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Chapter 43
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After settling in their new ostensive comrade in Giles' personal haven, the Scoobies met to discuss the latest development. They had chosen to use Buffy and Spike's downstairs living quarters for greater privacy.
 
"So, Watcher man, is granny on the up-n-up?" Xander had long since lost his trust in others based solely on their humanity.
 
"To the best of my ability to tell, yes.  The Council had few documents on the Guardians, no doubt because their existence was somewhat damning of the Council itself.  Based upon the Guardian’s statement about being locked away by magic, there was likely a certain amount of fear that the knowledge of these women might become widespread."
 
"Don't know quite what she is," Spike offered.  "Seems mostly human…but more...kind of like Slayers."
 
"There is one school of thought in the archived information I remember reading that claimed the Guardians were chosen from uncalled Potential Slayers.  They would therefore be, as you say, more than human."
 
Buffy nodded.  "Yeah, that sounds right.  I get a vibe from her like I got from Kendra and Faith, almost like family in a way.  I don't know how to explain it any better."
 
Giles smiled fondly at his Slayer, "That's actually a very good explanation. As I was taught, the Slayer was indeed imbued with the essence of a captured demon, one related to the sort that empowers vampires.  That is why the Chosen One is known as a VAMPIRE Slayer, even though your duty includes the slaying of all manner of demons."
 
"So I'm a kind of good vampire?"  Buffy looked aghast.
 
Spike snorted, "Don't have to look so horrified, pet; we DO exist."
 
Buffy took his hand and squeezed it gently.  "I didn't mean it as an insult, silly." She glared at Giles, "Why didn't you see fit to tell me this?"
 
Giles looked a bit uncomfortable. "Two very good reasons.  In the first place, those stories were considered mere folklore rather than fact.  And secondly, you already had your perspective on vampires compromised by your association with Angel.  Were you to stop to consider the possibility of kinship, your life would have been even more in peril than it already was.  It was safer to keep my counsel."
 
"Folklore, huh?" Willow rolled her eyes.   "How many ooglie googlies have we encountered that were supposed to be only folklore?  Gee, I dated one!"
 
"Haven't we all?" Xander added unnecessarily. "I think Buffy's whole job description would be listed under that title in the dictionary."
 
Giles added somewhat defensively, “Besides, had you taken the time to actually read that large volume I tried to give you initially, you would have read at least a portion of those tales."
 
Buffy had the grace to blush slightly.  "You mean the giant Vampyr book you pushed at me the day we met?"
 
"The very one," Giles nodded.  "There was at least one reference in the Slayer’s Handbook that you also chose not to open."
 
"Okay, water on the bridge," Buffy waved her hands and mangled yet another adage.  "Let’s move on to the now.  How can this Guardian help us?  Any clue, Watcher mine?"
 
Giles grew silent as he tried to remember any helpful information gleaned from the "forbidden" books that had so enticed him as a young Watcher-in-training.
 
Buffy broke into his thoughts, “And what should we call her anyway?  Guardian sounds medieval, like a keeper or something."
 
Spike laughed ruefully, “Meant pretty much that in my day, when women were not much more than chattel.  Unmarried women often had someone appointed as a guardian, at least of their finances.  Even widows found themselves in that situation, except on rare occasions.  My own mum had to depend on me to handle the money my father left us, as if she weren't perfectly capable of runnin' the show.  Course, at the time it seemed completely natural to both of us."
 
Tara looked sad as she nodded, “My family was still doing it that way where my mother was concerned."
 
"Your family were poopy-heads," Willow declared.
 
Giles cleared his throat and called them all back to the matter at hand.  "As to what to call her, I would suggest you ask her that question.  Now, about what she can offer to us...I seem to recall that the Guardians had an open channel to the Powers That Be.  They often received visions, even direct communication.  Lore has it that one of the female Powers was the one who empowered the women to begin with."
 
"If it was one of the Powers that made them, then why were the Council wiccans able to seal them in a pocket dimension like that?" Tara looked shocked to think any mere magic user could have so much ability that they could challenge a TRUE Power.
 
"In all honesty, we know little about the Powers That Be.  We know that they are in control of this and other dimensions, but whatever limitations they might have are a mystery."  Giles looked decidedly uncomfortable.
 
"Course it is!  Think the Wankers would want anyone to know their weaknesses?  Bloody stupid on their part if they did," Spike snorted.  "They may be many things, but I doubt stupid is one of them."
 
"So you think she might be key to fixing this mess?"  Xander looked hopeful, a look he’d had precious little reason to sport for too long a time.
 
"I did manage to get her up to speed regarding our current situation and she seemed to feel she could be of help." Giles had a pensive look, “She actually said that after I mentioned Dawn and her origins.  She expressed the desire for us to have Dawn return for her to…I believe her exact words were to examine her."
 
"Dawn is not some bug for anyone to examine!"  Buffy might feel a sisterly vibe from the old woman, but Dawn was her actual sister and no amount of argument would ever make her see Dawn otherwise.
 
