Found

Buffy felt Giles’ presence behind her and glanced up and saw his scowl. “Isn’t there other things we could be doing just now?” Giles asked.

“I couldn’t sleep anymore and was feeling restless so I came out here and turned on the TV. One of my favorite movies happened to be on. Deidra came out and said that Magna looks like Indiana Jones. I don’t think she has seen much television.” Buffy chuckled at her new friend.

“I’ve seen television, briefly.” Deidra smiled. “It’s just so fascinating really. Magna, er, Indy looks. I could swear that is Magna.” Deidra got up and started to putter in the kitchen, getting some breakfast cooked for the trio. Buffy jumped up and turned off the television. “I’ll just go get dressed.” She was wearing some flannel pajamas that Deidra had found in a dresser for her. Deidra had told her last night that Sulu seemed to have provided things they needed.

The three were sitting down to breakfast at the corner nook of the kitchen when Allison came in.

“Hi Allison!” Said Deidra. Giles and Buffy just stared. She really was beautiful beyond words, they thought.

“Allison, this is Buffy and Rupert, the Slayer and Watcher. This is Allison, my guardian from Laus. Did you find out anything from Sulu?”

“Hello.” She said to Buffy and Giles. “You were right Deidra. Sulu agrees the threat is still eminent, and we must continue to be careful and watchful. Your instincts are correct.”

“What’s goon?”on?” asked Buffy.

“I sent Allison to talk to Sulu about the Watcher’s Council. I realized when I arrived back here to this dimension, that the First had destroyed the Council earlier this year, and most likely Travers with it. If Travers is dead, then I wondered if all of this is for nothing, and that we are all safe. I still felt a threat however, so Allison went to confer.”

“Yes, Sulu said that he couldn’t see if Travers was destroyed for sure, but that all signs point that ‘The Forgotten One’ will still be sought after, and the dimensions will still bleed unless you and the Watcher and Slayer can prevent it. Sulu said as always, the decision rests with you.” She smiled softly at Deidra.

“Well then,” began Giles, “let’s finish breakfast and head back to Sunnydale. We’ll have more resources there.”

After breakfast, Deidra showed Buffy to the phone so she could call Willow and alert the gang to their arrival and two new companions. Willow said she’d call the gang together for an evening meeting. Deidra would take her motorcycle into Sunnydale, and she gave Giles the keys to the truck for him and Buffy to ride back in, with them taking the lead. Allison had no need for automobile transportation. She said that she’d take care of securing the cabin and barn, and she’d meet them later.

“So how are you doing, Giles? It’s been a heck of a lot to absorb eh?” Buffy asked her Watcher as they drovck tck to Sunnydale.

Giles kept his eyes on the road, but Buffy could see his Adam’s apple rapidly move in his throat as he swallowed several times. “It’s a lot to process.”

“It sure is. But I like her a lot, and I believe her. Plus, that book sure looks, well, authentic…to use a Giles big word.” Buffy smiled as she teased him. He just grunted at her, but she could tell she had amused him. She liked it when he smiled, or laughed. He did it so rarely. She had decided to make that a new goal in her life. After conquering the First, and having him gone so long in Europe, she needed him to know how important he was to her. She had missed him so much, and she was ecstatic when he told her he would remain in Sunnydale. There was nothing left for him in England, with the disbanding of what remained of the Watcher’s Council. Disbanding was maybe not the correct word to use. Destroyed was a better word. But there would always be vampires and demons to fight, especially on a Hellmouth. Giles had said that is where he belonged, by her side, fighting until he was no longer able to fight. Buffy had hugged him so hard he had groaned, fearing that his ribs were breaking. Now the two had never been closer, and Buffy had matured and realized how important to her he was. They never talked about it, but she intended to show him in little ways every day. She loved him, and wanted him safe and happy. She wanted him with her always, and not just as her Watcher. But she knew she would have to take it slow. These feelings for him, they were new to her as well. It was best to take things slowly.

And now Deidra was here. A woman from his past. Well, she had been a “girl” from his past. He had never known Deidra as a woman. And a beautiful woman at that. Deidra was much taller than Buffy was, at least five foot nine, and she had lovely brown hair. Jenny had had dark hair. Deidra also knew how to hold her own, fought valiantly against those Lossogas demons without getting a scratch on her. Buffy knew logically that she should have felt threatened by Deidra, afraid that she would take Giles away from her. But instead Buffy felt the need to help her, to protect her, just as if Deidra was still that child that had been taken away from her friend, her books, her so called home.

Buffy had suffered at the hands of Travers herself, and the wretched Council. Her trial at her 18th birthday had been bad. Giles, she felt then, had betrayed her, by poisoning her and weakening her and leaving her helpless. But again, that had been the Council’s fault. Giles had just been doing what he was told to do, and even then, in the end, he couldn’t follow through and did all he could to protect Buffy. And Zachary, that evil vampire, had taken her mother. But her mother had lived. Luisa, Deidra’s mother, had not lived, and had much more evil done to her than Buffy could ever imagine. The suffering Slayers had to go through in their daily existence was hellish enough, but to die at the hands of a man you thought was on your side and was suppose to protect you? It was a good thing Travers was dead by that explosion from the First, otherwise Buffy would hunt him down and tear out his worthless excuse of a beating heart herself.

“I believe her too.” Said Giles. “In our line of work, anything is possible.” They both chuckled a bit at that.

“For sure.” Agreed Buffy.

“I’ve heard the name Sulu before, and I believe I’ve translated his works as well. I’ll study the book in detail later. I am concerned right now about Deidra. She’s been through a lot. I feel like I’ve failed her so much already, and I don’t want to fail her anymore.”

“No Giles. It’s not your fault. If anyone is to blame it’s the Watcher’s Council. They are so evil! I’m so mad at them I could just spit! I know that Deidra doesn’t blame you either, so stop blaming yourself. If the last year has taught us anything Giles, it’s that evil exists, and it’s not our fault. As you’ve told me many times before, we have a calling. It’s a calling that never ends. Not even in my death apparently.” She was trying to joke, but realized as soon as she said it that is wasn’t very funny.

“Sorry. That was lame. I’m just feeling so awful for Deidra right now. I can’t wait to hit something, you know?”

“I know, Buffy. And we’ll work this all out, and we will win. With you fighting, and with everything that Deidra has apparently learned, I have every confidence that we will all survive and be victorious once again.”

He turned then and smiled at Buffy. She could see his trust and confidence in her in that gaze, and it filled her like a warm glow inside. Yes, they would figure this out, and keep Deidra and everyone else safe. What couldn’t they do, if they were together?


TBC