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TITLE: Displaced part 6/?
AUTHOR: Appomattoxco
FEEDBACK/EMAIL: pretty please
DISTRIBUTION: just let me know.
DISCLAIMER: I’m not making any money off this or anything else actually so don’t sue.
TIMELINE/SPOILERS: Wildly AU post “Chosen”
PAIRING/CHARACTERS: Anya/Giles possibly only UST
RATING: FRT
SUMMARY: The Council Library is blown up again and Willow gets Giles out of there the only way she can.
AUTHOR'S NOTES: That sound you hear is the the filling in of plot holes. Thank you for the beta![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
janedavitt
The ever-practical Anya said, “It would be simplest for you to just take Rupert’s place. If anyone notices how good you look they’ll just assume you had work done or that it’s a glamour, depending upon who it is. "Either way, they'll be too polite to ask.”
“Not that I wish to replace your Giles,” I reassured her. “I don’t know the first thing about being a detective.”
“The work we do isn’t so different from being a Watcher. We don’t expect you to take charge; we’re all partners, Giles just comes first in the directory,” Wesley said.
Anya nodded in agreement; Willow sent a small smile in my direction. “Watchers are naturals at private investigation. I know Anya and I want you and Wes won’t mind sharing.” Anya's eyes took on a gleam of interest and I found myself revisiting a midlife crisis fantasy.
When what she had said sunk in, her familiar and girlish babble aborted my thoughts.” I didn’t say that – I mean I did but I didn't? mean it. Not that, I mean- you’re very- Oh Goddess.” She took a deep breath and regained some poise. “It’s sounding like I’m the one who’s gotten younger and not you so I think I’ll just be quiet now.”
Spike said, “I don’t like it.” He looked like a disapproving father and for a guilty moment, I thought he had read my mind. If that were true though wouldn’t there have been sarcasm instead of disapproval? “I don’t have any problem with you staying on. Just doesn’t seem right not to do anything for Rupert. A man’s been killed in the line of duty. We shouldn’t just replace him like an actor on Passions or something.” Spike put on a convincing announcer’s voice and said, “The part of Rupert Giles is now being played by a completely different Rupert Giles. ’S not that I expect everyone to cover the sodding clocks and mirrors or anything but just because we’ve got used to the impermanent kind of death doesn’t mean we don’t need to say goodbye.”
Even though I’d seen the grief on his face earlier it amazed me that this other Giles had inspired such loyalty in this Spike. I had to admit to myself that loyalty was a trait the Spike I knew possessed; this speech had reminded me a little of the one he gave the night the others and I evicted Buffy from her own home.
“We’ll do something, Spike,” Anya said and patted the air where his shoulder appeared to be in a pantomime of comfort.
I remembered Anya as buzzing around the edges of the group, so focused on her own interests that she didn’t notice I was watching her. I noticed a lot about her but not the urge to reach out and comfort others. Well, she had held my hand after Willow drained me of magic. Maybe she had only kept to the fringes because we never let her get closer. Spike appeared to appreciate her effort as some of the tension left his neck and jaw. So were these two as different as they seemed from the beings I knew or were my memories inaccurate?
Wes said, “Willow and I have already discussed the possibility of a private memorial of some sort. I did tell Faith I would let them know the details.”
“Spike, you know Giles would want us to be taking care of whatever is going on with Buffy first.,” Willow said.
“Yeah I know he would, Red. Sorry if I sounded harsh. Rupert wasn’t my best mate but he deserves a proper send off, maybe something at the coven when things are sorted?”
“I think that’s an excellent idea. It’s what I would prefer. Oh, no! I can’t believe I was so stupid. I didn’t make sure that he wasn’t turned.”
The idea of beheading my own corpse was terrible but the thought that I could have been turned was worse.
“I doubt that a pair of minions sneaking a bite would bother
with turning,” Spike reassured everyone. He changed the subject, “If Buffy isn’t slaying, what is there for her to be warned away from?”
Anya said, “What if it’s not that kind of warning? Maybe it’s the ‘I’m insane and going to kill everyone you care about and then kill you’ kind of warning.”
“You mean the kind Angelus was so fond of, Spike said and then turned to Wesley. “Just how happy is the poof running evil incorporated Wes?”
“I wouldn’t know - I haven’t had any contact with anyone in L.A. since before I came to Sunnydale. However, I doubt Angel would lose his soul in L.A. and then come to London to kidnap Giles in order to leave him on Buffy’s doorstep in Rome.”
The phone rang and Anya looked around for it. When no one could find it after a few rings she sighed and pushed the conference button on the base. “Giles Investigations-paranorm...”
“Hi Anya, this is Dawn. I’m at Heathrow. Can somebody come pick me up?” I could tell she sounded ready to cry even with all the airport noise in the background.
“Dawn? What are you doing in London, is Buffy with you?” Anya asked.
“You mean she’s not there yet? I couldn’t have gotten here ahead of her.”
Dread crept up from the pit of stomach into my throat and I cut into the conversation, “I don’t understand, Dawn. Why would Buffy be here, what going on?”
“I don’t know. Hank took me out of school for one of his guilt-trip trips. When I came back I found a note. It said to go east young girl. That was our code that there was trouble and I should meet her at your place. It’s been years and I know she’s been upset with you guys but I’m sure she meant for me to come here. I took all the emergency money and what was left of the cash Hank gave me and got a ticket. I don’t have anything left.”
“You did the right thing, Dawn. You can always come to me. Sit tight and we’ll come and get you.”
