Watchers Council

Title: Watchers Council

Author: Haggis

Pairing: A hint of W/G then W/OC and G/OC

Rating: Starts off slushy, gets a bit naughty in the middle and for the remainder of the series (NC-17 I guess?) This does involve f/f though – so don’t go there if it isn’t your cup of tea!

Summary: Just what did the Scoobies get up to in Season 8?

Disclaimer: Mr Whedon and those nice people at Mutant Enemy didn’t give their permission for any part of my little fantasy world

Feedback: Gratefully received – I get pitifully excited when mail appears in my in-box

Beta Reader:Jerri – thanks for all of the encouragement, suggestions and American lessons – definitely the unsung hero of this team!

Authors Notes: Every time I sit down to write another fic I discover even more subjects I have no understanding of. lit little offering includes stabs in the dark at: modelling (swimsuits, not aeroplanes), sword fighting, satellite phones and computer hacking (I forgot about the guess at rehabilitation from sports injuries and steroid abuse!). If there are any factual errors they are entirely my responsibility and I would welcome any corrections.

Also, I think I’ve bumped Dawn’s age up a few years – I needed her to be an adult so call it poetic licence!

Chapter 1

“Where is the bloody file?” he muttered under his breath and ransacked another drawer in his desk. “I suppose alphabetical filing is a bit much to ask for in this heathen colony” this time it wasn’t so much under his breath as projected across the room.

“What have you lost this time?” she sighed the the doorway and shook her head as she watched him rummage.

“The Fraser file” he threw his hands in the air and sat back from the desk. “I’m due in a meeting in five minutes and I can’t find the report I’m supposed to be giving”

She rolled her eyes and reached out for the pile of folders on top of the filing cabinet next to the door. “That would be in amongst your papers for the meeting” she dropped it all back onto the cabinet and returned to her desk.

He sheepishly came out of his room and smiled at her. “I’m sorry Willow, can you forgive me?”

“Just tell me that Dawn is due back some time this week and I might even manage not to flay you” she glanced at him sourly and turned back to her computer screen.

“She’s due back tomorrow and I would have been completely lost without you these last few days” he took his glasses off and cleaned them on the end of his tie. “How about I buy you lunch in the een een once this meeting is over to make it up to you?”

“So long as it’s not bangers and mash day you’re on” she finally smiled at him then glanced at her watch. “Now go before you’re late for the meeting and maybe I’ll finally get some of my work done” she pointed at the screen. “I have a very demanding boss you know”

“Willow, you’re the head of your own department so stop trying to make me feel guilty” he laughed and left the room before retur sec seconds later to lift the pile of folders and shrugging. She giggled before returning to her work.

Half an hour later Buffy came bouncing into the office and sat on the edge of her desk. “Hey Will, how you doin?” she turned the screen to see what her friend was working on.

Willow sighed “I’m doing fine thank you Buffy, is there anything I can help you with?” she turned the screen back round and quickly saved her work.

“Nope, just here for a visit to see how my best friend is coping with being all front office corporate gal in a pin striped suit” she popped a peppermint into her mouth from the bowl sitting on the desk.

“I’m not wearing a suit” Willow reasonably pointed out and swung her chair round to stand up and show Buffy her outfit. “See, jeans and a sweater, same old me” she smiled and knew that she wasn’t going to be able to concentrate on her work with a bored slayer on her desk so she headed towards the door. “Do you want a soda from the machine?”

“Yep, I’ll come with” Buffy hopped off the desk and they headed down the corridor. On their return journey they could hear the telephone ringing before they got to the door of the office. “Sounds like your phone?” Buffy suggested.

“Damn” Willow muttered under her breath and ran to catch it. “Good morning, Watcher’s Council, how may I help” she managed to get out between heavy breaths. “No, I’m sorry he’s in a meeting right now, can I take a message?” she leaned across her desk to grab a pen and pad. “Certainly, I’ll get him to return your call as soon as he is free” she shook her head and turned to find Buffy grinning at her.

“Hey, you’re all secretary girl” she pointed an accusing finger. “You’ll be taking dictation next” she giggled.

