oreadno1 (oreadno1) wrote in willowgileslove, @ 2008-08-14 19:39:00 |
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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 2---Mutual Responsibility
Willow awoke to a strange sound. At first, she was unsure of where she was, then remembered she'd fallen asleep on Giles' couch. Then the sound was repeated. It was a half-strangled cry coming from the loft. Without thinking, she pushed the throw off and headed for the stairs. She was at the middle landing before she realised her head was swimming and her knees were wobbly. But she heard that sound again and it pulled her onward. She was not going to give up. Resolve face. She carefully made her way up the remainder of the stairs, clinging to the balustrade. When she reached the top landing, she peeked into Giles' bedroom. He was thrashing about, moaning and mumbling. Cautiously, she approached the bed and sat on the edge. Putting her hand on his shoulder, she shook him lightly.
"Giles," she soothed, "It's all right; it's just a bad dream. Wake up."
He tossed a moment longer before sitting up with a gasp. He grabbed her arms in a punishing grip, his eyes wild.
"Okay, ouch. It's all right, Giles. It's me, Willow"
"Are you...real?" his hold on her loosened.
She took his hand between hers.
"I'm here, Giles. I'm real. It was just a nightmare."
She could feel him still trembling, and stroked his hand gently, murmuring comforting words, until his eyes resumed a somewhat normal appearance and his body relaxed slightly.
"It's okay. It was just an bad dream and it's over. I'm here, I'm real, and you're safe w it me"
"But she's not and it's all my fault."
His face crumpled and his body was racked by sobs.
Willow scooted closer to him and tenderly put her arms around him.
"Giles it isn't your fault. What you did, what you went through...No one thinks it's your fault."
"But it is my fault, don't you see? I told them how to open the portal! They tricked me into thinking I was seeing Jenny and I told them everything! If I'd been a better Watcher I'd never have..."
"Shhh, no Giles. It wasn't your fault. Angelus tortured you and hurt you. It's not your fault," Tears slowly slipped from her eyes, "It's my fault."
"What? How is it your fault? You didn't tell them the secret to opening Acathla's gateway."
"If I'd done the spell sooner or quicker or better, Angelus would never have taken you and Buffy would never have left. It's my fault! I let you and my best friend down!"
Her slender shoulders shook with her tears.
"I'm a terrible friend! I should have done more! If I had, then Buffy wouldn't have left and you wouldn't be hurt!" she wailed.
Giles wrapped his arms around the distraught girl.
"No, Willow," he consoled,"You did nothing wrong. What you did...you shouldn't have even been able to perform the spell in your condition. You are...remarkable."
"But..."
"But nothing. You did what should have been impossible for you and I couldn't be prouder of you."
She leaned back and swiped at her tears with the heel of her hand.
"I'm sorry I got you all wet," she sniffled.
Giles reached over and pulled some tissues from a box on his nightstand. He wiped the remaining tears from her pale cheeks.
"No harm done. Perhaps we both needed to get these things out in the open to deal with them?"
"Maybe," she yawned.
"I'm sorry I disturbed your sleep," a thought occurred to him, "I thought you weren't supposed to be on your feet much. How did you get up here?"
"You needed me," she said quietly.
He was dumbstruck at her assertion. That she would jeopardize herself and her recovery simply because she thought he was in distress...it was unbelievable.
"Well, you're not going to attempt to navigate those stairs again tonight. I'll go down and sleep on the couch."
"No, Giles, you're hurt. You don't need to be sleeping on your lumpy sofa," her face pinkened slightly as she realised her affront to his couch, "Not that it's a bad couch, you know, it's not. It's a good couch, pretty..."
"It's all right, Willow," he interrupted her babble, "I know my couch isn't the most comfortable."
"So you shouldn't sleep on it while you're still injured."
"And you shouldn't be walking up and down stairs in your condition."
They'd reached an impasse; neither one willing to let the other do anything that might hamper their recovery in any way. Finally, they both sighed, and Giles gestured to the other side of the bed.
"If you wouldn't be too uncomfortable, you can stay here," he offered.
Willow gave him a tired smile, crawled over him and snuggled under the covers.
""Night, Giles" she mumbled, giving in to her weariness.
"Good night, Willow," he closed his eyes and hoped for sleep.
TBC......