Giles' hands were beginning to shake as he watched Willow try to get him into the cage. The room was silent, sans Ethan's uneven breath. He looked down at the other man, wanting to hurt him more. They locked eyes for a moment and Ethan let out a strain laugh. Giles had to ignore it though - he needed to get in and get Fred out of the cage and whatever hell Ethan had put her in.
"Ripper in love. What a nice sentiment," Ethan gasped as he stood from the floor. He wobbled a bit but found his balance. "And I'm not close to be finished."
Giles' grip on the rifle tightened and he cocked it before raising it up. It was going to end now. Ethan was never going to touch Fred again. No one was. "It's finished, Ethan," he growled as his finger pulsed over the trigger. Giles almost pulled it but was stopped by a loud pop from behind him. He watched as Ethan fell to the ground, a bullet hole in his head.
"I had orders to kill him," Riley said. Giles glanced at him for a moment before he heard the cage door swing open.
"You can go in now. I don't know how long I can keep it open so you need to be quick," Willow said.
Giles dropped the rifle on the ground and ran toward the cage. He stepped inside of it and found Fred curled up on the floor. He cautiously approached her and crouched beside her. "Fred, love, it's Rupert. I'm here to take you home," he quietly said. "Wherever you think you are, it's not real. You're really in a cage in London. I need you to take my hand so I can lead you out. I promise nothing bad will happen to you." He held out his hand. "Just take it, love, and we can go home."
Fred heard something that sounded like a voice...that sounds like his voice. "Rupert," she whispered. "Rupert, are you here? Oh, God, please tell me you're here."
A moment later, his voice became louder, telling her that the place she was in wasn't real and she was actually in London. She wanted to believe him, but all she could see was the cave and the darkness outside. Waving her hand in front of her, she tried to find the hand he told her to take.
"I can't see you," she cried, trying to concentrate on his voice. He told her again just to take his hand, and suddenly, she could see his outline, his hand held out to her. Reaching out her shaking hand, she took it.
When she did, the cave began to fade away while Rupert became visible, his green eyes filled with worry.
"Rupert," she gasped, throwing her arms around him as Pylea completely disappeared to replaced by the bars of a cage.
"Giles, you need to get out of there! I can't keep this open much longer," Willow's voice warned.
Giles held Fred tightly, glad she was all right and Ethan hadn't hurt her too much. When he heard Willow's warning, he stood and scooped Fred up into his arms and rushed over to the door of the cage. Once they cleared it, the cage collapse in on itself. "You're all right, love," Giles whispered before looking at Willow. "We should take her to the hospital. She needs to be checked out."
"Riley and I will take care of things here," Buffy said. Giles gratefully nodded and took Fred out to Willow's car. He slipped into the backseat and held his wife as Willow sped through London to get to the hospital.
When they arrived, Giles carried Fred into the emergency area and looked around for a nurse. "Help please," he said, holding Fred tightly. "My wife was kidnapped and I want to make sure she's all right."
"Of course, sir," the nurse said as she led them to an exam room. Giles laid Fred on a table and looked around. "A doctor will be in shortly."
He nodded and held Fred's hand, not wanting to let go. When the doctor stepped in Giles took a deep breath. "I don't think she was hurt but I'm concerned about what he may have given her. Could you please do a blood test? I'm with the Watcher's Council."
The doctor stiffened up and nodded. "Of course. I'll get the kit straightaway," he said, hurrying out.
Giles looked down at his wife and softly kissed her forehead. "I'm so sorry, love. I should've protected you better."
Fred was confused to find herself in the middle of the room, surrounded by everyone else. She wanted to ask exactly what had happened, but at the same time, all she wanted to do was cling to Rupert and not let him go. So she did just that, resting her head against him and telling herself over and over again that it had all been a trick. She hadn't been in Pylea - Ethan had just been playing mind games with her.
At the hospital, she allowed him to carry her into the emergency room and back to the exam room. Once the doctor had left to get whatever Rupert had asked for, she looked up at him, feeling tears come to her eyes when he apologized to her.
