Title: Misunderstandings - Part 8
Rating: FRAO (Adults Only)
Pairing: Buffy/Giles (eventually)
Summary: Another birthday has tragic consequences for Buffy
Setting: set after season seven
Warnings: contains non-consensual sex
Disclaimer: These are not my characters. They belong to Joss, Twentieth Century Fox, UPN, WB & Mutant Enemy. This is purely for fun.
Thanks to foxmom for the beta.
pt 1 ~ pt 2 ~ pt 3a ~ pt 3b ~ pt 4 ~ pt 5 ~ pt 6 ~ pt 7 ~ pt 8 ~ pt 9 ~ pt 10 ~ pt 11 ~ pt 12 ~ pt 13 ~ pt 14 ~ pt 15 ~ pt 16
* * * * * * * * * *
Dawn didn’t know what to do. There was a chance Buffy’s wish had been granted, but how. ‘I need to talk to Willow,’ she thought. She wanted to go see if anything had happened. However, she was afraid to leave Buffy alone. That was why she was here in the first place. She and Xander had agreed that Buffy shouldn’t be left alone. There was no telling what she might do. So, they took turns watching over her.
Suddenly, Buffy sat up. “I need a shower.”
“Buffy, they told you to rest. You can take a shower later,” Dawn told her.
“I haven’t taken a shower since. . .” Buffy said quietly. “I can still feel everything. I have to wash it away.”
Dawn sighed. She knew she couldn’t argue with Buffy. If she were in her place, she want to shower too. “I’ll tell the nurse.”
“I need clean clothes too,” Buffy mumbled.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Buffy stared at the shower for a long time before reaching in and turning on the water. She tore off her clothes and stepped into the shower, hissing when the hot water hit her cuts. She ignored the pain and tried to focus on getting clean.
She watched the dirt and blood swirl in the water and flow down the drain as she washed. She washed until the water ran clear, but she still felt dirty. “What’s wrong with me?” she mumbled as she turned off the hot water. Shaking, she reached to turn off the cold water but stopped and hit the wall instead, and the cuts on her hand began to bleed again.
“How could he do this to me?” she asked as she slammed both hands against the wall. “Why do they always hurt me?”
Her legs gave out, and she slid to the floor. She sat on the floor and let the cold water wash over her, hoping it would numb the pain. She hugged her knees to her chest as she started to shiver. “He doesn’t care about me. He already got what he wanted. He’s probably already moved on to someone else. That’s what men do. They use you, throw you aside, and find someone new.” Her heart felt like it had been torn to shreds. She couldn't believe how much it hurt. “Even Angel didn’t . . .” She couldn’t finish the thought as she started to cry harder.
She hit the wall again with one fist, causing the bar of soap and shampoo bottle to fall. “Why did he have to be like the rest of them?” She rested her head on her knees. “Why? Oh God, Giles! Why?”
* * * * * * * * * * *
Dawn waited outside the bathroom as Buffy showered. She’d tried to convince Buffy to let her stay inside, but Buffy insisted on being alone. A few times, she thought she heard something, but Buffy hadn’t called for help. So she waited, but when she heard Buffy call out Giles’ name, she knew something was wrong.
“Buffy, are you okay?”
When there was no answer, Dawn used the key the nurse gave her and unlocked the door.
Buffy was sitting on the floor of the shower, hugging her knees and shivering as cold water streamed over her. “Hot water didn’t help. So, I tried cold water,” she mumbled. “Nothing helps. I still feel it. It won’t go away.”
Dawn turned off the water and grabbed a towel. “You need to dry off,” she said as she started drying Buffy’s hair. “We don’t need you getting sick.” She crouched down and dried Buffy as much as she could, then draped another towel around her shoulders.
“I can’t stay here, Dawn. I have to leave.”
“Where would you go?” Dawn asked.
“I don’t know, but I have to leave. I can’t stay here with him.” She looked up at Dawn. “You’ll go with me?” she asked. “You have to go with me. It’s not safe here.”
“What about everyone else?”
“You’re right. We can’t all leave. We’ll make him leave.”
The way she said it scared Dawn more than the thought of Buffy leaving.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
It took a while to get Buffy dry and dressed, and Buffy was silent until they got back to her room.
“We need help,” Buffy said, startling Dawn. “I don’t think we can do this alone.”
“What?” Dawn asked.
“I’ll call Wesley. He can help.” Buffy reached for the phone.
“You can’t call Wesley,” Dawn protested.
“You’re right,” Buffy agreed. “Let me use your cell phone.” When Dawn only stared at her, she added, “Wesley knows the Council, knows how things work. Plus, he knows some really good lawyers.”
“Buffy, you can’t –”
“I just want some advice.” She held out her hand.
Reluctantly, Dawn gave her the cell phone.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
“Wesley Wyndam –”
“Wesley?”
“Buffy? Is that you?” Wesley asked.
“Wesley, I need your help. I need you to see you, and I need you to bring your best lawyer,” Buffy told him.
“I don’t understand. Has something happened?”
“One of the Watchers attacked his Slayer.” She couldn’t bring herself to tell him the details over the phone. “I need advice. Can you come here?”
“Perhaps, you and the Slayer could come here. It might be safer,” Wesley suggested.
“No,” Buffy blurted out. “She’s hurt and can’t leave.”
“Why me, Buffy? Surely, there are others who could help.”
“You’re the only one I trust,” she confided.
“I’ll be there as soon as I can.”