Of Tweed and Sig Sauers She was over 5’ 10". She had long blonde hair past her shoulders, with clear blue eyes. There was a fragility about her. As if a stiff wind would blow her away. The two teenagers felt a protectiveness towards the stranger that was out of proportion. Willow spoke first. "He had to get something from the Admin. office. He won’t be long, if you’d care to wait."
"Thank you." She smiled hesitantly at the teenagers. Their answering smiles set her at ease, lessened her nervousness. She moved towards the table they were sitting at, and slung her backpack on it.
Xander opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted by the sound of the doors opening again.
"N-no. Th-the prophecy specifically said that...." The speaker stopped as he noticed the visitor. His companion looked to see what the cause of interest was. She liked what she saw.
As soon as she heard the voice, the woman spun round with a hopeful expression. When she saw the speaker that hope turned to crushing disappointment.
Giles saw the emotions crossing the woman’s face. He wondered what was the cause of such intense feelings. "C-can I help you?"
"Rupert Giles?" At his confirming nod, she rushed on. "I-I saw a photograph in the paper. It wasn’t very clear, but it looked so much like him. I drove straight from L.A. But, you’re not him." This was said with such regret, Giles almost wished he could have been the man she was looking for.
"I-I’m sorry. What photograph? A-and how did you learn my name?"
"Here." She pulled out a newspaper clipping and showed it to him. "I was reading about the principal that was arrested, and that was the photograph they used." Giles glanced at the clipping. It showed a very unflattering photograph of Herr Snyder as they carted him off to jail. In the background he could just barely make out himself and Buffy. The woman continued her story. "Anyway, I checked with the paper. Their photographer told me it was the school librarian. When I checked with the school, they told me your name."
"B-but.." "Hmm-mm." The sound of the clearing of a throat beside him made him pause. "Oh. Yes. Do forgive me. Where are my manners? This is, um, Buffy Summers. And the two you’ve already met are Willow Rosenburg and Xander Harris." Each of the teenagers gave their greeting as they were introduced. The young woman gave a gentle "Hi" to the group. "Um, won’t you, um, sit down?"
They all moved towards the study table and sat down.
Buffy was the first to break the silence. "This guy you’re looking for. He looks a little like Giles, but has a different name. Right?" The woman gave a confirming nod. "If you already had Giles’ name, why make the journey here? It was obviously two different people."
The woman hesitated. As if deciding how much information to give out. "My friend may have need to change his name. And take on a disguise. Although I could never see Oliver wearing tweed." This was said with a gentle smile of remembrance. None of the group noticed the start of surprise by the librarian. "Anyway, as soon as you walked into the room, Mr. Giles, I knew it wasn’t him. Even he’s not that good an actor."
"I’m sorry." And he truly was. "I’m afraid that your journey’s been a complete waste." Giles rose to indicate the conversation was over.
She hadn’t finished yet. "The thing is, he’s English as well. The accents are very similar. And the voice - there’s something. Perhaps you know him. He might be a relative?"
Buffy wanted to help this woman so much. She didn’t know why. Something about her just pulled you in. "I’m afraid Giles is an only child. And he’s only been in America a couple of years."
"Still. His name is Oliver. Oliver Sampson?" She looked up at him beseechingly. It couldn’t be too much of a coincidence.
Giles turned away sharply. "I-I’m sorry, Miss er...."
"Bloom."
"I’m sorry Miss Bloom, I’m afraid I can’t help you."
"Giles!" Buffy couldn’t believe the attitude of her Watcher. She knew him too well. He was hiding something.
He couldn’t hide the guilty flush that crept to his cheeks. "I-I’m sorry. There is nothing I can do."
She picked up her backpack, and rose. "I understand. Thank you for your time. Goodbye." She hurried out of the library before they could see her tears.
Buffy and Giles stared at each other for a long time. Then she took off after the disappearing woman. Willow and Xander looked at each other. Willow opened her mouth to say something when Giles interrupted her. "Why don’t you two run off as well? We’ll get nothing more accomplished today." He waited until he was completely alone, then lifted the ‘phone receiver and dialed a number. He didn’t have long to wait until the other end was answered. "It’s, um, it’s Rupert. I’ve just had a visitor."