"I'm just glad you're here," she whispered, tightening her grip on his hand. "I was so scared that--that he'd...that he'd do something to you. I love you."
The doctor came back in just then with the kit and drew some blood from Fred as well as checking her over to make sure that nothing else had been done to her. Once he was done, he turned to them. "I'll take this down to the lab and have them check it right away. Is there anything you need, Mrs. Giles?"
Fred shook her head.
"All right, I'll be right back."
Once the doctor disappeared, Fred closed her eyes. "He made me think I was back in Pylea in my cave. I don't know how, but he did. I kept thinking of you, though. I knew he wouldn't get to you, no matter what he said."
"I would never allow Ethan to do anything to me, love. And you no longer have to worry about him. He's gone. Riley killed him," Giles said. He felt his chest start to tighten at the thought of how Fred had suffered because of him and his past. It always came back to haunt him and hurt the people he cared about most.
He watched in silence as the doctor took the blood and left. When Fred said Ethan had made her think she was in Pylea, he felt the breath leave him. He was angry at Ethan for doing it but even more angry at himself for allowing Ethan to take her. He knew it was his job to take care of her and he had failed her. Like he had failed Jenny.
"It's all right, love. I'm here," Giles whispered. It was all he could say. He was afraid if he continued to speak, she would hear the emotion in his voice. She didn't need to witness that - not now. Instead, he sat on the edge of the table and stroked her face, whispering to her.
When the doctor came back in, he closed the door behind him and looked at the both of them. Giles felt his heart dropped to his stomach. Something wasn't right. They had found something. Ethan had done something to her. "I don't suppose you know this," the doctor said, glancing down at his chart. "Mrs. Giles, you're pregnant."
Giles felt his world tilt. Everything they had hoped for was coming true right at the moment he knew he couldn't protect Fred. How was he supposed to protect both of them? The doctor continued to talk about appointments and other things but Giles didn't hear him. The doctor said Fred was free to go home and once he was gone, Giles turned and looked at her.
"This is wonderful news, love." He whispered as he forced a smile on his face. He was going to be a father, yet he couldn't protect them. He knew what he needed to do - he needed to leave so neither of them would get hurt because of him.
When Rupert told her that Ethan was dead, she felt relieved. She knew that someone dying wasn't a good thing, but after what he had done to her and what he had threatened to do to Rupert, she couldn't help it. That meant that he wouldn't be coming after them again. The past was past now. Ethan would never try to hurt her husband again.
She was glad he was there with her as they waited for the doctor to come back. After being forced to think she was alone again, it helped to have him there, holding her hand and touching her face. His voice was calming too - she loved to listen to him talking, especially with his wonderful accent.
When the doctor came back in, Fred opened her eyes again, just as he told them the news, and she felt as though time stopped for a moment. Pregnant. She was pregnant. She looked up at Rupert, feeling her breath catching in her chest. They were going to have a baby. Suddenly, it seemed that everything that had happened to her didn't seem to matter anymore. She was safe, Rupert was safe, and they were going to have a baby.
The doctor apparently realized that neither of them were listening, so he left some information with them and told them she could go home. After he left, Fred wrapped her arms around Rupert and hugged him tightly when he told her it was wonderful news.
"I can't believe we're having a baby," she whispered, placing her hand over her stomach. Getting up from the exam table, she leaned against him, still a little shaky, but definitely starting to feel more normal again. "Take me home. Please, Rupert."
Giles held his wife for a moment before she slid off the table. He mutely nodded and helped her out of the exam room. Willow was waiting and all them went to her car so she could take them home. Giles sat in back with his wife, his hand slowly rubbing her stomach. His decision had been made and he knew what he had to do.
When they arrived home, he helped Fred inside and took her to the parlour as Molly nipped around their feet, obviously happy they were home. Giles sat Fred down on the sofa but didn't see next to her. He couldn't. He knew if he did, he would be too tempted to stay and that would only put her life in danger.
