Different Needs

Part Two:

Giles drove while listening to Xander prattle about his forthcoming road trip on their way to his flat. Usually that would drive him mad, which had to do with the boy's aggravating way of expressing himself. However, now he couldn't help but smile. Perhaps it was because Xander had listened to him talk about his life earlier. None of the children ever bothered to do so before.

He noticed the enthusiasm in Xander's voice that would get higher every time Giles nodded or made an expression at what he said. It reminded him of a child who would tell a story and want people to react to it, indicating that they listened to him and consider their story to be important.

Though Xander was not a child, he did have that sweet innocence in him that made him somewhat endearing. And that was almost certainly the first time he had thought of Xander as endearing.

A man unexpectedly ran in front of the car. Shocked, Giles rapidly pressed on the brakes. Everything was going fast and he felt the car almost lose balance. In the end, everything settled down into silence. He opened his eyes and noticed they were in the middle of the street with the car stopping in the opposite direction of the road. He quickly turned to Xander. "Are you alright?"

Xander's eyes were firmly shut. He slowly opened them and looked around as if checking on their situation. After that he turned to Giles, grinning. "Benefits of seatbelt," he said pressing on his seatbelt.

Giles smiled. "Well, we're thankfully …"

"Oh God," Xander interrupted him looking at something behind Giles.

"What?" He turned around following Xander's gaze and saw the man running with a demon chasing him. Giles recognized the demon immediately. It was a Wahshaj, the western kind. It was green and far slobberier than the eastern kind, whose color was more emerald. Wahshaj demons were like vampires when it came to feeding on human blood and being killed by aiming at their hearts. However, they were bigger and could be killed with anything penetrating their hearts and not just wood.

"Let's go," he ordered.

Immediate, he and Xander got out of the car. Each one grabbed a crossbow and headed to where the demon was about to catch the man. Giles aimed his crossbow and shot the demon in the shoulder. The Wahshaj turned heated golden eyes to Giles. Glad for the distraction, the victim ran away faster than a wink.

Giles could feel Xander anxiously drawing closer to him. That alone gave him a new and strange sense of protectiveness he had never felt towards the boy. A feeling he had never had since Jenny was attacked in the library by Ethan and his old chums last year.

The demon was slowly approaching, bringing Giles back to reality. He made sure his wooden arrow was pointed at the demon's chest. Out of the blue, the Wahshaj jumped the distant between it and Giles in a swift second. That action shocked both Giles and Xander, and the English man hastily shot his arrow but it didn't even hit the demon. The Wahshaj heavily landed on Giles knocking him down and causing him to lose his crossbow.

Out of breath, Giles looked at Xander and choked out, "Hurry! Hit him in the heart!"

He didn't even finish his sentence when Xander ran towards the demon and Giles knew what the foolish boy was about to do. "No!" he yelled.

Xander threw himself fully on the demon's back, pulling him backwards away from Giles. His crossbow fell almost on Giles' face if the ex-watcher hadn't quickly moved his head away. After thanking God for his mercy, Giles watched as the demon grabbed Xander harshly, digging its spiky claws in the boy's flesh. Xander screamed, anguished, before the Wahshaj threw him violently at a tree.

Before the demon's attention returned to him, Giles grabbed Xander's crossbow and horridly aimed for the heart. The demon howled in pain before falling on Giles. More unpleasant information: unlike vampires, Wahshaj demons did not turn into dust when killed. And they were ridiculously heavy.

Giles tried to breathe but the heavy weight was blocking the air. The only free parts of his body were his legs and they were very much kicking with no use.

"Giles!" He heard Xander's yell and after few seconds, he was able to breathe again. He inhaled the air sharply trying to push away the dizziness.

Xander irritatingly laughed while helping him up. "Man, so glad I didn't have a smelly slobbery …"

Giles aggressively yanked his hand out of the brunet's. "Idiot," he spat.

Xander looked at him startled. "Huh?"

"Are you utterly dense? Throwing yourself so clumsily at a large demon is the most foolish and irrational act I have ever seen! What were you thinking?"

Xander's shocked look gradually changed into a grimace. "Sorry my attempt at saving your ass didn't meet with your high standards. Next time I'll remember to let the demon smash your head to pieces," he huffed sarcastically.

Giles closed his eyes, heaving a suffering sigh. "I'm just saying you should not let your fear control your actions in a fight. You have to use your mind, Xander, even in a drastic situation."

"Oh sure, so next time I'll take my sweet time thinking of the best way to attack the demon while it's ripping your heart out." Xander raised an eyebrow.

Giles took off his glasses and rubbed his forehead tiredly. "Dear Lord, what have I done to deserve this?" He put his glasses on and looked at the annoyed boy. "What did you expect to happen when you threw yourself at it?"

