Role Reversal: Chapter Three

[jesterladyfic]

Chapter Three: In Which British Guys Run My Life

The three of us worked until the sun was nearly up. I use the term, the three of us, lightly because Drusilla didn’t do anything but babble meaninglessly and Spike mostly cooed over her. He did read a lot of manuscripts. I admit he can be dedicated when he wants to be. They left before daybreak and I settled in for two hours sleep before Giles arrived. I was just glad it wasn’t Oz’s time of the month. Thank God I had superpowers or I couldn’t handle getting three hours of sleep a night on a regular basis.

Giles arrived smack on the dot at seven thirty. I think it must be against the law in England to be late. He
expressed some properly repressed surprise upon seeing me there that early. I really couldn’t blame him. I don’t
think it had ever happened before and hopefully wouldn’t ever again. Before I could politely ask him how the Stuffy
Old British Guys Retreat had gone, he started being all concerned on me.

“Buffy, is everything all right? Nothing untoward happened on patrol, I trust?”

I shook my head with a perkiness I didn’t feel and replied.

“No end of the world stuff. Just normal things like Spike wanting our help and the Mayor trying to kill us.”

Giles did a double take. I really loved to startle him. Gave some purpose to my life other than saving the world and
keeping a passing grade in chemistry.

“Spike did what?”

“Spike and Drusilla breezed into town last night and offered to help with Faith in exchange for some research to
help Drusilla feed again. Gypsy curse.”

“And you believed them? Buffy, I must stress the importance of the consequences that could result from this.
The town is in a critical state right now with the Mayor and to trust Spike of all people could be disastrous, especially
with Drusilla at his side.”

I leaned forward on the table and fixed him with my Slayer-eye. I had been preparing for this all night.

“Giles, I know the risk. Believe me, no one better. But Spike did help us before and I could use his help now. I
weighed the options. Just trust me, okay?”

“But, Buffy, how could he possibly help you? And do you realize what it would mean for Drusilla to feed again?”

“Not anything worse than him killing twice as much and giving half to her. Same pile of corpses. Giles,
please. It’s been a long night.”

Giles plucked his glasses off and rubbed them vigorously as an outlet for his emotions. I let him process while
I got a shower in the gym showers, for once free of other sweaty teenage girls, and called my mom before she left for the gallery.

When I got back to the library Willow and Xander had arrived. From the look on Giles’ face, I knew he hadn’t
told them about last night’s development. They were excitedly discussing the big bowling gig of double-date-ness.
Apparently it was great.

“And they even had the inflatable things in the gutters,” Willow ended excitedly to Giles. He smiled politely
back and glanced up at me.

Xander caught sight of me and jumped up to give me his chair.

“Hey, Buff, how’d it go last night? Lots of dust piles this fine sunny morning?”

“Yeah, loads. So, bowling was peachy-keen?”

“Oh, it was great. I won, using my considerable bowling skills and I must admit, even Cordy was impressed.”

It was so easy to make him happy.

“Good for you, Xan. Keep it up.”

“So, your night was good too?” Willow nervously asked. “No horrible happenings that we weren’t there to help
with?”

“Nothing big,” I told them. “Spike just came by and offered to help me with Faith.”

“What?” Xander shrieked. He was loud too. “Spike just offered to help? Did you stake him?”

“Silly Xander,” I said lightly. “How can he help if I stake him?”

“You make it sound like he’s borrowing a cup of sugar, Buffy,” Giles said, a touch exasperated, I think.

“Okay,” I said in my best take-charge-Buffy-knows-best voice. “I’m gonna say this once. You guys can
grumble and whine and think I’ve contracted Slayer-insanity, but I’ve weighed all the options and decided Spike’s help is necessary. I know he’s evil and I’m being careful. I won’t let either Spike or Drusilla hurt any of you. Just please trust me and try not to worry.”

