Fractured (2/4)
One Month Later
Buffy opened the front door, a wide smile on her face.
“I thought I was picking you two up at Heathrow?”
Xander grinned and shrugged a shoulder as he gently ushered Anya through the doorway. “Yeah, but we got an earlier flight. It’s no big deal, really.”
She pulled him into a big hug. “I’ve missed you.”
He returned the embrace eagerly. “You too.”
“Miss me too?” Anya asked hopefully.
Buffy chuckled, releasing Xander, and pulled Anya into a hug as well. “I really did. I’m so glad you guys are here.”
Anya glanced around and frowned. “Where’s Giles? You didn’t break up, did you?”
Buffy smiled. “No, we didn’t. He’s at work, no doubt in the middle of researching the next apocalypse.”
Xander sat down on the couch and pulled Anya down beside of him. He looked up at Buffy and grinned. “So, what’s it like?”
“What’s what like?” Buffy asked as she plopped down on a chair.
Xander gestured idly with his hand. “This. Living in England, with Giles. Being retired and having your Watcher take over the reformation of the Council. You know...what’s it like?”
“Living in England is nice. It would be worse if we were in London, but this...” She sighed softly. “I do love it here. And, being with Giles...the most wonderful decision I’ve ever made.”
Anya snorted in amusement. “And it only took you six years to figure it out.”
Buffy grinned. “Some things are worth waiting for.” She looked back at Xander and narrowed her eyes slightly. “And...I’m semi-retired, you know. I still have duties and all that.”
Xander chuckled. “Yeah, I know, I know. And...how’s Giles doing?”
“Giles is...” She tilted her head and narrowed her eyes when she heard the front door open. “Home...early.”
“Buffy?” His voice called softly as he closed the door behind him.
“In here.”
He made his way into the living room, loosening his tie on his way. His eyes quickly found their visitors and a spark of light flashed in his eyes.
“Xander, Anya...hello. I...wasn’t expecting you’d be here until tonight.” He offered them a gentle smile.
“We got an earlier flight.” Anya supplied quickly. “Did we mess up your plans of late morning sex?”
Giles lowered his eyes quickly and coughed lightly. “No. No, I...just needed to come home.”
Buffy stood up and made her way to him, her eyes full of concern when he looked at her. “Are you okay?”
He nodded slowly and spoke quietly. “I just needed...you.”
When Xander stood up, Giles gripped Buffy’s hand. With a bright smile, Xander walked over and gave Giles a tight hug.
When he felt Giles immediately stiffen, he pulled back and narrowed his eyes. “Being in charge of the Council making you stuffier these days?”
Giles lowered his eyes and shrugged a shoulder. “Quite possibly.” He forced himself to relax and placed his hand on Xander’s shoulder, squeezing gently. “I do apologize. I’m glad that you’re here...both of you.”
He cast a quick glance to Buffy and squeezed her hand. “I...I think I need to lie down for a while. I’m not really feeling well at the moment.”
“It’s okay.” Buffy returned the gentle squeeze. “Willow will be here around three.”
He gave a slight nod and glanced at the clock. “Wake me when she arrives?”
“Of course.” She reached up and slid her fingers to the back of his neck, gently pulling him down and placing a soft kiss on his lips. “If you need anything...”
He smiled at her. “I’ll call.”
She kissed him again and whispered ‘I love you’ against his lips. He met her eyes and whispered the sentiment back to her before standing and looking over at Xander and Anya.
“I’m sorry for the disappearing act. I’m just...”
“Not feeling well.” Xander finished for him. “Go get some rest, hopefully you’ll feel better when you wake up.”
Giles gave him a slight nod. “Yes, hopefully.”
He gave Buffy another soft kiss before turning and walking down the hall towards their bedroom. Buffy watched him and sighed softly when she heard the door close.
“Well, that was weird.” Anya stated as she sat back down. “Very un-Giles-like.”
Buffy turned around, a small smile plastered on her face as she looked at Anya. “Still trying to get the hang of the social graces, Anya?”
Anya nodded and grinned. “Xander says I’m getting better!”
Buffy chuckled and then met Xander’s dark eyes. He gestured towards the hall and tilted his head questioningly. “Is he really okay, Buff?”
“Yeah, he’s good.” Buffy glanced away from his questioning eyes. “Just a lot of stress with the reformation and stuff.”
“Okay.” Xander replied softly, but Buffy was sure he didn’t really believe her.
* * *
Giles had slept until Buffy woke him when Willow arrived. After taking a shower and changing clothes, he made his way into the living room. He greeted each of them warmly and sat down beside Buffy on the smaller of the two sofas.
Xander noticed how relaxed he seemed when Buffy was by his side...and how tense he became if she wasn’t. At the moment though, Giles was participating in the conversation and had even laughed at one of his jokes. Xander relaxed against the cushions on the couch and smiled.