“If your sister hadn’t decided she needed two weeks to recover from a minor injury like a broken arm I wouldn’t have to do this” Willow spread her arms to indicate the room. “I mean who ever heard of someone getting hurt practising with a broadsword?” she asked indignantly and huffed as she sat in her chair.

“Personally I think she’s malingering” Buffy agreed and finished her soda before hitting the bin with the empty can from across the room. “I’ve got some newbies to train, see you later?” she asked and waited for Willow’s nod before shutting the door behind her.

Willow sighed and returned to her computer. An hour later she had finally finishing writing the report. With a smile she collected the printout and checked her watch. She heard the door to the office beside hers being opened and slammed. Shaking her head she gathered her papers and switched the phone onto voicemail. Putting her head round the door she watched as Giles paced about the room, working off his frustration. “We still on for lunch?” she interrupted and grinned as the scowl left his face almost immediately and was replaced with an embarrassed smile.

“Give me two more minutes of pacing and I’ll be fit company” he suggested and began putting the papers away and muttering under his breath, mostly about the stupidity of the board members who were still constantly trying to tell him how to do his job. “Right” he finally said to himself, removing the tie and opening his shirt collar. “Time to be a civilised human being again” he grinned and headed for the cafeteria.

He took his tray to the table where Willow was disconsolately pushing some shepherd’s pie around her plate. “Is there any chance you could take on some American cooks?” she pointed to his lunch of fish chipchips. “I think the Doublemeat Palace had some extra cooks they could lend us”

“After Buffy’s tales from her time there I think even you must admit that this is better” he waved to someone as they called his name from the other side of the cafeteria. “Why don’t you make some menu suggestions, I’m sure the people we brought over from London woue kee keen to learn some local dishes more befitting their new posting”

Willow sighed and finally pushed the plate away. “I’ll make myself a sandwich later” she watched him as he tucked into his food. “Oh, before I forget there is a telephone message for you on my desk”

“Have I told you how much I appreciate you helping out?” he asked as he pushed his own plate away and signalled to the waiter that they were ready for their coffee. “I know it’s been hard to keep up withr owr own work but I needed someone who was used to my working methods to take over from Dawn”

Willow nodded to the waiter when he asked if she wanted a coffee. “Actually what you mean is you needed one of the few people in the building who isn’t an activated slayer and wouldn’t kick your butt when you started ranting?” she suggested.

He grinned and toasted her with his mug. “I knew you’d put up with me, after all we’ve been a team for eight years now and if you can’t survive a few days I don’t know who can”

“Xander get’s to babysit you next time” she warned and grinned at him. “I have to admit though, it’s been kind of fun” she shrugged. “We don’t get to spend as much time together any more and it’s given me an insight into the bureaucracy you have to deal with”

“It’s one of the few parts of the old Council that has survived, unfortunately” he agreed and stretched his legs out. “Wouldn’t you know that the library was almost completely destroyed but the majority of the Board of Directors were on an away day?” he took his glasses off and rubbed his eyes. “Even with them still insisting that I’m the only possible person to run the new organisation, they seem to think it’s part of their duties to question everything I do”

“Perhaps that’s what they needed to do with the team under Quentin?” she suggested and saw him wince at the man’s name. “I know, but if they hadn’t been keeping on top of him imagine how much worse he d had have been?”

He shook his head. “Nope, they’re just still annoyed because I insisted that the whole shebang had to be moved to America or the deal was off” he yawned and ran his hands through his hair. “Deep down they must know that the people who needed to run the damn thing were all here and it was the only way to get the phoenix to even think about leaving the ashes but they’re too bloody minded to admit it”

“I always wondered if they taught that at Watcher’s school” she smiled and put her hand on his arm as he started to defend himself. “I’m kidding” she giggled. “You know you could do with a break, after all you’ve been dealing with this 24/7 for the last six months, perhaps you’re due a holiday”

He took some moments to consider this then grinned at her. “You may be right, but I know you and Xander have been working just as hard, how about a road trip to get away from it all”

“Sounds like a plan” she grinned. “I’ll check with Xander when he can get away from the site and let you know some dates”