Rating: General (for now).
Disclaimer: Joss is boss. I am just his humble servant.
Spoiler: Definitely post Becoming and Tell The Mayor
Summary: An evil has reared it's not so ugly head in Sunnydale, and all are
affected.
Contents: After popular demand (well some asked for it) I've started a
sequel to Tell The Mayor. Basically, Ethan's up to his dirty tricks. But before he can
attack our poor Rupert, he must first dispose of his allies.
Cordelia Chase walked into the library. They were all there, as she’d expected. And doing what she expected. Looking for Buffy. It had been four weeks since her disappearance. And still they searched. Every new sighting of her would send them into a flurry of panic. Only nothing produced results. They were all so worried now. Except for Giles. He seemed calmer now than when she’d first disappeared. She sighed and walked forward. No use putting the deed off any longer. Xander looked up and noticed her. He waited until she was by his side, and put his arm around her.
“Hey honey.”
“Hey.” There was very little life in her voice. He looked at her with concern.
“Are you allright?”
She stared into his eyes. Started to say something. Then looked down. “Yeah, sure. I’d just hoped there’d be news today.” She couldn’t tell him. Xander looked at her with genuine affection. She had been so supportive to him. To them all. And she really cared about what may have happened to Buffy. He didn’t know what he would have done without her. “Don’t worry. We’ll find her.” How many times had she said those very words to him, when he despaired. And when he finally broke down and confessed his guilty secret, she’d held him while he wept. It was Cordelia who told the others, and made sure they understood his reasons. He owed so much to her.
Cordelia looked up at the others. They were busy poring over the maps, and scanning the computer screen. Except Giles. He was looking at her with an odd expression in his eyes. She turned away. Almost afraid he’d discover the truth.
Suddenly Willow’s exited voice shattered the silence. “We’ve got another sighting.” She believed each new sighting would be the one to bring them to Buffy. It was that unflagging enthusiasm which had bouyed up all their spirits.
“Where?” Xander wished he could drum up more enthusiasm. He was getting like Giles. Not believing it coud be Buffy, until he saw her, touched her.
“About 200 miles east of the last one.”
Oz moved to his list of bus routes. “There are a few that go that way. She could have gotten on one.”
Giles had been through this so many times, he knew it by rote. “You all know the drill. Do your research, then come back here.” He knew it would be fruitless. He had an idea where Buffy was. Or at least in the general direction. The children didn’t know that with the first few sightings, whilst he had preached caution, he would travel to every town. He soon sorted the genuine sightings from the wildgoose chases. And had discovered Buffy’s pattern. Once, he was sure she was still in the town when he’d arrived. After that, he didn’t leave town as much. He was happy to wait. She knew he was there, waiting for her. Just as he knew she would return soon.
He watched as the others started to file out. “Um, Cordelia. W-would you assist me here, please?” She turned back to the Watcher. It was a relief not having to pretend in front of the others. She was completely shocked by Giles’ gentle “What’s wrong?”
“What?” Cordelia of old could bluff her way out of it. “What do you mean, what’s wrong? Besides living on the Hellmouth, and the Slayer having run away, that is! Nothing.”
The old Cordelia may have gotten away with that, but Giles found the new Cordelia transparent. “Why are you upset?”
Cordelia tried to work herself up to another bluster, but suddenly slumped in defeat. “Am I that obvious?”
“Yes. Yes, you are.” Cordelia couldn’t help responding to his gentle smile with one of her own. She soon found, however, that the tears were threatening to spill. Again. As they had done since last night. Giles noticed the imminent loss of control. His first reaction was to run. Instead, he fought that down, and walked towards the young girl. He gently enveloped her in a hug, and let her cry.
It took several minutes before Cordelia was capable of coherent speech. During that time, she’d managed to soak Giles’ jacket. “I’m sorry.”
The older man smiled, understanding. “One of the reasons I wear tweed. It absorbs water so well.” He was rewarded with another, though hesitant smile. She then sobered.
“They’re sending me away.”
