Rogue Watcher 6

Willow sat on the couch, waiting for him to wake up. She saw him start to move and her heart started to pound again. She watched him as he slowly moved into a sitting position. He sat there, head in his hands. Finally he lifted his head and saw her sitting on the couch. His eyes captured hers and at the look in them she ran to him. She crouched down outside the symbols and looked into his eyes. She saw the Giles she remembered, saw the eyes she loved so much. She had to look away for a moment, her eyes filling with tears at the pain in his.

He spoke first. "It's me, Willow." His voice was soft and filled with sadness.

"Oh, Giles." She erased a section of the symbols surrounding him, and she moved in to hold him. They both knelt there holding on to each other, neither believing that this had finally happened, that he was free, that she had freed him. He never wanted to let go of her. She didn't either. As reality began to seep in, Giles started to sob and she held him tighter, the tears running down her own face. She sat down, taking him with her, holding him to her as he cried. She ran her hands down his back, through his hair, murmuring to him.

After a while, his emotions spent, he raised his head. He took her face in his hands and rested his forehead on hers. "Willow, how can I ever thank you?"

She stood, reaching for his hand. He took it and she helped him up and they went to sit on the couch. She took both of his hands in her small ones. "I wish I could take the credit, but most of it belongs to Spike."

His eyes widened. He took one of his hands and felt the back of his head, remembering again. He fingered the lumps. "How many times did he hit me?" He smiled ruefully at Willow.

She choked out a laugh. "I don't know. I don't even know where he found you. He just knew he had to keep you unconscious. Whatever he saw you do, you know, the other you, whatever it was it scared him pretty badly."

He nodded. She continued. "He found the spell too. There I was in England, the whole of the Council library at my fingertips and he finds out in some bar." She knew it was wrong of her but that annoyed her, that she hadn't found it.

Giles shook his head. "He only found it, I'm sure, because he knew you wanted it. I find it hard to believe he'd have found it just for me."

Willow smiled, feeling a little better. Giles took her hands this time. "Despite who found the spell or who brought me here, it was you who got through to me, you gave me the courage to fight. You kept me going all this time, through your e-mails, your love, your kindness. I will never forget that." He looked at her, all the love in his heart shining out at her. She leaned forwards and hugged him again. She couldn't get enough of him. She could hardly believe he was here. She was afraid she'd wake up and he'd be gone.

She pulled back. "Giles, there's nothing to thank me for, I had no choice. I mean, it was you. You would never have given up on any of us, ever."

He shook his head. "Willow, you had a choice. You put yourself at tremendous risk, both from me and from the Council. I am humbled by it, and very, very grateful."

Her eyes filled with tears again, every difficult second, every moment of confusion, of wondering whether she was doing the right thing, it had all been worth it. She leaned over and hugged him tight. "I'm so glad you're back."

They sat there like that for a long time. He finally spoke again. "You need to call the Council, let them know I'm here."

She pulled back, stunned. "No, Giles, I can't, they'll come and kill you. You're fine now, they don't need to know."

He shook his head. "I can't stay here. The watcher here will be required to report me. I can't start my life back up. I can't do anything that would alert them to my presence. There's no life for me anywhere. Willow, I can't live that way. They're still after me. I'll be on the run. Alone, hunted, no companionship, no home. They won't ever give up until they kill me."

She shook her head looking at him. "I won't call them, Giles, I won't. I didn't go through all of this just to see you die. It's too much. You have no right to ask that of me."

He looked back at her, his eyes sad. "I know. It is too much to ask." He reached over her and picked up the phone. She gasped and tried to take it from him. He held her hands still. "Willow, I'll call a friend. There might be a way to keep them from simply coming and killing me." He watched her face, saw the sadness and then the acceptance cross her features. He dialed a number.

"Hello?"

"Mary, it's Rupert."

She gasped. "Rupert. Where are you?"

"I'll tell you in a minute. I need to tell you something first."

"I'm listening."