Empty stares greeted my words. They greeted Oz and Cordelia as they walked into the library and got those oh-no-
the-world-is-ending looks on their faces. I hate the fact that we all wear that look regularly. But I couldn’t stand
another round of explanations and arguments so I decided to go to first period, which hey, happened to be
conveniently at that moment.

“I’m gonna go. I’ll let you tell them all the bad news and argue about my mental health. I’ll be back later.”

Giles nodded to me.

“Of course, Buffy. Also, please remember to come back during lunch. We need to work on your focus some more.”

***

The library doors closed behind Buffy with a gentle swish. Oz and Cordelia sat down at the table and there was silence. Finally, Cordelia couldn’t stand it any longer and burst out,

“Can someone please say what’s going on? I hate to break it to the rest of you, but I’m not a mind-reader and if
some big nasties are trying to kill us all, I want to know.”

Xander winced a little, but nodded to Giles to explain.

“Right, well, I suppose you all deserve to know. Spike is back in town.” Giles sighed and leaned against the
table. “Once more, Drusilla is with him and apparently they are very much together. Spike went to Buffy last night
and offered her another truce.”

“What does the jerk want this time?” Cordelia asked. “Fashion tips? He could use them. Well, so could she.”

“Research for Drusilla. She’s fallen prey to a gypsy curse, similar in conflicting agony, though of a different
kind, as the one Angel was under.”

“Drusilla has her soul?” Willow gasped. “Do you think Spike is holding her hostage then?”

“Why should we care?” Xander interrupted. “Soul or no soul, that creep killed Kendra and would’ve been
oh-so-happy to rip all our throats out.”

“Fascinating as all these points are,” Giles told them, “none are pertinent at the present time. Drusilla does not
possess her soul, but instead is unable to feed. Spike is asking for our help to cure her while he assists Buffy in
dealing with Faith and the Mayor.”

“They’re still all growl-y and evil, right?” Willow asked. “So why would she say yes?”

“Because, she does need help - especially with the coming days-“ Giles added as if to himself. “She may not
have the strength to combat both Faith and the Mayor in whatever manner he may be attempting to be evil in. She needs help.”

“She’s got us!” Xander put in proudly.

Giles sat down.

“I’m afraid it’s not that simple, Xander. Buffy has often had cause to be glad of our help, but in a combat
situation, someone with equal strength and fighting skills would be more help to her. Spike can offer her that.”

“Spike could also offer her a home six feet under,” Xander snapped.

“Buffy is aware of that, Xander. And she has made her choice. The rest of you can either make that difficult for
her or aid her in her endeavor.”

“Endeavor, like, as in try?” Cordelia asked. “Buffy’s already off the deep end. I’m not making it worse. Xander,
let her get killed. Then the rest of us can go on with our lives.”

“Really heart-felt advice there, Cor,” Xander growled.

“Xander, let it go,” Willow whispered. “Buffy’s smart. She’s probably got him all sized up and ready to dust.”

“She’s right,” Oz added. “Buffy knows the game. Let her play it.”

“We’re all agreed, then?” Giles asked the group. “We don’t have to like Buffy’s decisions, but we can support
them.”

“Giles, can’t you Watcher her into sanity again?” Xander made one last-ditch effort.

Something spasmed over Giles’ face, but he quickly controlled himself.

“No, Xander. That would not be a course of action open to us.”

“Fine, then I’m in,” Xander said as he gave up. Giles nodded.

“Well, then I suggest you all get back to your classes.” They dispersed from the room leaving Giles in rapt
contemplation and agonized thinking.

***

When I arrived back at the library Giles was there alone arranging crystals on the table.

“Hard work,” I commented, stepping over to him. “I don’t know how you keep up with it.”

“Amusing, I’m sure,” he replied. “Now, sit down here and we’ll begin.”

With a sigh I sat down and let him do his meaningless training. It was very boring. I wanted to talk to him about
Faith or Spike or something with some meaning to it. But he just droned on and on and pretty soon all I could focus
on was one of the crystals he’d placed in front of me. In fact, I think I was supposed to look at it. It was pretty, shiny
and important. Definitely of the utmost, dire importance. This crystal held a message for me and I bored my eyes
into it, blind to all else, to discern what it could be.