"Fred, love, there are things you don't know about me," he said, standing on the other side of the room. "When I was younger, I did things to hurt others. That spell…the spell Ethan used on you…I helped create. You were hurt because of my mistakes and you're going to keep getting hurt. If it's not Ethan then it'll be someone else and I don't…I can't protect you. I couldn't protect you today. I failed you and now there's a child involved and…I should have never brought you into my life, Fred. I was being selfish. You deserve better."
He shifted a little and looked at the floor. He wanted to go to her but he made himself stand there. "I'm terminating you from the Council. And…" This was the part he was dreading the most. "I'm divorcing you because you deserve so much more than I can give you. You…you deserve happiness and security and you won't find that with me."
Giles could feel hot tears stinging his eyes and he started to move toward the door. If he was going to leave, he needed to do it and not continue to stand there. "The house is yours to do what you want with. And I'll give your monetary support for the baby," he whispered before stepping out into the foyer. "I love you more than life Fred but I can't risk you getting hurt because of me." He then turned and picked up his keys before heading for the door.
Fred was relieved when they got home, hoping that they'd be able to put what happened behind them. But when Rupert didn't sit down with her, instead going to the other side of the room, she suddenly felt as cold as she had when she thought she was back in the cave in Pylea, especially when he started talking about how he had helped create the spell Ethan had used against her.
"I--Ethan told me...about you," she tried to tell him, feeling her heart pounding. "It doesn't matter, Rupert. I still love you, and--."
But he continued speaking, telling her that he was firing her from the Council...and divorcing her. Fred suddenly felt like she had kicked in the stomach.
"No. Rupert, no!" she cried out, standing up even though she was a bit shaky. He was destroying everything they built because of the jealousy of someone from his past? "I have found it with you! I always knew this life wasn't always going to be safe! I knew that from the moment I ended up in Pylea. Please don't do this!"
She tried to cross over to him, but he began walking to the door, telling her that she could have the house, but what good was that if he wasn't here to share it with her. Her heart was aching, and she wanted to grab him and beg him and fight him to stay, but she didn't have the strength. This was too much. All of this was too much.
"That's why I'm doing it Fred…because I love you and I refuse to allow you to get hurt anymore," Giles whispered. He could hear her crying behind him but he tuned it out and quickly went to the door. In a matter of seconds, he was outside, his heart pounding and torn between staying or leaving. He had to leave so Fred would never be hurt again. She would find someone new, he was sure of it, and then she'd be truly happy.
There was a part of him that kept telling him to go back and things would work out. It reminded him he didn't leave Jenny when she'd been taken over my the demon, but Giles knew this was different. He loved Jenny, but not as much as he loved Fred. And Jenny had died because of him - because he didn't train his Slayer well enough to kill Angelus. He had failed Jenny and it was only a matter of time before he failed Fred.
When he finally got into his vehicle, he started it and quickly pulled out of the driveway, narrowly missing the neighbor's trash bin. Giles sped through the side streets until he was several blocks away from the house. He pulled over and took his mobile out and rang Andrew.
"Andrew, this is Giles. Look, Fred isn't returning to work so you'll need to take away her security clearance, just in case someone gets a hold of her cards. And I won't be in for a few days," he told the younger man. Andrew said he'd get right on it and Giles rang off.
He then started to drive again, not knowing where to go. Bath crossed his mind but Giles didn't want to be found. He wanted to hole himself up, in hopes the sharp ache in his heart would go away. He knew it never would though - not without Fred in his life.
"Ripper in love. What a nice sentiment," Ethan gasped as he stood from the floor. He wobbled a bit but found his balance. "And I'm not close to be finished."
Giles' grip on the rifle tightened and he cocked it before raising it up. It was going to end now. Ethan was never going to touch Fred again. No one was. "It's finished, Ethan," he growled as his finger pulsed over the trigger. Giles almost pulled it but was stopped by a loud pop from behind him. He watched as Ethan fell to the ground, a bullet hole in his head.
"I had orders to kill him," Riley said. Giles glanced at him for a moment before he heard the cage door swing open.
"You can go in now. I don't know how long I can keep it open so you need to be quick," Willow said.
