Tombstone: Part 1
It was raining. Buffy felt drenched and chilled to the bone. Tombstones stretched in every direction as far as the eye could see. One in particular drew her in. She slowly walked closer to it, dreading to see the words on it. Her heart was seized with an unbearable sadness. She could barely stand to look at it but she was powerless to turn her head away. As she tried to focus on the name the rain fell harder, impairing her vision. She fell to her knees, sobbing.
***
Buffy's sob wrenched her from her sleep. The sadness from the dream hung around her and she had to fight the urge to cry. She ran her hands over her face and it was covered with tears. She shook her head to try and snap herself out of it but the mood persisted. Buffy didn't even know who she had been grieving for, but it had felt so real. She finally got out of bed and went to take a shower.
The sadness was still lingering when she got to the Magic Shop. Giles took one look at her and stopped what he was doing. "Buffy, is everything all right?"
She smiled ruefully. "I don't know. I had the saddest dream last night and I can't seem to get over it."
"What did you dream?"
She let out a breath. "It wasn't anything, really. I saw a tombstone. I couldn't even read the name on it. But it made me feel so sad. Like whoever it belonged to, when they died that a piece of me died too. I can't really explain it."
"Did it feel like a prophetic dream?"
"No, I don't think so. Just a sad one." She looked up at him. "I mean suppose it was my mom, or Willow or Xander." Giles tried not to feel the pang that went through him as she neglected to mention him. She looked at her hands. "Suppose it was you." She looked back up at him and he was surprised to see tears in her eyes.
He put his arm gently across her shoulders and gave her a little squeeze. "It was just a dream, Buffy."
"I know but it made me so sad." She tried to fight back the tears, as she'd been doing all day, but she finally lost the fight. She started to cry and moved towards Giles putting her face on his chest. Giles looked a little bewildered but then gently wrapped his arms around her, softly patting her back.
Riley walked in, surprised to see a man holding Buffy. Buffy had told him she was often here and Riley had come by on the off chance he might run into her. When Riley realized she was crying his brow furrowed.
Giles looked up when the front bell rang and saw a young man walk in. He gestured to Anya to deal with him, thinking he was a customer. Meanwhile he turned Buffy and began to walk her back to the training room so she could have some privacy.
Riley made a noise as if to protest but Anya had gotten to him by then and began to speak. "What would you like to buy?"
He frowned at her. "Nothing, I came to see Buffy." He pointed at Giles' back as the door to the training room shut. "Who is he?"
Anya followed the pointing finger. "That's Giles. He's my boss. He owns this place."
"What's he to Buffy? Why was she crying?"
Anya wondered who this guy was. "Don't worry about Buffy. They're very close. He'll take good care of her."
Somehow that didn't reassure Riley at all. He looked at Anya. "Will you tell Buffy I stopped by?"
"Who are you?"
"Riley, Riley Finn. I go to school with her."
Anya nodded. "I'll tell her. Now go away please." She smiled brightly at him. Riley wasn't sure how to respond so he just slowly walked away looking back at the door Giles and Buffy had gone through, hoping she might come out. When he reached the door with no sign of her, he left.
Giles continued to hold Buffy until she stopped crying. He had tried to pull away to get her some tissues or a drink of water but she held on for dear life and eventually he just stopped trying. This was so unlike Buffy he was feeling rather concerned.
Finally she pulled away, and wiped some of her tears away. He reached in his pocket and offered her his handkerchief. She clutched it in her hand, looking up at him. "Sorry, Giles. I didn't mean to go all weepy on you."
He smiled down at her. "There's nothing to apologize for. Dreams can be very powerful. Do you feel better now?"
She took a deep tremulous breath. "I think so. Boy, I hope I don't dream that one again."
Giles felt the same way. "Do you want to pass on training today Buffy? If you're still feeling poorly we could wait until tomorrow."
"No. Maybe beating you up will make me feel better."
"Yes, very amusing." He had her start stretching as he began to plan their workout.
***
Later that evening Buffy ran into Riley at the Bronze. She smiled up at him, glad to see him. He smiled back and spoke. "Are you feeling better now?"
Buffy looked confused. "What do you mean?"
"Didn't that girl tell you I dropped by?"
"What girl, and dropped by where?"
