summer_of_giles | Somewhere Ch2

Same deal applies as before - worksafe.

“I beg your pardon?”

The brown haired boy shook his head, having been the only person in the living room to notice when everyone went their separate ways. Missing Faith seemed like a big thing to lose and the others felt pretty bad for it. They fanned out, each person taking a room to look. Giles had been in the kitchen with Deirdre and skipped looking there. Buffy brought Willow into the spare room and knew she wasn’t there. In the end they had to admit that she was gone, probably in the confusion.

Giles frowned. “I don’t suppose…”

A worried Slayer responded tersely, “spill.” Faith wasn’t her favorite person but there was respect now, common ground.

“Deirdre isn’t meant to be here. Not in the flesh, I mean, or this incarnation of self. I wonder if…” he trailed off as he realized the woman was standing just behind him and had just heard something it was probably best not to hear. “Oh, Dee, I’m sorry.”

“No. I understand. I won’t ask though I should probably get back as soon as I can to prevent anything else from going wrong.”

Giles was now figuring out the temporal implications of what they’d done. He frowned. “Dee, if you’re here...how old are you?”

“I’m twenty one.”

“That would make me twenty three so you came from 1978.”

“Wouldn’t it have been easier just to ask her what year she came from.?”

“Xander, be quiet.”

“Right.”

“Maybe the magic thought-”

“The magic thinks?”

“Buffy, please. This is only speculation and your questions aren’t helping.”

Chastised, she quieted. He continued.

“The magic might have taken Faith in trade, essentially, pulling Deirdre from a point in the past to be flesh and bone in the present. I can only hope that means Faith is in the past somewhere and not lost in the ether. Either way it could be disastrous for her.”

“Hello? Didn’t you see the Butterfly Effect? It could be bad for all of us!”

“Xander, that theory is more than a movie. I’m quite familiar.”

“He’s right Ripper.”

“I know.”

Giles crossed the room to his bookshelf and moved to take several volumes from it. From the way the other two moved it was clear to Deirdre that this was practiced routine though Xander moved to get his coat on. She looked puzzled. “You’re leaving?”

“Donuts.”

“Don’t forget the jellies.”

“G-man, in all the time you’ve known me have I ever let you down?”

The pointed look Xander received in return quieted him. “Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know the routine. Jellies for you, chocolate for Buffy and sprinkles for Willow.” Not that Willow would need them at the moment but he remained hopeful.

“If I might be so bold?” Dee piped up. He paused. “Maple for me?”

He grinned and was out the door.

The others delved into research trying to figure out how Deirdre was there and where Faith had gone to, whether she had, in fact, been taken in exchange. The Watcher caught himself giving sidelong glances to his former friend sitting innocently in the flesh no more than a few feet from him. Part of him was immensely gratified to see her and how young and vibrant she was. The other worried that this was not her time and she’d change things by being here, make different choices. How this had gone was certainly not meant to be and he was sure there would be consequences to bear.

Buffy was the first to give up and get bored even with donuts to satisfy her. She paced restlessly, worried for Willow and even part of her worried for Faith. They were the original two and there was strength and solidarity in that. They may be at odds but they had a shared past, similar fears and concerns. No, Buffy needed to keep Faith around. Willow, however, was in the forefront of her mind. Giles was happy to have the help from someone that understood magic and possession. She knew she didn’t belong and she was worried about what would happen when she returned to her own time.

“So far my theory holds true. Something like this takes an exceptional amount of energy and Willow did not have anything to channel it through like she did with the scythe. I’m afraid she’s quite overwhelmed her body. It would explain the state she’s in.”

“So that means she’ll wake up when she rests, doesn’t it? She’s just tired?”

“I’m afraid magical influence doesn’t work in that way, Buffy. It’s difficult to say how long it will take her to wake,” he paused, swallowing hard, “if she does at all.”

“If is not the right answer, Giles.”

“Of course I’ll do everything I can but it’s the only answer, for now, that I have to give Buffy.”

“Try harder.”

Giles understood that she was simply concerned for her friend and let it drop, returning to his books without another comment. He wanted Willow to wake as much as the rest of them. Moreso because he should have seen through her brave front and prevented her from doing this in the first place. She was powerful but far from invulnerable. The Watcher sighed, flipping through the book to another section he thought might help. Faith was the priority for now. Willow’s condition, while tragic, was completely stable. She’d wake or she wouldn’t. Faith, however, was gone and no one knew where. That took precedence.

When Buffy and Xander left the room Deirdre looked up from her own book. She was still amazed by everything that had happened and how things had changed. In a certain light the boyish charm of his youth could be seen clearly. She’d fancied him, still did at this age and even with this difference. He lifted his eyebrow never taking his eyes off of the text in front of him.

“You never were subtle.” He observed.

“You’ll have to take my memory, you know.” She responded evenly knowing he never knew a thing about her being head over heels for him for most of the time they knew each other. He had his pick of women so she accepted his eye would never fall to her. Never had, apparently. She frowned to think of forgetting this.

“I’m not thinking that far ahead yet, Dee.”

“No, of course, you’re right.” She always was the reasonable one among them. “But when you are that might bear some consideration. If I remember all of this I could alter the past in unfathomable ways.”

“I know.” And he worried that if the didn’t get to Faith soon they would face the same issue, wherever she was. He had no idea the Slayer was closer to home than he could have imagined.

Somewhere Ch2

Thursday & Friday June 28th, 29th 2012