Dreamer (2/5)
Buffy and Giles have a talk with Lucas. Afterwards, Giles makes a disturbing discovery.
This chapter is rated FRT.
Chapter Two
The following morning, Lucas’ eyes widened as his father walked into the living room. “Dad?”
Giles offered him a smile, glancing at Buffy who was sitting next to Lucas on the couch. “It looks worse than it is, son.”
Lucas’ bottom lip trembled as his eyes took in the deep purple bruise on the side of his father’s face. Giles’ smile faded and he moved quickly across the room, sitting next to Lucas and wrapping his left arm around the boy’s shoulders.
“Lucas, I’m okay…I promise.” He closed his eyes as Lucas broke into sobs, wrapping his small arms around his father and holding on as tightly as he could. “Oh, Lucas…don’t cry, son.”
As he stroked his son’s back, he kissed the top of his head and met Buffy’s eyes. “The others?”
“We heard you get up…Braden and Callie took Haddie and Evan into the playroom to work on their welcome home banner for Ethan and Michael for a while before breakfast and school.”
Giles furrowed his brow. “Ethan and Michael?”
“Yeah…remember, I told you yesterday afternoon that they were coming over? Presents for the kids from their trip?”
He shook his head slowly. “No…I don’t remember. But, it’s okay…”
“Is it?” Buffy asked softly, concern in her voice and light fear in her eyes. “What do you remember?”
He looked down at the eight year old boy in his arms and sighed. “I remember that we have things to discuss.” He lifted his gaze back to Buffy’s and swallowed. “And…we’ll figure out the rest a little later?”
Buffy shook her head as she looked into his eyes. “No, I…”
“Please, Buffy.” He interrupted gently and pointedly glanced at their son, whose sobs had started to ebb. “This is far more important than some minor memory loss.”
She started to argue, but then realized that he was right.
“Lucas?” Giles whispered softly, his large hand rubbing the boy’s back lovingly.
Lucas took a deep breath and pulled out of his father’s embrace. He wiped the tears from his eyes and sat back on the couch, staring at his hands as he wrung them nervously.
Buffy gently stroked his hair with her fingers, her voice tender when she spoke. “Talk to us, Lucas. Tell us what’s wrong…please?”
Lucas bit his lip as he thought, a gesture that reminded Giles of Buffy. With a heavy sigh, he spoke…but refused to raise his eyes.
“Your shoulder’s hurt too…but, it’ll be okay. It’s just purple…darker than the bruise on your head though.”
Giles nodded in agreement. “How did you know that?”
“I dreamed it.” Lucas answered hesitantly. “I do that sometimes.”
“Why didn’t you tell us?” Buffy questioned, careful not to make him think that she was blaming him.
Lucas shrugged his shoulder and exhaled deeply. “I didn’t want you to think I was a freak.”
Giles placed two fingers under his chin and tilted his head up, forcing Lucas to look at him. “We would never think that you’re a ‘freak’, Lucas. Never.”
Lucas’ eyes glistened. “That’s what Bay said, but…”
“You were still scared?” Buffy asked, running the backs of her fingers over his tear-stained cheek.
Lucas nodded as he looked into his mother’s eyes. “Yeah. But, maybe if I had said something…maybe Daddy wouldn’t be hurt.”
Giles smiled and shook his head. “No, I probably would have done the same thing.”
Lucas looked at him, his brow furrowing in confusion. “Why?”
Giles glanced at Buffy and his smile grew. “It’s…my duty.”
“Huh?”
Giles ran his fingers through his son’s wavy hair. “As your mother’s Watcher, it’s my duty to protect her as best I can.”
“Even if that means you get hurt?” Lucas asked, his eyes wide with surprise.
“Well, I try not to get hurt.”
“Tommy’s dad doesn’t get hurt as much as you do.” Lucas said, an almost sad tone in his voice.
Giles felt his heart crack a little. Lucas was beginning to learn the differences between his family and the families of his friends. As much as he and Buffy wanted their children to have normal lives, they never would be completely normal.
Knowing Giles was at a loss for words, Buffy placed a kiss on Lucas’ head. “That’s true, Lucas. But…think of it like this…”
She waited until Lucas turned his green eyes to hers before she continued.
“Daddy may get hurt once in a while, but he gets hurt while helping to keep you and your friends safe.”
