Fic: One Mistake Changes Everything - Giles/Buffy - FRAO - The Mystical and the Medical 15 of ?

[randigiles]

Chapter 15 The Mystical and the Medical

Giles was curled around Buffy; holding her snug against him. Their evening together had been nothing short of wonderful. He placed a tender kiss to the back of her head then whispered, “What have I done right, to deserve you?”

Buffy rolled over in his arms and gazed into his sea-green eyes. She could read the shyness and insecurities, within their depths until he shifted them away from her intense stare. “Hey you,” she waited until he looked back to her. “You are …” She never finish what she was going to say as the Apnea monitor went off in Aria’s room.

Buffy arrived in the nursery first with Giles close at her heels. While he turned the monitor sound off, she checked on Aria. “Giles …” her tone, an ice-pick trough his heart. Aria lay motionless, as Buffy rubbed the infant’s arms, back and legs. Buffy froze when she received no response from her daughter.

Giles disconnected the monitor from around Aria and lifted the infant from the crib. She felt like a rag-doll in his hands. Lying her, gently on the changing table; he attempted the same external stimuli to get her to breath adding tapping and running his finger nail along the bottom of her feet. 

When he too, didn’t get a reaction he started CPR. His emotions ran the gamut: the weeks of hope and excitement they had felt at the beginning of her pregnancy then the fear of losing Aria when Buffy went into early labor. The elation when he held Aria for the first time then the weeks of not knowing if she would be okay when she was in the NICU. How thrilled he and Buffy were when they were finally able to bring her home. The culmination of everything that had transpired and now her listless body was too much. 

Giles, filled with frustration, desperation and bitterness toward whatever cruel deity thought it was okay to take something so precious from them decided on the only course of action left to him. 

He lifted Aria from the table. Holding her close; he set his left hand over her chest. His voice commanded, “Sylphs Aeris Conjuro te, Aria ingredi. Succursum in recollectis illius et flatum vitae.” A green glow emanated from his hand and enveloped Aria. Giles heard the infant gasp then she began to cry.

Feelings of relieve, elation and exhaustion swept over Giles. The familiar tingle from casting coursed through him as the room began to swirl. He grabbed onto the changing table for support then Aria’s cries helped him to focus. He glanced in Buffy’s direction, her appearance, ashen. Knowing he needed Buffy to take Aria from him, he attempted to get her attention.

“Buffy, luv …” She only stood before him.

Guiding her to the rocker; he forced her to sit. Her motions were stiff as though she were a cardboard replica of Buffy. Giles positioned her arms to hold Aria then placed the infant in them. He stayed close by to assure Buffy kept hold of the squirming infant. He shook his head, to try to stop the spinning feeling.

“Buffy, Aria is fine see.” Taking one of Buffy’s hands, he set it on the baby’s chest. Buffy sat stone still; his patience was at an end. “Blimey, ‘old her! She’s scared and wants her mum.” he yelled.

This startled Aria, whose cries became all-out wails. The mother instinct within Buffy stirred her from the semi catatonic state she was in. Taking a firmer hold on her daughter; as silent tears of relief fell from her eyes.Realizing this wasn’t a dream; like when her mind made her think for an instant that he paramedics had revived her mother. Aria is alive!

Buffy quietly repeated soothing words to her daughter. Her mind replaying what had just transpired. Giles stood, wavered then took a step to leave the room. 

“Giles?” he paused in the doorway. “What did you do?” a simple question which he didn’t reply to. She tried again. “I heard you say something, what was it?”

“I-I … I’ll be right back.”

Buffy cradled her daughter to her bosom as Giles staggered down the stairs. Her first thought was Giles must be calling 911. Then she thought what could they do? Whatever Giles had done superseded the realm of medicine and the doctors would only want to study Aria.

Giles was thankful Buffy didn’t hold him in the room for questioning; he wasn’t prepared to go into the details of what he had done. He headed toward his room when he heard Buffy call out, “Giles would you bring me some water, please?”

“Of course,” came his reply.

The dizziness and fatigue, from the drain of his mystical energies, caused him to lose his footing on the way down the stairs. He was thankful when he caught hold of the banister which prevented him from going ass over tea kettle. 

He made his way to the kitchen to get a glass of water. While standing at the sink, buzz from casting settled in and now his senses were alive and humming It was one of the things that made casting so alluring. Depending on the spell, the after effects were like nothing else, as far as altering ones perspectives; without the exorbitant cost of drugs. God I miss this, he thought as a pleasurable buzz ran through head. 

