A firefightery Giles with a scratchy jaw is a good Giles, oh goodness yes. This turned out great! I'm glad that you chose to get this written and post it-- I've been very intrigued by the idea of Giles as a firefighter since you mentioned it many months ago.

This short but complex little story does a lot to repair the rift that formed between Buffy and Giles early in season 4... you know as well as anyone that I do adore fix-it fic from this time period. Putting them into this intense and slightly awkward situation forced things out into the open and revealed the understanding that there was fault to be had on both sides. I love that their relationship, with or without a romantic element, comes out stronger at the end.

And of course it needs to be said-- HAPPY BIRTHDAY! A day late, but I already apologized for that oversight with the expensive bubbly I sent you last night... at least we'll pretend it was lovely, delicious, expensive bubbly. V-gift Champagne is just one of those things in life that can be frustratingly unsatisfying unless you have a really really active imagination. Fortunately, that is something that you do possess. Right? RIGHT? :D