Watchers Retreat: Part 8

All of the Watchers were there except for the three who were still bed bound. Daniel had already collected their votes. The rest were meeting in a conference room provided by the hospital. Daniel handed out a copy of the pertinent Council regulations to everyone and gave them a minute to read the highlighted section.

Wendell looked up. "All we have to do is vote for someone?"

Daniel nodded. "Believe it or not, when the Council was set up, provisions were made for a disaster such as this, or at least one where all the directors were killed. We just need to nominate someone to be our new Head and then vote. Majority wins. Then that person appoints whom they want to fill any vacant slots."

Wendell snorted. "Which is all of them."

Daniel smiled tightly. "Which is all of them. But I don't think we'll need all of them right now. But that will be Rupert's…" Daniel bit his lips. He flashed them a rueful smile. "Sorry. Slip of the tongue."

Maddy laughed at him. "You're just speaking for us all. So, seeing as you've let the cat out of the bag so to speak, I'll nominate Rupert Giles."

Wendell's hand went up. "I second."

Daniel looked around the room. "Are there any other nominations?" Silence filled the room. "Fine. All those in favor?" The ayes swept the room. "Those opposed?" Another silence. Daniel grinned.

Celiane raised her hand. Daniel gave her the floor. "I don't believe Rupert will, in good conscience, be able to refuse this position. But, he's still ill and I don't want to present him with any further stress until he's stronger." She glanced at them with a warning glare. "They are extubating him today and if he does all right with that, he'll be able to start having visitors. I must insist that no one talk to him about this. I will alert Daniel when I think he's ready. Do I have your oaths on this?"

Everyone nodded at her. No one wanted him to have a setback. Things had still been touch and go through the night. Although Celiane was half convinced that he had started getting better the instant Buffy had shown up. It was as if with her at his side, safe and sound, that he could truly relax and let a healing sleep claim him. Buffy had barely left him all night long, other than to tend to necessities. Reassured by their nods and their faces Celiane nodded.

Daniel took the floor again. "Our psychologists are contacting the families of the Watchers who have died. And I have sent messages out to the few Watchers who did not attend the retreat, asking them to call in. I'll keep you updated on that." He looked around the room. "Any other business?"

Maria raised her hand. "How do we know that Tom was working on his own? How do we know that something's not still after us?"

"The Ops team is working on that. So far, nothing they've found implicates anyone else. It appears that he was working on his own. Again, I'll update you on any further reports I get. Anything else?" When he was met by another silence he nodded. "There's a bar in the hotel. I'll be there at 9:00 tonight. If anyone wants to join me I thought we could toast those of our friends who are no longer with us." He could hear his own voice thicken with emotion and he heard a few sniffles. Nodding at them he spoke one last time. "Meeting adjourned."

***

It had taken three days but now Buffy knew he was getting better. He was starting to get crabby. Giles hated hospitals and this one was no exception. Buffy grinned. She'd take him crabby any day. Crabby meant he was fine. Crabby meant they could go home soon.

She had gone to get him something to eat after listening to him complain about the hospital food for an hour. Buffy had found a Chinese restaurant down the block and picked up enough for both of them. Xander had gone back to Sunnydale, promising to come back and pick them both up the minute Giles was discharged. Buffy had checked in with Dawn and Willow every day, and had ended up quitting her job when they'd refused her any time off. As Buffy neared Giles' room she pushed that particular worry away and entered the room.

She frowned. Maddy was here. And looking very chummy. This was the third time today she'd gone away for a short while and come back to find some woman in Giles' room. First it had been Maria. Then some other woman Buffy hadn't known, and now Maddy. Plenty of the guys had been by too, but they showed up, talked for two minutes and left. The women stayed. They hovered. They fawned. Buffy hated it. She hated the look in their eyes when they looked at Giles. Like they wanted him. Like they were figuring out the best way to get him.

Buffy was having none of it. This whole crisis had made her look at her Watcher in a whole new way, and she had come to her own conclusion. No matter how you sliced it, he was hers. Plain and simple. She had first dibs, and she was keeping him. Now all she had to do was let him know, and let him know before he started getting any ideas about any of these women that Buffy couldn't seem to get rid of.

She pasted a smile onto her face. "Hey Maddy." Maddy grinned back at her. Buffy decided her smile was pasted on too. Clearly she knew who the competition was.

Giles smiled happily when he saw her. "Ah, Buffy, you've brought lunch."

"I have. Chinese."

"Lovely." He turned to Maddy. "Would you like to join us?"

"I'd love to."

Buffy unclenched her jaw. "Great." Her romantic visions of she and Giles eating out of the same containers flew out the window. "I'll go get some plates."

Giles had been allowed up this morning to actually take a shower. He felt almost human. It was amazing what a difference feeling really clean made. He smiled at Maddy. It had been lovely to have so much company all day. He was a little surprised they were all still there. Giles would have assumed they'd have all gone back to the Council or to wherever they were doing their work, but as far as he could tell, none of them had left.

Buffy came back in carrying plates and forks. She waved them in the air. "Success." Maddy looked for a second chair. Buffy waved her off. "I'll just sit on the bed."