He looked at Willow, apology in his eyes, his eyebrows up. She nodded, knowing what he had to say next. He smiled tightly at her. "Willow found the spell, she and a...a friend, they found a way to break the curse."

There was silence. "She's been in touch with you all this time?"

"Only for the last few months."

"You came to her willingly when she told you?"

"She didn't tell me. Spike came after me when they found it." He had spoken to Mary of Spike. "He's been in England, keeping an eye on Willow. He found me and brought me here."

"Spike? As in Spike, the vampire? That's the friend?" She paused, and then continued her voice higher. "Spike just found you? Our team has been searching for you for almost two years and Spike just finds you?" Giles had no response to that, other than a small smile that Mary couldn't see. There was a long pause as Mary thought. "Rupert, I need to think for a minute. I need to make a few calls. Give me your number, I'll call you back." He did as requested Willow softly whispering the numbers to him. He hit the off dial and handed the phone to Willow. She took it and then looked at him.

"Can I call Xander? He still misses you so much."

He hesitated, wondering if it would be more of an unkindness to involve Xander at this point. But he longed to see him as well. He nodded. Willow punched in Xander's number and when he answered she simply told him tersely to come over to her house, right away, and alone, that she had something to tell him. He was relieved she was about to finally fill him in on what had been bothering her. Despite how early it was he agreed to come.

He was there in less than fifteen minutes. Nervously looking at all the glass on the lawn, he knocked on the door. Giles answered. Xander stood, stunned, looking at Giles. He looked beyond him to see Willow, seeing the big smile on her face. He looked back at Giles. Giles almost staggered as Xander threw himself at him. He was lifted off the floor as Xander squeezed him. Then Xander started to cry. Giles just held him until the storm passed, loving him, so glad to have had this moment regardless of what his future held.

Finally, Xander released him, his eyes red, his cheeks covered with tears, but his face showing a happiness he hadn't felt in a long time. He looked at Giles, looked at Willow. "How...?"

Giles led him over to the couch. Willow sat on one side, Xander on the other. They both sat close. Willow told the story, reaching across Giles to touch Xander, wanting him not to be angry that she had kept so much from him. Xander figured he could be angry later. He didn't want to be angry now. The three of them sat there, warmed by each other's presence, when the phone rang. Giles reached across Willow to answer it. They both watched him as he listened, watched his eyes get sad, watched as he closed them. He spoke softly. "Yes, I'll agree. I'll do as you say, and Mary...thank you." They watched him listen to her response and he hung up.

"They're coming for me, they'll be here tonight." They both shook their heads at his words. He continued. "Mary has been put in charge of the retrieval. They aren't coming to kill me. They plan to take me back to England, back to the Council. They will place me in quarantine so they can observe me and determine if I am a danger or not." He smiled ruefully. "It's more than I hoped for actually."

"Will they ever let you out?" Willow asked, a worried crease on her forehead.

"I don't know. You know how watchers get when they're studying something." He let out a soft laugh.

"Will I be able to come and visit you?"

"You mean, because you're a student there?" She nodded. "Willow, you know you'll be expelled for this? You understand that?" She lay her head on his shoulder, nodding. "So, somehow I doubt they'll let you in." He laughed again, softly.

Xander spoke. "Why would they expel her? They should be giving her some sort of award." His voice was angry.

Giles pulled his arm up, laying his arm around Xander's shoulder, pulling him close too. "Trust me, I couldn't agree more. But in essence she's been aiding and abetting someone they considered a criminal who was extremely dangerous and who was earmarked for termination. All watchers and students were honor bound to turn in any information about my whereabouts."

Xander was just glad Giles was back. He looked at Giles and grinned. "Anya is so going to kill me for not calling her and including her." At the look of alarm on Giles' face he reassured him. "Don't worry, I won't. But, this is gonna cost me."

Giles smiled. "I don't want to create strife between you and Anya. I've already created enough problems in Willow's life."