Then again, maybe it was just a stupid crystal. Giles always says I put too much stock in the little things.
And it was kinda ugly. Sort of mucus colored and not even that shiny. Maybe Giles was more interesting after all. I
looked up and concentrated on him. Yup, more interesting.

“Buffy, are you all right?” he asked in concern.

“Yeah.” I raised my head. I felt like I’d been asleep. “Yeah, just tired from the no sleeping last night, I guess.”

“Perhaps you should skip patrolling tonight?” he suggested. “Or take one of us with you.”

“Na, I’m good. Spike is supposed to helping me, so he can come. You can work with Queen Crazy.” Giles
hemmed and hawed a bit.

“Yes, well, while I fully intend to support you in this, Buffy, I can’t possibly tonight. I have some Watcher
business to attend to that will require my full attention. Also, I think it would be helpful if either you or Spike were
there to control things. I don’t trust Spike, but I trust him more than her. Drusilla is, by all accounts, unpredictable.”

“She’s nuttier than a fruitcake,” I amended and turned to go. “Oh well, he’ll just have to settle for another time.
I can’t wait to tell him.” I smiled as I left. A chance to disappoint Spike, the day was looking up.


***

From the sounds as I entered the mansion that night, Spike and Drusilla had been doing something very gross. And, in a very sick way, I wasn’t even surprised by all the blood on the floor.

“Spike!” I yelled. “Get out here now!” He ambled out of the bedroom, shirtless and with his jeans unbuttoned.
Did he even own underwear, much less wear it? I rolled my eyes and tried not to stare. I may be the Slayer, but I’m
not blind either, and while my inner repressionist got to work on that statement, I yelled at Spike.

“I need you to patrol with me. Don’t argue either; it’s time to fulfill your end of the bargain.” He didn’t argue, but
he took his time in buttoning his jeans and pulling on a black t-shirt. The duster went over this and finally he was
ready to go. He took longer than I did and he didn’t use make-up. Though from what Angel had told me, Spike had
gone through a black eye-liner phase. I decided to tease him about it later and gestured impatiently at the door.

“Let’s go!”

Spike had been ignoring me up to this point, probably thinking about what he’d been doing earlier, but now he
looked at me funny and then said,

“You’re out of sorts.”

It was a statement, not a question. I thought about it a minute and realized, I was out of sorts. I didn’t know
why.

“Can you analyze me later? Let’s just kill things. Evil things, like you,” I said evasively.

Spike nodded and didn’t press the point, though I could practically see the wheels turning in his head. I wonder
if that’s something I can do with every vamp or some special Vampire/Slayer bond he and I had built up? Scary
thought. I need to stake him before this sharing thing went any further.

“Dru honey, let’s go,” Spike called.

I groaned.

“Can’t we leave her behind?”

“Leave her behind and she’ll do something evil, Slayer,” Spike whispered in a scary voice. How corny can he
get? Drusilla came into the room, dressed in this come-jump-me dress that I noticed Spike eying intently.

“Wacky lady’s here, let’s go,” I urged.

Spike stopped dead in his tracks.

“We’re gonna work together nice, pet. Her name is Drusilla and I want her called that.”

I could see he was going to be stubborn again.

“Fine, Drusilla. Whatever.”

She smiled slowly at me and walked toward me. I shrank back a little from her unearthly smile and watched as
she stared at the air above my head.

“Two birds in a row, mummy shoots one, the other falls low. New birdie comes out to play, gets burned by the
fire and little girl goes all away. Official man scoops up the remains; my boy plays that sweet refrain.” At the end of
that little rambling, I wondered why I hadn’t stopped her before then. But I couldn’t. I couldn’t look away from her
eyes.

Spike crossed the room and pulled her away from my gaze.

“Now, now, Dru. Slayer doesn’t want to be undressed today.”