"At the Magic Shop. I dropped by and you seemed upset. You were with that man who owns the shop. I told the girl who works there to tell you I dropped by."
She scrunched up her face. "She's not great with messages. She thinks it's a menial task. Sorry, I'll beat her up for you if you want me to."
Riley chuckled. "That won't be necessary. Are you better, though? You seemed really upset."
"Yeah, I just had a bad dream." She looked up at him and wrinkled her nose. "I know that sounds stupid but it really wigged me out."
"Why was…who is he?"
"Who, Giles?" Riley nodded. Buffy waited a few seconds too long to answer. "He's just a friend."
Riley tightened his lips but let it slide. He pointed his chin at the dance floor. "Do you want to dance?"
She smiled, nodding. He took her hand and walked her over to the dance floor. As soon as they got there the band started to play a slow number. Riley took Buffy into his arms and started swaying to the music delighted at the opportunity to hold her close.
Riley insisted on taking her home. She knew he wanted to kiss her good night but she just wasn't in the mood for it. She still hadn't quite shaken off the mood of her dream. He didn't press it and after a moment reluctantly said goodnight to her.
She closed the door behind her and looked at her bed with some trepidation. Somehow the thought of going to sleep and maybe having that dream again terrified her. She grabbed a couple of extra stakes and headed back out. She found herself at Giles' door. She knocked. Giles opened the door and stepped back to let her in. She didn't come in. He looked back at her, a question on his face. She spoke. "What would you do if you found I couldn't come in, that I was a vampire?" At the look of alarm on his face she quickly stepped over the threshold. He shot her a glare and closed the door behind her. She persisted. "What would you do?"
He let out a breath. "I would be very, very sad, and then I suppose I…would try and kill you." His eyes darkened at the thought and he turned away.
She walked over to him. "I'm sorry Giles, I didn't mean to bum you out."
"Yes, well, that would…as you say…bum me out." He looked down at himself as he spoke, picking imaginary lint off his sweater.
"I really am sorry. I don't even know why I asked you that. Do you want to patrol with me?"
He looked up at that and softly smiled. "I'll get my coat." She smiled back and they headed out together.
Giles drove Buffy home after patrol. He walked her up to her dorm room. She smiled when they got there. "Boy, everyone keeps walking me to my door tonight." Giles shook his head, not following. "This guy, after…we were at the Bronze, he drove me home."
"Ah."
"We're sort of dating…but not."
Giles just nodded, hoping she was through. He hated hearing about her dates. He knew they'd never be together that way, but he still thought of her as belonging to him somehow. He hated to even think about her belonging to somebody else. When she opened her mouth as if to speak again he pushed her door open wider. "Goodnight Buffy."
She eyed her bed again and frowned. She looked up at Giles. "Wanna come in?"
Giles' eyebrows rose. He looked in the room, at her bed. He shook his head. "Uh, no…I think I'll just say goodnight." She pouted. He blushed. "Really…I….we…I really have to go. Goodnight." He turned around and quickly headed down the hallway and back down the stairs. As he reached the sidewalk he looked back up at her room. He sighed and walked the rest of the way to his car.
***
Eventually Buffy got tired enough and bored enough that she crawled into bed. She had the dream again and woke up in tears. She curled up into a ball and wept.
***
Anya watched the woman corner Giles over by the cheap ceramics. She nudged Xander. "Do you think that woman is attractive?"
Xander looked nervous. "Uh, why?"
Anya looked at him, annoyed. "Never mind why. Do you think she's attractive?"
Xander took a chance. "Yeah, sort of."
"There's nothing about her, nothing of a deformed nature, that would make a man choose to not wish to spend time with her?"
Xander looked even more confused. "No, she looks undeformed from here."
Anya nodded, a determined look forming on her face. She moved from behind the counter and headed over to Giles and the woman.
Giles didn't see her coming. He was distracted trying to figure out how to turn down the woman's very kind offer to meet him for coffee. When Anya spoke Giles looked at her with startled eyes. "Is this woman asking you out?"
Giles glared at Anya. The woman spoke. "Yes, I am. I'm not sure how that concerns you."
Anya ignored her for the time being. "Giles, we had a deal. I would stop talking about sex if you would try and have some. Say yes to this woman and go out on a date." She turned to the woman. "Would that be acceptable to you?"
