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Title: Tiger by the Tail (2/?)
Author: Shadowlander Email: Shadowlander1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx – or – Tankesly@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters commonly associated with Buffy the Vampire Slayer; they are used without permission. No copyright infringement is intended. Pairing: Buffy/Willow Rating: PG-17 Archive: The usual places; all others ask first. Note: Hey Rod! You get the first part? Spoilers: Nothing major that I’m aware of. TIGER BY THE TAIL (2/?)
Sunnydale
Spring 2002 – “Yes, yes I understand…at least you tried. Very well,
I’ll tell him when I
next see him,” Rupert Giles said beforereturning the phone to its cradle and dropping wearily into a chair. ‘Another dead end,’ he thought in disgust, running a hand through his hair in frustration. Four long years and still nothing, it was like the demon Rodelus and Willow just dropped off the face of the earth that night in the Rosenberg house. But that hadn’t stopped Giles and Angel exhausting all of their resources trying to track a demon that was suppose to be dead. The former-Watcher had even gone as far as swallowing his pride and giving his father a ring for help. Now that was something Giles never wanted to repeat again, having to listen to his father preach about the sacred duty of a Watcher for two and a half hours before getting the older man’s somewhat limited help. Although Giles grudgingly admitted that the call home had
helped a bit,
while he and his father were still estranged in the father-son department, they had discovered that they could be friends. Which amazed him to no end, especially when his father turned up on his doorstep one Tuesday afternoon to offer his help in person and to get to know theman his son had become. In all it was a strange experience for everyone involved, especially when the older Giles insisted on sitting in on one of the Scooby Gang’s research and slaying sessions. Now that was something none of them would be forgetting anytime soon. He was positive that Xander still had nightmares about the Elder Giles and his offer to join the Council. Privately Giles didn’t blame him, the thought of Alexander LaVelle Harris as a Watcher had given Rupert a few nightmares of his own. With a tired sigh, Giles pushes himself out of the chair and
wandered into
the kitchen. His mind on his recent phone calls from Wesley, who had been tracking down one of their leads on Willow’s whereabouts. Over the last year or so, they had been hearing rumours about a powerful redheaded witch on the run from a demon somewhere in the south pacific. From what little Giles could gather on the mysterious redhead, she seemed to be heading in the general direction of North America. Granted it was a long shot but it was the only one they had at the moment that seemed promising. However, Wesley’s last report seemed to put an end to all of
their hopes
that Willow was still alive. The younger ex-Watcher had rang from Argentina where he had been checking out the redhead’s last known sighting. The news was grime, according to the local Vampire Master, who was an old friend of the souled version of Angel, the redhead and a young man with her had helped kill a chaos demon terrorizing a local orphanage. From what Wesley had learned from the vampire, the two had fought the creature valiantly ultimately destroying the demon in a hail of fire. After that the two just disappeared, the vampire had his minions searching the countryside for them. He had wanted to thank the two properly and give them a place in his clan; after all it was his orphanage that the chaos demon had been terrorizing. While the vampire had been unable to say for certain if the redhead matched the old photo of Willow, Wesley had with him; Giles was beginning to lose hope. A part of him had already identified the mysterious witch as
Willow trying
to find her way home again, shortly after first hearing about her. He wasn’t sure why he had automatically assumed that iswas Willow on the run, being chased by some unknown demon and his army of followers. But he had, maybe it was his fatherly instincts kickingin, telling his more rational side that she was still alive and trying to come home. He just couldn’t let go. Couldn’t believe that she may very well have been killed that night four years ago by Rodelus, the bloody message left on the wall of the Rosenberg’s living room all apart of a mind game the demon had been playing. He took comfort in the fact that he wasn’t alone in his belief
that she was
still out there. Angel was also convinced that Willowwas very much alive and on her way home. Although Giles’ had a feeling that Angel’s convictions had more to do with guilt than anything else, the vampire still blaming himself for her kidnapping and Oz nearly getting beat to death. A knock at the door brought Giles out of his silent
musings. With a slight
frown, he went to answer it, unsure who would be at his front door at four o’clock in the morning. Opening the door, the former-Watcher felt his heart skip a few beats as his gaze settles on the battered, road weary figure standing before him. “Ah,…hi Giles?” Willow Rosenberg said in small voice,
her tired eyes
staring into his own, a small lop-sided grin on her face. End Part Two.
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