“What?” I shrieked, coming to my senses away from those eyes.

“Your mind undressed,” he explained in an amused tone.

Either way, I was creeped out.

“We are going now,” I said firmly and walked quickly toward the door and the cemeteries where normal vampires
hung out and I dusted them. I tripped over the doorway. How’s that for a big exit? I picked myself up and felt my head. I was dizzy and couldn’t think straight for a minute, but I watched Drusilla stroll over the threshold with a dancer’s grace and winced. The night had to get better. It had to.

It didn’t. Not to say that the two vampires weren’t good company or anything, but I was off my game. Drusilla did
better than I did in the dusting arena and she, one: didn’t want to dust vampires, two: is crazy and three: according to Spike, wasn’t feeling her best that evening. According to her, the stars weren’t singing the right song or something.
Either way, that made me royally suck. I didn’t know what was wrong, but it was starting to scare me. My reflexes
were terrible and my strength largely diminished.

Just my luck, we came upon a nest. Only five vamps, but if I’d been alone, I would’ve died. Spike saved my
life. There’s a phrase I never thought I’d say and hope never to again. One of the vamps had cornered me against a
mausoleum. Normally, I’d just flip over his head or distract him with a smart remark, but even my punning ability
seemed to be gone.

Instead, I ducked between his legs and kicked him really hard. Or at least, Xander’s version of really hard. I
think he felt it, deep down somewhere. That scared me so much I just froze. I literally couldn’t move as I watched
the vamp sink his teeth toward my neck and then all of a sudden, he exploded into dust. The cloud cleared and
revealed Spike standing there with a stake in his hand. I stared up at him for a minute and he got annoyed with me.
Stupid vampire.

“What are you staring at? A thank you will suffice, Slayer.”

“We have to go,” I managed to choke out. “Something is very wrong.”

“Yeah, you’re a bit off this evening, aren’t you?” Spike commented cheerfully. I could tell he didn’t care a lick
that I was suffering internally. Ungrateful vampire.

Spike and Drusilla accompanied me, (accompanied me!), back to my house and made sure I got inside safely.
The Slayer being watched over by two vampires. It should make the head lines. I resolved to talk to Giles first thing
in the morning. Of all times, now I needed my Watcher.


***

“Giles, I need you! Something is terribly wrong!” I burst through the library doors and pounced on my Watcher who was kneeling next to a large stack of books. He jumped at my sudden entrance and knocked them over. Normally, I could’ve managed to save him from several knocks on the head, but this time, I felt like I was molasses I was moving so slowly and Giles ruefully rubbed his head. Through my distress, I was proud of myself. I knew what that word meant.

Focusing on Giles, I helped him sit down at the table. He took off his glasses and asked,

“What’s the situation then? Is the world ending?” It’s eerie how normal he sounds when he asks that.

“Spike saved my life!” I wailed. Dang, I did say it again.

Giles raised his eyebrows.

“Forgive me for not seeing the importance in that statement, Buffy, other than the irony, of course.”

“I can’t fight. I-I’m useless. I could get killed by anything. My reflexes are non-existent, my aim is terrible, my
strength is gone and I can’t even pun anymore.” I knew I sounded like a whiny girl, but I couldn’t help it. Maybe my
former flakiness was coming back into play since I’d lost my Slayer cool. At least I hoped that was the reason.

“Calm yourself, Buffy. We’ll figure it out.”

I did calm down. No matter what happened, Giles and his books always came through. He would find out what
had happened to me, concoct a nasty-tasting potion and then I would kill whatever did it. Perked up by this scenario
playing out in my head, I randomly hugged Giles in relief.

“Thank you! Promise me you’ll do it soon.”

Giles looked down for a moment and then up and he looked worried.

“I promise you, soon, everything will fine.”

I didn’t know what to make of his expression, but I knew Giles was dedicated to making sure I’m okay. I was
comforted and despite not being able to save some mousy tenth grader from her overbearing boyfriend, and having to have Cordelia do it for me, the rest of my day was great.