Lucas thought about that for a moment and then tilted his head. “Tommy’s dad doesn’t fight demons.”
“No.” Buffy replied, a smile forming on her face. “But, your dad does…so, he’s bound to get hurt once in a while, but he’ll be okay.”
Lucas turned to look at his father, his eyes darting to the bruise that spread over his left ear, and bit his bottom lip again. “Promise you’ll be okay?”
Giles knew that he couldn’t make that promise to his son. He knew that one day one of the demons that he and Buffy faced might well take his life from him. But he also knew that he needed to reassure Lucas. And so he used the tactic that his mother used to use on him when he was younger and asking difficult questions…he deflected.
“Promise you’ll tell us about your dreams? You don’t have to tell us about all of them, but if they scare you…and you think they could come true…”
Lucas smiled, the first real smile he’d given all morning, and nodded. “I promise.”
Giles returned the smile and pulled Lucas onto his lap, wrapping his arms around him in a loving embrace. Lucas didn’t seem to notice that Giles hadn’t actually promised that he’d be okay.
But, Buffy did.
She understood why Giles had deflected the request and as she met his eyes, she smiled and mouthed three words to him. She could easily read the love in his eyes as he mouthed the words back.
She knew that he couldn’t make that promise to their son. But, she knew that he’d try his best to be okay.
* * *
After their talk, Giles had sent Lucas off to get ready for school. Buffy had talked him into having a shower, hoping that the warm water would soothe his aching shoulder. He had asked her to join him, but she just merely laughed at his half-hearted offer stating that in the shape he was in, it probably wasn’t the best idea he’d ever had. Besides, she needed to get breakfast started…Braden and Lucas’ bus would be by in forty-five minutes.
And now, he stood in the shower…alone, with nothing but his thoughts to keep him company. He had to admit that the hot water pelting off his shoulder felt wonderful. Whereas his head stung where the shampoo had found its way into the laceration above his left ear.
He leaned forward and rested his forehead against his left hand, which was pressed against the shower wall. He sighed in pleasure as the water hit his shoulder and then flowed down his back. It was then that he thought of Buffy’s concern when he couldn’t remember that Ethan and Michael were coming over today.
He closed his eyes and tried to remember every detail of the previous day that he could. Maybe he’d be able to find out exactly how extensive the lapse in his memory was. He’d told Buffy not to worry about it, but he couldn’t deny the fact that he was worried as well.
He remembered Buffy cleaning his wound…and the minor disagreement that followed. He remembered his children, his friends…he could recall all birthdays and dates of major events in his life. He smiled sadly as his brother’s birthday popped into his head.
He counted to twenty in each of the five languages he was fluent in. He ran through a mental inventory of the weapons cabinet that was in the basement of their house. A list of demons scrolled through his mind…complete with descriptions of their appearances and weaknesses.
Obviously, his memory loss wasn’t severe. With a soft sigh, he started thinking of the previous day…starting from the moment he had woken up. His heart began to race as he thought of that moment. Buffy’s mouth sliding up and down his morning erection as she coaxed him out of sleep.
Feeling his cock begin to stir, he forced his mind to move forward.
Breakfast…eggs, pancakes…coffee. The kids’ laughter as Buffy told one of the worst jokes Giles had ever heard. Braden excited about the fact that it was ‘Academy day’, Lucas grumbling over the fact that he didn’t want to go to school.
Giles lifted his head and narrowed his eyes in thought. Lucas never grumbled about school. He made a mental note to talk to Buffy about this…
Haddie was asking why she only went to school three days a week and Evan had been giggling…as was his habit. Callie was sitting next to Evan, patiently waiting for the pieces of food that the child would accidentally drop to the floor.
Breakfast yesterday morning was what it normally was…a happy family affair. It was also one of Giles’ favourite times of the day.
And then he’d driven to work…singing along with the songs on the radio. He’d had a meeting with the Board…Ian Galvin and Marissa Tyler, the Watcher and Slayer stationed in Bangkok, had successfully dispatched of a nest of Rock Lobster demons.
He chuckled softly and turned his back to the warm spray of water. They weren’t really called Rock Lobsters, but that’s what Buffy had named them…much easier for her to pronounce than Rochelobseteria Demons.