"I didn't expect anything, just want to get him away from you," Xander said honestly. "I'm not sure what's gotten up your ass, Giles. I saved you."

"No, I saved us. Think Xander, if your crossbow hadn't fallen near me, I wouldn't have been able to kill the demon. Therefore, it would have killed both of us. But if you'd done what I told you to do, you would have killed him and not …" he took Xander's bleeding arm into his hand, "get yourself hurt like that."

He stared at the arm for a second. Unfortunately, he didn't remember the effect Wahshaj demons' claws left in a human. He tensely persisted, "However, what's done is done. The demon is dead and your arm doesn't look good. We must take care of the wound. C'mon, let's go back to my flat."

They grabbed their crossbows and climbed into the car. Giles had just started the engine when Xander's hesitant voice started, "I'm sorry I screwed up out there."

Giles looked at him and found him staring down at his arm looking rather disappointed of himself. "It's alright," the ex-watcher said with a smile. "You acted out of heart and didn't think about the consequences." He paused before he went on, "Thank you."

Xander turned to look at him in surprise.

"Thank you for risking your life like that for me. I really appreciate it," Giles said sincerely. He watched Xander's lips emerge into a huge grin before he looked down appearing uncomfortable. Giles could see the red color that spread over the boy's ears and for some reason he felt his heart softening.

******

Giles' eyes opened in the dark. He rolled over in the bed and gazed at his alarm clock. It was 2 o'clock in the morning. He hated waking up at this hour or, precisely, he hated waking up before 6 o'clock, for it was usually harder for him to get back to sleep. Typically, whenever he woke up in such time he felt a little thirsty. He gathered himself and rose up the bed.

Such a chilly night! He shuddered slightly and wore his robe. Going out of the bedroom, he stopped at the toilet first. After that he went straight to the kitchen.

Opening the fridge, he heard a soft snoring in the living room area. He quickly turned around, alarmed, and found nothing. Hearing a sleepy sigh, he remembered Xander was sleeping on the couch. He shook his head at his idiocy and took the juice carton. He filled a glass and drank thinking of the last time he had someone sleeping over. Jenny's body lying on his bed lifeless flashed before his eyes.

He put the glass down and stood dejectedly for a minute. His life had been quite empty after Jenny passed away. Even when Buffy came back, not as cheery as she used to be, but still with her delightful presence he thought his life would get better. And it did. He always enjoyed having these children in the library chatting about trivial subjects while he reminded them of more important things to worry about. However, at night, once he left to his dark flat, he was always reminded of how lonely and empty his life really was.

His eyes suddenly caught part of the comforter that Xander used on the floor in front of the couch. He frowned thinking that it wasn't supposed to be on the floor, it was supposed to be covering the lad up. But he wasn't able to see Xander, now was he?

He walked to the living room and stood by the side of the couch, and then he shook his head. Xander was curled into a shivering ball in the couch while the comforter was on the floor. He probably had kicked it away with his feet. Giles took the comforter and spread it over the sleeping youth. He made sure he covered all the trembling body.

As he was tucking the comforter around Xander's shoulders, he felt the boy relax under his touch. He looked at Xander's face as it loosened up from that rigid expression he had. He stopped for a moment to stare at the boyish features. For the first time, he took a close look at Xander's face, noting every curve, every angle. He noticed the thick eyelashes, the long nose, the rounded cheeks and the way his upper lip stuck up like a child's.

Giles found himself smiling tenderly. He ran his hand along Xander's side and enjoyed how the youth was relaxing more and more into his touch. He almost forgot himself when the wall clock rang announcing that it was 3 o'clock.


*****


Pancakes. It had to be pancakes. It smelled like pancakes. But... his mom never made pancakes. His mom never came near the oven. She always made sure she kept a four meter distance between her and the evil oven.

Was it Joyce? Yeah, right, like she would come to his house and serve them a healthy breakfast. He pulled the blanket closer to him when he felt his back touching a squishy barrier. After few seconds of puzzlement, he realized he was sleeping on a couch. A couch? The Summers' couch? So it was Joyce after all?

"I know you're awake," Giles' voice hit his ears.

What was Giles doing at the Summers' residence? What was *Xander* doing at the Summers' residence? He grudgingly opened his eyes and wiped them to clear the fog. Blinking, he took a good look at his surroundings and oh … it was Giles'. He wasn't sure if what he felt was actually disappointment because it wasn't Buffy's place.

"Why don't you go and wash up? Breakfast is almost ready."

He blinked some more before he felt his stomach clench. Lucky stomach was getting pancakes this morning. Suddenly feeling energized, he got up and left the blanket draped over the back of the couch.