Ethan was very proficient with this particular spell. Its original intent is to cause temporary asphyxiation. Ethan taught it to Giles, though Giles never became as adept as Ethan. When Giles cast it on Aria he altered it, bent it to his will. He was extremely thankful he recalled it when he did and relieved that it had worked to his advantage. 

Grabbing a bottled water from the refrigerator he stumbled over the scatter rug in the hall when he perceived his foot going through the floor. This will make navigation of the stairs interesting. His heart began to pound as he neared the landing at the top of the staircase, why can’t I hear Aria’s cries? As he entered the nursery he saw the reason and was relieved. Aria was suckling at Buffy’s breast, as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened. He handed the water to Buffy then turned to leave. He really, needed to lie down for a bit.

“When I’m done here; we need to talk.” Her statement brooked not argument.

“Of course.” Not feeling confident to navigate the stairs again, he went to his room. 

*~~*~~*~~*~~*

An hour later Buffy found Giles on his side, asleep. She stood next to the bed they had blissfully shared just a few short hours ago. She stared down at him; still confused as to what had happened in Aria’s room. Taking the throw blanket from the chair she went to place it over him. He woke with a start then rolled to his back; covering his eyes with his arm.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to wake you.” She said half-hearted.

“No need to apologize. I-is Aria sleeping?”

“Yeah,” she hesitated not knowing how to begin but then she just blurted, “You cast a spell didn’t you?”

He moved his arm, not seeing the room spin; he sat up in the bed, “Yes.” Buffy crossed her arms over her chest. He continued before she could say anything. “I-I couldn’t bear to lose her. I had to do something. CPR wasn’t working. By the time we called 9-9-9 the rescue team would have arrive too late.” 

“It’s 9-1-1 here.”

“Oh yes, of course. I-I would have botched it.” He took in a deep breath then let it out, “I-I recalled a spell from long ago and …”

“You told me, when my mom was sick, that the mystical and the medical aren't meant to mix. Too much can go wrong.” She stated.

“Yes, at that time we were talking about a-a brain tumor; a very different condition than Aria’s.” He paused, hoping she would accept his answer. She didn’t look convinced. “W-whatever the risks, I’m more than willing to pay the price.”

“What price?” Giles merely shrugged. “What was the spell?”

“I-I asked …”

“Asked? Sounded like a command to me.”

“All right I commanded, a Sylph to enter Aria and grant her breath and life.”

“Who or what is the Sylph?”

“Sylph, are also known as sylphid. According to Paracelsus they are beings of the air or air elementals.”

Though Buffy was ecstatic that her daughter is alive; her inner self, the part that made her the slayer, rose with anger when his words clicked, “So, Aria is possessed?” 

“In - in a manner of speaking” he looked toward his hands that were in his lap.

“Giles, how could you? Didn’t you learn anything from Eyghon?”

Her words stung. “Buffy please,” he reached for her hand but she pulled away. “This, this is nothing like Eyghon.” He paused, drew back his hand, “When I am able I will reverse the spell and Aria will be fine.”

“Do it now.”

“I-I can’t …” she turned her back to him. He went on to explain, “It has been a while since I have worked a spell of this magnitude on my own. My energies are depleted. Aria is in no danger, I can assure you.”

“I’m going to check on her.”

“Buffy …” She stormed out of the room not wanting to hear what he was going to say.

Giles, upset with the turn of events, got out of bed. He grabbed a change of clothes and staggered to the shower. Once he was done and dressed he stopped by Buffy’s room. She wasn’t there, he continued down the hall to the nursery. Here he found her asleep in the rocker. After placing a kiss to her crown he went downstairs and out the door. He figured he was up, might just as well retrieve the books he would need for the research later.

*~~*~~*~~*~~*

Giles went into a coughing fit when he opened the door to his apartment. There was a definite musty smell from being shut up for so long. He was hit with a dizzy spell, from the constant cough; he went to the kitchen and filled a glass with water. Taking a swallow, he began what his mother would call ‘an all out war against filth’. He started with the refrigerator; throwing away everything that had expired or had been opened. He sprinkled a box of baking soda on a plate and set it in his now, mostly, empty fridge. He knew this would get the moldy smell out. Once done with that task he began to wipe down the counters removing the dust that had settled there. 

