oreadno1 (oreadno1) wrote in willowgileslove, @ 2008-07-29 09:11:00 |
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Fandom: BtVS
Rating: Eventually FRAO (this chapter U)
Pairing: Wiilow/Giles (who else?)
Summary:Willow cares for Giles after his experience at the hands of Angelus
Spoilers: AU post-Becoming, part 2
Feedback: Pretty please. Constructive criticism is always welcome. If you want to flame me, well okay, I have cattle prods. And chainsaws.
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters (if I did Willow would be with Giles where she belongs!); I just hijack them and take them out for a joyride every now and then. Also, I have no beta, so any and all mistakes are solely mine.
Author's Notes: This fic includes consensual sex between an adult and a legal minor (16-17 year old). If this squicks you, then pass it by. Also I have arbitrarily picked June 24 for Willow's birthday, since I don't recall it mentioned on the show as to when it is. After all, Buffy's birthday seems to have been established as being in January, and Willow is supposed to be 'younger' than Buffy.
Mutuality
Chapter One---Mutual Comfort, Mutual Care
Willow sat wearily in front of Giles' door. The distance from her house to Giles' had never seemed that long till she had to wheel herself there. She didn't know why the doctors insisted she use the wheelchair. Okay, so she got dizzy if she stood for very long, but still... Then came the added fun of wheeling around until she found the handicap access down to the level of Giles' apartment. Her arms were very tired and her hands were sore. But she had to do this. Buffy hadn't shown up at school and Giles was obviously in bad shape from Angelus' torture. Someone needed to check up on him, and she'd elected herself. She'd started to go to the library to see him, but couldn't quite go through the door. Just one more reason to hate Angelus and Drusilla, for causing her to fear what had once been her favorite place. Willow knew that while Drusilla had led the raid on the library, it had been Angelus' idea. He'd needed Giles for something and sent Dru and his minions to get him, no matter who got hurt in the process. Her hand drifted up to the bandage over her left eye. Her head still tended to ache to the point that she couldn't read for long or even use her computer much. She carefully leaned forward and knocked on Giles' door. She could hear him shuffling slowly to the door. As he opened it, she could see him awkwardly using his uninjured hand to grasp the knob. "Willow," he seemed concerned, "Why are you here? Is everything okay?" "I came to see how you were doing and if you needed anything" she replied as brightly as she could, hiding her shock at his haggard appearance. "Do come in, " Giles noticed the colours of sunset beginning to appear in the sky, "Did Oz bring you?" "No, Oz is home packing. He and the band are gonna go on a road trip, picking up gigs wherever they can. They leave just after school ends. I came by myself." "You came here by yourself? Did you at least take a taxi?" he asked incredulously. "No, I just wheeled myself over here." she carefully wheeled herself into his apartment, "I have to admit it seemed a little farther than when I walk here." She hesitated at the step down into the main area of his apartment, worrying her lower lip as she considered how to get past this obstacle. She gingerly stood, rolled her wheelchair down the step, then sat in it again and moved toward the living room. She was dismayed to see the unGiles-like mess there: books scattered everywhere, pill bottles open on the coffee table, empty teacups and dirty dishes, clothes strewn about, the throw from the sofa bunched up on one side, as if used as a blanket. She made a mental promise to herself that she would clean it up. She knew it was just more evidence of the effects of the trauma he had suffered at Angelus' hands, but she wanted to help him move past it. "Please forgive the way the place looks," he blushed embarrassedly as he picked up some dishes and moved them into the kitchen, "I haven't really picked up the way I should lately. Would you like some tea?" "Sure, that'd be nice," she knew making tea was a comforting activity for him and felt she should encourage it. As he puttered about in the kitchen, she manouvered herself out of her wheelchair and into the armchair closest to her. She leaned forward and read the label on the open medications: Xanax and Tramadol. Giles returned to the living room with a heavily laden tea tray. He set it down on the coffee table and settled himself on the couch to pour. Willow noticed a flash of pain cross his face and his hand trembled as he leaned forward to pass her cup to her and offer her the cookies he'd brought out as well. "Are you okay?" she asked worriedly. "I'm fine," he snapped, rather testily, then sighed, "I'm sorry Willow. I wasn't able to take my medication this morning and I'm feeling a little out of sorts." "Why didn't you take it? Isn't it something you need to take more often than that?" "I can't take it before work because it makes me drowsy and unable to drive my car. Plus I need to remain alert should something happen or if Buffy needs me." "But Giles, you need it or the doctor wouldn't have prescribed it for you. Surely you can take it now that work is over. You're hurting; I can see it." "But if Buffy should require..." he started, but Willow interrupted him. "Giles, I don't mean to be mean, but Buffy is gone. She's not going to show up on your doorstep tonight. She left her mother a note saying she couldn't take it anymore and packed some of her stuff and left. I'm sorry, but I think you can take your medication this one time without worrying about Buffy." She stood and made her way unsteadily to his side. Picking up each madicine bottle, she took one out of each and handed them to him. "Now take these. Don't make me use my 'resolve face.'" In too much pain and too dispirited to argue, he took the pills and swallowed them with his tea. "There, that wasn't so bad was it?" she grinned at him, then suddenly sat down as the room started tilting at the corners. "Are you okay?" he asked, concerned. "Yeah, I just got a little dizzy there. It happens when I stand too long. I'll be okay." "Perhaps you should be taking care of yourself instead of worrying about me?" "I'm gonna be fine. The doctor said that the dizziness shouldn't last too long. But until it goes away I have to use the wheelchair and try not to stand for any length of time. Besides, if I don't take care of you, who will?" she added with a smile. "But who will take care of you? Your parents?" "No, they went back to Phoenix. They just came back long enough to check me out of the hospital and let Oz take me home," she admitted sadly. "Oh, Willow, I'm so sorry." "It's okay," she murmured, unable to meet his sympathetic eyes, "It's not like I expected them to stick around. I'll be okay on my own." "I'll make you a deal," he reached out and gently took her hand, "I'll let you take care of me if you let me take care of you." "But I don't need..." she began to protest, but he cut her off. "Please, Willow. Is it a deal?" "Okay," she said a little sulkily, though secretly pleased that someone cared, "It's a deal." "Good. First off, I think we both need to eat a real meal. I have some leftover chicken cacciatore that I should be able to warm up before the medications make me too drowsy," he stood and went to the kitchen. Twenty minutes later he reappeared with two steaming plates. "Mmm, this smells delicious," she picked up a forkful and blew on it to cool it. They ate their meal, chatting about school and books, carefully avoiding the subjects of Buffy and Angelus. When they were finished, Giles took the plates back to the kitchen. When he returned he saw Willow taking a small white pill from a prescription bottle. "Time for my pill, too. See, I'm being a good girl." "Yes, well, good, good for you. I'm glad I don't have to be stern with you about it." "It's supposed to help with the nausea I sometimes still get, but if I take it on an empty stomach, it makes me, well, nauseous. It also makes me very sleepy sometimes." "So you don't take it before school?" "No, I mean yes, I do. I just wake up around 3 AM, take it, go back to sleep and then get up for school like normal. The worst of the sleepiness is usually gone by then." They talked a while longer till Giles noticed Willow's eyelids beginning to droop. His own were trying to close as well. He stood, helped her to lay down on the couch, and covered her with the throw. He hesitated, then placed an awkward kiss on her forehead before heading for the stairs to the loft. ""Night, Giles," she mumbled, sleepily. "Good night, Willow," he whispered back. TBC....