Chapter Ten

As soon as Spike and Buffy had left the school, the sound of the old Desoto tearing up the lawn causing Giles to groan loudly, the remaining people began to drift towards the doors. Willow and Oz were first, the witch promising to check in first thing in the morning to find out what the next step would be. Offering unusual input, Oz said softly, “It seems to me that now might be a good time to hit the Mayor’s office. Before Trick can turn him a new army.”

“Quite right,” Giles agreed readily, ignoring Wesley’s open mouth and speaking up before the younger watcher could say anything. “With a bit of luck, Spike will be able to pick up some information tonight about the remaining defenses and we can plan our attack.”

Doyle’s amused snort brought a glare from both Watchers, but Cordelia just nodded in agreement, adding, “I don’t think Spike is going to be doing much tonight except making Buffy glad he’s back.”

“Thank you for sharing that, Cordelia,” the ex-watcher growled. “I am hoping that they will ignore their hormones long enough to focus on the problem at hand. If tonight showed us nothing else, it showed that the Mayor is well aware of whom his enemies are and that he is willing to do whatever is necessary to remove them.”

“I suggest,” Wesley put in quickly, struggling to regain his place as the organizer of the night’s meeting, “that we all go home and get a good rest in order to be fresh and ready to discuss the optimal methods of utilizing our current advantage.” He looked around with satisfaction as everyone stared at him.

The satisfaction was short-lived as Willow shook her head, muttering, “And I thought Giles was too British…” She gave the young watcher an apologetic smile and waved as she followed Oz out of the library.

Giles looked to the half-demon standing patiently and offered, “I can drop you wherever you’re staying on my way home, if you’d like. I presume that your transportation left with Spike.”

“That it did,” he agreed cheerfully, “but I suspect I’d not be too welcome just now if I showed up at Spike’s house.”

The reminder of where Buffy had probably gone when she left with her vampire lover caused both watchers to frown and glare at Doyle’s innocent-appearing face.

“What? I’m jus’ sayin’…until he tells me I’m welcome there, I’m not going to make myself at home. He’s got a bit of a temper, you know,” he added, grinning at the flinch from the young watcher.

“Fine.” Giles was rapidly losing patience himself. “You may stay in my guest room until you can find your own accommodation. Wesley, may I count on you to see that Cordelia gets home safely?”

Blushing furiously, the dark-haired young man nodded his assent while Doyle gave an exaggerated pout and said with a wink, “Aww, and here I was hopin’ the pretty girl was going to give me a ride.”

“As if!” she huffed, tossing her hair and taking Wesley’s arm. “I’m ready when you are.” She smiled at the embarrassed man, leading him to the door.

When the ex-watcher and the seer were left alone, Giles went to his desk and pulled out a bottle of scotch and two glasses.

“Ah, a man after me own heart!” Doyle’s hearty acceptance of the offered drink brought a wry grin from the older man and he poured his own quickly before joining Doyle at the table. The two men drank in silence for a minute, until it was broken by Giles’ voice.

“So, the Powers That Be have sent William the Bloody to be the Slayer’s helpmate,” he finally said with resignation.

“’Fraid so.”

“It could be worse, I suppose. At least this one has no soul to lose…”

“That’s the spirit!” Doyle tipped his glass to the other man and then drank it down. He stared into his glass for a minute, then raised his eyes and said more seriously, “He's not your average vampire, you know.”

“It would seem not.” Giles’ tone was non-committal.

“I’ve spent a lot of time with him these past few months,” Doyle continued, “and I think I’ve learned a bit about the man.”

A raised eyebrow was Giles only comment as he refilled both glasses.

“First off, he really loves the Slayer. When I found him and shared the happy news, he was already trying very hard to find a life-style that would permit him to be part of her life. As much as he wants to hate the thought, the truth is -he started changing his life when he first tried to protect her from Angelus and Dru, and I don’t think he’s ever looked back.

“He’s got an enormous amount of control over his demon; even considerin’ his age, it’s impressive. Angel never had that. He’s a lot smarter than he lets on, probably had one of those fancy English educations before he was turned. And,” Doyle raised a finger to be sure he had Giles’ attention, “he is one of the best fighters I’ve ever seen. The Slayer could do worse than to have him watchin’ her back.”

“So,” Giles said dryly, “does this paragon have any less stellar qualities at all?”

“Oh yeah,” Doyle said cheerfully. “Lots of ‘em. But they don’t matter – he’s mated to your slayer for eternity and at this point, the only thing you can do is be grateful that he is who he is and that the Powers are willin’ to back them up to your bosses.”

He paused to look Giles in the eye before continuing. “And you know as well as I do that without that, they’d have a wet team here less than a day after they found out about our two favorite blond killers.”

“They may still do so,” Giles agreed with a grimace. “Travers is much more his own man and captain of his ship than previous Council heads. I’m not sure how much weight the seers’ support is going to have. We shall need to keep a very sharp eye out for strangers in Sunnydale.”

“From what I’ve seen so far,” Doyle snorted with a grin, “pretty much everybody in Sunnydale is strange – one way or another. Except for the gorgeous prom queen,” he added. “I don’t suppose you could put in a word for me there?”

“I think I can safely say that you are not Cordelia’s type,” the older man responded dryly. “Nor do I think that chasing after her is what you have been sent here to do.”

“Hey! It’s a pretty thankless job – headaches and all – I think I’m entitled to a little recreational lovin’ when I can get it.”

“Yes, well, be that as it may, I am fairly sure that you will not be getting it from Miss Cordelia Chase.” Giles stood up, putting the empty glasses and the bottle back into his locked drawer. He gathered his keys and gestured towards the crosses lying on the table. “You should probably bring one of those with you,” he said, walking towards the doors. “Just in case Spike did not completely wipe out the Mayor’s undead minions.”

With a nod, Doyle gingerly picked up a large wooden cross and held it away from his body as he followed Giles out the doors and to his car. There was no sign of anything on the streets of Sunnydale, undead or otherwise, and the trip to the ex-watcher’s apartment was uneventful.

~~~~~~~~~~

Across town, Xander was gasping for air and staring up at a smirking Faith from his position beneath her.

“So, every time you guys slay something, you want to…?”

“Pretty much, yep. Especially if there’s a good fight first. If I had to guess, I would say that this thing between B and Blondie was already brewing long before they actually got to know each other. I’d bet they finished every fight they ever had wishin’ they weren’t heading off in different directions.”

“If I wasn’t so ridiculously happy right now, I would find that deeply disturbing.” Xander spoke without opening his eyes, which he had shut when he dropped his head back to the pillow, the better to savor the experience he’d just had.

“So,” Faith said, climbing off his body and reaching for a bag of chips. “You want something to eat now?”