Giles dropped the rifle on the ground and ran toward the cage. He stepped inside of it and found Fred curled up on the floor. He cautiously approached her and crouched beside her. "Fred, love, it's Rupert. I'm here to take you home," he quietly said. "Wherever you think you are, it's not real. You're really in a cage in London. I need you to take my hand so I can lead you out. I promise nothing bad will happen to you." He held out his hand. "Just take it, love, and we can go home."
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A moment later, his voice became louder, telling her that the place she was in wasn't real and she was actually in London. She wanted to believe him, but all she could see was the cave and the darkness outside. Waving her hand in front of her, she tried to find the hand he told her to take.
"I can't see you," she cried, trying to concentrate on his voice. He told her again just to take his hand, and suddenly, she could see his outline, his hand held out to her. Reaching out her shaking hand, she took it.
When she did, the cave began to fade away while Rupert became visible, his green eyes filled with worry.
"Rupert," she gasped, throwing her arms around him as Pylea completely disappeared to replaced by the bars of a cage.
"Giles, you need to get out of there! I can't keep this open much longer," Willow's voice warned.
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"Riley and I will take care of things here," Buffy said. Giles gratefully nodded and took Fred out to Willow's car. He slipped into the backseat and held his wife as Willow sped through London to get to the hospital.
When they arrived, Giles carried Fred into the emergency area and looked around for a nurse. "Help please," he said, holding Fred tightly. "My wife was kidnapped and I want to make sure she's all right."
"Of course, sir," the nurse said as she led them to an exam room. Giles laid Fred on a table and looked around. "A doctor will be in shortly."
He nodded and held Fred's hand, not wanting to let go. When the doctor stepped in Giles took a deep breath. "I don't think she was hurt but I'm concerned about what he may have given her. Could you please do a blood test? I'm with the Watcher's Council."
The doctor stiffened up and nodded. "Of course. I'll get the kit straightaway," he said, hurrying out.
Giles looked down at his wife and softly kissed her forehead. "I'm so sorry, love. I should've protected you better."
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At the hospital, she allowed him to carry her into the emergency room and back to the exam room. Once the doctor had left to get whatever Rupert had asked for, she looked up at him, feeling tears come to her eyes when he apologized to her.
"I'm just glad you're here," she whispered, tightening her grip on his hand. "I was so scared that--that he'd...that he'd do something to you. I love you."
The doctor came back in just then with the kit and drew some blood from Fred as well as checking her over to make sure that nothing else had been done to her. Once he was done, he turned to them. "I'll take this down to the lab and have them check it right away. Is there anything you need, Mrs. Giles?"
Fred shook her head.
"All right, I'll be right back."
Once the doctor disappeared, Fred closed her eyes. "He made me think I was back in Pylea in my cave. I don't know how, but he did. I kept thinking of you, though. I knew he wouldn't get to you, no matter what he said."
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He watched in silence as the doctor took the blood and left. When Fred said Ethan had made her think she was in Pylea, he felt the breath leave him. He was angry at Ethan for doing it but even more angry at himself for allowing Ethan to take her. He knew it was his job to take care of her and he had failed her. Like he had failed Jenny.
"It's all right, love. I'm here," Giles whispered. It was all he could say. He was afraid if he continued to speak, she would hear the emotion in his voice. She didn't need to witness that - not now. Instead, he sat on the edge of the table and stroked her face, whispering to her.
When the doctor came back in, he closed the door behind him and looked at the both of them. Giles felt his heart dropped to his stomach. Something wasn't right. They had found something. Ethan had done something to her. "I don't suppose you know this," the doctor said, glancing down at his chart. "Mrs. Giles, you're pregnant."
Giles felt his world tilt. Everything they had hoped for was coming true right at the moment he knew he couldn't protect Fred. How was he supposed to protect both of them? The doctor continued to talk about appointments and other things but Giles didn't hear him. The doctor said Fred was free to go home and once he was gone, Giles turned and looked at her.
"This is wonderful news, love." He whispered as he forced a smile on his face. He was going to be a father, yet he couldn't protect them. He knew what he needed to do - he needed to leave so neither of them would get hurt because of him.