Xander shook his hand. "I'm sticking here big guy. I'm not letting you out of my sight until....well, until they get here." He looked at the floor, unhappy at the thought of Giles leaving again.

"I'm grateful for that." Giles looked at Xander and let Xander see, truly, the love he had in his heart for the young man. Xander saw the love there and his own eyes filled with tears in response.

"God, I'm being such a crybaby." He shook his head at himself.

"It's been an emotional day." Xander snorted at the understatement. Giles looked at Willow after speaking. "Shall we have a little something to eat? I think I'm rather hungry. I don't think I've eaten in a while."

They all moved into the kitchen. Despite being so early in the day Xander helped himself to a beer. He offered one to Giles. He shook his head. "I don't ever plan to drink again. It's what got me in all this trouble in the first place." His eyes got sad, and Willow started to make some tea. She knew he was thinking about Buffy.

"Giles, it wasn't your fault. There was nothing you could have done."

"I could have not slept with her." His voice was bitter.

Willow touched his arm. "You never blamed Buffy for sleeping with Angel, you never blamed her for what Angelus did after that. How can you blame yourself? You couldn't have known. You said that to Buffy, that the blame only rests with the Council."

Xander picked up the conversation, speaking earnestly. "Giles, it was gonna blow one way or the other. She was gonna sleep with someone else eventually. It could have been even worse. Someone who didn't leave; someone who killed us all. She could have slept with Spike." He made a face at that.

"It just seems like such a price to pay for a moment of indiscretion."

Xander shook his head, insistent. "Buffy had to find out. She couldn't just keep having sex and placing the whammy on all those poor unsuspecting guys." He made sure he had Giles' attention. "I'll tell you what killed her. She was all torn up about you, no doubt about it. But what killed her was knowing she could never, ever, have the kind of life she dreamed about. And that's not your fault. But that's why she died. Even if you hadn't slept with her, you would have figured it out sooner or later, and it still would have killed her when she found out. You'd have just had to watch her die."

At the sadness in Giles' eyes, Xander held his arm tightly. "At least you figured it out. At least you had friends to help. Although Willow and I will be having a conversation about why she never clued me in to this escapade." He glared at her.

Giles caught his eye. "I suspect she was trying to keep you safe. And I understand what you are saying, and I appreciate your words, but Buffy's death just seems so wasteful and knowing it could have been so easily avoided makes it hard to bear." They watched as he fought back the tears. Her death still felt like a raw wound within him. Giles doubted he'd ever really stop grieving.

Willow made a tray up with some snacks and they moved back into the living room. Giles and Willow sat on the couch, Willow resting her head on his shoulder, wrapping her left arm around him across his chest. Xander sat on the floor, resting his head on Giles' knee. His arm snaked around Giles' shin, and he hung on as if for dear life. Giles sat there soaking them both in, one hand resting on Willow's arm and the other hand running through Xander's hair, as if to comfort a small child. They sat there talking about the past, talking about Buffy, Xander and Willow speaking of their lives over the last two years. They occasionally closed their eyes, catching a few moments rest before waking again, none of them wanting to waste their time together.

As soon as the sun fell Spike came by. He walked in and saw them all sitting together. He felt a tug of satisfaction inside him that he kept off his face.

"Red, you need to lock your door."

Willow rolled her eyes and gestured at all the blown out windows. Giles smiled. He stood up and walked over to Spike, holding out his hand. "I understand I owe you some thanks."

Spike slowly raised his own hand and clasped Giles'. Giles held Spike's hand, covering it with his other one. "I mean it, Spike, I owe you." He let his hands drop.

Spike rocked back on his feet. "So, does this mean you're not going to stake me even though my chip's not working?" Xander's eyes widened, somehow he had missed making that connection.

Giles nodded his head. "As long as you don't threaten me and what's mine." He turned to look at Xander and Willow. "Other than that, you have nothing to fear from me. You have saved more people today than you can even imagine."

