summer_of_giles | BRING ME BACK TO WHO I WAS 1/?

You guys, I am so excited to be a part of this this summer. My writer's block was bad but this week I have been flying it. I hope you guys enjoy it, it's up on ao3 if you prefer and I'll probably be posting it on fanfiction too soon.This is only chapter 1 but the other chapters will be up and running throughout the day.

Title: Bring Me Back To Who I Was

Summary: After the destruction of Sunnydale, the Scoobies are camped out at the Hyperion hotel, rounding up slayers from all over the world. But when Xander calls with news of an old friend, Rupert Giles and Wesley Wyndam Pryce rush to San Francisco to help someone they care about.

The idea for this story came from the fact that Charisma Carpenter guest starred in 2 or 3 episodes of Charmed as a demon seer named Kyra. So I thought, Kyra, Cordy.... hey, there might be something in that. :) So spoilers for the show Charmed if anyone wants to steer clear :)

Crossover: Charmed

Rating: FRG

Words: 1659

Disclaimer: I own nothing, except the story.

Characters: Rupert Giles, Cordelia Chase, Wesley Wyndam-Pryce, Phoebe Halliwell, Leo Wyatt, Prue Halliwell, Paige Halliwell, Piper Halliwell, Dawn Summers, Tara MacClay, Willow Rosenberg, Anya Jenkins, Fred Burkle, Charles Gunn, Kyra

Pairings: Rupert Giles/Cordelia Chase; Rupert Giles/Kyra

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"Buffy's a fighter," Giles reassured, rubbing the back of his neck. "She and Faith will be fine."

"It's not Buffy I'm worried about."

"Ah, yes, the other vampire with a soul." Giles give a small jump as a noise started coming from his breast pocket. He reached in and pulled out a phone, which he quickly flipped open and brought to his ear. "Hello. Dawn. I can barely-- These cursed things... What?" His demeanour changed. He threw a quick glance back at Wesley before turning his back on him completely. "What are you talking about? You're quite sure?" A pause. "No, I'm not saying that, all I'm saying is that it's been a very emotional time for you all lately..." Giles pushed his right hand into his pocket. "Alright. I'll be there as soon as I can."

"Is everything alright?" Wesley asked.

Giles turned to him. "Let's continue this in the car. Fancy a road trip?"

"Where?" Wesley pushed his chair back from his desk as Giles pulled his Jacket back on.

"San Francisco."

The two walked out into the lobby of the Hyperion hotel. "I'll just let Angel know."

"Let Fred do it. We need to go now."

Winifred Burkle and Charles Gunn looked at the two Watcher's. "I can do it. What will I tell him?"

"Tell him Xander and Willow have found a person of interest in San Francisco."

"Person of interest?" Wesley asked as Giles was already pushing open the front door. "May I ask who?"

Giles sighed deeply. "An old friend."

~~
Anya slid into the front seat of the car, carrying a tray of coffee. Xander took the offering but didn't drink any. He was staring at the house, large and domineering, unlike anything that had really resided in Sunnydale. "Can you believe that people actually live in houses like these?"

"I know." Anya glanced back up at the house. "It's so pretty."

"Where did the others get to?"

Anya took a bite into the donut she had been offering to Xander. "Dawn's gone to meet Giles. He's bringing Wesley. And Willow's gone to check out some magic stores in the area, in case -"

"Don''t. Don't even go there." The car went quiet. Suddenly Xander slammed his hand into the steering wheel. "How can she even think about doing that?"

"Xander. She just wants to be prepared. LA, Sunnydale - a lot of bad stuff happened."

He turned to her so she could see his patched eye. "You don't need to remind me."

"We thought Giles was the first once. Why not her?" Anya moved her eyes, behind them. "They're here."

A silver car pulled up along side Xander's smaller, darker car and rolled down the window. Wesley looked out from behind the wheel, Giles repositioned himself in the passenger seat so he could get a better look at his colleague at the New Watcher's Council and Dawn stuck her head up from the back seat.

"Hello, Xander."

"Wes. You guys made good time."

"Any sightings?" Giles asked, looking out front window, taking note of the entire street.

"Not since we saw them go inside yesterday. How do you want to play this?" All eyes turned to the seasoned watcher who, in some way, had acted as a mentor or father figure to each and every person.

He took a deep breath and undid his seat belt. "Dawn, come with me. Xander, Anya keep an eye on the front door. Wesley, go a few times around the block: checkout the back." Giles joined the young girl on the quiet street.

"Be careful," Wesley said quickly before he sped away.

"Are you going to do anything... Stupid?" Xander asked.

Giles shook his head. "I just want to meet these people. Find out what I can. In and out in 5 minutes." He crossed the street with Dawn. "Are you sure you're alright with this?"

"Yeah. If this is her..."