“What? Wh-who?”
“Daddy. He told me last night. He decided I need finishing. I’m going to Europe to one of those ‘schools for young ladies’”. She couldn’t help dripping the last with sarcasm.
“I-I would have thought that you would like something like that.”
“I would. I do. But not now. Not with Buffy gone. And how will Xander cope without me?” Giles’ understanding “Ah” was lost in her next outburst. “Or maybe I’m kidding myself. Maybe Xander won’t care either way. And then, when Buffy comes back, she can have her slayerettes back full time.”
“I think you’re being unfair to both Buffy and Xander.” She winced at his admonishing tone. “But, most importantly, to yourself. You have been invaluable to us all. Before Buffy disappeared. Now even more so.” The glow of happiness on her face was ample reward for his little speech. “I really think you should talk this over with Xander.”
“So do I.” Cordelia spun around at the sound of her boyfriend’s voice. “I forgot my jacket. I came back to see my girlfriend in your arms.” This was directed at Giles. He looked back at Cordelia. “How could you think I wouldn’t miss you?” He braced himself as she ran and threw herself into his arms. Giles couldn’t believe she’d have any more tears left. She proved him wrong.
“Why, um, why don’t the two of you come over and sit down. Then we can talk.” They reluctantly disentangled themselves and moved toward the table. When they were settled, Giles started his questioning. “Did your father say when he’d come to this decision?”
“No. He just said he thought this woud be best for me. Broaden my horizons.”
“Have you ever talked about such a move before?”
“No. In fact, Daddy always thought that such things were foolish. An American education was good enough for his daughter.” Cordelia wondered if she should take offence at his ‘harumph’.
“Then why would he suddenly change his mind?”
“He did say something weird. Something about unsavoury influences, whatever that means.”
“It means he wants to get you away from your trashy boyfriend.”
“Xander!” He could hear the rage in the boy’s voice. “Getting angry won’t help.”
“Besides, Daddy likes you. The other day he said that you had helped me to grow, mature.”
“So why’s he trying to seperate us?”
“I don’t know.” The two young people sat holding each other’s hands, staring mournfully into each other’s eyes. Giles fought to hide his smile. Why was love so all-compassing and tragic at their age?
“I-I think that, at this stage, you have no choice. Cordelia should obey her father.”
Xander couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “Wait a minute.”
“It’s only a year, Xander. That is if Cordelia wants to stay, after she turns eighteen. And think of the opportunities she’ll have there. She won’t get them here.”
Xander heard the hidden messages. She’ll be safer away from the Hellmouth. And think of somebody else for a change. He bowed his head. This was so hard. He felt like he was losing everything, everybody. “You’re right.” He stilled Cordelia’s protest. “It’s only for a year. And, when you come back, we can show how savoury my influence really is.” His attempted smile didn’t fool anyone. She didn’t know what to do. She was torn. How could she abandon them? How could she disobey her father? She knew, however, there was no choice. “You are right. There’s nothing else I can do.”
"That’s wonderful news, Mr. Chase. Yes, your daughter will be safe. Don’t worry about the boy. We’ll take care of him. Yes, we’re almost ready to make the arrest. I’m glad you were able to wrest your little Cordelia from that monster. Oh, and Mr. Chase? I spoke to the mayor earlier. He’s ready to grant that contract. He feels he should promote local employment. I will, sir. I’ll tell the mayor immediately. Goodbye, Mr. Chase.”
Ethan Rayne replaced the telephone. He almost felt like rubbing his hands together and shouting for glee. Everything was going according to plan. The ‘musician’ was next. He’d already organised a small tour for the band. Even made sure none of their engagements were during the full moon. It was a stroke of luck running into that hunter. It didn’t take much deduction to know who the Sunnydale werewolf was.
Next, the redhead. Then the other boy. And then there will be none. No-one to protect their precious Watcher. No-one to care whether he lived or died. And then, he would be at his, Ethan’s mercy. The day of reckoning was near. So, so near.