Fic: The Family You Know (1/?)
Written for wlreunion and love_bingo
Fandom: BTVS
Author: craterdweller
Prompts: protector, family (wlreunion), family ties (love_bingo)
Characters: Giles, Dawn, Buffy, Willow, Spike
Rating: G
Time frame: After “Chosen” and “Not Fade Away” but no comics. Buffy and Dawn are living in Rome.
Word Count: 1900+
Not beta'd because as usual I left this until right before the challenge deadline :(
Buffy set her keys down on the table and moved towards the sounds of her sister in the kitchen. She’d run out for a couple of mochas which had turned into a bit of an excursion as she had snuck in a little window shopping. “Dawn, I’ve got your mocha” she yelled.
When she didn’t receive an answer she paused her inspection of the mail and went to investigate. Dawn was on the phone, tears streaming down her face. She heard her ask the person on the other end, “But he’s going to be okay, right?”.
The answer distressed the teen even further as she sunk to the floor sobbing. “Willow, please make me plane reservations. I promise I’ll pay you back. Hurry.”
Buffy couldn’t quite make out Willow’s answer but she there was no mistaking Dawn’s anger. “I’m not waiting for Buffy. She doesn’t care. She hasn’t spoken to him. Please, Willow. I have to be there.” At Buffy’s gasp, Dawn noticed her sister for the first time. “Willow, I’ll call you right back.”
“Dawnie? What’s wrong? Was that Willow? Is someone hurt?” Buffy sat down next to her sister and attempted to pull her into a comforting hug. She was surprised when Dawn angrily pulled away.
“What do you care? Don’t you have a date or something to get ready for?” Dawn snapped.
“Dawn?” Buffy was really beginning to worry now. Whatever had happened, it had clearly upset her younger sister. “Please tell me what Willow said,” she pleaded.
“There was a woman and her little girl. They were being attacked by five Turnashi demons. Of course he jumped right in to save them without waiting for backup. He killed three and the other two ran off when the mini-Slayers arrived, but he was badly injured.” Dawn sniffed and wiped at her eyes, before staring defiantly at Buffy. “He, he, he’s in a coma and the doctors don’t think he’s going to make it. I asked Willow to get me a plane ticket, so don’t even try and stop me.” Dawn collapsed into tears and this time did not refuse Buffy’s comforting embrace.
Buffy dreaded to ask, because she was pretty sure she already knew the answer, but she needed to have all the information. “Dawnie, who was hurt?”
Dawn pulled back and gave her sister an angry glare. “Giles.”
Buffy felt the air whoosh out of her lungs and she slid down to the floor. She picked up Dawn’s cell and dialed Willow. “Willow? It’s Buffy. Yeah, Dawnie just told me. Please, get two tickets and have someone meet us at the airport?” She let the phone drop from her numb fingers and reached for Dawn, rocking her softy. “He’s the strongest man I know, Dawn. He’ll be alright. He has to be alright.”
Three hours later the Summers sisters arrived at the London hospital where Giles was in the Intensive Care ward. Willow motioned for Buffy to join her outside while Dawn took up the vigil at the Watcher’s bedside.
“Giles? It’s me, Dawn. Buffy and I are here. Please be okay.” She rested her head next to his unmoving left hand and sobbed for the man who was like a father to her.
“Dawnie, why don’t we get something to eat?” Willow asked as she tugged on the teen’s arm.
“I’m not hungry and I’m not leaving him,” was her short reply.
Buffy nodded to Willow who stepped outside to give the sisters a moment of privacy.
“I have these memories of Hank, taking me to the park, the zoo and the things that a good father is supposed to do with his daughter. And I know they’re fake. But the memories I have of Giles are real. Memories of him helping me with my homework, singing me to sleep after you died, and even watching music videos with me while listening to me talk about boys. He’s the only father I’ve ever really known and I love him.”
Buffy wiped a tear from her own eyes and waited for her sister to continue. She could tell that there was more and that Dawn needed to get it out.