Giles groaned and covered his face with his hands. The woman explained that she was just asking Giles to meet her for coffee. Anya shook her head. "No, I think dinner would be better. How's Friday night?"
The woman thought for a moment. "Friday night would be fine. Should I meet him somewhere?" She and Anya discussed possible restaurant choices.
Buffy chose that moment to walk in. She pulled a chair up next to Xander and looked at Giles. "What's up with Giles? Why is he looking like that?"
Xander hesitated a moment and then grimaced. "Well, mostly because he's mortified. Anya's trying to get Giles to date but I think her technique needs some work. She thinks he needs to have sex and she's…well…essentially offered him to that woman."
Buffy's eyes opened wide. "What? She's playing matchmaker and worse with my watcher? I am so going to kill her." She glared at Anya as Anya made her self-satisfied way back to the cash register. Anya just glared back.
Giles finally came out from under his hands. He was still blushing. He looked at the woman and hesitantly smiled. "I'm sorry about that."
"Oh, don't apologize. I got what I wanted." She laughed. "Although, would you like to back out? She sort of steamrolled you into this."
Giles sighed then he smiled at her. "No, I'm afraid I need a little steamrolling. I'm not very good at this. Dinner would be lovely. Shall I meet you at 8:00? And I'm embarrassed to ask this, but what is your name?"
"Donna, and 8:00 would be fine." She smiled at Giles, sent a wink to Anya and left.
Giles headed back over to the counter. He pointed a finger at Anya and opened his mouth to harangue her. She beat him to the punch. "I don't want to hear it. I'm sick and tired of watching you fumble your way through every encounter. You could have sex every night with all the women who come after you."
Giles started to blush again. "Anya, please stop."
Buffy frowned. "Women come after Giles?"
Anya glared at her. "Yes, women come after Giles. He is a handsome, single bachelor with a successful business. He is a lure to all these women who are having the urge to mate and breed. But somehow he never ends up going. So we made a deal. I promised not to talk about me and Xander having sex and he promised to go out on a few dates."
Giles snorted. "I don't remember painful humiliation being a part of that arrangement." He glared at Anya. "And if you ever do that again, I shall fire you immediately."
"Ha. You wouldn't survive a day here without me. I am unconcerned by your threat. Besides now you have a nice dinner with an attractive woman to look forward to."
Buffy looked pained. "I don't understand." She looked at Anya. "Why are you yenta-ing for my watcher. If he doesn't want to date, why should you care?" She knew they'd never be together that way, but somehow she still felt like Giles belonged to her. She didn't even like to think about him belonging to someone else.
Anya snorted. "Like you should talk. I saw that Riley, Riley Finn guy come in here yesterday. You date. Why shouldn't Giles? But no, he's always 'I have to be ready to help Buffy', 'I should be seeing if Buffy needs me', 'I have to have no life so I can help Buffy." She pointed a finger at Buffy. "Xander's told me plenty of stories where you went out on dates and because of it Giles got hurt. You don't worry about him when you go on a date. He should be able to do the same thing."
Xander dropped his jaw at Anya's words. He snapped it shut and winced at the look in Buffy's and Giles' eyes. He stood. "Okay, well, I have absolutely no idea how to fix any of this, so you're both on your own." He gave Anya a peck on the cheek and quickly left.
Giles just looked at Buffy. "Do you want to train?" She nodded her head and stood. They both walked into the back but instead of moving to any of the equipment they both sat down on the couch. Buffy sighed. Giles looked at her, cocking his head to the side. "Are you all right?"
Buffy wasn't all right. "I had that dream again." She watched Giles get a concerned look on his face. "Do you really feel that way?"
Giles shook his head. "Do I really feel what way?"
"Like you can't do anything because of me?"
Giles tightened his lips and glared briefly in Anya's direction as if it might penetrate the door. "Buffy, I choose to be available to you. No one's forcing me. As you well know, it's difficult to date in these circumstances. It's just easier for me not to." He stretched his legs out in front of him. "Did you see anything more?"
"Did I see anything more what?"
"Of the tombstone. Did you see anything else, any words?"
"No." She stretched her legs out too. "Why did you make such a stupid deal with Anya?"