After the meeting, where it was recommended that both Ian and Marissa be rewarded for their efforts, he’d had to face a fair amount of paperwork. And in the middle of that, Anya had wandered into his office complaining that the weather was not amenable to her being pregnant.
He remembered Willow walking in, just for a visit. He also remembered laughing when Anya attempted to coerce Willow into changing the weather for her. And then he remembered making a decision.
Buffy had been home alone. Braden and Lucas were at school, Haddie and Evan were spending the day with Joyce, who had taken a well-deserved week off work. He had grinned and tossed Willow the keys to his office before clipping Callie’s lead to her collar and announcing that he was going home for the day.
And so, after sidestepping Anya’s questions of why he was going home and ensuring both of them that they could reach him on his mobile in the event of an emergency, he led Callie out of the Council building and to the car.
Giles furrowed his brow as he shut the water off in the shower and stepped onto the bathmat, reaching for his towel. He remembered the drive home, he remembered Callie barking at the motorcycles as they passed by, he remembered walking into the house and taking his very surprised wife into their bedroom.
He smiled as he dried his body. He had no trouble remembering what had taken place in their bedroom. He remembered the phone ringing about an hour and a half after he’d gotten home. Anya was apologetic as he answered the phone, but had to tell him of the report of the Quandesh demon she had just received.
Apparently one had been spotted early that morning…just as dawn was breaking. Chances were, it would make another appearance that night.
Giles slipped into his robe as he recalled telling Anya that he and Buffy would have a look after dinner. And that was where his memories stopped. He felt his heart begin to race. He didn’t remember picking the children up from school. He didn’t remember having dinner. He didn’t remember leaving the house for patrol.
His eyes widened as he glanced in the mirror.
He didn’t remember who had stayed with the children. And he didn’t remember fighting the Quandesh demon at all. Everything was lost from the moment he’d gotten off the phone with Anya until Buffy was cleaning the blood from his head.
He took a deep breath and came to another decision. Instead of running into the kitchen, as had been his first thought, he’d go get dressed and then have breakfast with his family. He was sure that Buffy would insist that he take the day off…he was also sure that she wouldn’t have to insist much.
He’d wait until Braden and Lucas left for school, catching their beloved school bus, and then he’d have a talk with Buffy. He needed to know, as did Buffy, exactly how big the gap in his memory was.
This chapter is rated FRT.
Chapter Two
The following morning, Lucas’ eyes widened as his father walked into the living room. “Dad?”
Giles offered him a smile, glancing at Buffy who was sitting next to Lucas on the couch. “It looks worse than it is, son.”
Lucas’ bottom lip trembled as his eyes took in the deep purple bruise on the side of his father’s face. Giles’ smile faded and he moved quickly across the room, sitting next to Lucas and wrapping his left arm around the boy’s shoulders.
“Lucas, I’m okay…I promise.” He closed his eyes as Lucas broke into sobs, wrapping his small arms around his father and holding on as tightly as he could. “Oh, Lucas…don’t cry, son.”
As he stroked his son’s back, he kissed the top of his head and met Buffy’s eyes. “The others?”
“We heard you get up…Braden and Callie took Haddie and Evan into the playroom to work on their welcome home banner for Ethan and Michael for a while before breakfast and school.”
Giles furrowed his brow. “Ethan and Michael?”
“Yeah…remember, I told you yesterday afternoon that they were coming over? Presents for the kids from their trip?”
He shook his head slowly. “No…I don’t remember. But, it’s okay…”
“Is it?” Buffy asked softly, concern in her voice and light fear in her eyes. “What do you remember?”
He looked down at the eight year old boy in his arms and sighed. “I remember that we have things to discuss.” He lifted his gaze back to Buffy’s and swallowed. “And…we’ll figure out the rest a little later?”
Buffy shook her head as she looked into his eyes. “No, I…”
“Please, Buffy.” He interrupted gently and pointedly glanced at their son, whose sobs had started to ebb. “This is far more important than some minor memory loss.”
She started to argue, but then realized that he was right.
“Lucas?” Giles whispered softly, his large hand rubbing the boy’s back lovingly.
Lucas took a deep breath and pulled out of his father’s embrace. He wiped the tears from his eyes and sat back on the couch, staring at his hands as he wrung them nervously.
Buffy gently stroked his hair with her fingers, her voice tender when she spoke. “Talk to us, Lucas. Tell us what’s wrong…please?”