“I asked him if I could live with him you know? You were all wrapped up in your life in Rome and I hardly ever saw you. And I really missed him. But he said that you needed me. He asked about you every day, but he stopped asking to speak to you after it was clear you wouldn’t talk to him. And whenever I got angry about that, he’d just say that he didn’t deserve your forgiveness, and for me not to blame you. That I should blame him.”
She looked over at Buffy whose tears were now freely falling down her cheeks. “I know things were bad just before Sunnydale imploded. And I probably don’t know half of what happened between you two, but can’t you please forgive him? Please don’t hate him anymore.”
The sisters sobbed into each others arms for a few moments, before Buffy pulled back slightly. “Oh Dawnie. I don’t hate him. I love him. Things are so complicated between us. At first, I was angry over the things that happened in Sunnydale. And shocked, and confused. And full of guilt for those that didn’t make it. By the time I had started to feel a little more like my old self, he had stopped calling. I figured I’d finally let him down too much and that he was too disappointed to talk to me. I wanted to call him, but I was scared. Scared that it was too late. And I didn’t want to hurt him anymore. Why didn’t you tell me you wanted to go live with him?”
“I didn’t want to hurt you, Buffy. And I thought you’d get mad if you knew I called him everyday.” Dawn sniffed and looked back at the comatose man. “He looks so pale. What are we going to do, Buffy?”
Buffy wrapped her arms around Dawn. “We’re going to get him better. And then we’re going to move here, as close as he’ll have us. Willow said he’s got a big old farm with horses and sheep and all kinds of animals, so if he’ll have us, we’ll move right in with him. And if that’s too much girl power to handle, then we’ll find a place really close so we can see him every day for dinner and stuff. Like a family. Okay?”
Dawn sniffed and gave her sister a small smile. She wasn’t naive enough to believe half of it, but she recognized it for what it was. Her sister reaching out and attempting to put their little family back together.
“Now, you go with Willow and get something to eat. You didn’t eat anything on the plane.” Buffy silenced Dawn’s protests by adding, “I’ll stay with him and I promise to call you if there’s any change, but you know Giles would be the first to scold you for not eating.”
Dawn gave Buffy a watery smile and left to go find Willow. Buffy pulled the chair up closer to Giles’ bed and place her hand over his. “Giles? It’s me, Buffy …”
She was glad that Dawn was not in the room a few minutes later when all the alarms attached to her Watcher started sounding. She looked on, helpless to do anything but watch as the hospital staff fought to save his life. “Oh Giles, please don’t leave us.”
* * * * *
Giles woke up in a brightly lit all white room. However, when he looked down at himself he was still wearing the clothes he’d put on this morning. Clothes that were now torn and bloodstained from his fight with the group of Turnashi demons. He looked at his surroundings more closely. The moderate sized room was unfamiliar as was the metallic white furniture. He spun at a familiar voice.
“Well, Watcher. You’ve outdone yourself this time.”
He rolled his eyes. Wonderful. The day just keeps getting better. Bad enough to have gotten himself killed, apparently, but did the first person he met in the afterlife have to be Spike? Did the universe hate him that much?
He rubbed his eyes and noticed a few differences in Spike’s appearance. For one, the black duster was gone. Also gone was the expected smirk. In fact, if he had to put a label on it, he would say that Spike was looking at him with something akin to compassion. He ducked his head, embarrassed at his own pettiness.
He took a deep breath and began, “Spike, I owe you an apology. I should have apologized before, for my involvement in Wood’s scheme. You were every bit the champion Buffy professed you to be and a much better man than me.”
“Hold on there, Rupes. Not here for an apology. And as long as we’re being honest here, you did try and give me the benefit of the doubt. More than once. But I had to keep blustering and pushing you all away. Pushed everyone’s buttons, I did. But the Summers women had us wrapped around their little fingers and there’s nothing we wouldn’t do for them.” He gave Giles a knowing look.
He mentally kicked himself. He should have guessed that Spike knew about Ben. But then, it always had been easy to underestimate Spike. “Then why are you here, Spike?”