AUTHOR: Appomattoxco
FEEDBACK/EMAIL: pretty please
DISTRIBUTION: just let me know.
DISCLAIMER: I’m not making any money off this or anything else actually so don’t sue.
TIMELINE/SPOILERS: Wildly AU post “Chosen”
PAIRING/CHARACTERS: Anya/Giles possibly only UST
RATING: FRT
SUMMARY: The Council Library is blown up again and Willow gets Giles out of there the only way she can.
AUTHOR'S NOTES: That sound you hear is the the filling in of plot holes. Thank you for the beta
janedavitt The ever-practical Anya said, “It would be simplest for you to just take Rupert’s place. If anyone notices how good you look they’ll just assume you had work done or that it’s a glamour, depending upon who it is. "Either way, they'll be too polite to ask.”
“Not that I wish to replace your Giles,” I reassured her. “I don’t know the first thing about being a detective.”
“The work we do isn’t so different from being a Watcher. We don’t expect you to take charge; we’re all partners, Giles just comes first in the directory,” Wesley said.
Anya nodded in agreement; Willow sent a small smile in my direction. “Watchers are naturals at private investigation. I know Anya and I want you and Wes won’t mind sharing.” Anya's eyes took on a gleam of interest and I found myself revisiting a midlife crisis fantasy.
When what she had said sunk in, her familiar and girlish babble aborted my thoughts.” I didn’t say that – I mean I did but I didn't? mean it. Not that, I mean- you’re very- Oh Goddess.” She took a deep breath and regained some poise. “It’s sounding like I’m the one who’s gotten younger and not you so I think I’ll just be quiet now.”
Spike said, “I don’t like it.” He looked like a disapproving father and for a guilty moment, I thought he had read my mind. If that were true though wouldn’t there have been sarcasm instead of disapproval? “I don’t have any problem with you staying on. Just doesn’t seem right not to do anything for Rupert. A man’s been killed in the line of duty. We shouldn’t just replace him like an actor on Passions or something.” Spike put on a convincing announcer’s voice and said, “The part of Rupert Giles is now being played by a completely different Rupert Giles. ’S not that I expect everyone to cover the sodding clocks and mirrors or anything but just because we’ve got used to the impermanent kind of death doesn’t mean we don’t need to say goodbye.”
Even though I’d seen the grief on his face earlier it amazed me that this other Giles had inspired such loyalty in this Spike. I had to admit to myself that loyalty was a trait the Spike I knew possessed; this speech had reminded me a little of the one he gave the night the others and I evicted Buffy from her own home.
“We’ll do something, Spike,” Anya said and patted the air where his shoulder appeared to be in a pantomime of comfort.
I remembered Anya as buzzing around the edges of the group, so focused on her own interests that she didn’t notice I was watching her. I noticed a lot about her but not the urge to reach out and comfort others. Well, she had held my hand after Willow drained me of magic. Maybe she had only kept to the fringes because we never let her get closer. Spike appeared to appreciate her effort as some of the tension left his neck and jaw. So were these two as different as they seemed from the beings I knew or were my memories inaccurate?
Wes said, “Willow and I have already discussed the possibility of a private memorial of some sort. I did tell Faith I would let them know the details.”
“Spike, you know Giles would want us to be taking care of whatever is going on with Buffy first.,” Willow said.
“Yeah I know he would, Red. Sorry if I sounded harsh. Rupert wasn’t my best mate but he deserves a proper send off, maybe something at the coven when things are sorted?”
“I think that’s an excellent idea. It’s what I would prefer. Oh, no! I can’t believe I was so stupid. I didn’t make sure that he wasn’t turned.”
The idea of beheading my own corpse was terrible but the thought that I could have been turned was worse.
“I doubt that a pair of minions sneaking a bite would bother
with turning,” Spike reassured everyone. He changed the subject, “If Buffy isn’t slaying, what is there for her to be warned away from?”
Anya said, “What if it’s not that kind of warning? Maybe it’s the ‘I’m insane and going to kill everyone you care about and then kill you’ kind of warning.”
“You mean the kind Angelus was so fond of, Spike said and then turned to Wesley. “Just how happy is the poof running evil incorporated Wes?”
“I wouldn’t know - I haven’t had any contact with anyone in L.A. since before I came to Sunnydale. However, I doubt Angel would lose his soul in L.A. and then come to London to kidnap Giles in order to leave him on Buffy’s doorstep in Rome.”
The phone rang and Anya looked around for it. When no one could find it after a few rings she sighed and pushed the conference button on the base. “Giles Investigations-paranorm...”
“Hi Anya, this is Dawn. I’m at Heathrow. Can somebody come pick me up?” I could tell she sounded ready to cry even with all the airport noise in the background.
“Dawn? What are you doing in London, is Buffy with you?” Anya asked.
“You mean she’s not there yet? I couldn’t have gotten here ahead of her.”
Dread crept up from the pit of stomach into my throat and I cut into the conversation, “I don’t understand, Dawn. Why would Buffy be here, what going on?”
“I don’t know. Hank took me out of school for one of his guilt-trip trips. When I came back I found a note. It said to go east young girl. That was our code that there was trouble and I should meet her at your place. It’s been years and I know she’s been upset with you guys but I’m sure she meant for me to come here. I took all the emergency money and what was left of the cash Hank gave me and got a ticket. I don’t have anything left.”
“You did the right thing, Dawn. You can always come to me. Sit tight and we’ll come and get you.”