"I don't believe she meant it in any way disrespectful or threatening," Giles smiled mildly.  "I think it would be a good idea for Dawn to come home.  If we don't care for the direction of any plan that might involve her, we can always send her back to the mountains."
 
"Yeah, have that hero Angel fetch her back.  Sounds like a plan to make everyone happy."  Spike had a somewhat petulant look that Buffy hadn't seen on him since before they were in the labs together.
 
"What's that supposed to mean?"  Buffy narrowed her eyes at him.
 
He shrugged, still with a slight pout on his face.  "Dunno.  Pretty much speaks for itself, I'd think."
 
Buffy ignored all the curious looks everyone was giving the two of them.  "I think we need to have a bit of a private chat.  Be right back."
 
Though she grabbed at Spike's arm to escort him outside into the warehouse proper, it looked more like someone being led by their ear.
 
"Just what did you mean by that?"
 
"Well, you seemed pretty happy thinkin' 'bout ol' "war hero" Angel...just thought you'd be happy to see him again," Spike muttered.
 
Buffy did roll her eyes and sighed.  Both she and Spike had matured so much over the past year and their relationship had become so close that she was out of practice dealing with his jealousy.  "Maybe with all the interruptions you missed the memo, but Angel is just my ex.  You are my boyfriend, my lover.  You have no reason to be jealous."
 
Spike looked abashed at being caught out. He lowered his gaze to his feet and shuffled a bit.  "Sorry, love. Reflex reaction where Angelus is concerned. I've always come in second, especially with the women I love.  Guess that look on your face when you got excited thinkin' him bein' a war hero made me lose IQ points and lose control of my mouth at the same time," he bit his bottom lip.  "Not a good combination or one of my more shining moments."
 
Buffy counted to ten, then counted again. She wasn't sure when or if she would ever get used to dealing with the insecurities of others, having too many of her own already.  "I was just happy to know that he did some good before he met me is all.  Sometimes it seems like he spent that hundred years not really working on his redemption until he started helping me. It makes me feel more responsible for him than I like feeling. I guess that's why I was so happy to think of him doing something for the good guys long before me."  She leaned in and placed a light kiss on Spike's soft lips.  "Let's get this meeting over with and get back where we were before our latest ally turned up and I'll show you just whose woman I am, 'K?
 
Spike's face softened as it always did whenever she expressed her feelings in words.  "'K. Sorry, Buffy.  I can be a right git at times.  You deserve better."
 
She gave him a big grin, "There is no one better, you big dork!  Let’s get back out there and get this over with before anyone else can mess up our night."
 
The reconciled lovers returned to the group, who were still discussing the Guardian's possible assistance.
 
"I believe the idea is that Dawn’s key energy can be used to power a spell that will open a channel to the Powers That Be," Giles explained.
 
Willow looked excited. "Well, she was intended to unlock dimensional portals.  That makes sense."
 
"Just how is this so-called Guardian planning to get that energy?  This is my baby sister you're talking about."  The stubborn set of Buffy's jaw made it clear that no one was going to do anything to Dawn that might weaken or harm her.  "I don't give a rat's hiney how she came to be.  I care about who she is now and that is my sister.  Anyone who comes after her has to go through me."
 
Giles put a comforting hand on his Slayer's shoulder.  "Perfectly understandable and I daresay you would not be standing alone in that protection.  None of us will allow harm to come to her.  We'll find another way if it is necessary.  That said, I do think we should hear just what the plan is that she is proposing."
 
Buffy relaxed her stance a bit at Giles’ assurances.  "I'll listen."
 
Spike leaned in and whispered to Buffy, "Not to worry, love, the Bit's special to me too and doubt anyone could take us both on and win."
 
Buffy squeezed his hand and smiled.  "Yeah...we're pretty awesome together, aren't we?"
 
"Yin and yang, sweetheart.  Make a perfect whole."
 
Buffy thought for a while in silence about all they had talked about.  "Okay, we'll send for Dawn.  I miss her anyway and things are a lot safer here now, BUT no promises on using her for anything!  I'm gonna need convincing and Dawn is going to have to be willing.  No one is going to be allowed to talk her into anything," she glanced at Willow's avid face.
 
"I'll send word to Kate so Dawnie can start packing and they can start planning her trip home," Willow offered.  "I think one of their boats was scheduled to dock here in a few days to pick up some refugees that escaped from a holding cell in LA.  Wes cleared them and they've been hiding at Reverend Prentiss' place since they were moved here from the farm."
 
 
"Seems like we've got a plan or the start of one anyway.  Maybe we can all just go to bed and sleep on it and let our newest housemate know what we've decided."  Buffy grasped Spike's hand and moved toward their sleeping area.
 
 
Spike leaned in and whispered, "And when you say ‘go to bed’ you mean…?"
 
 
Buffy had to laugh at his timid expression.  Clearly she was going to have to make good on her earlier promise.  Fortunately, doing so was a pleasure and in no way a chore.  "Well, I'm pretty sure neither of us are too sleepy at the moment, being nocturnal creatures and all.  Maybe we can think of something to pass the time and work off some energy...what do you think?"
 
 
"I think I feel some inspiration, yeah,” Spike chuckled.