Giles immediately shifted to the side to make room for her. Buffy smiled at him and got on the bed, crossing her legs, sitting as close to him as she dared. She didn't want him to back up any more, afraid he'd fall off the bed.

Giles didn't back up at all. He liked Buffy being near him. He still couldn't get enough of her. Her smiles, her silly slang, the touch of her hand. Hoping she wouldn't notice he shifted his leg until it was just touching hers.

Buffy felt him shifting and put her hand on his leg. "Do you have enough room?"

Giles nodded. "Plenty, thank you." He was absurdly disappointed when she removed her hand.

Maddy watched the two of them. She hadn't quite figured out what was going on between the two of them. It didn't seem to be romantic in nature, at least from Rupert's side. But Buffy clearly didn't like sharing. Maddy wasn't sure if that was part of their Watcher/Slayer relationship, or if Buffy had stronger feelings for the man.

There was no doubt that the two of them were close. Very close. Close enough that if Rupert were interested in Buffy, Maddy wouldn't even bother. But she hadn't really seen it. He was always delighted to have Buffy around, but he didn't give her any signals. Maddy sighed. Of course, he didn't give her any either.

They ate in a fairly companionable silence. Maddy and Buffy occasionally eyeing one another. Wendell came in at one point and visited for a few minutes, snitching an egg roll.

After he left, Buffy tapped Giles' leg. "Xander sends his regards."

Giles smiled. "You spoke with him?"

"Early this morning. I forgot to tell you. And Willow and Dawn send their love. They all want to come up to get you."

He smiled again. "It will be lovely to see them." Then he scowled. "They want to keep me here for three more days. I think I should be able to go home tomorrow."

Buffy grinned at him. "Maybe we can get them to compromise on the day after tomorrow. It will be easier for Xander to get up here on a Saturday anyway. That way he won't have to take another day off of work."

Giles frowned but didn't argue. Buffy grinned again. She didn't tell Giles about the rest of her conversation with Xander. She'd thanked him for bringing her back. And she meant it. Somehow this whole adventure had snapped her back in place. It felt as if she had never died at all. Xander had started crying. So she'd started crying and the two of them had boohooed like babies on the phone for twenty minutes. And at the end of it, Buffy had felt all cleaned out.

Buffy was ready to have the same conversation with Willow except she was a little wary about it. Magic was not the easiest topic with Willow anymore and Buffy hated to bring it up. But she knew Willow still felt badly about bringing her back. Maybe Giles could be with her when she talked to Willow. Maybe he'd know what to say.

Giles prodded her with his knee. "Buffy?"

She glanced at him. "Hmm?"

"You seem very far away."

She let go of her thoughts. "Do I? Sorry." She grinned at him. "I'm back now."

He smiled at her. "Good." Then he spoke cautiously. "Is everything all right?"

"Yeah." She glanced quickly at Maddy.

Giles understood and let it go. He'd get it out of her later when they were alone.

***

Buffy watched Giles sleeping. They hadn't had a moment alone. Watcher after Watcher came in to see him. And despite his recovery it had worn him out. As soon as the last one left, he'd fallen asleep.

Buffy carefully sat on the edge of the bed, not wanting to disturb him. Her eyes wandered over his face, drinking him in. She loved every line, every crinkle. Reaching out a hand she brushed a lock of his hair off his forehead.

Celiane quietly opened the door not wanting to wake Rupert if he was already asleep. Her husband had flown in that morning so she was actually planning on spending the night at the hotel. She wanted to say good night before she left for the evening. Celiane saw Buffy and assumed he was awake. She was about to speak when she noticed what Buffy was doing, and something in her movements stopped Celiane from speaking. She silently watched by the door.

Buffy ran her fingers down his arm, avoiding his IV site. He was still on antibiotics, even though most everything else had been discontinued. She still couldn't get over how close he'd come to dying. Even with her big rescue scene. He suddenly seemed so mortal to her. And infinitely more precious because of it. Buffy could hardly believe that she had survived a year without him. She couldn't even imagine being that person who had thought that was all right.

Now she didn't feel as if she ever wanted to let him out of her sight. Buffy traced his fingers with her own, finally wrapping her fingers around his. Lifting her other hand she touched his jaw. He was stubbly. She found herself having to fight the temptation to feel the texture with her tongue, to nibble along the line of his jaw.

She couldn't wait to get him home, get him alone and away from all these Watchers. How could she possibly hope to get his attention with all of them around? How could she compete with all these attractive, brainy women? Buffy softly traced his lips with her index finger. They were so soft. Feeling quite daring she leaned forward and placed the softest of kisses on his lips. Then she pulled back with a sigh.

Watching him for another moment she finally laid her head down on his chest, listening to his heartbeat, allowing herself to be lulled by the rhythm of his breath. Giles shifted in his sleep and when he encountered an obstacle in his bed his eyes flickered open. When he saw it was Buffy he smiled and wrapped an arm around her. Then he drifted back off to sleep.

Celiane slowly backed out of the room. She thought about the job that was waiting for Rupert back in England. For the first time she began to wonder whether Rupert would take the job. She wasn't sure that anything would or should take him away from a young woman, that even in his sleep, he held on to so tightly, especially as that same young woman so clearly loved him.