Spike placed his hand on Giles’ shoulder and turned him to the large screen TV. It was surreal, looking at himself, lying in a hospital bed. He watched as Willow stood over him silently and then saw Dawn and Buffy burst into the room. His heart clenched as Dawn pleaded with him to be okay. He was then shocked to see Buffy make a similar plea a few minutes later. He turned to Spike, his confusion evident.
“They need you, Rupert. Nibblet especially. They’ve both lost so many they’ve loved.”
“I’m tired, Spike. And, I’ve made so many mistakes. Hurt them so often. There has to be a better choice. I’m, I’m not worthy of them.”
“When has that mattered one whit to the Summers women? Not sure any of us ever deserve it, but there it is. And you’re more worthy than you know. You have to decide now, Watcher.”
Giles looked at the TV monitor once again. Dawn and Willow were both clinging to Buffy tightly. Their eyes never leaving the life saving efforts going on a few feet away. He felt a lump form in his throat. He truly didn’t deserve the love of these remarkable young women. He sighed and looked over at the now smirking Spike. “What do I have to do?”
“Open your heart and soul. They’re calling to you. Let them pull you back. Not gonna lie to ya mate, it’s going to hurt like hell. But they’re worth it.”
“Yes. Yes, they are. And Spike? Thank you.” Giles closed his eyes and opened his heart as Spike instructed. A painful jolt of the defibrillator paddles to his chest lifted his torso off the bed. He gasped at the sudden pain and then heard the reassuring beep of the heart monitor.
“Giles?” There was a brief scuffle and then a muttered “Ow,” as Dawn kicked one of the nurses who tried to restrain her. He braced himself for the expected impact and was surprised when what followed was a careful embrace. She sobbed, “I was so scared. I thought we had lost you.”
He managed a comforting murmur before both Willow and then Buffy took their turns to give him a gentle hug. Buffy kissed his cheek and told him, “get some rest ‘cuz we’ve got a lot to talk about.”
AN: This may or may not have a follow-up.
Fandom: BTVS
Author: craterdweller
Prompts: protector, family (wlreunion), family ties (love_bingo)
Characters: Giles, Dawn, Buffy, Willow, Spike
Rating: G
Time frame: After “Chosen” and “Not Fade Away” but no comics. Buffy and Dawn are living in Rome.
Word Count: 1900+
Not beta'd because as usual I left this until right before the challenge deadline :(
Buffy set her keys down on the table and moved towards the sounds of her sister in the kitchen. She’d run out for a couple of mochas which had turned into a bit of an excursion as she had snuck in a little window shopping. “Dawn, I’ve got your mocha” she yelled.
When she didn’t receive an answer she paused her inspection of the mail and went to investigate. Dawn was on the phone, tears streaming down her face. She heard her ask the person on the other end, “But he’s going to be okay, right?”.
The answer distressed the teen even further as she sunk to the floor sobbing. “Willow, please make me plane reservations. I promise I’ll pay you back. Hurry.”
Buffy couldn’t quite make out Willow’s answer but she there was no mistaking Dawn’s anger. “I’m not waiting for Buffy. She doesn’t care. She hasn’t spoken to him. Please, Willow. I have to be there.” At Buffy’s gasp, Dawn noticed her sister for the first time. “Willow, I’ll call you right back.”
“Dawnie? What’s wrong? Was that Willow? Is someone hurt?” Buffy sat down next to her sister and attempted to pull her into a comforting hug. She was surprised when Dawn angrily pulled away.
“What do you care? Don’t you have a date or something to get ready for?” Dawn snapped.
“Dawn?” Buffy was really beginning to worry now. Whatever had happened, it had clearly upset her younger sister. “Please tell me what Willow said,” she pleaded.