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She was glad he was there with her as they waited for the doctor to come back. After being forced to think she was alone again, it helped to have him there, holding her hand and touching her face. His voice was calming too - she loved to listen to him talking, especially with his wonderful accent.
When the doctor came back in, Fred opened her eyes again, just as he told them the news, and she felt as though time stopped for a moment. Pregnant. She was pregnant. She looked up at Rupert, feeling her breath catching in her chest. They were going to have a baby. Suddenly, it seemed that everything that had happened to her didn't seem to matter anymore. She was safe, Rupert was safe, and they were going to have a baby.
The doctor apparently realized that neither of them were listening, so he left some information with them and told them she could go home. After he left, Fred wrapped her arms around Rupert and hugged him tightly when he told her it was wonderful news.
"I can't believe we're having a baby," she whispered, placing her hand over her stomach. Getting up from the exam table, she leaned against him, still a little shaky, but definitely starting to feel more normal again. "Take me home. Please, Rupert."
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When they arrived home, he helped Fred inside and took her to the parlour as Molly nipped around their feet, obviously happy they were home. Giles sat Fred down on the sofa but didn't see next to her. He couldn't. He knew if he did, he would be too tempted to stay and that would only put her life in danger.
"Fred, love, there are things you don't know about me," he said, standing on the other side of the room. "When I was younger, I did things to hurt others. That spell…the spell Ethan used on you…I helped create. You were hurt because of my mistakes and you're going to keep getting hurt. If it's not Ethan then it'll be someone else and I don't…I can't protect you. I couldn't protect you today. I failed you and now there's a child involved and…I should have never brought you into my life, Fred. I was being selfish. You deserve better."
He shifted a little and looked at the floor. He wanted to go to her but he made himself stand there. "I'm terminating you from the Council. And…" This was the part he was dreading the most. "I'm divorcing you because you deserve so much more than I can give you. You…you deserve happiness and security and you won't find that with me."
Giles could feel hot tears stinging his eyes and he started to move toward the door. If he was going to leave, he needed to do it and not continue to stand there. "The house is yours to do what you want with. And I'll give your monetary support for the baby," he whispered before stepping out into the foyer. "I love you more than life Fred but I can't risk you getting hurt because of me." He then turned and picked up his keys before heading for the door.
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"I--Ethan told me...about you," she tried to tell him, feeling her heart pounding. "It doesn't matter, Rupert. I still love you, and--."
But he continued speaking, telling her that he was firing her from the Council...and divorcing her. Fred suddenly felt like she had kicked in the stomach.
"No. Rupert, no!" she cried out, standing up even though she was a bit shaky. He was destroying everything they built because of the jealousy of someone from his past? "I have found it with you! I always knew this life wasn't always going to be safe! I knew that from the moment I ended up in Pylea. Please don't do this!"
She tried to cross over to him, but he began walking to the door, telling her that she could have the house, but what good was that if he wasn't here to share it with her. Her heart was aching, and she wanted to grab him and beg him and fight him to stay, but she didn't have the strength. This was too much. All of this was too much.
"If you love me...Rupert, please..."
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There was a part of him that kept telling him to go back and things would work out. It reminded him he didn't leave Jenny when she'd been taken over my the demon, but Giles knew this was different. He loved Jenny, but not as much as he loved Fred. And Jenny had died because of him - because he didn't train his Slayer well enough to kill Angelus. He had failed Jenny and it was only a matter of time before he failed Fred.
When he finally got into his vehicle, he started it and quickly pulled out of the driveway, narrowly missing the neighbor's trash bin. Giles sped through the side streets until he was several blocks away from the house. He pulled over and took his mobile out and rang Andrew.
"Andrew, this is Giles. Look, Fred isn't returning to work so you'll need to take away her security clearance, just in case someone gets a hold of her cards. And I won't be in for a few days," he told the younger man. Andrew said he'd get right on it and Giles rang off.
He then started to drive again, not knowing where to go. Bath crossed his mind but Giles didn't want to be found. He wanted to hole himself up, in hopes the sharp ache in his heart would go away. He knew it never would though - not without Fred in his life.
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