Impact

Buffy had to leave Giles’ room again when the doctor came. She had tenderly kissed Giles on the cheek, promising to come right back when she was allowed, and then headed back to the waiting room. She was surprised at first to find it empty of her friends, until she glanced at the clock and realized that morning had come. Angel had probably taken them back to the hotel before the sun came up. They had needed some sleep. She yawned and stretched, glancing around for a phone. She saw a pay phone in the back of the waiting room and called the hotel.

“Angel Investigations. We help the hopeless. Wesley Windham-Price speaking.”

“Hey Wes, it’s me.”

“Buffy. You have news I presume?”

Buffy smiled. Oh, she had news alright, but she wasn’t going to spill everything. “Yes, a bit. The doctor is in with Giles now, so I will probably know more soon, but I wanted you all to know that he was able to move earlier. He squeezed my hand, and moved his toes. I think that means the paralysis at least was temporary.”

“That is great news indeed!” Wesley smiled as Gunn and Fred wandered into the office to listen in on his side of the conversation. “Has he spoken yet?”

“No, Wes, not yet. I can tell that frustrates him. But I’m hopeful that it’s just temporary too.”

“Quite right, Buffy. I’m sure it is. Well, I’ll be sure to inform everyone here.”

“I assume that Angel brought the gang back there this morning?”

“Yes, he did. They are all sleeping now. But I’ll let them know as soon as they’ve awakened. Do you need anything? Can any of us do anything for you?”

“No, thanks Wes. I’m fine. I’ll ask the doctor if Giles can have more visitors soon, but otherwise I won’t leave him alone.”

Wes knew that she still blamed herself, and there was nothing he could say or do that would change that. Angel had hinted that Buffy and Giles were back on the right path, but nothing was known for sure. Right now it was best just to focus on Mr. Giles’ health. The rest was truly none of his or anyone else’s business. But Wes did want them both happy. Of course, that would make his boss, Angel, not so happy. He sighed heavily as he thanked Buffy again for calling and then hung up the phone.

“So, the Watcher man on the mend then?” asked Gunn.

“Yes, it appears so. He’s awake again and able to move a bit. Buffy will phone when she gets more news. Speaking of which, do you have anything new from your research?”

Fred flounced down in the leather chair, frustration clearly on her face. Gunn frowned as well. “Nothing. If you ask me, Lorne didn’t have a vision, except for the one caused by all those damn Sea Breezes he drinks! He was probably just in a drunken stuper.”

“No,” Fred piped up. “Lorne doesn’t drink that much. And if he said he had a vision of a demon demolishing the hotel, then he did. We just have to find it.”

“There are many yellow demons in existence.” Wes rested his elbows on the desktop as he recited. “There’s the Tooma that possesses razor sharp fins, the Sunor with it’s deafening squeal, the Pilgora that has blinding rays..”

“Please, Wes, enough. We’ve read about all of them and none of them fit Lorne’s description. We need to find out what it wants from us. Why does it attack the hotel? What is it after?” Gunn paced in frustration.

“It’s times like this I really miss Cordy.” Fred added. The three agree sil silence.

Wes eventually stood. “Well, I’ll go and question Lorne again. Please let Angel and the rest know about Buffy’s phone call when they get up.”

“Angel’s sleeping? Since when does he need sleep?” Gunn asked.

Wesley looked at Gunn, wondering how much he should convey to their partner. “He has a lot on his mind,” he finally said. “I think he just wanted some time alone.”

Wesley turned and left the office, leaving Gunn and Fred alone. They were in no hurry to return to their depressing and unfruitful research. Gunn turned to Fred, holding his hand out and helping her up from the chair. “What do you say we go get some breakfast?”

Fred nodded. “But let’s not go to the diner again.” She shuddered as she recalled how they had returned from lunch there the other day, to witness Giles’ accident.

Gunn blanched at the thought as well. “No, I agree. Your choice, eh? I’ll even pay.”

Fred smiled. “Just like old times!” They both smiled at that, returning to their easy relationship of the past. It had been a stressful and tragic couple of days, and it was nice to be comfortable in their friendship. It was a relaxing haven for both of them.

“So do you know what Angel is all doom and gloom about this time?” Gunn asked as they walked down the street towards Fred’s favorite pancake house.

“I’m not sure, but I suspect he’s sad about Buffy.”

“What does he have to be sad over about Buffy? I mean, she’s sad about Mr. Giles getting hurt and all, but Angel and the Watcher aren’t that close. Especially after what he told us happened when he was Angelus last time in good ol’ SunnyD.”

Fred rolled her eyes. Men just didn’t get it. “Angel loved Buffy, right?”

“Yeah,” Gunn answered, still confused.

“Well, it’s obvious that Buffy loves her Watcher, Mr. Giles. And they will end up together after all this turmoil is over, I’m sure. And Angel probably knows that too, and knows that it’s right, and he’s sad about it.”

Gunn opened the door of the restaurant for Fred, following in behind her. “So he’s letting go, you mean.”

“Exactly.”

“So I guess Giles wasn’t the only one hit by a truck this week then.” Gunn chuckled at his own humor, winking at Fred. She again rolled her eyes at him, throwing a menu across the table at hi
“Y
“Yes, this entire week has had quite an impact, hasn’t it?” They laughed in companionship as they perused their menus.

Back at the hotel Xander and Willow and Dawn slept restfully each tucked into their own rooms.

Angel did not sleep, however. He sat in the darkness of his room, the drapes all pulled to keep out the morning sun. He was lost in his own thoughts. As Angelus, he had killed Jenny to hurt Buffy, and torture the Watcher by murdering his love. He had wanted to separate them, tear them apart, and destroy each of them with as much torture and suffering as they could endure. And now, with his soul restored, he was the one suffering and tearing out his heart, because he knew that Buffy was now lost forever. Because of her Watcher. Because of Giles. She was the one Giles loved, more than he had ever loved the gypsy woman. And Angel knew that bringing Giles and Buffy together would make Buffy happy. And that was all that mattered to Angel, that Buffy was happy. Besides the fact that he had come to like and admire and respect Giles as well. He was happy for them, but it still tore at him like a dagger.

Then Angel thought of Cordelia. He had lost her too. Would there ever be a time when his heart would be whole? He closed his eyes and pictured Buffy and Giles holding each other close, knowing he would never feel Buffy’s embrace like that again. He abruptly stood and snatched his coat off the chair it had been thrown onto, and pulled it on. “I need a drink.” He then made his escape through the dark sewers.

At the hospital, Buffy had curled up on the hospital bed beside Giles. Nurse Lilly was back for her shift, and had arranged to have a cot brought in, but both Buffy and Giles preferred the closeness of sharing his bed. Buffy was careful to not bump him, not wanting to hurt him anymore, or jostle any of his injuries, he had his good right arm around her, and she rested her chin on his chest, tucked under his arm. They both slept, finally at peace.

Nurse Lilly checked on them once, but after peeking in at them and checking that his monitors were all in good standing, she left without waking either of them, careful to not disrupt the loving scene. She quietly closed their door and resumed her rounds, a smile on her face.

TBC