|
|
by Chris Kenworthy (scoobyhq@fcmail.com)
Disclaimer: Oh, you REALLY oughtta know it by now.
Rupert Giles walked out of the dining room, smiling when he saw the young man. "Oh, hello there, mister Hardcastle," the friendly Watcher said. "The party's out back - I know you'll be wanting to see the other young people, especially Faith, but I was wondering if I might have a moment of your time."
Jonny blinked, more than somewhat surprised, and then nodded. "Okay, what's on your mind? Sir." He sat down in one of the living room chairs, his acessories jangling, and waved to indicate another seat for Giles.
"Right," Giles said, pausing to collect his thoughts as he seated himself. "I, uh, I've learned a little bit about your past history, your part in the career of Karen Kimball..."
"I'd expect as much," Jonny agreed quietly. "You'd have to investigate anyone coming to town so mysteriously, right?"
"Uh, yes." Giles nodded. "And we certainly owe you all agreat deal of thanks for your assistance last night. Is that the sort of thing you've been doing since Karen's death? Just travelling the world, looking for vampires to fight?"
"Pretty much, sir," Jonny agreed. "Once you know about them, well, it's hard to stand by when..."
"I understand," Giles broke in. "And... well, are you planning to leave Sunnydale now? What with all that we've learned about the mysterious Upriser, we are sure to be in need of your assistance."
"Thank you," Jonny muttered. "For the offer. But, well, I think I have to leave again. With the Slayers both here, I need to be out there. Until this Upriser has been dealt with..." Jonny trailed off.
"Have you told Faith this yet?" Giles asked, guessing the answer. "Well, before you do, I think you should give her this." He got up and handed over a folded slip of paper.
"What is it?" Jonny asked. Giles said nothing, so Jonny unfolded it and read, repeating parts of it aloud. "To Rupert Giles, from Nathan Whitly, Watcher's council. Pursuant to your request, and on the basis of his extensive backgroung and extraordinary devotion to the cause, we grant permission for Jonathan Hardcastle to recieve final training as a Watcher from a full and certified member of the caucus... Wow?" He looked up at Giles questioningly.
"I was hoping that I would be able to serve as your mentor, but I have a few colleagues here in America who could serve," Rupert explained. "Including one who would even be willing to come on the road with you, or take you on the road with him."
"And just why do you think I'm interested in being a Watcher?" Jonny asked.
"Isn't that obvious?" Giles said, grinning. "It's the best way to get to spend quality time with a Slayer!"
(Further up Rebello Drive,)
The white spider crawled along more boldly now, finding security in the thick green lawns. It darted forward to devour a hapless ant, then skittered along again. The scent of its target was strong, now. In minutes, she would die.
(On the Summers back porch once again.)
"Okay, burgers are ready," Xander called out, and started flipping chunks of meat onto open rolls.
"Ooh!" Willow smiled, and ran up to the grill. Suddenly she stopped short, just staring. "You call that done??"
"Uh... it's rare?" Xander tried vaguely.
"It's raw!" Willow declared. "And you know they are - you just can't be bothered waiting, can you?"
"I heard that," Buffy said, bustling towards them. "Give up the spatula, Xand - my shift."
"You don't have to tell me twice!" Xander exclaimed, flashing his trademark smile. "Hey, anybody up for a little touch football?" No response. "Frisbee??"
"So, you're a watcher?" Leslie Decowski asked Giles. "What exactly does that entail?"
"I, uh, I don't think I should be tell-" Giles started, but Leslie cut her off.
"You can't keep it from me forever," she declared determinedly. "I'm a sleuth, in the grand old tradition. Sooner or later, I find out everything I want to. And I want to know," she finished grandly, "about you and your little 'gang' here."
"Oh, don't be so stuffy Rupert," Celia said, walking over to join them. "There's enough people here who know what we're up to - what's one more?"
"That's precisely the point," Giles argued back. "This 'Slayerette' thing is starting to get entirely out of hand..."
"Hey, Buffy," Willow said, pointing out into the backyard. Jonny and Faith were standing close together, in fervent conversation. "Wonder what they're talking about?"
"I think I can guess as much as I'd want to know," Buffy told her best friend with a smile.
(Only a few feet away,)
It was almost there now.
Slowly, carefully, with the timeless patience of the arachnid, it proceeded. Under a fence. Along a patch of bare earth. Up the wall, the horrible dreadspider crawled. Only seconds now, until death came to the pale-haired warmblood.
Finally, it crawled off the wall to the wooden porch railing. She was right here. All the spider had to do was crawl a little further along, up the side of the railing. And then it would jump, and bite. And death would come to the light-haired one.
Already, it had reached the top of the railing.
And then, death came.
"Eww," Buffy said, scraping the ick off of her fingers, not even noticing how the touch of the spider's remains seemed to burn her skin a little. "Bug. Nasty."
"Why did we have to come here?" Cordelia's voice rang out over the back yard.
"You said you were invited."
"But that doesn't mean I wanted to go..." Cordelia sighed.
Cole sighed at Cordelia. "Hello there, Buffy!"
Buffy blushed a bit, shaking her head at the guy's audacity. "Hi, Cole. So glad you could drop by."
"Oh, uh, yeah," Cole stammered. Cordelia turned and walked off. "Just, uh, wanted to thank you for saving my life, and all that. You know."
"Oh, hey," Buffy said. "Xander deserves the credit for that one. He's the one who got you out. Actually, you were the one to save my life!"
"How did you know that was me- Oh," Cole said, and blushed. "You mean, attacking that guy like an idiot, diverting him so you could beat him?"
"Well, yeah," Buffy said. "What else would I have meant..." Suddenly, it all came together in Buffy's mind - her mysterious recovery after taking the knife in her shoulder - the note that was in her hands when she awoke. "The hallway," she breathed, unbelieving. "The note - that was you??"
Cole could do nothing but nod.
Click here to go to the fanfic discussion board.
Go back to Tales of the Scooby Gang.
Or click here to return to the Destinies Lost homepage.
|
|
|
|