Lucas bit his lip as he thought, a gesture that reminded Giles of Buffy. With a heavy sigh, he spoke…but refused to raise his eyes.
“Your shoulder’s hurt too…but, it’ll be okay. It’s just purple…darker than the bruise on your head though.”
Giles nodded in agreement. “How did you know that?”
“I dreamed it.” Lucas answered hesitantly. “I do that sometimes.”
“Why didn’t you tell us?” Buffy questioned, careful not to make him think that she was blaming him.
Lucas shrugged his shoulder and exhaled deeply. “I didn’t want you to think I was a freak.”
Giles placed two fingers under his chin and tilted his head up, forcing Lucas to look at him. “We would never think that you’re a ‘freak’, Lucas. Never.”
Lucas’ eyes glistened. “That’s what Bay said, but…”
“You were still scared?” Buffy asked, running the backs of her fingers over his tear-stained cheek.
Lucas nodded as he looked into his mother’s eyes. “Yeah. But, maybe if I had said something…maybe Daddy wouldn’t be hurt.”
Giles smiled and shook his head. “No, I probably would have done the same thing.”
Lucas looked at him, his brow furrowing in confusion. “Why?”
Giles glanced at Buffy and his smile grew. “It’s…my duty.”
“Huh?”
Giles ran his fingers through his son’s wavy hair. “As your mother’s Watcher, it’s my duty to protect her as best I can.”
“Even if that means you get hurt?” Lucas asked, his eyes wide with surprise.
“Well, I try not to get hurt.”
“Tommy’s dad doesn’t get hurt as much as you do.” Lucas said, an almost sad tone in his voice.
Giles felt his heart crack a little. Lucas was beginning to learn the differences between his family and the families of his friends. As much as he and Buffy wanted their children to have normal lives, they never would be completely normal.
Knowing Giles was at a loss for words, Buffy placed a kiss on Lucas’ head. “That’s true, Lucas. But…think of it like this…”
She waited until Lucas turned his green eyes to hers before she continued.
“Daddy may get hurt once in a while, but he gets hurt while helping to keep you and your friends safe.”
Lucas thought about that for a moment and then tilted his head. “Tommy’s dad doesn’t fight demons.”
“No.” Buffy replied, a smile forming on her face. “But, your dad does…so, he’s bound to get hurt once in a while, but he’ll be okay.”
Lucas turned to look at his father, his eyes darting to the bruise that spread over his left ear, and bit his bottom lip again. “Promise you’ll be okay?”
Giles knew that he couldn’t make that promise to his son. He knew that one day one of the demons that he and Buffy faced might well take his life from him. But he also knew that he needed to reassure Lucas. And so he used the tactic that his mother used to use on him when he was younger and asking difficult questions…he deflected.
“Promise you’ll tell us about your dreams? You don’t have to tell us about all of them, but if they scare you…and you think they could come true…”
Lucas smiled, the first real smile he’d given all morning, and nodded. “I promise.”
Giles returned the smile and pulled Lucas onto his lap, wrapping his arms around him in a loving embrace. Lucas didn’t seem to notice that Giles hadn’t actually promised that he’d be okay.
But, Buffy did.
She understood why Giles had deflected the request and as she met his eyes, she smiled and mouthed three words to him. She could easily read the love in his eyes as he mouthed the words back.
She knew that he couldn’t make that promise to their son. But, she knew that he’d try his best to be okay.
* * *
After their talk, Giles had sent Lucas off to get ready for school. Buffy had talked him into having a shower, hoping that the warm water would soothe his aching shoulder. He had asked her to join him, but she just merely laughed at his half-hearted offer stating that in the shape he was in, it probably wasn’t the best idea he’d ever had. Besides, she needed to get breakfast started…Braden and Lucas’ bus would be by in forty-five minutes.
And now, he stood in the shower…alone, with nothing but his thoughts to keep him company. He had to admit that the hot water pelting off his shoulder felt wonderful. Whereas his head stung where the shampoo had found its way into the laceration above his left ear.
He leaned forward and rested his forehead against his left hand, which was pressed against the shower wall. He sighed in pleasure as the water hit his shoulder and then flowed down his back. It was then that he thought of Buffy’s concern when he couldn’t remember that Ethan and Michael were coming over today.