He looked towards the kitchen and found Giles standing by the oven working on some eggs. Oh boy, he was having eggs too? That was … actually that was a little weird. It had this sort of … fuzzy warm feeling. It wasn't just that, he was in fact excited to get up and go to the bathroom while usually he would rather stay in bed.

"Xander," Giles called his name. He looked at him and saw him nod to the right. "The bathroom."

"Right," he exclaimed and rose up running towards the bathroom. He caught in the corner of his eye a glimpse of Giles shaking his head with a smile. Did Giles really smile? Or maybe Xander added the smile to the head shaking? But he could swear he saw Giles smiling too. Maybe it was just his imagination.

He scoffed. So what if Giles smiled or not? It was not a big deal.

He washed his face and, of course, he did not have his toothbrush. His mouth smelled awful and had that bad post-sleep taste. So to have a refreshing mouth, he took Giles' toothpaste and put some of the paste on his finger before running his finger over his teeth. Yep, now he felt totally refreshed.

The wonderful smell of pancakes and fried eggs reached his nose and made his stomach clench once more. He enthusiastically sat by the breakfast counter waiting for his plate.

Giles raised an eyebrow. "Good morning?"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, where's the food?" At Giles' look, he went on hesitantly, "Uh … good morning."

When Giles nodded in approval, the brunet whined, "Now can I eat? You know, they do arrest people who let other people die of starvation."

Giles began putting some eggs in Xander's plate. "They do?" he asked amused.

"Uh huh." Xander was looking hungrily at the pancakes. "Pancakes, Giles. Pancakes."

"There's no need to be pushy," Giles said a little aggravated.

Xander glared at him. Why did Giles always act like he was the most irritating kid in the planet? He was no more annoying than Buffy and Willow, right?

Bad thoughts aside, the food was in front of him. He attacked his plate eagerly. Those pancakes tasted strange. Giles must have added something to them because God they tasted so good!

For some reason he knew Giles was watching him with wonder. He didn't care though. It wasn't often that he got such a wonderful breakfast. Why didn't his mom learn how to cook? There were many questions that started with 'why didn't his mom …?' running through his head but he chose to avoid them. This was a happy morning with pancakes! Nothing would ruin the mood.

Except for Giles.

"Have you called your parents and informed them about where you are?"

His chewing was becoming slower and he stared at the remaining eggs in his plate. Well, the obvious answer was 'no' since Xander had fallen asleep before Giles went to bed. And even if he lied, Giles might check in the phone bill.

"No."

"Why not?"

"Well … um-for one thing, they would expect me to be at a motel … uh …"

Giles gave him a disapproving glare. "They must have been worried about you."

A laugh escaped Xander's mouth, until his expression went a little bitter. "Of course, they would. Since they usually lock the door at 9 o'clock and never care where I'd end up." Was it sad how lies were coming so easily out of his mouth? Sometimes he forgot what most of them were. It didn't matter as long as people believed them.

Giles' expression turned sympathetic. "Do you want me to talk to them?"

No! Xander's mind screamed, but on the outside he remained calm. "Nah, they're just trying to teach me how to live in the real world. I'm eighteen, you know."

Giles nodded, before catching Xander's bandaged arm. "How's your wound?"

Xander glanced at his arm. "Could barely feel it." He started eating his eggs.

"I guess that's better than feeling the pain."

Xander still hadn't chewed when he answered, "I dunno, I'd rather feel the pain than think I had lost it." It was good that it was his left arm, or he wouldn't have enjoyed this breakfast as it should be.

"Don't talk with your mouth full," Giles instructed. He peeked at his watch. "You should finish up before you miss your first class."

"But my arm," he whines. "I think I should skip school today."

"Not while you're staying with me."

Xander pouted. "But you're not my father. You can't order me around."

"But what about your training? Or right, you're injured, you can't possibly hold a sword properly." Giles took his empty plate to the sink and waited few seconds. One, two …

"Hey, I guess I'm feeling better. I mean its a little wound and school is important, you know."

Giles smirked. He began washing the dishes and ordered Xander to wash his own. The boy obeyed against his will. Once they finished, Giles turned to Xander. "Hurry up to the car, I'll go take …"

Xander held up both hands. "Whoa, whoa, me going with you?"

Giles blinked. "Yes."

"Me showing up at school with the school's librarian? No way, man!"

Giles rolled his eyes. "If you'd rather walk …"

"You know what, bet everybody at school knows that I hang at the library all the time for the last three years. Car sounds good." He gave a goofy grin.

"Alright, let's hurry up so we could drop you at your house to get your books …"

"No need to. All the books I need today are in my locker." Couldn't the man give him one day without running into his parents on top of each other in the messy living room, snoring after a good night of booze?

"Don't you want to change your clothes?" Giles asked with a grimace.

Xander waved him off. "I go to school in yesterday's clothes all the times."

The ex-watcher just shook his head without a comment.