Giles shook his head. "I have no idea. Mostly to shut her up. I was so tired of hearing about her…well…her activities that I couldn't stand it anymore. I had no idea she'd terrorize me into actually doing it."
"Are you really going to go out with that woman?" She scrunched her face up at the thought.
"Well, I can hardly back out now. I suppose I'll have to." He looked pensive for a moment. He figured he might as well find out now about Buffy. "Is this Riley fellow the one you're dating?"
Buffy nodded and then corrected him. "Sort of dating. We haven't actually gone out on a real date yet. We're going on our first one on Friday." She tried to look excited about it but failed. Giles wasn't looking at her though; he was cleaning his glasses.
He put them back on. "Yes, well, I hope this works out for you." He gave her a small reassuring smile.
"Yeah, well, you too." Buffy slouched back against the back of the couch and sighed.
End Part 1
Tombstone: Part 2
Thursday night Buffy had the dream again. Tendrils of fog whispered through the graveyard. She had her hand over her heart as if to ease the pain. The words on the tombstone were blurry; her head ached with the effort to make some sense out of the shapes. A few started to form. She saw a year, 2001. She looked up and saw a tall sandy haired man staring at her from across the cemetery. He shook his head at her and walked away. She was consumed with anger, trembling with rage.
She snapped awake, the anger almost compelling her out of bed into a defensive posture. She stopped herself before she actually stood. Her face was wet with tears again. She stood up and went to stand by the window. She couldn't shake the sensation that someone she loved would be dead soon. This year. And that there was nothing she could do to stop it. She turned and looked at her alarm clock. It was the middle of the night. She sighed. She'd get no more sleep tonight.
She wished she had a good enough reason to call Giles. He had made her feel so much better the other day. But she figured that even Giles would probably be in bed by now. She eyed her backpack with some distaste but finally headed over to her desk and pulling out some books began to work on an assignment.
***
Giles came back from running a few errands. He looked at his watch and frowned. Buffy was even later than usual. He looked at Anya. "Have you heard from Buffy?"
She nodded and pointed towards the training room. "She's back there. She said she was going to take a nap until you got here."
He walked to the back. She was there, asleep on the couch. He stood there, watching her. He hadn't intended to disturb her but she opened her eyes as if she could feel his eyes on her.
She stretched. "I'm sorry. I didn't get much sleep last night." She sat up, her face darkening as she thought of her dream.
Giles moved over to sit next to her. "Did you have the dream again?"
She nodded. "I saw a date, or a year to be exact. 2001. That means this year. That means soon."
Giles almost put a hand out to touch her knee but pulled it back. "I do find it somewhat disturbing that you keep having the same dream."
She rested her head on her hands, elbows on her knees. "Tell me about it." She rubbed her face with her hands. "Giles, it's totally wigging me. It feels so real."
"I can try and do some research if you'd like. See if there's any information on dreams such as the ones you're having."
She nodded then frowned. "No, no research. You have a…a date. You're not canceling it on my account. Anya would wreak vengeance upon me."
"Are you sure? I'd be glad to cancel." His eyebrows rose, a hopeful look on his face. Then his face fell. "Although I have no idea how to get a hold of her. I didn't get her number. I don't even know her last name." He looked appalled at that. He shook his hand and then looked back at Buffy. "Well, you probably ought to take it easy tonight."
She groaned and slumped back. "I can't. I have a date too."
"Ah, yes. That Riley fellow." He bit the inside of his cheek. "Well, perhaps you'd best finish your nap then, hmm?"
She yawned and then unexpectedly leaned into him, nestling into his shoulder. She closed her eyes. "Okay."
He looked at her a bit stunned and then he softly smiled. He raised his arm up so she'd fit more comfortably and then he leaned back.
Riley chose that moment to come into the store. Anya frowned at him. She closed the register drawer wanting to protect her money. Riley walked up the counter and smiled. "Hi, is Buffy here?"
Anya pursed her lips, considering her answer. "Yes, but she's sleeping." She pointed towards the back. "Back there."
"Would you mind if I went in there? I need to talk with her for a moment."
"I just said she was sleeping. Besides Giles just went back to be with her."
"Excuse me?"
"Giles is with her."
"While she's sleeping?"
Anya was bored with this conversation. "I'll be glad to give her a message. What was your name again? Finley, Finley something?"
