Title: One Wish
Author: Rari

(notes and disclaimer with part one)

One Wish: Part 3

Buffy lay in her bed. She didn't understand why Giles was staying downstairs. Buffy wanted him with her. She wanted him to be holding her and speaking softly to her in that wonderful voice of his that made her feel so safe. She wanted to crawl inside of him and have him touch her and make all the bad memories go away. Buffy couldn't think of anything else that would. She wanted to be touched by someone she loved. She called for Giles again.

Giles heard Buffy call. He ran his hand through his hair and got up to stand at the foot of the stairs. He was running out of excuses. "Buffy, I'll be up as soon as I can." He winced a little at how lame that sounded, knowing that she was in pain and that she was sure to be hurt by his continued absence. He stood there, his hand running up and down on the banister, lost in thought.

Giles suddenly felt his body react and he knew without even seeing her that Buffy had decided not to wait for him any longer. He looked up and saw that she was standing at the head of the stairs. There were tears in her eyes. Giles tightened his grip on the railing to keep from running up to her. He closed his eyes in hope that the images of throwing her down on the floor and ripping her clothes off might lessen but they became all the more intense. He opened his eyes back up and she was standing right in front of him. Giles backed up a few steps, almost stumbling in his haste to get more space between them.

Buffy's voice was still shaky. "Giles, I…what's the matter? Why…?" She took a breath that caught on a sob. "I don't want to be alone."

Giles heart ached that she even had to ask these questions. He wished he could be sitting at her side, watching over her. Giles had not told Buffy about the spell yet for a couple of reasons. The first was that he hadn't wanted to be near her long enough to tell her, and the second reason was that he didn't want her to be afraid of him. But, he would need to tell her now. It was the only way to make sure she stayed away and safe. As he was opening his mouth to tell her there was a knock on the door. He sent a grateful look skyward and looked at Buffy. "Go back upstairs. I've been waiting for Spike to return. He was getting me something from the shop." As she hesitated he verbally prodded her again. "Go, now, before I open the door."

She slowly turned and headed back upstairs. Giles waited to hear her bedroom door shut before he moved to the door. He gasped with relief when he saw it was Anya. Unfortunately Xander was with her, but as long as Buffy stayed upstairs Giles wasn't too concerned about that right now. They both were carrying a load of books.

Xander spoke. "Hey, big guy, can we come in? These are getting heavy."

Giles moved out of the way. "Of course, I'm sorry. Please come in." He looked behind them. "Is Spike here?"

Xander shook his head. He dropped the books on the coffee table and then helped relieve Anya of her load. Xander bent his arms, back and forth, getting out the kinks. He turned to Giles. "Spike found us at the Bronze. He said to say that he knew he was supposed to bring Anya back first but that he figured the three of us would find your books faster than just him alone. So, we all went to the Magic Box, which is why Anya and I come bearing gifts. Spike is, even as we speak, trying to track down Ethan." He looked at Giles, anger in his eyes at what had been done to Buffy. "Spike told us what happened. Do you think it was Ethan?"

Giles shook his head, his own eyes angry. "I don't know. But if it was, I'll make him wish he'd never been born."

The look in Giles' eyes made Xander very glad he wasn't Ethan. Xander gestured up the stairs. "She up there?"

Giles nodded and looked at Anya. "Yes, and she doesn't want to be alone and I need you to go be with her. I haven't explained about the spell yet." Anya nodded and started heading for the stairs. Giles touched her on the arm. "Anya, she's been…badly frightened. She needs someone to comfort her and make her feel safe, not to make her angry or get her thinking of revenge. Please try and keep any talk of vengeance out of your conversation."

Anya touched her hand to her chest. "You don't think I can be comforting? You don't think I know how to make someone feel safe?" Her voice was getting louder and louder.

Giles put his hands up to stop her. "Anya, please. Try. For Buffy."

Anya made a face at him and Giles could hear her muttering as she made her way upstairs.

Xander looked at Giles. He sent him a look that was part apology and part worry. Giles blew out a breath. Anya was still a better choice than he was. He and Xander moved over to the couch. Xander picked up a book. "Okay, what are we looking for?" He opened it up, grimaced, shut it and handed it to Giles. "How about I take the ones in English, you get the ones in Swahili." He started opening the books and pulling out the ones in English. Xander looked at Giles, waiting for some direction.

Giles thought for a moment. "I suppose we're looking for spells, spells that remove spells, or that protect people from the affects of spells. Look for any sex, or lust, or love spells." He looked at the pile of books in front of them. "I have no idea what was done, so we're shooting in the dark here. I don't even know if we have the right books here."

Xander waved his hand at Giles as he settled in his chair preparing to go through his first book. "Hey, we gotta start somewhere. If we don't find anything here we can always go back to the shop now that Anya is here."

Giles flashed him a look of gratitude, thankful for his assistance. They sat there in silence for a while, turning pages. Giles looked up, feeling Xander's eyes on him. "Yes?"