“There was a woman and her little girl. They were being attacked by five Turnashi demons. Of course he jumped right in to save them without waiting for backup. He killed three and the other two ran off when the mini-Slayers arrived, but he was badly injured.” Dawn sniffed and wiped at her eyes, before staring defiantly at Buffy. “He, he, he’s in a coma and the doctors don’t think he’s going to make it. I asked Willow to get me a plane ticket, so don’t even try and stop me.” Dawn collapsed into tears and this time did not refuse Buffy’s comforting embrace.
Buffy dreaded to ask, because she was pretty sure she already knew the answer, but she needed to have all the information. “Dawnie, who was hurt?”
Dawn pulled back and gave her sister an angry glare. “Giles.”
Buffy felt the air whoosh out of her lungs and she slid down to the floor. She picked up Dawn’s cell and dialed Willow. “Willow? It’s Buffy. Yeah, Dawnie just told me. Please, get two tickets and have someone meet us at the airport?” She let the phone drop from her numb fingers and reached for Dawn, rocking her softy. “He’s the strongest man I know, Dawn. He’ll be alright. He has to be alright.”
Three hours later the Summers sisters arrived at the London hospital where Giles was in the Intensive Care ward. Willow motioned for Buffy to join her outside while Dawn took up the vigil at the Watcher’s bedside.
“Giles? It’s me, Dawn. Buffy and I are here. Please be okay.” She rested her head next to his unmoving left hand and sobbed for the man who was like a father to her.
“Dawnie, why don’t we get something to eat?” Willow asked as she tugged on the teen’s arm.
“I’m not hungry and I’m not leaving him,” was her short reply.
Buffy nodded to Willow who stepped outside to give the sisters a moment of privacy.
“I have these memories of Hank, taking me to the park, the zoo and the things that a good father is supposed to do with his daughter. And I know they’re fake. But the memories I have of Giles are real. Memories of him helping me with my homework, singing me to sleep after you died, and even watching music videos with me while listening to me talk about boys. He’s the only father I’ve ever really known and I love him.”
Buffy wiped a tear from her own eyes and waited for her sister to continue. She could tell that there was more and that Dawn needed to get it out.
“I asked him if I could live with him you know? You were all wrapped up in your life in Rome and I hardly ever saw you. And I really missed him. But he said that you needed me. He asked about you every day, but he stopped asking to speak to you after it was clear you wouldn’t talk to him. And whenever I got angry about that, he’d just say that he didn’t deserve your forgiveness, and for me not to blame you. That I should blame him.”
She looked over at Buffy whose tears were now freely falling down her cheeks. “I know things were bad just before Sunnydale imploded. And I probably don’t know half of what happened between you two, but can’t you please forgive him? Please don’t hate him anymore.”
The sisters sobbed into each others arms for a few moments, before Buffy pulled back slightly. “Oh Dawnie. I don’t hate him. I love him. Things are so complicated between us. At first, I was angry over the things that happened in Sunnydale. And shocked, and confused. And full of guilt for those that didn’t make it. By the time I had started to feel a little more like my old self, he had stopped calling. I figured I’d finally let him down too much and that he was too disappointed to talk to me. I wanted to call him, but I was scared. Scared that it was too late. And I didn’t want to hurt him anymore. Why didn’t you tell me you wanted to go live with him?”
“I didn’t want to hurt you, Buffy. And I thought you’d get mad if you knew I called him everyday.” Dawn sniffed and looked back at the comatose man. “He looks so pale. What are we going to do, Buffy?”
Buffy wrapped her arms around Dawn. “We’re going to get him better. And then we’re going to move here, as close as he’ll have us. Willow said he’s got a big old farm with horses and sheep and all kinds of animals, so if he’ll have us, we’ll move right in with him. And if that’s too much girl power to handle, then we’ll find a place really close so we can see him every day for dinner and stuff. Like a family. Okay?”
Dawn sniffed and gave her sister a small smile. She wasn’t naive enough to believe half of it, but she recognized it for what it was. Her sister reaching out and attempting to put their little family back together.
“Now, you go with Willow and get something to eat. You didn’t eat anything on the plane.” Buffy silenced Dawn’s protests by adding, “I’ll stay with him and I promise to call you if there’s any change, but you know Giles would be the first to scold you for not eating.”