He closed his eyes and tried to remember every detail of the previous day that he could. Maybe he’d be able to find out exactly how extensive the lapse in his memory was. He’d told Buffy not to worry about it, but he couldn’t deny the fact that he was worried as well.
He remembered Buffy cleaning his wound…and the minor disagreement that followed. He remembered his children, his friends…he could recall all birthdays and dates of major events in his life. He smiled sadly as his brother’s birthday popped into his head.
He counted to twenty in each of the five languages he was fluent in. He ran through a mental inventory of the weapons cabinet that was in the basement of their house. A list of demons scrolled through his mind…complete with descriptions of their appearances and weaknesses.
Obviously, his memory loss wasn’t severe. With a soft sigh, he started thinking of the previous day…starting from the moment he had woken up. His heart began to race as he thought of that moment. Buffy’s mouth sliding up and down his morning erection as she coaxed him out of sleep.
Feeling his cock begin to stir, he forced his mind to move forward.
Breakfast…eggs, pancakes…coffee. The kids’ laughter as Buffy told one of the worst jokes Giles had ever heard. Braden excited about the fact that it was ‘Academy day’, Lucas grumbling over the fact that he didn’t want to go to school.
Giles lifted his head and narrowed his eyes in thought. Lucas never grumbled about school. He made a mental note to talk to Buffy about this…
Haddie was asking why she only went to school three days a week and Evan had been giggling…as was his habit. Callie was sitting next to Evan, patiently waiting for the pieces of food that the child would accidentally drop to the floor.
Breakfast yesterday morning was what it normally was…a happy family affair. It was also one of Giles’ favourite times of the day.
And then he’d driven to work…singing along with the songs on the radio. He’d had a meeting with the Board…Ian Galvin and Marissa Tyler, the Watcher and Slayer stationed in Bangkok, had successfully dispatched of a nest of Rock Lobster demons.
He chuckled softly and turned his back to the warm spray of water. They weren’t really called Rock Lobsters, but that’s what Buffy had named them…much easier for her to pronounce than Rochelobseteria Demons.
After the meeting, where it was recommended that both Ian and Marissa be rewarded for their efforts, he’d had to face a fair amount of paperwork. And in the middle of that, Anya had wandered into his office complaining that the weather was not amenable to her being pregnant.
He remembered Willow walking in, just for a visit. He also remembered laughing when Anya attempted to coerce Willow into changing the weather for her. And then he remembered making a decision.
Buffy had been home alone. Braden and Lucas were at school, Haddie and Evan were spending the day with Joyce, who had taken a well-deserved week off work. He had grinned and tossed Willow the keys to his office before clipping Callie’s lead to her collar and announcing that he was going home for the day.
And so, after sidestepping Anya’s questions of why he was going home and ensuring both of them that they could reach him on his mobile in the event of an emergency, he led Callie out of the Council building and to the car.
Giles furrowed his brow as he shut the water off in the shower and stepped onto the bathmat, reaching for his towel. He remembered the drive home, he remembered Callie barking at the motorcycles as they passed by, he remembered walking into the house and taking his very surprised wife into their bedroom.
He smiled as he dried his body. He had no trouble remembering what had taken place in their bedroom. He remembered the phone ringing about an hour and a half after he’d gotten home. Anya was apologetic as he answered the phone, but had to tell him of the report of the Quandesh demon she had just received.
Apparently one had been spotted early that morning…just as dawn was breaking. Chances were, it would make another appearance that night.
Giles slipped into his robe as he recalled telling Anya that he and Buffy would have a look after dinner. And that was where his memories stopped. He felt his heart begin to race. He didn’t remember picking the children up from school. He didn’t remember having dinner. He didn’t remember leaving the house for patrol.
His eyes widened as he glanced in the mirror.
He didn’t remember who had stayed with the children. And he didn’t remember fighting the Quandesh demon at all. Everything was lost from the moment he’d gotten off the phone with Anya until Buffy was cleaning the blood from his head.
He took a deep breath and came to another decision. Instead of running into the kitchen, as had been his first thought, he’d go get dressed and then have breakfast with his family. He was sure that Buffy would insist that he take the day off…he was also sure that she wouldn’t have to insist much.
He’d wait until Braden and Lucas left for school, catching their beloved school bus, and then he’d have a talk with Buffy. He needed to know, as did Buffy, exactly how big the gap in his memory was.