"Did I do something this morning to Buffy? Is that why I was so confused?" His eyes were anxious.

Giles shook his head. "You didn't do anything to her. However, the spell did affect you and that was the cause of your confusion. Luckily you weren't with her very long. It gets worse the longer you're with her."

Xander hesitated. "You've been…how have you…aren't you affected too?"

Giles barked out a laugh, not a very pleasant one. "Quite affected."

"But she's okay, right?"

Giles understood what Xander was asking. "Yes. I've tried to keep away from her." He blew out a long breath and Xander guessed that it hadn't been as simple as Giles was making it sound.

"Where was she?"

"The Bronze."

Xander cursed. "We must have just missed her. There was some talk about a fight on the dance floor but we never thought…" He looked at Giles. "Do you know what happened?"

Giles' lips tightened. "She hasn't told me any details, but it's clear that several men attacked her. She was able to get away but not before she was fairly traumatized by the whole thing."

"How did you stop yourself from attacking her too? According to Spike the spell is pretty strong."

"It's very strong, one of the strongest spells I've ever felt. I've never fought so hard against something in my life." Xander saw how hard Giles was gripping his book. Giles sent Xander a look filled with anguish. "She needed me so badly to protect her, to make her feel safe. If I'd…" He took off his glasses and threw them on the table, running his hands over his face.

Xander reached out and gripped Giles' arm. "But you didn't. You did protect her and keep her safe. She called the right person." Giles gave a tight nod and sent a small smile Xander's way. He started flipping through the pages of his book again.

In a few minutes Anya called down. "Giles?"

Giles put his book down and moved to the bottom of the stairs. "Yes?"

"She wants to see you." As he started to shake his head Anya insisted. "She won't take no for an answer. She says she'll come down if you don't come up."

Giles flashed a look at Xander. "Stay down here. I'll make sure Anya stays with me." He slowly started up but then headed back down again. He went to the kitchen and grabbed a carving knife with a stout handle. As he met Anya at the top of the stairs he handed it to her. "Use this is you need to."

Anya took it. "You want me to kill you?"

Giles rolled his eyes. "I don't think that will be necessary." He pointed to the wooden handle. "Hit me with that end first. If it doesn't work and you have to stab me, aim for an arm or a leg. I imagine that will distract me enough." At Anya's nod he spoke one more time. "Don't leave me alone with her." Anya nodded again. He could feel the effects of the spell even out here. Giles took one more breath and opened the door to Buffy's room.

Giles let Anya in first. When he entered, the effects of the spell multiplied. He felt the overwhelming need to claim her as his, to satisfy his needs in her body. He groaned and leaned against the door for a moment, trying to stay in control, to remember why he was here. Giles moved to the bed and after reassuring himself that Anya was right by the door, he sat down. She was completely under the covers. He spoke her name. "Buffy."

She was in his arms before another second passed. His arms closed tightly around her. Giles saw Anya move closer to him and he held his hand up to her assuring her that he was all right for the time being. He was, barely. Buffy was speaking into his chest. "I want you to stay with me. Why can't you stay with me?"

He gently pulled back from her. It was time to tell her. "I wish I could, but I can't."

She lifted her pale face to his. "Why?"

He sighed. "Someone's done a spell, directed at you, a particularly nasty one. It makes men want to…" He touched a bruise on her face. "Well, I imagine you know what it makes them want." She nodded, not meeting his gaze. She knew all too clearly. Giles continued. "It affects all men, Buffy." He stressed the word all.

It took a minute but it finally filtered through. She shrank from him, creating more space in between them. Even though he knew it was necessary his heart clenched to see her fear him. But she surprised him. After a moment she moved back and looked at him closely, just staring at him, not saying a word. She could see it now, the stark desire in his face, the tension in his body. Her voice was soft. "So, all this time? While you were holding me, and carrying me? You wanted to…?"

Giles looked away, unable to meet her gaze. He nodded. "I'm sorry, Buffy."

She let out a shaky laugh. "For what? How can you possibly think you have something to be sorry for? I saw what those men were like. They were out of control. I was terrified of them. But you didn't hurt me, you fought it…for me." She moved closer and wrapped her arms around him again.

Anya really had to pee. Giles looked like he was behaving himself. She quietly slipped out the door.

Giles didn't notice. The scent and nearness of Buffy was driving him crazy. He groaned and spoke, his voice husky with need. "Buffy, don't. I can't…you're not safe with me."

Buffy pulled back, still holding him, and looked at him. "I don't care Giles. I want you to touch me. I want you to make me forget what happened."

Giles pulled out of her arms, a look of panic on his face. "You don't know what you're saying. You're upset. Neither one of us is thinking right. If I touch you it won't be about making you feel better, it will be about me taking what I want. I won't care if I hurt you." He stood.