"Riley, Riley Finn. Just tell her I'll pick her up at 7:00." He sent Anya a serious look trying to impress upon her that his message was important.
She just smiled at him. He shot another look towards the closed door and frowned. He slowly left the shop.
When he got back to his room he logged on to his computer and began to check out this Giles guy. What he found made him very uncomfortable. First of all he had a rap sheet. Sure it was from a long time ago but that probably just meant that he'd gotten smarter. Then he'd had a good job at the British Museum, but had left it to work at Sunnydale High as the librarian. The only excuse for that was that he must have gotten fired from the museum. And then he chose to work someplace he could be around high school girls. And now he owned a shop that sold magic crap. He muttered. "Man, this guy is a scumbag." He leaned back in his chair. "What's he doing with Buffy?" He noted the time and picking up a towel, headed for the showers.
***
Giles was almost enjoying himself. Donna seemed pleasant enough company. They shared some similar likes and dislikes. The problem was that he couldn't get Buffy off his mind. He felt that he should be home researching those dreams of hers. She had looked so tired. She had seemed so fragile lying there on his shoulder as she slept. He hadn't wanted to move. His shoulder had been screaming at him by the time she woke up. She had smiled sheepishly at him and then had left, first reminding him that they both had dates to get ready for. He scowled at the thought.
"Did I say something wrong?"
Giles looked up at his companion. "No, I'm sorry. I'm afraid I'm a bit distracted this evening."
She shook her head. "No, you've been charming company."
He laughed softly. "That's very kind of you to say, but we both know it isn't true."
She smiled at him and looked at the window. Her eyebrows rose. "Oh, to be that young again."
Giles furrowed his brow. "Sorry?"
She pointed out the window. "I can't remember what it felt like to be young enough to just kiss like that, out in public, without worrying about who might be watching."
Giles turned his head as well and saw Buffy and Riley, kissing. Right in the parking lot. His eyes darkened and his jaw clenched. He moved his eyes from the sight. Donna watched him. "Someone you know?"
Giles barely nodded. "Yes."
"Someone important?"
He let out a breath. "Yes." He glanced at Donna and clarified. "Not that way, she's not…" He paused, not sure what he was trying to say.
"Are you sure?"
He took off his glasses and laid them on the table. That way he couldn't see the two of them outside the window. It also meant he didn't see as Buffy pushed Riley away. Buffy glanced up and saw Giles in the window. She almost raised her hand to gesture to him when she saw his date lean forward and gently cup his face in her hand. She turned to Riley. "I'm not feeling very well. I've been kind of off all week. Will you just take me home?" Riley nodded and opened the car door for her.
Donna repeated her question after laying her hand on his cheek. "Are you sure?"
Giles reached up and took her hand away, lowering it to the table where he gently patted it. He didn't answer her. "I'm sorry. I…" He sighed.
She smiled sadly. "Dinner's over." She lifted her hand and gently touched his. "After you figure out what's going on, if you want to try again…have that astonishing woman in the shop get in touch with me." She rose and gathering her purse touched him lightly on the shoulder and left. Giles sat there, his tea growing cold.
Riley walked Buffy to her room again. When they got there he spoke. "Can we talk for a minute?"
She felt badly enough for ruining the evening, she hardly felt she could say no. "Sure." She invited him in. He sat on the bed and she perched on the edge of her desk. "What's up?"
"How long have you known Giles?"
She was surprised at the question. "Since I was fifteen. He was the librarian at Sunnydale High. Why?"
Riley unclenched his jaw. "How well do you know him?"
"As well as I know anyone, I guess. Riley, what's going on?"
"Where is he from?"
"England."
"No, I mean, where was he born? Where did he grow up?"
"I don't know."
"Does he have any family? Are his parents still alive?"
Buffy bit her bottom lip. "I don't know."
"What sort of training does he have? What degrees does he have? What job did he have before he came here?"
She squinched her face up. "Some museum thing." Her face brightened. "I know he went to Oxford."
"Would you consider him a good friend?"
That one she could answer. "Absolutely."
"And have you been good friends since you were fifteen?"
"Yes." She thought back on the conversation and her eyes darkened. "Riley, don't even go there. Wherever your twisted brain is going, just come back."
"I don't trust the guy, Buffy. I don't trust his motives."
