Title: Slayer Central chapter 17
Author: Gileswench
Contact: gileswench@yahoo.com
Feedback: Constructive criticism always welcome. Praise abjectly sought.
Disclaimer: It all belongs to Joss, Mutant Enemy, etc., etc., etc. I just let them have all the fun Joss won't. I own nothing except my twisted mind which you really don't want. Please don't sue.



As the clock ticked slowly, the Scoobies gathered in the hospital waiting room. At first it was just
Buffy and Giles sitting together, his arm slung comfortingly around the back of her chair while she
tried not to show how nervous she was. Crystal sat huddled some distance away trying to interest
herself in the outdated magazines.

After a time, Willow and Tara arrived and sat together near Buffy. The redhead was openly
distraught, despite her girlfriend's attempts to soothe her.

When Cordelia arrived some minutes later, she appeared confident and in charge. Still, she sat a bit
apart from the others, rarely joining into the conversation.

Wesley sidled into the room next. He looked about him uncomfortably, unsure of his welcome. When
he met Buffy's eye, she smiled slightly at him, and he relaxed a bit. He chose a seat near Crystal,
and did his best to offer the girl comfort, all the while sneaking subtle looks at Cordelia, who
sneaked equally subtle looks back when he wasn't looking.

Finally, Anya arrived, ushered in by Xander. Giles looked at his young friend in mild surprise.

"Xander, I thought you were working today."

The young man shrugged.

"I called in sick. I guess this is a little more important than installing someone's redwood deck. How
ya' hanging in there, Buff?"

"Been better a few times, but I'm okay."

Giles gave her shoulder a comforting squeeze as she leaned a bit closer to him.

*****

"How much longer until we arrive?"

"Get a grip, man. You sound like a small child on a long drive. It will be at least three more hours. I
suggest you try to find a way to occupy your mind during that time."

"When are you going to take what I've said seriously, Quentin?"

"When there is a reason to take it seriously, not before. We both know why this story of yours is ridiculous."

"And you know that Rupert is still a man."

"Is he really? Well, I suppose I'll just have to wait and see. In the meantime, do be quiet, there's a
good fellow. I've a great many documents to deal with just now. Can't let Council business fall by
the wayside while we take our little jaunt, can we?"

*****

"Do you think it'll be much longer?"

Giles stifled the retort that lingered on the tip of his tongue at Xander's question.

"I don't know."

"Why is it taking so long?" Buffy fretted.

"Actually," Wesley offered, "I believe that a long procedure is a good sign. If it was over quickly,
it would probably mean there was little they could do."

"Ya' think, Wes?"

"I feel quite sure of it."

Giles smiled his thanks to his former colleague over Buffy's head.

*****

Quentin Travers smiled inwardly. Cedric Giles was a bloody pain in the posterior and it felt good to
remind him who was in charge of the Council. None of the papers he'd brought along were terribly
important, in point of fact, but they did make good camouflage. Mustn't let Cedric know the real
state of his feelings concerning this surprising news about Rupert. Damn and blast all Giles'. They
would keep being so wretchedly unexpected. Time to put a stop to that.

*****

"I'm headed to cafeterialand. Anyone want anything?"

Half the room jumped at Cordelia's question.

"Nothing. Thanks. I don't think I could keep anything in me," Buffy replied first.

"You need something most of all. Well, you and Crystal."

"Cordelia's right, Buffy. You need something, and you hardly ate at breakfast."

"I could bring you some juice? Yummy, nutritious juice?"

"Okay, okay, I'll have some cranberry juice. Now will you guys get off my back?"

"There's gratitude for you," Cordelia grumbled good naturedly. "Anyone else want something?"

Several others placed orders for drinks and snacks, and Giles surreptitiously slid a wad of bills into
her hand to pay for it all.

"Shall I go with you?" Wesley asked hopefully.

The girl hesitated a moment.

"Sure. That way I don't need to grow any extra hands to bring this all back. And can I just say
there was a time in my life when it would never have occurred to me that I really could do that?"

*****

"You really ought to have a drink, Cedric. The whisky is appalling, but I'm sure there's something
you could stomach."

Cedric glared at Travers and stopped sucking on the handle of his cane long enough to reply.

"You'd like me to be drunk when we land, wouldn't you?"

"Now why on Earth would I want that?"

"I know you hate me. You'd like me to be humiliated before our colleagues."