Buffy stood too. "Giles, I need you. My body feels contaminated and I need you to make it better. You know you can't hurt me."

Giles backed away from her. "Don't ask me to do this. This isn't me."

Buffy knew she wasn't being fair to Giles but she couldn't help it. She felt so needy, so desperate for him. Her own body was responding to his desire for her. "Don't you want me?"

Giles groaned again. "God, I want you so much it's making me insane." He looked behind him and realized that Anya wasn't in the room anymore. He started backing up to the door, reaching behind him, trying to find the doorknob. As he found it and started to turn it Buffy moved faster and ran to him, keeping the door shut with one of her hands. She pulled his head down and captured his lips in a kiss.

Giles' self control went up in flames. He let out a low growl and fisting his hands in Buffy's hair he pulled her tight against him.

Anya tried to get back in the bedroom but she couldn't get the door open. She banged on the door. "Hey, let me in." She heard Giles groan. She banged harder. "Hey, stop that!" She yelled down the stairs. "Xander!" She shoved her hip against the door trying to open it, yelling.

She got the door partially open and she kept shoving. The banging of the door against Giles' body was enough to start penetrating his brain, to make him aware of what he was doing. He was kissing Buffy, his hands cupping her butt, holding her against his raging erection. He'd been seconds away from ripping off her clothes, rutting with her on the floor. Giles could hear Xander coming up the stairs. He pushed Buffy away from him hard enough that she fell on the bed. As he moved away from the door Anya's last shove flung the door open so hard it crashed into the wall behind it.

Anya held the knife up as she came in. Xander came racing in behind her. "What's wrong?" He looked at Buffy. "Oh God." He started walking towards her, oblivious to anything else.

Giles grabbed Anya. "Shut the door behind me. Don't let me in again. Don't let anybody in." Giles grabbed Xander by an arm. Xander swung a punch in Giles' direction. Giles lowered a shoulder and just barreled into Xander taking him through the doorway and a few feet down the hall. Giles yelled. "Shut it now!" Anya slammed the door shut and locked it.

Anya walked over to Buffy who was sitting on the bed. "Are you all right? Did he hurt you?"

Buffy shook her head, her fingers on her lips, trying to keep from crying. "No, it was me, I did it. I kissed him." She didn't want Anya to think that Giles had done anything wrong.

Anya looked at her as if she was insane. "What? Why did you do that?"

"I wanted him to kiss me."

Anya snorted. "Great. Giles sends me up here. He says, Anya, she's hurting, she needs someone to be comforting, to make her feel better. And meanwhile here you are throwing gasoline on the fire." She threw herself into a chair, disgusted with Buffy, with Giles, with Xander, and with the whole way her evening had ended up. Buffy stood and Anya glared at her. "You step one foot near that door and I'll stab you with this knife." Buffy sat back down again.

Giles had landed on top of Xander. He held him there, pinned to the ground until he saw Xander's eyes clear. Giles looked at him. "Okay?" Xander nodded and Giles rolled off of him. They both lay there, panting.

Xander turned his head to Giles. "You all right?"

Giles let out a sharp laugh. "No."

Xander stood and helped Giles up and they walked downstairs. He sat back in his chair as Giles sank down on the couch. Xander pursed his lips and gestured upstairs with his head. "What happened up there?"

Giles took his glasses off again. "She kissed me."

Xander's eyes widened. "She kissed you?" Xander shook his head. "She kissed you?" Giles closed his eyes resting his head against the back of the couch. He nodded. Xander blew out his breath in a whistle. "And you…?"

Giles shot him a look. "What do you think I did?" He covered his face with his hands and made a frustrated sound.

"Where was Anya?"

Giles furrowed his brow. "A very good question I intend to ask her when this whole thing is over."

Xander grimaced at the tone in Giles' voice. "Boy, her timing really sucks."

Giles sat up and reached for a book. "Yes, it does."

Xander continued. "I mean, if she wanted to do the whole seduction thing, you'd think she'd want to wait until she knew you were, you know, not under a lust spell. Unless that was the only way she thought she could get you." Xander thought about that possibility. No matter how you sliced it, her timing sucked.

Giles realized that Xander was talking about Buffy, not Anya. He looked at Xander in amazement. "You think Buffy was trying to seduce me?"

"Well…yeah. Why else would she kiss you?"

"Because she's frightened, because she's confused, because she…" Giles shook his head, not really knowing why.

Xander just looked at Giles. "I don't know, Giles. I mean, she's been attacked by every guy who sees her, right? It seems to me that she should be hating guys right now, all guys, including you, because you're a guy. And I know I'm sounding like Willow here with the babbling, but bear with me. Instead, she kisses you. It sounds to me as if she, maybe, really wants you. She just picked a really sucky time to let you know."

Giles looked darkly at Xander. "This is not helping. Can we get back to the research?"

Xander picked his book back up. "Shutting up now."

End of Part 3