He needed to set the place up as a pseudo-library or if Buffy decides she doesn’t want me to live with her and Aria anymore … Stop thinking like that. Of course Buffy wants you back; this is a minor hiccup that’s all.

Giles also knew he was procrastinating; he should just grab the books he needed then head back to Buffy’s house. He went through his book case and found most of the volumes he would need then headed up stairs to get the rest. When he reached the landing to the loft he found he was a little winded; like after a hand to hand session with Buffy. He attributed it to his tiredness from the adrenaline filled day and the spell work earlier. 

Once he caught his breath he located the other books he wanted; grabbed a small suitcase from the closet and went back down to pack what he was taking back with him. With the books safely stored he decided to cover all bases by performing the un-invite spell. Just incase Spike ever showed back up or Angel ever came to town. He double checked the placement of the crosses and had just recited the incantation when the phone rang. Giles set the burning herbs in an ashtray then picked up the handset.

Hello.”

<You are there?>

“Yes, I retrieved my books and was on my way back now. Is there anything you need?” There was a long pause on the other end. “Buffy is everything all right?”

Buffy was worrying her bottom lip but eventually answered, “Yeah, it’s just … I woke and you … you were gone and there wasn’t a note or anything. I just thought …?” She could hear coughing though the line, “Are you okay?”

<Yes,> *cough* *cough* <The flat is a bit,> *cough* *cough* <musty is all.>

“Are you coming back?”

<What …?> *cough* *cough* <Of course I’m coming back … that is> *cough* <if-if you want me too?>

“Yeah, I do. Soon please. I’d kind of like to get this settled before our guests arrive.”

<I’ll be right there.>

“Good-bye, Giles”

“Ta.” He hung up the phone then took the ashtray with the smoldering herbs to the kitchen; placing it in the sink; the residual smoke from the herbs setting off his cough reflex again. He drank a glass of water; setting the empty container in the rack to dry. Then grabbed the suitcase and left for Revello Dr.

*~~*~~*~~*~~*

The house was quiet; Buffy was lying Aria on the couch when Giles entered. She placed pillows around the infant then went to his side. He set the case on the floor then stood before her; awaiting the chastisement he thought was coming. After a pause that seemed to go on forever she wrapped him in a tight hug. 

“Please, don’t ever do that again. I need a note or something to say where you’ve gone and that you’ll be back.” Giles gave a little cough, that made Buffy loosened her grip. 

“I’m sorry I worried you.” he apologized 

She led him into the living room. They sat together in the chair. “I don’t want to leave her alone on the couch.”

“Understandable.”

“I need you to explain the spell to me again.” She didn’t mean it to sound accusatory but it did; and it hurt. “What effects are there going to be?” 

Giles ignored the first; not wanting to go into what the original spell was used for. He did answered her question though. “I’m really not sure what the repercussions will be.”

She stood up and away from him. He grabbed for her hand, “Buffy, I do know Aria will be fine; that much I can guarantee.” She didn’t turn back but she didn’t pull away either. “Please, trust me on this.” 

Giles tugged on her hand to pull her back onto his lap. She landed with a thump. “I did the only thing I could think of to help her. There was no time to ask permission.” He placed a tender kiss to her temple. 

She turned in his lap, placing a chaste kiss on his lips. He turned it in to a passionate one their tongues caressing one another; they heard a whimper from Aria. 

Buffy pulled back from him. “Gotta take care of Miss Fussbudget.”

“Buffy.” He chided. “Please don’t use demeaning names. Sometimes they, they can become a habit and well …”

“I didn’t mean anything by it; I was just hoping for a little more make-up smoochies.” She winked at Giles then went to pick up her daughter.

“I’ll get the snacks set up for when your guests arrive.”

“Not just my guests, they’re yours too.” Buffy spun to look him in the eye, “Unless you’ve changed your mind about staying here?” 

“No, no I haven’t. I thought, perhaps you were rethinking our arrangement?” He stood up from the chair and approached the two.

“Why would you think that!” her agitation clear in her voice.

“Well, the – the situation with Aria.” He tickled the infant’s tummy as he spoke. “I-I …”

“You’re not going anywhere mister. So we had a little hiccup. What couple doesn’t?”

“Did, did you say couple?”

“Yup, now go ahead and prepare away ‘cause, I’ve got a diaper to change; unless you’d like to trade jobs?”

Giles held his hands up in front of him, “No, that’s quite all right. You tend to Aria’s needs and I’ll take care of the rest.” 

To be continued in Introductions