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"Wow," Buffy said quietly as she gazed at the dead man. "So this thing… he’s gonna …eat his heart?"
"Yes… uhm, I’m afraid so," Giles said
"I… I don’t know this Inneresser guy," Tag said still mesmerized by Raven’s corpse.
"I'm not surprised really. He was banished from the earthly plane by an Austrian mage, I believe… uhm… well over 200 years ago." As Giles spoke Buffy could see the wheels turning. His mind was working fast and from his expression, he didn’t like what it was figuring. She turned her attention back to Raven's body.
"I’m sorry for your loss," Buffy offered to Ash, who nodded in silent acceptance.
"It’s always the drummers," Tag said quietly.
"Is it just me?" Xander said nervously "Or should we maybe be getting the hell out of here?"
"Yes, quite." Giles was a million miles away, or maybe just a few. His expression darkened.
"Yes.. yes. Send in the clean-up unit," Vail said into his cell phone as he finally joined the others. "Yes, I know that!… Alright." He abruptly snapped the phone shut. He looked at Ravens’ body. "Poor lad… Clean-ups on the way. I suggest we pull back."
"You’re gonna just leave him?" Buffy asked incredulous.
"No. A special unit will see to him. There’s nothing else we can do," Vail said. "Shall we?" He motioned for them to follow him down the hill to the parking lot.
Buffy held back and kept to the rear of the group with Giles and Xander.
"Giles," she whispered. "What’s going on? What aren’t you saying?"
He shook his head. "We have to get back to the hotel. Now." His voice was calm, but his eyes were tinged with fear. She nodded and they quickly caught up to the others.
"I’m sorry about this. "This is not what I had planned for this evening," Vail said. "We could use your expertise, Mr. Giles. All of you. I’m not familiar with this…. What was it? Inneresser."
Giles nodded. "We’ll do what we can."
"Shouldn’t we be tracking this thing? Blowing it out the sky or something?" Ash said tersely.
"How do you suggest we do that?" Tag said.
"He'll go to a secluded area to regenerate… and… uhm… digest," Giles explained. "He won’t need to feed for another 24 to 48 hours."
"You really know your shit," Tag said impressed.
Giles ignored him, anxious to leave. "We really should be getting on. I take it you’ll contact us tomorrow."
"Yes, of course," Vail replied. "Thank you." The Defenders watched the newcomers leave. Suspicion tinted their eyes, as the black BMW pulled out of the parking lot.
**********
Giles drove quickly and silently down the mountain.
"Okay, what’s going on?" Buffy said.
"I'm not sure," he said uneasily. "But that… none of that was right." He fell silent, replaying the evening's events.
"And?" Buffy prompted.
"I'll feel better when I know Willow's safe."
"Willow?" Xander asked. "What's she got to do with this?"
"Everything, I'm afraid. I just…" The pieced started to fit together. "Christ! The whole damn thing was just a set-up."
"What are you talking about?" Xander demanded.
"Raven summoned the demon," Giles said though clenched teeth.
"What?"
"I saw the summoning ring."
"Why in hell would he do that?" Buffy said.
"I don't know, but he was counting on Willow's being there tonight. If you'd seen his face…"
"D-do you think they were trying to… "Xander had trouble with the idea. "That she was meant to…"
Giles face darkened. "Possibly."
"It doesn't make sense," Buffy added. "I mean, the Defenders think Willow's like the second coming or something, right? Why would they want to kill… to do that?"
"She's right," Xander said. "It doesn't fit."
"Trust me. Willow's at the center of this. I can feel it. " Giles stomach clenched at the thought.
"Suddenly you're the expert on all things Willow, huh?" Xander said bitterly.
"Xander, not now," Buffy warned.
"I think now's the perfect time. When did you start feeling all this about Willow? No, don't tell me… when you started *feeling* Willow?"
"Xander!" Giles snapped. "You'd better watch your mouth."
"Or what? Women may fall for that cheesy accent and the older man shit, but I'm not-"
"Xander!" Buffy yelled. "Stop it."
"You can't tell me you think this… this whatever the hell it is with him and Willow is normal?" Xander demanded.
"I'm warning you…" Giles voice was tight.
"Giles, just shut up and drive." Buffy spun around and shot daggers at Xander in the backseat. "And Xander, you just shut up! Have you two lost the plot completely? Willow's in danger. We all love Willow. We all save Willow. We sort the rest out later. Got it?"
Both men grunted in tacit assent.
Giles pressed down harder on the accelerator and the car sped toward the hotel.
********
Giles opened the door to the hotel room and swiftly crossed to Willow’s bedroom. She’s fine, he told himself. She’s fine. He opened the door expecting to see her still sleeping. The bed was empty. The cold fear he’d been suppressing rose to the surface.
"She’s not here!" he called out and grasped the door jam tightly.
"What do you mean?" Buffy asked uselessly.
"Check the other rooms," Xander suggested.