Spike snorted. "I think I can imagine it. I saw what you did to those demons."

Giles' eyes darkened, filling with pain. He spoke softly. "I never thought I'd get out. I thought I'd spend the rest of my life like that. I mean it Spike, I owe you, you and Willow, more than I can ever repay."

Spike tried to keep his face impassive but Giles saw the effect his words had on the vampire. He returned to the couch. Willow and Xander both resumed their positions, touching him, needing to be near for what little time they had.

Xander spoke up, looking at Spike. "Hey, when did you lose the chip?"

Spike thought. "Soon after the new slayer arrived."

Xander thought about that. His eyes widened again. "So all that time you were still helping us out you could have killed us?"

Spike nodded.

Xander wasn't done. "But, you're still feeding on people?"

Spike nodded again.

Xander looked up at Giles. "And this is okay with you?"

Giles looked at Xander. "I owe him my life. I owe him yours and Willow's and over time, the lives of thousands of people. And no, him killing people is not all right, nor will it ever be. But I won't kill him." He looked at Spike. "Although, I would suggest you leave town, because there is still a slayer here, and it will only be a matter of time before she runs across you feeding, and you do not have my permission to kill her, or her watcher."

Spike scowled. "Yeah, well, you better give me a list of everyone I can't kill so I can keep track." His voice was rich with sarcasm. "Some bloody thanks this is." He looked at Willow. "Besides I'm gonna go back with Willow, back to England."

Willow shook her head. "I won't be going back. Giles is pretty sure that I'm going to be kicked out." She laughed. "Besides I hated it anyway. I never did quite fit the mode. I mean, I was there to learn how to fight evil and my two closest friends besides Xander were a vampire and a rogue watcher." She smiled ruefully. "I guess I'll be staying right here." She looked at Spike. "And I want you to stay, I just don't want you to kill anybody."

Spike gaped at her and then rolled his eyes, letting out an exasperated breath. "Sure thing, luv. Anything for this group." He grimaced as the thought raced through his head that that statement was truer than he wished it was. "I'll be on my way, then." He looked at Giles and Giles looked back. Spike just nodded his head, turned and left.

Xander turned to Giles. "Can I stake him?"

Giles just laughed and ruffled Xander's hair. Xander sighed, guessing the answer.

Giles knew that Mary and the team would soon be there. He had words he had to say. "I just want you both to know how much I love you. I never said that to any of you, and I'm sorry. You both have always meant so much to me, and you both made my days richer with your laughter and friendship. I have been proud to know both of you and to have been a part of your lives."

Willow lifted her head. "Stop talking like you're going to be dead soon. I hate it. Oh, Giles...." She started to cry again and put her head back on his shoulder. Xander tightened his grip on Giles' leg, too overcome with the power of Giles' words and his own grief to respond. He didn't need to say anything. Giles knew how he felt, how they both felt.

The door opened. Willow still hadn't locked it. Mary stood there holding a briefcase. She looked at Giles. She moved out of the way and four men flowed around her and took up a defensive position in the room. Mary walked over to the couch, standing in front of Giles. She smiled tightly.

"Rupert, it's good to see you. I wish the circumstances were different."

He nodded. "It's good to see you too. I appreciate you intervening on my behalf." He noted the briefcase. He touched Xander's head. "Xander, she needs to sit next to me for a minute, would you mind moving?"

Xander rose, nervous. He walked around one of the men and stood behind the couch, placing his hands on Giles' shoulders. Giles reached back and patted one of Xander's hands, his presence behind him reassuring. Willow sat back a little, not sure of what was going to happen. She watched Mary as she sat down and opened up her briefcase removing a small box. When she opened the box Willow flinched. Xander spoke up. "What the hell are you doing with that?" It was a syringe and a vial of fluid.

Giles started to roll up his sleeve. "Xander, I agreed to this. Please don't interfere."

"What is it?"

"It's a sedative. They don't want me conscious while they transport me."