***

Faith lay on her new bed and stared at the ceiling. For the past day she’d done nothing but listen to music, play the Playstation or read comics. She was bored. She glanced down at her hands. They were starting to tingle, a feeling that she knew preluded that itch to go out and kill something.

Faith remembered Buffy telling her that she had that itch too. But she controlled it, or used it in a constructive
Slayer manner or something lame like that. She could just hear Buffy now, laying down the law. It made her mad.
Buffy always acted so perfect. It had been awesome coming to Sunnydale and finding another Slayer, but after
awhile, the constant lectures had started to grate.

Who was Buffy anyway? Just because she’d been doing this for a long time and she’d had to make tough
decisions didn’t mean Faith had it any easier. In fact, she had it harder; having to start over at the beginning and
pretend like she was learning something she was born knowing.

Faith got off the bed and leaned on the windowsill, looking down at the quiet streets of Sunnydale. But she
knew they weren’t really quiet. Just below the calm veneer of the town lurked a whole world of bad. A world she was
sworn to fight, but instead, she’d joined that world.

She still didn’t know exactly what had made her come to the Mayor. It was just a gut feeling of hers that he
would do right by her. That he didn’t keep secrets. That he would love her when no one else would. That whole
thing with Miss Post had been awful; leaving Faith feeling like everyone around her was a sham. Doing things so it
benefited themselves and pretending not to be the whole time. Except the Mayor didn’t do that. He never pretended
to be anything but evil and he told her so. He told her she was his finest employee and an absolute joy to have
around, but he also told her that if she ever crossed him, he’d kill her.

There was honesty for you. None of this, they’re evil, they’re good, they’re evil crap. The whole Angel thing had
wigged Faith out. Buffy had been so broken when Faith had met her. And it had come from trusting the wrong guy.
It had come from the whole moral ambiguity issue that seemed to run over Sunnydale like a plague. It made who
you trusted a matter of life and death. Faith still didn’t know if she’d made the right choice, but she’d made it and
she wouldn’t turn back.

She would show the world that she could do something just as well as Buffy, only she wouldn’t be held back by
Buffy’s self-inflicted morals and attitude. The Slayer powers were hers by right and Faith meant to use them. If that
meant crossing Buffy, then fine. She just wished she didn’t miss Buffy and their friendship so much in the meantime.

The Mayor knocked on the door and Faith turned around with a smile. Yeah, Buffy may have been nice to have
around, but here was a guy who would literally stop at nothing to make her happy.

“Faith,” he said, “I’ve been thinking about our little Buffy problem. How’s about we sit down, have some dinner, a healthy one, mind, and discuss how you can help?”

Faith’s smile grew larger and she grabbed a jacket on her way out the door.

“Sure thing, boss. I got loads of ideas for taking down ole Buff.”

***

That night was one of the worst nights of my life. I won’t go into detail about the other worst nights, like the one where I died or anything, but this one was far up there. I was helpless and I was betrayed. That’s a feeling I never have anymore. But I did then.

I was walking home from school. The sun was down so I was hurrying. That thought alone is really abnormal.
In my weakened state I kept imagining footsteps and creepy sounds, but I got to my house without mishap. The
door was open.

“Mom,” I called, “not a good idea to leave doors open in this town, you know.” I wanted to keep the reprimand
light. It’s just funny me reprimanding her anyway. No response. Cue Twilight Zone music. There was a photograph
on the door with my mom, her eyes wide and terrified, and a vampire, a huge smile on his face. I turned and ran
back out the door as fast as I could to the library.

Giles was still there. That wasn’t unusual; he’s, like, always there. But he was pacing up and down, a frantic
expression on his face, and I wondered if something else bad had happened.

“Giles, something has got my mom!” He glanced at me quickly and then away guiltily. I paused, something
was really wrong. “Giles, what is it?”

“I’ve failed you,” he began and then stopped.

“Giles, we can get her back. It’s not your fault.”

