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Giles spent the next morning racking
up over-seas charges. He had called in countless favors, resurrected associations
better left dormant, and rung up friends and enemies alike.
Having hit another dead end, he slammed the phone down into its cradle. All that and he was still no closer to an answer. He knew time was working against him. He had to find a way to defeat the demon or… as far as he was concerned… there was no or.
There were still a few stones as yet unturned, he was not a man without contacts. Twenty years in the Watchers had garnered him many interesting acquaintances. He would try them all, no matter how unlikely.
He'd been cramped up by the phone in his room for hours and finally decided to stretch his legs.
Willow was in the kitchen buttering a piece of toast, for the third time. Last night's dream had plagued her. She knew everything that was said was somehow significant. The keys were right there, if only she could see them.
Giles watched her for a moment as she dropped the bread and continued to butter her palm. "Willow?"
"Hmmm?" She felt the slippery substance on her hand. "Oh," she said sheepishly and grabbed a towel to wipe it off.
"Are you alright?"
"Yeah, I was… I was just thinking." She frowned slightly, but when she looked at Giles a smile just seemed to grow. "Any luck?"
He shook his head. "No… n-not yet. I'm sure we'll come across something soon. And you? Anything from the... uhm... web?"
She laughed. He still wasn't comfortable with even the mildest technospeak. "Not yet, but I'm sure-"
The phone in Giles' room interrupter her. He gave her a hopeful smile and started to dash to answer it. The ringing of the front doorbell stopped him in mid-stride.
"Go," she assured him. "I'll get it."
He disappeared into his room, while Willow went to open the front door.
"Steve!"
"Hello, Willow, "Diamond said with sly smile.
Willow stood dumbstruck for a moment.
"May I come in?"
"Oh, sorry. Sure, sure." She blushed furiously. What he must think of me.
"I, ah…had your clothes dry cleaned," he said holding up a small garment bag.
Willow managed to turn a deeper shade of crimson. Diamond smiled gently and laid the bag across a chair. "I'm glad to see you're alright. I heard what happened last night."
"I'm fine. I wasn't even there."
"I know, but… I worried anyway." He grinned as she fidgeted.
"Uhm, can I get you a soda?" She scurried into the kitchen. "I think we have something…"
"Nothing, thank you."
"Oh." She stood nervously, shifting her weight.
He allowed himself one last grin before taking pity on her. "Willow, you have nothing to be embarrassed about."
"Who me? Why would I be embarrassed? I mean I only humiliated myself in front of 300 people."
"Willow," he drawled as he slowly walked over to her. "You were a delight. Playful, charming.. You do need to work on your breast stroke though."
"M-m-y b-breast stroke?"
"I'd be glad to help you with that when this is all over," he offered leaning in close.
"Willow?" Giles' voice called as he entered the living room. "Who was that at the… door?" He saw Diamond looming over Willow, the man's intent oozing from every pore.
Giles was incredibly frustrated, his inability so far to protect Willow from Inneresser was driving him mad. But this wasn't a demon. This was a man. A man who, in Giles' mind, posed a threat. A man he could deal with, would deal with… would love to deal with.
Diamond pulled back. "Ah, Mr. Giles." He crossed to shake hands. "Willow and I were just… reminiscing."
Giles paused significantly before ignoring the proffered hand. He swiftly strode across the room to Willow, took her in his arms and kissed her soundly.
Willow eeped in surprise before forgetting herself in the passion of Rupert's kiss.
"Are you alright, Love?" Giles asked in a deep voice, as he turned and glared at Diamond.
"I'm fine," Willow answered once she caught her breath. "Steve was just returning my… uhm... clothes."
Giles eyes narrowed as he remembered the night of the party. "I see."
Diamond went noticeably pale as he sensed the danger he was in from the Watcher. "It seems I've missed something," he said in an attempt at levity.
"Yes, you have, "Giles said with a mirthless smile. He pulled Willow to him again, kissed her forehead and then advanced on Diamond. His stride was predatory.
Instinctively, Diamond took a few steps back.
"I won't mince words with you, Diamond. I don't like you. I don't trust you. I don't want you anywhere near Willow… You see…she's mine."
If Willow weren't so shocked at this display, she probably would have giggled.
Diamond stood motionless, trying to think of an answer that wouldn't get him killed.
Impatiently, Giles took another menacing step forward. "Do…you… under…stand?"
Diamond nodded weakly. "Yours... got it. I really did miss something," he quipped lamely.
Giles was not amused. "You and the rest of your bloody Defenders are not welcome here."
Diamond was thrown by this. A man and a woman… well that made sense, but what did…? "I don't understand. I'm sorry you had to see… what happened the other night, but it was, after all one of ours that got killed."
Giles snorted. "Don't play me for a fool. You'll regret it, I assure you."
Diamond looked to Willow for answers. "You're… you are alright? Right?"
Giles moved to the side, effectively blocking Diamond's view of Willow. "You've been warned," he spat.
"Giles," Willow said as she came to his side. "He really doesn't know."
"Know what?" Diamond asked.
Giles' eyes were penetrating, reluctant and finally sadly surprised. "Your own man summoned the demon."
"What? Why in hell would he do that? Inneresser's…" Diamond's voice trailed off as she considered this new bombshell.
Giles' arm snaked around Willow's waist. Diamond wasn't stupid. He'd researched Inneresser as soon as he'd heard the news. Willow. His eyes softened as he regarded her. "I'm sorry. I… I didn't realize." The man's entire demeanor changed. He was all business. He met Giles' cold stare and didn't flinch. "How can I help?"
"We don't need your-" Giles started.
"Rupert," Willow interrupted. "We need all the help we can get." She squeezed his arm. "We can trust him."
Giles looked skeptical.
"I trust him," she added.
Giles stewed silently. He knew she was right. He nodded almost imperceptibly.
"Good," Willow said with a small smile. "Let me get you what we have so far." She disappeared into her bedroom.
When he was sure she was gone, Giles walked to Diamond and said in a quiet, steely voice, "If anything happens to her… I'll kill you."
If the voice itself weren't enough, all he had to do was look into the Watcher's eyes to see this was no idle threat. Diamond swallowed and nodded.
When Willow reappeared Giles' face instantly changed from murderous to gentle.
Willow gave a computer disk to Diamond. "It's not much, but it’s a start."
Giles' expression warmed even further as he gazed at Willow. Amazing… brave… his. He had to find a way.
Please, God. Don't take her from me… Please.