Giles looked at the young girl who was more of a daughter to him, whom he felt more like a father towards, than any of the others, Buffy included. Since Buffy had decided to lay down her life for Dawn, Giles realised he would have done the very same thing. "If you want to leave, let me know. Squeeze my hand. If you get uncomfortable."

"Hey, watcher's in training don't run in the face of fear." They made it to the top of the steps. Giles knocked on the door. "They scurry in it." She craned her neck from side to side, an act she had watched Buffy do so many times, thinking that just by doing it she was becoming stronger. In reality, it had no effect. "So, uh, what's our play?" she asked, lowering her voice.

But Giles didn't get a chance to answer. A tall, well built man holding a baby opened the door. The baby caught Giles slightly off guard but anyone who didn't know him wouldn't have noticed. Dawn, however had gotten very used to the defensive tension beside her. Something that had become more and more frequent in the last 6 months since the destruction of Sunnydale.

"Good afternoon," he started as politely as possible. Just get in the door. "I'm terribly sorry to interrupt your day. My name is Rupert Giles, this is my daughter Dawn. We, uh-" He pushed his glasses back up the bridge of his nose. "We've just moved to San Francisco, sort of last minute and we couldn't help but notice the house across the street is up for sale. I was hoping to call the realtor but unfortunately-" Giles pulled out his cell phone. "These blasted things have been the bane of my existence. I don't suppose I could impose upon you to use your phone?"

The baby struggled against his father's hold and smiled. "Of course. Come in." The man stepped aside and closed the door behind them. "I'm Leo, this is Chris." Dawn reached out and too the hand the baby offered. Giles smiled at the little act of innocence but was soon brought back to reality, what she was training to do. "The phone's through here."

"This house is beautiful. I only hope the one across the street is half as nice." Giles picked up the phone and dialed.

Dawn continued to be infatuated with the little bundle. "Do you want to hold him?" Leo asked.

"Really?" Dawn was still getting used to the responsibility being bestowed upon her by the 'Scooby Gang', she didn't expect such responsibility from a complete stranger.

"He likes you. He's usually not good with strangers."

"Dawn." Giles had the phone pressed to his shoulder and looked at her sternly.

"I'm not going to drop him."

"Come here." Leo led her over to the sofa and sat down. When Dawn was seated beside him, he handed over his son to the girl, keeping his hands close should something go wrong. The little boy laughed gleefully as Dawn bounced him on her knee.

"So, is it just the two of you?"

"No. My wife and I have another little boy, Wyatt, a couple of years older. And Piper's sisters live with us."

"Ugh, sisters. They can be such a pain."

"You have sisters?"

Dawn nodded. "One who's blood. The rest are more… foster siblings. There's ten of us all together."

"Wow, your parents must be something else."

Dawn froze. This was going into unchartered territory. She would be getting a very stern talking to from Giles later. "My mom… she died a couple of years back. Gi- Dad has been looking after us on his own since." She looked up to Giles standing behind them. "Oh. Hi. Been there long?"

"What? No." Giles put on his stern face. "Why?"

"Oh, Mr. uh… Leo was just telling me about his family. He has another little boy and sister in laws. How did that go?"

"Uh, well, yes. Very well. The agent can let us have a look in an hour."

"It's a really great neighbourhood. Dawn was saying that it's a big family you have."

"Yes, and I think it's high time we regroup. I want Wesley and Xander to have a look at the house with me."

Dawn handed Chris back to Leo and stood up, arms crossed. "And what about us poor defenceless womenfolk?"

"Please, Dawn, sarcasm isn't a good look on you." Giles began walking to the door. "Thank you again for letting us impose on you."

Dawn waved goodbye to the baby, who waved back. "Hey, and if we get the house and you ever need a babysitter…"

"You'll be top of the list," Leo smiled. "I hope to see more of you guys."

"You too," Giles said, opening the door. "And thank you again."

The door closed behind them. Giles pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and ran a hand through his hair. Across the street, Xander's car started and pulled off. Dawn and Giles crossed the street, waiting for Wesley.

"His wife's name is Piper. They have another little boy, Wyatt. And his wife's sister's live with them."

"You're not babysitting those little boys. Ever."

"Why not? We could use the extra cash."

Giles sighed and pushed his hands into his pockets. "Miss Kitty Fantastico."

"Miss Kitty Fantatico should never have been in the back room of the shop. The person who let her back there are just as much to blame as I am."

"You shouldn't have been handling that cro--" He raised his hands in surrender. "No, I'm not getting into this again." He took his glasses off and wiped them. "Did he say how many sisters?"

Dawn shook her head. "Why?"

"Because I didn't see her in any of the photographs. Dawn, you're sure Xander saw what he saw?"

"He's sure. And I trust him."

Wesley pulled up beside them and the two jumped into the car, eager to get something to eat before meeting the realtor.

BRING ME BACK TO WHO I WAS 1/?

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