffy ignored Willow completely, concentrating only the feeling of his lips on hers. Willow watched for a while longer, then muttered under her breath, "Boy, is he ever okay!"
Father Denning examined him in his understated way, and pronounced him clean and healthy. The girls sat on the edge of the bed as Giles, Wesley, and the priest discussed what had happened. It had all been a blur, happening so quickly that there had been no time to put reasons and explanations to what had transpired. Wesley sank down onto the window seat, suddenly realizing how tired he was.
Father Denning stood comfortably between the bed and the window as they talked. As a man who had lived near the Hellmouth for forty years, he was the resident expert on its influence. The two Watchers gladly deferred to him, either out of respect for his office, or for his experience. Or perhaps, for both.
"We do know that the portal is still leaking slightly, Father." The younger Watcher watched the priest’s face, trying to determine just how serious that leak might be. "Could there be any further danger to Mr. Giles?"
Father Denning smiled. "I don’t think so. What little energy that leaks out now is not channeled through him. He should be fine." He stepped over to Buffy and surprised her by taking her hand in both of his. "You might even say something positive has come of all this turmoil."
She looked at Giles, then back at Father Denning. "What was positive? Besides Rupert not dying, I mean."
Father Denning laughed. "Look at him closely, child. I think he’s gained a few years’ grace from this experience. It would be fitting, considering what you’ve both done to keep this town safe from evil."
She didn’t speak right away as she brushed Giles hair back and touched his face. The laugh lines were there, but muted. His hair held no trace of gray. She looked at him carefully, noting the well-defined muscle of his shoulders and chest where they were exposed above the bedspread. He didn’t look sixteen, but he looked... good. Strong. Younger than his years.
They were all chattering excitedly, discussing what had transpired, when the doorbell rang downstairs. Buffy left her friends in the bedroom and ran to answer the door. To her surprise, Faith stood there with a self-satisfied smirk.
"Hey, B, look what I found. I thought Giles might want it back."
She held out her hand. Nestled in her palm was Rupert’s missing wedding ring.
Buffy gave a cry of joy and took the band carefully, looking inside at the engraving on the inside... a heart that enclosed their initials. He had thought it to be a silly, sentimental gesture on her part, but now it meant so much. She started crying again, ignoring the tears as they dripped from her face. She whispered, "Thank you. You should come up and give this to him yourself. He hasn’t said anything about it since he woke up, but he was really worried about it."
Faith shrugged. "That’s okay, I’ll pass. It’s no big, really. I found it when I was walking home. So, Tweedman’s awake... he okay?" Buffy could only nod in response.
Faith smiled despite her facade of nonchalance. "Great. Well, tell Wes I’ll see him later, okay? It’s past my bedtime. Sun’s almost up." She threw a small wave at Buffy and turned to go. Over her shoulder, she said softly, "I’m glad he’s okay, B. He’s a good guy." She skipped down the steps and was gone in a flash.
Buffy smiled and closed the door. "Yeah, Faith, he is a good guy."
********
It took a little while for everyone to leave. They dragged out, one by one, reluctant to end the celebratory mood. Willow was the last to leave, hugging Buffy fiercely and kissing Giles on the cheek before she went.
When Giles heard the front door slam, he patted the bed next to him, inviting Buffy to join him. She slid under the sheets and snuggled up to him, holding him tightly for a brief moment before relaxing.
"You need to go to sleep, Rupert. We’ve been up all night with this thing."
"It’s time to get ready for school... I shouldn’t skip my classes..."
"Call in sick! You were sick, there for a while. You gotta rest."
"I’m fine, really! I feel quite healthy, as a matter of fact..."
She shushed him, first with a finger across his lips, then with a kiss. She pulled back slightly and whispered, "Not talking now. Sleeping now. Talking later." She started to get up, but he tightened his grip, holding her down.
"And just where do you think you’re going?"
"To call you and me in sick. Then I’m gonna come right back to bed, and we’re gonna sleep like vampires... all day long."
"I don’t think I can go to sleep now, love, much less sleep all day."
"Okay, then we’ll find other things to do in bed. But you’re not getting up until I say so."
The firmly protective look in her eyes convinced him of her seriousness. He smiled and surrendered. "All right, Nurse Giles, I give up. I’m at your mercy for the rest of the day. But tonight I’ll want to get out of the house for a bit, and stretch my legs. Is that all right with you?"
She picked up the extension phone and winked at him as she dialed. "You can go to the gym with me, if you want. I don’t want to miss my second day at my ‘Real Job!’ And if you seem okay after that, maybe we’ll go shopping." He smiled happily at the first idea, and groaned loudly at the second.
She made the necessary phone calls, then started to undress. As she did, she felt something in the pocket of her jeans. His ring.
Casually, she palmed the bit of gold in her hand, and finished stripping. She slipped back into bed and resumed her comfortable position beside him. Reaching for his left hand, she pulled it out from under the sheets. He watched her curiously as she stroked the back of his hand. Placing a kiss on his palm, she held his hand with the fingers upright and slipped his ring back into place, sealing it with a kiss.
He gasped, overjoyed. "Oh, dearest, you found it!" Tears welled up in his eyes and he hugged her ardently.
"Actually, Faith found it. She hung around after we left and looked for it. She came by and gave it to me... didn’t want to make a scene. You know Faith; she can’t handle deep emotional moments. But she said she was glad you were okay."
"I am okay, and this..." he caressed the ring reverently, "...just puts the icing on the cake, so to speak."
They lay motionless for a few minutes, basking in shared happiness, the Bond humming with joy. Finally Buffy rested her chin on his chest and looked up at his contented face. "Do you remember everything that happened while you were young?"
"Yes. My memory survived completely intact. The only missing part is the time I was unconscious, and I still remember sounds and sensations. At times I could even hear voices, off in the distance."
"So, you remember making out in Wesley’s car, right?"
His face broke into a wide grin. "Oh, yes. Vividly."
She trailed her fingers through the hair on his chest. "Well, then, if you’re not sleepy, how about if we pick up where we left off?"
"Are you sure you’re up to that? I am feeling quite energetic."
She rolled her eyes and sighed loudly. "I was wrong before. Teaching Tae Bo is my fun job. Keeping up with you is my REAL job."
He laughed and started nuzzling her neck. "Time for your next paycheck, my love."
* * *