Buffy and Xander dashed to their bedrooms and Giles’ but there was no sign of her. Giles stood in the doorway to her bedroom, gripping the frame, trying to still the trembling in his hands.
"Giles?" Buffy asked, concerned. He didn’t respond. "Giles!"
"Hmm?"
"Maybe she went for a walk or something?" Xander suggested.
Giles nodded absently.
"We’ll check around the hotel," Buffy said, as she and Xander headed for the door.
"Hi, guys," said a soft voice.
Everyone spun toward it.
"Willow!" Giles cried as he ran to her. She was standing at the sliding glass doors that led to the balcony. He pulled her tightly to his chest, his heart pounding.
Her arms went around his waist. "I’m glad to see you too."
Giles simply held her. He closed his eyes and thanked the Gods she was alright.
"Are you okay?" Buffy asked.
Willow tried to turn and respond, but Giles’ hold was too tight. "I’m fine," she mumbled against his chest.
"Giles," Xander said, warning in his voice.
Giles eased up slightly, but kept Willow against him. They both turned to face Buffy and Xander.
Xander was about to say something angry, something sure to upset Giles. When he saw the look in the older man’s eyes, he stopped. The depth of emotion was staggering. The fear at having lost her, the joy at having found her… the passion and the tenderness, the love and the need. Giles’ whole world was in his eyes and the younger man was humbled by it.
"I just needed some fresh air… What's wrong? What happened? Giles?"
He looked down at her, his eyes still brimming with emotion. He smiled wanly. Willow smiled back and pulled herself from his arms. He looked hurt, until she took his hand and led them into the living room.
Everyone settled uneasily into the chairs and sofa.
"One of the Defenders was… uhm.. killed tonight," Giles started. "There was a demon-"
The southern bird and the tree flashed into her mind. "It was Raven, wasn't it?" Willow said softly.
"Whoa. How'd you know that?" Buffy asked.
"I dreamt it. I think…. I don't know." Everyone exchanged worried glances at this. Willow felt Giles tense and she gave his hand a comforting squeeze.
"Giles thinks, maybe you…. Maybe the demon…." Xander's voice trailed off.
"I think…" he held her hand tightly. "You may be in some danger."
"Me? Why me?" she squeaked.
Giles sighed heavily and shook his head. "I'm not sure… I…"
He was afraid and instinctively she needed to sooth him. "We'll figure it out," she said with a brave smile. "We'll research, right?"
She's so amazing, he thought. *She's* comforting me…. "I haven't any of my books… I don't know where to begin…."
"On the web."
He looked at her questioningly. She smiled. "I have my laptop. Just one of the advantages of the computer, Giles." She stood and started for her bedroom. "I think there's a modem line in here and…" Her voice faded as she disappeared into the other room.
"Research, huh?" Buffy said with a frown.
Giles smirked. "The inevitable conclusion to ignorance."
"Was I just insulted?" Buffy said with a pout.
Xander laughed. "Come on, let's get some food. Let the… let them do the research thing." He looked at Giles, his dark eyes trusting, but still hesitant.
Giles tried to look reassuring. "I'm sure we'll figure this out."
"Right," Buffy said. "Come on Xander, let's nosh."
"The magic word." Buffy and Xander left.
Giles watched them go, hoping his bravado was justified. He went to join Willow and found her sitting cross-legged on the bed leaning over her laptop.
He leaned against the same doorway he had been clinging to just minutes earlier and gazed at the hacker.
Her gentle brow was furrowed in concentration, her eyes keen with anticipation. She looked so small sitting there, and yet, he knew how deceiving that was. She had a strength and a power that had nothing to do with size, and everything to do with the depth of her spirit.
He'd always known she was a young woman with an old soul. It was a delightful paradox - innocence and wisdom.
He smiled tenderly, wondering how he'd ever been lucky enough to find her. She felt his eyes on her and looked up - that sweet smile on her lips. The smile he'd come to know as the one meant only for him. She broke away and returned her attention the computer. Her movement reminded him of why they were here. She was in danger. Willow. His Willow was in danger. He was sure of it. The thought forced him closer to her. He needed to be near.
He sat behind her on the bed, leaning over her shoulder as he had so many times before.
She felt the warmth of his body press against her back. His strong hand traveled up her arm and came to rest on her shoulder. She sighed.
"Something wrong, Love?" he asked.
"No, it's just.. if you stay there I'm not going to be able to concentrate," she said in a sultry voice.
He laughed softly and she felt it reverberate in his chest. "That's not helping," she said with a quiver in her voice.
"I'm sorry," he whispered as he leaned his head in close to her ear. "I just needed to touch you."
She moaned softly. His hand moved up her neck, gently guiding her head to turn… their lips almost touching.
"Rupert," she breathed. His lips so near, so tempting. The computer beeped loudly, startling them out of the moment. She turned back to the screen. He sighed and pulled slightly away, then he felt her body tense.
"Uh-oh."