Willow protested. "But you're fine." She looked at Mary. "Can't you feel it? Can't you tell he's fine?" She glared at the other woman.

Mary looked back at her, sadness on her face. "Willow, it's the only way they'd let me bring him in alive."

Giles patted Willow's knee. "It's all right." She sat there, angry on his behalf, hating the Council now more than ever.

Mary slipped the needle into Giles' vein. Xander tightened his grip on Giles' shoulders. He held on tight until he felt Giles start to slump. He helped Willow lay him down. Two of the men left returning with a stretcher. Xander helped them move Giles.

Willow and Xander stood side by side as the men carried Giles out to the van. Xander put his arm around Willow pulling her close, her arm reaching around to hold him as well. Tears were falling down both of their faces. Willow stopped Mary before she left. "Mary, will you let me know how he is?"

Mary stopped, letting the men know she needed five minutes.

"Willow, I understand that Giles was important to you, but your behavior was inexcusable."

Willow's face tightened. "I don't agree. I love him. If I hadn't kept in touch with him, he'd still be out there. Instead he's back and he's okay. You shouldn't even be taking him. He belongs here with us."

Mary shook her head. "We don't know that he's okay. There could be a relapse; there could be residual damage. We have to be sure. You potentially brought a great evil to this place, putting everyone at risk."

Willow knew that was true but she shook her head. "I'd do it again, in a heartbeat, for Giles, for anyone I loved."

Xander spoke. "Why are you giving her a hard time? She figured it out. She broke the curse. She brought Giles back. She..." he gestured with his thumb at Willow. "She, a student, figured it out, with help from a vampire. None of you guys figured it out. She did." His anger slammed into Mary.

"I understand that Willow found out something important. It's why she is only to be expelled." She looked at Willow. "You understand that the Council, if it chose, could have found a harsher retribution for your betrayal?"

Willow nodded. Xander moved as if to speak again and Willow shook her head at him. He frowned but stayed silent. Mary moved as if to leave. She thought of one last thing. "Willow, may I have the spell?"

Willow moved out of the shelter of Xander's arm and walked over to the coffee table. She picked up the piece of paper and handed it to Mary. Mary looked at it and her eyes widened. "This, this is the spell?"

Willow nodded. "After sex the slayer and her partner just need to say that. That's all. If the slayer is dead someone with magic can speak on her behalf. I said it with Giles." Willow's voice caught, sadness washing over her anew at all the wasted lives.

"How did you find it? Who had it?"

Anger filled Willow. She got very close to Mary. "Spike got it. He got it from one of your own watchers." Willow watched as a look of horror crossed Mary's face.

"Who?"

"Spike didn't tell me. I didn't ask."

Mary thought of the news she had been brought a few days ago. A watcher found dead in a bar, his neck snapped. Sadness swept through her, this betrayal feeling like the worst she'd ever known. Willow saw the pain in Mary's eyes. Willow spoke softly. "Just so you understand. Even if you weren't kicking me out, I'd never go back."

Mary nodded. Willow repeated her question from a few minutes ago. "Will you let me know how he is?"

Mary looked at her for a while. She looked down at the floor and then back up at Willow. "I will, but understand I do it for Rupert, out of his friendship for you, because he would wish it. I do not do for you. You have no right to ask anything of a watcher anymore." She smiled to soften her harsh words. "That needed to be said, I had to be able to say I spoke those words. Now understand this as well, I'm grateful to you Willow Rosenberg. More grateful than I can say, and I am sorry to the bottom of my heart. Please believe me when I say I will make sure he is cared for."

Willow's eyes glistened with tears again, her breath catching on a sob. Xander put his arm around her again and she moved in closely. They watched as Mary walked out to the van. They watched the van as it turned and started on its journey to return Giles to his homeland, back to the halls that had made him a watcher, and that had helped shape the man they had grown to love so much. They watched as the Council, who years ago had sent him to them, had sent him to be a part of their lives, they watched as it took him back.

The End



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