She stood. "Riley, you really don't want to do this."
"I just worry about you."
"Well, don't. I can take care of myself." Her eyes glanced at the door. "Time for you to go."
He stood. He approached her for another kiss but she backed away. He frowned and ran his hand through his hair. "I'm sorry, Buffy. I didn't mean to make you angry. I just don't want anything bad to happen to you."
She sent him a small smile. "I know and I appreciate it. But you're barking up the wrong tree with Giles. He's a friend, a good friend. He takes care of me."
Riley nodded and let himself out. He ran his hand down the wall as he walked down her hallway. "That's what I'm afraid of." He quickly ran down the stairs. This time he hung around, out of sight. In a few minutes Buffy came walking outside. He followed her. He watched as she knocked on someone's door and when he saw Giles answer it his stomach knotted. When Buffy entered Giles' house and then closed the door behind the two of them, Riley settled back to wait. He was used to long stakeouts.
There were a few minutes of awkwardness between Buffy and Giles. He helped get past it by making tea. She finally broke the silence. "So, did you have a good time? Planning on seeing her again?" She braced herself for his answer.
He opened the cupboard and brought down two mugs. "No, I don't think so."
"Oh, that's too bad." She fought back a smile.
He nodded. He started to pour the tea, not looking at her. "And you? Will you be seeing your young man again?"
Buffy scowled. "I don't know." She opened another one of Giles' cupboard doors and pulled out a box of gingersnaps. She reached her hand in and pulled out a couple, shoving one in her mouth. "He thinks you're a bad influence on me."
Giles turned to her, a look of astonishment on his face. "Excuse me?"
"Yeah, I know, weird. He thinks I'm with you too much and he questions your motives."
"He questions my motives?" Giles would have gladly hit Riley if he'd been standing in front of him right then.
"Yeah. Plus he thinks it's weird I don't know anything about you."
"What on earth do you mean? You know me very well."
"But nothing I could tell him. All the stuff I could tell him, like about your past, and your family, you know, that stuff, I didn't know any of it. Why don't I know any of that?"
Giles shrugged. "I suppose it just hasn't come up."
"I've known you five years and it just hasn't come up?"
"Well, Buffy, we have had a few other things vying for our attention. Which reminds me, I've been doing some research." He gestured her back into the living room after handing her a mug of tea. She held onto the box of gingersnaps.
"Find anything?"
"Well, not much. Clearly the tombstone could be a symbol of something you're afraid to lose, or have lost. That's if you're going for dream interpretation. There's not much to go on if it's a prophecy." He ran his hand through his hair. He sent her an apologetic look. "I haven't had much success."
She looked at the multitude of books lying open around the room. She smiled at him. "Not because you haven't tried. Thanks."
He nodded and took a sip of his tea. "What did you tell him?"
"Who?"
"Riley. What did you tell him after he impugned my intentions."
"Assuming that means something bad, I told him to back off."
"Ah. And how did he respond?"
She wrinkled her nose. "All nervous, and full of the I'm just worried about you sort of stuff." She put her mug down and leaned back in her chair. "It sucks being the slayer and trying to date."
Giles bit back a grin as he took another sip of his tea. She yawned. He looked down at his couch. "Did you want to sleep here tonight?"
She nodded. "Yeah, maybe I won't have the dream here." She grimaced. "I'm really hating that dream."
Giles rose heading for his closet. He pulled out a blanket and a pillow. She took them and stood moving over to the couch. She gestured at the books. "Feel free to stay down here. It won't keep me from falling asleep, I'm pooped." She yawned again.
He settled back in his chair with a couple of watcher diaries in hand. "I might just glance through a couple more." He reached for the box of gingersnaps. She held them tightly to her, frowning. Then she grinned and handed him the box. He rolled his eyes and helped himself. He began paging through one of the books as she easily fell asleep. Giles glanced at her every now and then, glad to have her safe and sound. And glad to have her not be with Riley. He shook his head at his own thoughts and picked up another book.
***
Riley watched as Buffy left Giles' house at seven in the morning. She closed the door quietly behind her and then after stretching she began to jog for home. Riley followed her until he was sure she was heading back for the dorm and then he veered off heading for his own room and a much-needed nap. Then he needed to figure out how to get Buffy out from under Giles' influence.
End Part 2