Giles refilled their glasses with another drink. As he handed a glass to Anya, her eyes noticed the dark band of fresh scar tissue peeking out from under his shirtsleeve. She bit back her first thought, which included a particularly funny comment about bondage, and went with something she thought would be more socially acceptable.
“What happened to your wrist, Giles?”
Giles dropped the glass he was holding, the contents splattering as the glass shattered. He grabbed at his sleeve, firmly tugging it down over his wrist as he took a step backwards.
“Giles...”
He turned towards Buffy’s soft voice, his eyes full of panic. “I, uh...I’ll just...I’ll get something to clean this up with...um...” He closed his eyes briefly, took a deep breath and left the room.
As Buffy stood to follow him, Xander stopped her with a simple question.
“Wanna tell me what’s going on, Buff?”
Buffy glanced at Willow, silently asking her to check on Giles. With a quick nod, Willow ran from the room.
Buffy inhaled deeply, not sure exactly what to say.
Anya broke the silence. “I’m going to guess that the scar didn’t come from some bondage play gone wrong.”
Buffy paled and ran her fingers through her hair nervously. Xander’s eyes widened as the pieces began to fall into place.
“Buffy? Was he...”
She held up a hand in a request for him to be quiet. “Don’t, Xander. Please, don’t.”
Xander’s face drained of all colour. “Oh, God.”
Anya’s eyes darted between Buffy and Xander. “What’s going on?”
* * *
“Fucking idiot!”
He leaned over the kitchen sink, fighting the urge to vomit. He spun around quickly when he felt a warm hand rest on his lower back.
Willow stepped back quickly and took hold of his hand. “You’re not an idiot, Giles.”
He relaxed, squeezing her fingers lightly before pulling his hand from hers. “I am, somewhat.”
“Listen, Xander’s putting the pieces together.”
“Yes, I was afraid of that.” He ran his fingers through his hair.
“And...Buffy’s out there with them...alone.” She met his eyes and offered him an understanding smile. “I know you’re worried about them knowing, but...they love you, Giles. They won’t think badly of you, you know that.”
“It’s...” He lowered his eyes and shook his head. “They shouldn’t have to know. They’ll only worry and there’s nothing that can be done.”
“But they will know. And they will worry.” She ducked her head to look into his eyes and smiled softly. “And they will do everything they can to help you.”
He thought for a moment and then looked towards the doorway that led back to the living room. “It’s not fair for me to leave her to deal with this alone.”
Willow nodded in agreement and he took a deep breath. His heart raced in his chest as he walked through the doorway just in time to hear Anya’s panic-tinged voice.
“What’s going on?”
Seeing a movement out of the corner of her eye, Buffy turned to find Giles looking very much like a scared kitten. She stood up quickly and moved to stand in front of him. He looked down at her as her fingers lightly caressed his cheek.
“You okay?”
He nodded slowly, gesturing towards the couple sitting on the couch with a slight tilt of his head. “How much do they know?”
“Xander pretty much figured it out. Anya...a little further behind.”
He took her hand and, with a heavy sigh, led her back to the sofa. As they sat down, he lifted his gaze and met Xander’s worried eyes.
Xander hesitated for a moment before speaking softly. “How long ago?”
Giles shifted uncomfortably and looked down at the floor. “A month.”
Anya sighed in exasperation. “Would someone please tell me what’s going on?”
Buffy gently rubbed Giles’ knee. “You can do this, honey.”
Giles placed his trembling hand over Buffy’s, but did not raise his eyes. “I...um...”
He lifted his free hand and wiped his eyes as he took a deep breath, whispering the words quickly before he lost what courage he had been able to muster.
“I was raped.”
Anya’s mouth dropped open, shock preventing any words from forming. Xander’s eyes filled with tears, which spilled onto his cheeks as he slowly moved from the couch and knelt in front of Giles.
When Giles jerked back from the younger man’s close proximity, Xander sighed sadly. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to frighten you.”
“I know.”
“You know I would never hurt you...right?”
Giles nodded slowly. “I know.”
“What can we do?”
He finally looked up and met Xander’s eyes. “Not pity me would be the best thing you could do. I...I’m not sure I could deal with that.”
Xander nodded and gave him a soft smile. “No pity, I can do that.”
Anya moved and knelt beside of Xander. “Who...”
Giles shook his head quickly. “Who is not important. I’m...doing better. I just want...I want to be normal again. And...I can’t be if I’m thinking about who did this. Please, understand.”
She glanced down at his wrist, covering it with her own hand. “I know something that can help with the scarring.”
He turned his hand under hers, allowing his fingers to wrap around her wrist. “Thank you.”
Anya forced her tears back. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“I...I’m not sure. I don’t know if I can go into...details...again.” He turned his head and met Buffy’s eyes. “Do you think, maybe...”
“If you’re sure.”
He glanced back at the two kneeling before him and nodded as he swallowed. Buffy gave him a smile, leaning into him and pressing a soft kiss to his lips.
Chapter Three