*****


The broad sword fell on the floor again.

"God! What the hell is wrong?" Xander complained looking furiously at his left arm. "I can't feel my arm at all!"

Giles approached him concerned. "It appears to be that the Wahshaj's claws have some Sael Makintusha, the term in most of the demonic languages. It could mean a-an impassive chlordane of some sort. I-I'm not quite sure that's the suitable name to call it in English. In medical terms they call a similar state Local Anastasia, which I think is closer to the demonic meaning." He was examining Xander's hand while he uncertainly explained.

The brunet gave a desperate whimper. "Don't use Shakespearian language on me now. Speak modern English, please."

Giles sighed. "I told you I'm not sure how to choose the best vocabulary to describe it. However, your hand may remain like this for a day. Hopefully, tomorrow it will steadily return back to normal."

Xander glared down at his numb arm. "Does that mean I can't train today?" he asked quietly.

Giles regarded him for a while before his eyes narrowed in fake anger. "I hope this is not your way of avoiding the session."

Xander looked up astonished. "What?"

"I have been training Buffy for three years and I know all the excuses by now."

"But I keep dropping the sword."

Giles' eyes softened. "You do lack balance, Xander. Perhaps today is the best time to teach you how to control that." He kneeled down easily picked the heavy sword with his right hand. "Your full control must center on your right hand. You don't need your left hand to hold a sword."

Xander grinned. "Unless you're left handed."

Giles wanted to scold the boy's attempt of humor, but he smiled instead. "Of course," he replied before he dropped the sword. "Now you try."

Xander knelt down unsurely. "Confidence," he heard Giles instruct. He swallowed a lump then looked at the sword on the floor. His hand closed around the end, and with a strong grip, he lifted the heavy sword upward. His hand shook slightly for a second during the process, but other than that, he kept his balance.

Giles nodded as he observed. "Not bad."

Xander appeared disappointment at the comment. "I'll try again …"

The library's doors burst open and Buffy and Willow walked inside. "Okay, Giles, let's get this over with," the Slayer said. "I need most of the day for a prom dress hunt."

Willow looked at her pouting. "Are you sure I shouldn't come with you?"

"Sorry, Will. Don't want anyone to see it before the prom. It's a bad luck thing." She nodded, before she carried on, "Like with grooms and wedding dresses."

Willow nodded along, still pouting. She looked at the men standing in the middle of the library. Her eyes widened when she noticed Xander's torn sleeve with bandages underneath. "Oh my God, Xander, what happened?" Horrified, she dashed towards her friend and cradled the injured arm in her hands.

"It's fine, Will," he tried to reassure her.

Buffy walked towards them looking at Xander's arm. "Who did this?" she demanded in full slayer mood.

Giles took off his glasses, and rubbed his forehead. "We met up with a demon yesterday on the way back …"

"Description?" Buffy asked looking about to head to the weapon hiding.

Giles stared at her bewildered for a second. "It's okay, Buffy. We took care of it." He smiled at her, putting his glasses on.

"Giles took care of it," Xander corrected quietly. It went unnoticed by anyone but the Englishman.

"Does it hurt?" Willow asked Xander concerned.

"Yesterday, totally. Today, can't even feel it. It's supposed to be that way though. Giles said the effect will slowly loosen up tomorrow." Willow nodded at his explanation, her face still held worry though.

"Alright then," Giles piped up. "Why don't we start? I'll go get my vest. Buffy, Xander, prepare yourselves."

Buffy frowned. "Xander?"

"Yep, I'm a combatant," Xander said cheerfully.

"You know you don't have to, Xand."

"I know, Buffy, but I want to."

Buffy shrugged with a smile. "K, whatever you feel like."

"So from now on, you two will train together?" Willow asked excited.

Xander nodded, grinning. "Why don't you tag along with the ride, Will?"

"I'm not sure. The witchcraft is all I can think of right now so …" she let the sentence hang.

"I'd most certainly rather you leave the witchcraft, Willow. It is dangerous territory," Giles said as he came out of his office wearing his training vest.

The redhead brushed him off. "Oh chill, will you, Giles? I'm in full control. Besides, you already agreed about the whole thing."

"Yes, but I'm not quite happy with it," Giles muttered.

Buffy stretched her arms. "Okay, let's begin." She hurried over to Giles and swung her leg at him with half her strength. The ex-watcher dodged her easily. Not expecting that, she lost her balance and fell harshly on the floor.

Willow winced and Xander shook his head. "Buff, that wasn’t very Slayer-y.” He placed a hand over his heart. “I have nothing more to live for now."

Buffy glared at him.

Giles chuckled and that got him a shocked look from the Slayer. "I thought it was funny," he defended himself.

He glanced at Xander and found him grinning at him. Giles couldn't help but smile back.


******