“It is. It is my doing. The reason you have lost your powers-“ He cleared his throat and set a syringe down on
the table. I stared at it in shock. “It’s an adrenaline suppressant and muscle relaxant. Every Slayer, if-when she
reaches her eighteenth birthday, undergoes the Cruciamentum. It is a test of her ability to survive without her
powers. I don’t approve of it, but as your Watcher I had no other alterna-”

The syringe smashed into the wall beside his head. At that moment I wished I had my powers more for sending it
spiraling into his head instead of missing it, than for saving the world. I shook with powerless rage and terror.

“You, you son of a-“ I stopped, unable to talk. Giles advanced toward me and I recoiled. “Don’t touch me!”

“Buffy, I am so sorry. I cannot begin to apologize.”

“No, you can’t.” My voice was tight. He turned away from me and his voice sounded hoarse.

“No. It will wear off in a few days, I promise.”

“That won’t exactly help my mother. What did you do to her?” As much as I wanted to kill him; I had to find her first.

“The Council has notified me that the vampire with which they were going to test you has escaped and captured your
mother. They said - they said to rescue her would be your task.”

“Screw their task!” I walked over to him and punched him as hard as I could. His neck didn’t snap like I wanted, but
I was sure there would at least be a bruise later.

“Tell me where she is.”

“The motel by the highway,” he gasped out. “Buffy, please, let me come help you.”

“You? I don’t know you,” I said and turned around walking straight into Spike with a smack, who had come in
unnoticed by either of us.

“Poor Slayer in a bind then?” he asked casually, steadying me with one hand. I so wanted to kill him.

“Get out of my way, Spike,” I snapped and stalked over to the weapons cabinet where I loaded up on stakes and a
crossbow. Giles sat slumped at the table, but I barely noticed. I left with Spike’s words ringing in my ears.

“Don’t get yourself killed now, pet. Be a shame if some nasty got to you before I did. Dru’d have a fit. Hands in
pockets, Slayer.”

I had no idea what he was talking about, I didn’t care and I didn’t look back.

***

The hotel was old and abandoned. Probably structurally unsound. Just the place for the Council to conduct their shady tests. I pushed open the creaky door and held my crossbow at the ready. The place was cloaked in shadow and the swinging door made everything seem alive and moving. I stepped into the hotel and didn’t shut the door. A quick exit would be handy.

Furniture was piled up, blocking doorways, leaving only the hall open to walk in. Someone was planning on
having me then. Great. I headed down the hall, not daring to call out to my mother, not knowing where the vampire
was.

Oh, there he was. At least so said the foot that connected with my head, throwing me to the floor and sending
my crossbow spinning out of my hands. Twisting around, I saw the vampire standing over me, his face in a feral grin.

“Mother and I have been expecting you,” he purred. Actually purred.

“She’s not your mother!” I spat out and scrambled to my feet. I put my hand in my pocket to find the stake I
had stuck there. The vampire grabbed my hand as it came back out and pushed me against the wall.

“Kralik wants to play with his sister. For awhile.” I inwardly shuddered, having a good idea what playtime
between vampire siblings would be like.

“Sorry, but I’ve decided to disown you,” I muttered and dove between his legs and, face first, shot down the
laundry chute conveniently located behind him. I heard brother dearest roar in rage behind me and figured it was a
good thing I was an only child.

The laundry chute was fun, until I smashed my face into the ground at the other end. That was less fun. But my
mother was there, tied to a chair with a gag in her mouth. I raced over to her and untied her even as I heard Kralik’s
footsteps racing towards us down the stairs.

“Mom, are you okay?” I asked as I shoved her behind me and handed her one of my stakes.

“Buffy, what’s going on? I’m so glad to see you by the way.” I smiled. Good old mom.

“Let’s concentrate on not dying first,” I told her.

“I know you can do it, honey,” she replied. “From all you’ve told me, you can kill anything.”

I almost started laughing. Finally, just when I was unable to prove my ability to kick butt and take care of myself, my
mom started to believe in me. Life’s little ironies sure are interesting.