Dawn gave Buffy a watery smile and left to go find Willow. Buffy pulled the chair up closer to Giles’ bed and place her hand over his. “Giles? It’s me, Buffy …”
She was glad that Dawn was not in the room a few minutes later when all the alarms attached to her Watcher started sounding. She looked on, helpless to do anything but watch as the hospital staff fought to save his life. “Oh Giles, please don’t leave us.”
* * * * *
Giles woke up in a brightly lit all white room. However, when he looked down at himself he was still wearing the clothes he’d put on this morning. Clothes that were now torn and bloodstained from his fight with the group of Turnashi demons. He looked at his surroundings more closely. The moderate sized room was unfamiliar as was the metallic white furniture. He spun at a familiar voice.
“Well, Watcher. You’ve outdone yourself this time.”
He rolled his eyes. Wonderful. The day just keeps getting better. Bad enough to have gotten himself killed, apparently, but did the first person he met in the afterlife have to be Spike? Did the universe hate him that much?
He rubbed his eyes and noticed a few differences in Spike’s appearance. For one, the black duster was gone. Also gone was the expected smirk. In fact, if he had to put a label on it, he would say that Spike was looking at him with something akin to compassion. He ducked his head, embarrassed at his own pettiness.
He took a deep breath and began, “Spike, I owe you an apology. I should have apologized before, for my involvement in Wood’s scheme. You were every bit the champion Buffy professed you to be and a much better man than me.”
“Hold on there, Rupes. Not here for an apology. And as long as we’re being honest here, you did try and give me the benefit of the doubt. More than once. But I had to keep blustering and pushing you all away. Pushed everyone’s buttons, I did. But the Summers women had us wrapped around their little fingers and there’s nothing we wouldn’t do for them.” He gave Giles a knowing look.
He mentally kicked himself. He should have guessed that Spike knew about Ben. But then, it always had been easy to underestimate Spike. “Then why are you here, Spike?”
Spike placed his hand on Giles’ shoulder and turned him to the large screen TV. It was surreal, looking at himself, lying in a hospital bed. He watched as Willow stood over him silently and then saw Dawn and Buffy burst into the room. His heart clenched as Dawn pleaded with him to be okay. He was then shocked to see Buffy make a similar plea a few minutes later. He turned to Spike, his confusion evident.
“They need you, Rupert. Nibblet especially. They’ve both lost so many they’ve loved.”
“I’m tired, Spike. And, I’ve made so many mistakes. Hurt them so often. There has to be a better choice. I’m, I’m not worthy of them.”
“When has that mattered one whit to the Summers women? Not sure any of us ever deserve it, but there it is. And you’re more worthy than you know. You have to decide now, Watcher.”
Giles looked at the TV monitor once again. Dawn and Willow were both clinging to Buffy tightly. Their eyes never leaving the life saving efforts going on a few feet away. He felt a lump form in his throat. He truly didn’t deserve the love of these remarkable young women. He sighed and looked over at the now smirking Spike. “What do I have to do?”
“Open your heart and soul. They’re calling to you. Let them pull you back. Not gonna lie to ya mate, it’s going to hurt like hell. But they’re worth it.”
“Yes. Yes, they are. And Spike? Thank you.” Giles closed his eyes and opened his heart as Spike instructed. A painful jolt of the defibrillator paddles to his chest lifted his torso off the bed. He gasped at the sudden pain and then heard the reassuring beep of the heart monitor.
“Giles?” There was a brief scuffle and then a muttered “Ow,” as Dawn kicked one of the nurses who tried to restrain her. He braced himself for the expected impact and was surprised when what followed was a careful embrace. She sobbed, “I was so scared. I thought we had lost you.”
He managed a comforting murmur before both Willow and then Buffy took their turns to give him a gentle hug. Buffy kissed his cheek and told him, “get some rest ‘cuz we’ve got a lot to talk about.”
AN: This may or may not have a follow-up.