Buffy knocked on Giles’ front door. She turned to her companion, and gave her an encouraging smile. "It’s allright. He’s not an ogre." They’d talked after leaving the library. She knew a little about her new friend’s history. If anybody needed a happy ending, this woman did.
Giles opened the door, surprised at his visitor. "Buffy?" He then noticed the figure on the steps behind her. "Miss Bloom" He nodded to the woman. He seemed more reserved, as if putting a wall between himself and the stranger. "May I ask what you are doing here?"
Buffy tried to run interference. "I asked her to come. Giles. Please. If you know anything..."
"As I said earlier, I cannot help Miss Bloom."
"Please." She couldn’t help the note of begging in her voice. "I just want to know he’s allright. It’s been over three years. Perhaps if you got a message to him...?"
"There is nothing I can do!" He tempered his voice at her crestfallen look. "I truly am sorry. I hope you find what you’re looking for."
She nodded. "I won’t bother you again. I’m leaving Sunnydale. Buffy" She turned to the girl who had befriended her so easily. "Thanks for trying." She turned to go. Taking the last of her hope with her."
Giles turned away from the door. Buffy followed him in. She was angry with her Watcher, and hurt too. "How could you?"
"I had no choice. She should have left well enough alone."
"She couldn’t. I tell you, if I’d been in a coma for three years, then woke up to find you’d gone, I’d start searching all over the place."
"Wh-what did you say?" She didn’t notice the shock in his voice.
"I said I’d start searching...."
"No. Before that."
Something had shaken him. Badly. She spoke more slowly. "If I’d been in a coma........."
Sydney sat in her car. She was too shaken to just take off. She’d pinned so much hope onto this journey. And that young girl. Now for nothing. Rupert Giles could have given Oliver some lessons in stubbornness. She smiled. They were alike in so many ways. But different in many more.
She sighed. It was a long journey back to Los Angeles. And Buffy had told her not to be out at night. She turned the key, and started to pull away from the kerb. She had to quickly slam on her brakes. Rupert Giles stood in her path. And had obviously been running. He moved to her door.
"You’re Sydney Bloom." She nodded yes. "I thought you were Samantha."
The orange glow of the setting sun highlighted the long shadows casting across the lake. The gentle breeze carried the aromas of spring to the lone man. He didn’t notice. He stood on the dock, looking across the water. His leather jacket protected him from any vagaries the weather might bring. He often stood there. Thinking. Remembering. There wasn’t much else to do.
The sound of footsteps on the dock caused him to straighten. He didn’t turn around though. It could only be one person. "I trust you got rid of her."
The steps stopped. The voice he heard was one he thought never to bless his ears again. "Kind of." He spun around in shock. "Only he got the wrong woman."
It was like seeing a ghost. She truly was there. He moved slowly, as if he were afraid she’d disappear. He didn’t stop until there was only a foot separating them. His hand seemed to lift of it’s own accord. To touch her face, then cup her cheek. She closed her eyes and leaned into him. It had been so long for both of them. They leaned forward at the same time, letting their lips touch for the first time.........
The man and girl leaning against the car watched the little tableau below.
"He’s a distant relative. A cousin of sorts. He got involved in a secret organization."
"Geez. Another one. How many are there?"
He smiled. "I’m not sure. They’re secret." She smiled at his quip. "Anyway, he thought he was doing good for the world. Only the Committee wasn’t completely altruistic. Then he met someone."
"Sydney."
"Yes. She has certain...abilities...the committee wanted. She was his assignment. Only they became more. When the Committee ordered her death, they ran. I’m not sure what happened next. She ended up in a coma, and he had to protect her family."
"She has family?"
"Hmm. Parents. And a twin sister. Samantha."
"You thought Sydney was Samantha."
"I was expecting Samantha. Not Sydney. Oliver found a safe place for them all. They wanted him to join them. He couldn’t. In protecting them, he’d ensured a bounty on his head. So, not trusting anybody else, he came to me. I helped him to find this place. And, if anybody came looking for him, I would pretend ignorance."
"Well, I’m glad you failed this time."
"Yes." He looked fondly at the couple. He knew how much Sydney meant to his cousin. "Yes. So am I." He turned to his companion. "I believe it’s time to return to Sunnydale."
Buffy didn't try to stifle the groan. "Do we gotta?" Without waiting for an answer she got into the car.
Giles turned the ignition and headed for home. "Would you?"
"What?"
"If I disappeared, would you look for me?"