| Chapter eighteen Giles kept looking back over his shoulder; just to reassure himself that Angel, Willow and the rest were there and not some sort of trick his imagination was tormenting him with. They were all here, the loved ones from his past. Well almost. Xander and Anya were still unaccounted for, but just seeing the other familiar faces gave the older Englishman hope that one day they'd all be reunited again. There were so many things he wanted to know, to ask. It was almost a joyous occasion except that Dawn's life was in jeopardy. He knew he should have never allowed her to get involved. Especially after Buffy announced that she'd have no part with having to deal with any more demons. That her new life held no room for the things that went bump in the night. "So what was that back there?" Willow's voice was heaven to Giles's ears. He had almost forgotten her voice. So many things faded with time. "It was a Klovorack. They generally stay in warmer climates, but for some reason there was a group of them gathering here in Michigan. They stayed for maybe two weeks, and left, all but the one back there. It's odd, usually they stick with their packs, but for some reason this one stayed behind." Giles turned down a quiet residential street and after passing two houses headed up the walk of the third house. "What was up with that tongue?" Gunn asked as Giles unlocked the front door. "It's poisonous, and I'm afraid we don't have much time to search for the cure." Everyone but Angel followed Giles into the house. The vampire stopped right outside the door; Dawn still cradled in his arms. He shifted from foot to foot uncomfortably, waiting for his invitation "Forgive me Angel, I almost forgot. You're invited." Angel nodded slightly, and stepped inside scanning the empty house for a spot to put Dawn. "Her room is this way." Giles walked down a hallway that was just off the living area, and Angel followed him. Angel was on edge. He was ready for Buffy to appear at any moment. It wasn't so much what she'd say to him, he was used to her thoughtless words and barbs. He was more concerned for Willow, and how the encounter would effect her. He could sense the unease the group was feeling, and Angel knew it all led back to Buffy. Setting Dawn on her bed, he gently brushed the light brown stands of hair from her face. Her skin was already clammy, dark circles forming around her eyes. Guilt for not showing up on time ate away at him. "Don't blame yourself Angel." Willow was standing in the hallway watching. Knowing Angel well enough that he would soon start beating himself up for Dawn's condition. "We just need to find the cure, and then everything will be all right." Taking a step forward she laid her hand in his arm. Turning to her, Angel pulled Willow into a fierce hug. He tried to relay to her all that he felt for her through that simple embrace. "Air Angel. Big issue here." Willow gasped, pulling away slightly, but not completely out of his embrace. "Come on. Giles is finding some books for us to research." Taking him by the hand she pulled him out of Dawn's room to join the others in the dinning-room. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Two hours later Giles handed Dawn a mug of hot chocolate, smiling down at her in a fatherly fashion. They had researched, like they used to all around a large table nose in the books, and after a few wrong leads found what they were looking for. Willow performed a rather simple spell, and Dawn awoke surrounded by a group of familiar faces. "So Cordelia had a vision of Giles and I fighting, and you all came?" Dawn blew on the steamy liquid, looking at the others over the rim of her mug. "Pretty much." Cordelia snuggled closer to Lindsey's side, and laid her head on his shoulder. "I just wish that we could've gotten here sooner." Angel sat next to Dawn and took one of her hands into his. "I'm sorry you got hurt. I should have been there." "Stop that Angel." Dawn scolded her friend. "If there's anyone to blame it's myself. I got too cocky, which made me careless. Giles warned me, but when I saw my chance I had to take it. To prove that for once I was good enough to be one of you guys." Everyone smiled at her youthful statement, all knowing how it felt to feel inadequate. "Besides if there's anyone who should be feeling guilty it's my super power filled big sister. I really don't get her." Dawn stopped speaking as she noticed the shared looks between everyone. "Yes well," Giles cleared his throat, feeling the tension rolling of the individuals in the room. "I'm sure that Buffy will be... thrilled to see you all." Giles blushed at his blatant lie, and Dawn rolled her eyes at him. "Is there something we should know Giles?" Angel gaze unconsciously roamed in Willow's direction, worried that Buffy's behavior may hurt Willow's tender feelings. "That my sister is a stuck-up-." "That's quiet enough Dawn." Giles scolded the teen. "Buffy has been rather..." "Bitchy." Dawn mumbled. Taking a sip of her hot chocolate. Giles sent her another scathing look, and Dawn flashed him 'what-did-I-do?' kind of look. "It's just after the last encounter with Glory, and us all... going separate ways; Buffy sees this as a new chance at life." Giles hoped his explanation didn't sound as stupid to the rest as it did to him. "Oh this is gonna be fun." Cordelia yawned into Lindsey's chest. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Thanks Peter, I had a great time." Buffy led her date by the hand up to the front door. "Really I couldn't tell. What with you falling asleep after the first twenty minutes of the movie." Peter leaned over to place a kiss on her lips, but Buffy took a step away. "Yeah I'm sorry about that. Not much into horror flicks." Buffy smiled up at him. "Would you like to come in? My uncle and sister are probably still out." Peter looked at his watch, "I don't know its getting kind of late, and I have work tomorrow." Buffy pouted, and Peter smiled down at her. "Well maybe for a little while." Buffy smiled in triumph and opened the door to her home. |
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