“Here, sis. Here, sissy,” Kralik crooned as he strolled into the room. “There you are. We’re all together again.” Mom
and I slowly backed away from him and he moved toward us. “I miss you,” he told us. “We never spend time
together anymore.”

“We decided you’re just too needy,” I replied. I think the quick wit was the first of my abilities to start coming
back. He kicked me in the stomach and I doubled over. Kralik grabbed my hair and shoved me against the wall,
baring my neck.

“Family always tastes the best,” he muttered against my neck. I braced myself.

“Not if you’re really dead.” Kralik’s eyes went down and his face tightened in recognition and dismay.

“Bye, bye, bro,” I said sweetly, pushing him away and watching him burn into ash, then clicked shut the lid of
the Zippo Spike had placed in my pocket when I bumped into him.

“Buffy, Buffy, are you okay? What’s going on?” Mom grabbed me and hugged me for a long time. I hugged her
back. It was wonderful.

“I’ll explain it all when we get home and safe,” I told her, leading the way out.

When we got to our house I saw Spike leaning against the doorjamb, smoking and waiting. When he saw us he simply held out his hand. I slapped the lighter into it and took my Mom inside, then stepped back out again.

“Why’d you help me?” I demanded. He smirked a little.

“So you can help Dru, it’s obvious. Sides, no fun to let someone else kill your prey.”

I slapped his face as hard as I could but I doubt he felt it very much.

“I am not your prey,” I said very quietly. “You are mine.”

And I walked into the house and slammed the door, but not before I heard him reply.

“Exactly, pet.”

***

I had to go back to the library sometime. I did, early the next morning. Giles was there and so was a fat, older, pompous looking man. He looked up at me and held out his hand.

“Ah, Miss Summers, I presume. Well done, I must say. Congratulations, you’ve passed.”

“I can’t tell you how little that matters to me,” I told him disdainfully, ignoring his hand. He lowered it and looked
over at Giles and then back at me.

“You displayed admirable courage and cunning, Miss Summers, and we will look forward to your continued
service.”

“Service!” Giles exploded. “How can you, Quentin, after what she’s been through? Take your barbarism back
home now that you’ve finished with us. Enough harm has been done.”

Quentin cleared his throat importantly before turning to Giles.

“I’m not finished yet, Rupert. Miss Summers passed. You didn’t. The Cruciamentum is not just a test for the
Slayer, but for her Watcher as well. Your attachment to the child had weakened your judgment and we will be finding
someone else to guide her.” I looked up, shocked. I was still mad at Giles, but they were going to fire him. Giles
looked at me sadly and then turned away. Quentin looked at me again and added,

“Your new Watcher should arrive within a few weeks. Take care, Miss Summers.”

I looked up at him slowly and let the words drip out of my mouth and land as hard as stones.

“I think you better leave town before I get my strength back.” He did look a little taken aback, maybe I’m still
somewhat formidable. Yay me. He left and I stood looking at the floor.

Giles cleared his throat and started to speak.

“Buffy, I-I am so-“

“Don’t,” I said, cutting him off, “don’t say you’re sorry. You can’t make it not happen. Not now. I thought you
cared about me, but all along, I was just your job.” Tears dripped down my face and dropped onto my shirt.

“That is not true,” he began again.

“Then tell me you didn’t poison me.” He didn’t say anything. “How could you, Giles? I lay my life on the line
every day for you and them and everyone. How could you bastards not tell me?” I spat it out at him. Hurled the
words to bring the force my body no longer could. Because of him.

“I wanted to, but it was my job. I made a wrong decision and I cannot tell you how much I regret it. Please
forgive me, Buffy.”

“I won’t. I don’t forgive you and I don’t like you and I don’t trust you. You’re here and there’s not much I can do
about that, but it will be a long time before I come to you again.” Even through my pain I could see he could’ve taken
a dagger through the chest with less damage, but I didn’t care. Maybe someday, but not today.