Who: Buffy Summers and her ghost What: Her last ghost When: Nightfall Where: Her room; Hyperion Rating: G Status: Incomplete
Her bruises were gone, the cuts knitted closed and fading, her foot was still hurting, but the swelling was mostly gone and it was easier to walk on. Of course she'd be fine twenty-four hours later, she was the Slayer. A slayer, whatever.
She wasn't even going to bother to get ready for Patrol. Not if someone else was going to show up and try to beat the crap out of her. Maybe it would be Twilight again. Maybe it would be Glory, and since she lacked a tool from a god, she couldn't really hurt the hell bitch.
"Good Lord Buffy, what have you been doing with yourself?" the voice hit her ears as she was sitting at her computer. Twisting around in her chair, the person she saw made her break out into a smile from ear to ear. This was the kind of visitor she could deal with. Welcomed, actually, but she just wished he was real.
"Giles!" the Slayer flew out of her chair, ignoring the pain in her foot and threw her arms around her watcher, eyes watering slightly from just being that happy, yet also disappointed he wasn't actually here. His hug felt just like every other Giles hug from the past. He was solid, she could even hear his heart. He was here, if only for a brief time. "God, Giles, I miss you. Why aren't you actually here?" she asked.
"That's a good question, you'll have to ask me." he said, which caused Buffy to smirk.
"Can't." she said, pulling away. "Powers That Suck feel obligated to make my life hell, I can't call out to anyone." though how many times had she tried calling Giles, or Willow, or anyone else in the Slayer Organization for that matter? Over, and over again until she just stopped trying.
"Come now Buffy, it can't be that bad." he said, leading her toward the bed where they both sat, Buffy slouching. "I mean, you have Xander, Anya, Tara. Both Spike and Angel are present." All very valid points. "And Kendra, yes? How is she?"
"Alive." Buffy said with a smile. "Like Anya and Tara. They're alive."
"Well then what are you moping for? So many people you thought were gone forever are here, and well."
Buffy frowned, looking over at her Watcher. "Well when you put it that way." she said, she did sort of sound like a complainer. Though still, she couldn't help it.
"And don't tell me you can't help it."
"But Fa-"
"You and Faith are entirely different people, Buffy. You can't even compare the two of you. Leader of AI or not, you are still chosen. You have a purpose, and while there are many more of you now, there still are not that many people who have such a great purpose in life, and know it." he was right. Damn him. She did have a purpose. She was still chosen. She was only feeling like a piece of crap because she was letting herself feel like a piece of crap. She didn't need an entire army behind her to be a great Slayer. She didn't have an army for the first eight years of being a Slayer, why did she need one now.
Still, she slouched. "I know, I know." she muttered, "It just feels like I'm rep-"
"You're not replaced, Buffy."
"Are you going to keep cutting me off?"
"If you're going to keep saying stupid things, then yes." he replied. Stupid Giles and valid points. She was silent, so he continued. "You are remarkable young woman, Buffy. I have always been and will always be proud to be the Watcher of one of the best Slayers ever to live, and live this long, I might add. Even if you don't need me-"
"I always need you." she interjected
"You cut me off." he pointed out.
"You were saying something stupid." she shot back, before they both smiled.
"Very well. My point is, you don't need a fancy title. You're the Chosen one, you've defeated the odds time and time again, you've got passed every obstacle people, demons or higher powers otherwise have thrown at you. You'll get past this too."
"Which 'this'?" she asked, looking up at him. She needed to hear this. She needed someone to tell her she was strong enough, that she was still The Slayer.
"All of it. You're never ending quirrel with Faith, your ridiculous thoughts that you're not important anymore. Most importantly, the upcoming battle with Twilight. I'd imagine I have as many researchers as I can muster right now finding everything I can about him."
"Fax my people a report." she replied with a sigh.
Giles laughed and put one arm around her, pulling into a hug. Buffy closed her eyes and smiled as he placed a kiss on the top of her head. "I suppose I don't need to tell you to be careful. But I will anyway. Be careful. Be yourself. Enjoy the freedom you have now, and the people you have lost in your life that are back. It isn't all bad here, and with any luck, maybe, just maybe, you'll be able to call me soon."
Buffy opened her eyes, turning her face to look up at him. "Are you leaving now?"
"Do you want me to leave now?"
"No." she replied quickly, sitting up and looking at him like he was a moron.
"Well I suppose I could stick around for a little while longer." he said thoughtfully, taking off his glasses to clean them.
"Hey, Giles?"
"Yes?"
"What are you? I mean, why can I see you?" her Watcher looked at her for a moment, that familiar knowing smile on his face.
"Does it really matter?" he asked as he slid his glasses back on his nose.
Did it matter? He was here, he was just like she knew him, and exactly what she needed. "No, guess not." why did he always have to make points like that. Bringing one leg up she turned herself so she was facing him, one leg resting on the bed, the other on the floor.
"Now, why don't you tell me more about you've been doing since arriving here." he said placing one hand on her shoulder to give it a quick squeeze. It was solid. He could only be more real if he was actually here.
"Don't you already know?" she asked, raising both eyebrows.
"Stop being so bloody difficult, Buffy, and just talk."