Travers' eyes went wide.

"My dear Cedric, such paranoia isn't at all healthy. I'm certain our colleagues would be fully as
astonished and dismayed as I if such a thing were to happen. No, I don't want you inebriated. It
would reflect badly on the Council, and that I will not tolerate. Be very clear about that, Mr. Giles.
Be very clear."

*****

Wesley hoped he didn't look as nervous as he felt, walking alongside Cordelia to the cafeteria. Still,
he had to know where things stood. While he pondered a smooth way of bringing the conversation
around to the tasks she would set for him, Cordelia decided to be blunt as only Cordelia could.

"Okay, here's where we are. I talked to Willow and Tara about your task thingy today before we
came over here."

"You - Willow and Tara know?"

"Hey, I know it's lame asking guy advice from a pair of lezzies, but there it is. It was them or Angel,
and frankly, I thought it might make our resident vampire a little cranky if I woke him up to ask him
this."

"Did you...did you come to any conclusion?"

"Just one. I need to consult more girls - preferably a couple who still get the guy vibe. So, we're
organizing a Scooby-girl slumber party in a couple nights. That way I can get some input from all
the others."

"All of them? Y-you mean you're going to ask Anya - a former vengeance demon, need I remind
you - for advice on putting our relationship back together?"

"Yes I am. What, you thought I was going to do all of this solo? Hello! If you're doing the shining
white knight thing, I want witnesses. Plus, this way I have a whole jury to make sure you don't
cheat on anything I ask you to do. It's practical on so many levels."

With that, the girl turned and strode quickly to the cafeteria. by the time Wesley found his legs
again, he nearly had to run to catch up to her.

*****

Cedric heaved a sigh of relief when the seatbelt light finally blinked out and he could rise. He was
annoyed to see that Travers remained still another moment before calmly beginning to gather up his
papers.

"Aren't you the least bit worried about this, Travers?"

"Not especially, Cedric, no."

"You've flown all the way across the Atlantic Ocean because you don't care?"

"No. I've done it because the Council must investigate all claims of malfeasence on the part of its
members. You have made such a claim against your son. I am, therefore, obligated to investigate
no matter how unlikely the charges. But don't expect me to like it."

He stood and swept his way out, a trail of Watchers and his secretary following in his wake before
Cedric could move into the aisle and leave the plane.

*****

Snacks consumed, conversations flagging, the Scoobies took up various poses of bored distress.
Buffy had reached a point where she could deal with the inaction only by pacing the room. Giles
stood, hands in pockets, and watched his wife with a mixture of concern and sympathy. Willow and
Xander had taken refuge in settling some ancient playground wrong as Anya stared frankly and Tara
smothered a tiny smile at the ridiculousness of the grievences. Cordelia had taken over what she
called 'Crystal-sitting'. She tried to comfort the girl as best she could, but nothing seemed to shake
the mute misery that radiated from the curly head and brimming blue eyes. Welsey had just gone to
phone Angel to give an update on the situation when the surgeon entered the room. Instantly,
Buffy stopped her pacing as Giles moved forward to place a warm hand on her shoulder for strength.
All eyes gravitated to the newcomer.

"How is she? How's my Mom?"

"Joyce made it through surgery just fine. We got the tumor. She should make a full recovery."

"Full recovery? As in no more problems at all?"

"We'll have to monitor her progress very carefully for a time, but the prognosis is excellent."

Buffy rushed forward and pulled the surgeon into a relieved bear hug.

"Thank you, doctor! Thank you so much!"

She pulled back, horrified, when she heard a rib crack.

"Oh! Sorry."

*****

Travers' mouth was set in a grim line as he turned from the apartment on Oakpark Street.

"How long ago did the manager say he'd moved, Sullivan?"

"A matter of a couple weeks, was how he put it, sir."

"Was there a forwarding address?"

"No, sir."

Travers came to a halt and faced Cedric.

"He made no mention of a move when last you were here?"

"If he'd said he was moving, I would have told you about it already, Quentin. What are you
going to do now?"

"Do? Now? Find my hotel and get some sleep. It's late, and there is little to be done at this hour.
In the morning, we shall find what has become of Giles."

"And then?"

Travers gave no answer as he moved with determination to the rented van.

"Mr. Giles, will you follow us, please?" Sullivan asked. "Mr. Travers will wish to speak with you
in private, I think."


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