***

Giles was pacing. He couldn't pace far because he was still hooked up to his IV, getting a last dose of antibiotics. He'd have to continue to receive them as an outpatient in Sunnydale for another week. Giles thought if he had to spend another two hours in this place that he'd go insane. He was grateful that they'd saved his life, but he was very ready to leave.

He looked at his watch. His transportation hadn't arrived yet, although based on the last phone call from Xander he should be here shortly. Then Daniel had asked to speak to him before he left. He was due here in thirty minutes.

It was the first time he'd been alone all day, practically the first time he'd been alone since he'd been awake and aware. Not that he'd minded. It had helped passed the time and it had been wonderful to have Buffy so close at hand. Two nights in a row he'd awakened to find her curled on his bed. He'd barely wanted to move; afraid she'd wake up and move away. Giles found her presence comforting. He couldn't imagine that he had lived without her for a year, that he hadn't tried harder, insisted on seeing her, made her accept him back. He could hardly believe that the last year had even happened.

Giles heard talking in the hallway. He grabbed his IV pole to drag it to the door when it pushed open. Before he could smile or say hello, Dawn was in his arms. "Giles." She hugged him so tightly he grunted.

When she finally pulled away he smiled at her and kissed her on the forehead. "It's wonderful to see you." He looked up and saw Willow. She looked so thin, and weary. Giles felt a moment of guilt that he hadn't been around to help her either. He spoke her name. "Willow."

And then she was in his arms. "I'm so glad you're alive."

Giles laughed his soft laugh. "As am I."

Willow lifted her head. "I missed you so much."

He frowned at her. "Is that why you kept refusing to talk to me? Because you missed me so much?" His tone was light, belying his frown.

She lightly punched him on the arm. "No, I was refusing to talk to you so I didn't get slayed."

Buffy let out an annoyed sound. "Hey, Slayer in the room. And I couldn't help it. I was temporarily deranged."

Giles smiled sadly at her. "For which I was partially responsible."

Buffy shook her head. "We are so past the blaming part it isn't even funny." She'd only been away from him for twenty minutes and all she wanted to do was touch him.

Giles glanced at Xander. Xander put his hands up. "I already did the hugging thing last time I was here."

Giles chuckled softly again. "Thank you for coming up again. I appreciate the chauffeur service."

Xander waved him off. "I'm starving. Where's the food?"

Buffy grinned. "Come on, we'll go pick up snacks for everyone."

He turned to follow her out. "Snacks? I didn't say anything about snacks. I want some manly food."

"They don't do manly food here. This is a hospital. Trust me, I've been listening to Giles complain about it for days."

As the door shut behind them, Giles looked down at Dawn and Willow. They were both grinning at him. He rolled his eyes and moved to sit on the bed. They flanked him and sat on either side of him.

***

By the time Daniel arrived ten minutes later, Buffy and Xander right behind him, Giles was leaning against the raised head of the bed, a girl tucked under each arm as they chatted with him. Daniel took one look at him and shook his head. "What is it with you and beautiful women? Every time I come into your room you're surrounded by them."

Giles just sent him a look and refused to comment. Instead he introduced Willow and Dawn to Daniel. Daniel was happy to meet them both, especially Willow. "You're the one who helped Rupert research so much, aren't you?"

She nodded, delighted that Giles had been talking about her. "Do you do research too?"

He put a hand on his chest. "I'm a Watcher."

Willow grinned. "Right. Of course." She elbowed Giles lightly in the ribs. "Because that's what Watchers do."

Giles glared at Willow but she just grinned at him. She felt better just having him around again. She felt she could relax just a bit, let down her guard a little, knowing that if she made a wrong move that Giles would be there, that he'd help her. She didn't feel quite so alone. Giles glanced up at Daniel. "What did you need to talk to me about?"

Daniel glanced at his watch. "I'm expecting a couple of other people. Do you mind waiting?"

Giles shook his head. He had his family with him now. He didn't mind waiting a little bit longer.

Celiane was the first to arrive and she disconnected Giles' IV. Then Maddy entered the room. When Maddy saw Giles in bed with Willow and Dawn she put her hands on her hips. "I can't turn my back on you for a minute, can I?" Giles grinned but Buffy didn't. She didn't like the way that Maddy was talking as if Giles was already hers. Willow watched the emotions cross Buffy's face. She glanced up to see if Xander was catching them. He was. Xander raised his eyebrows, his eyes wide.

Next to arrive were Wendell, Steven, Sarah and Doug. Introductions were made again. In a few short minutes the room was bursting with Watchers. Giles furrowed his brow as he looked at them all. Buffy moved to sit on the bed, her legs drawn up to her chest. She wondered if they were going to present Giles with some sort of thank you gift.

Daniel started counting heads. Counting the ones standing in the hallway they were all there, all forty-six of them. The Council. Daniel handed Giles the regulation. Giles read it and then looked up at Daniel. "Are we here to vote?"

Daniel shook his head. "We already voted."

Giles took off his glasses. "I don't understand."

"We voted for you. You're the new Head of the Council of Watchers."

End of Part 8