Life on a Hellmouth – Chapter Eighty-One

Buffy walked through their second cemetery of the night, flanked by Xander and Willow. She twirled the stake in her hand and glanced to her left and sighed.

“Okay Will…spill. What’s wrong?”

Willow’s eyes widened slightly. “Wrong? Nothing’s wrong. Everything’s fine. More than fine.”

Xander looked over Buffy’s head at Willow and shook his head. “And who are you expecting to fool with your rambling Willow-speak? ‘Cause…I’ve known you my entire life and I’m not buying it.”

Willow huffed and glanced at Xander. “Where’s Anya tonight?”

“Home. Apparently there’s a Little House on the Prairie marathon tonight.” He shook his head lightly as the two women walking beside of him stopped and stared at him. “Don’t ask, I don’t get it either.”

Buffy shrugged and started walking again. “I guess it could be worse. Not sure how though.”

Xander merely grinned and then met Willow’s eyes again. “You’re not so good with the whole subject change thing, Will. What’s wrong?”

Willow sighed heavily and averted her eyes. “Oz.”

Buffy arched an eyebrow in concern. “Oz? Something’s wrong with Oz?”

Willow kicked a rock out of her way. “I don’t know. He’s not exactly being share-guy at the moment.”

“Is he ever?” Xander asked, shoving his hand in his pocket.

Buffy smacked the back of her hand against his arm. Xander rubbed his arm with his hand, staring at Buffy.

“Ow. What was that for?”

Buffy rolled her eyes and turned back to Willow. “So, he’s quieter than usual?”

Willow nodded slowly. “Yeah. And…” She hesitated before taking a deep breath. “We haven’t had s-e-x in over two weeks.”

Xander chuckled softly. “Will, if you’re doing it…you don’t have to spell it.”

Willow narrowed her eyes. “I was spelling for your benefit, doofus.”

Buffy snorted in amusement before concern filled her again. “So, okay…he’s quiet and you’re not having sex?”

Xander shuddered. “How many times do I have to tell you not to talk about your sex lives?”

Willow rolled her eyes. “Hence the reason I spelled it, Xander.”

“Oh.” He replied in a soft voice. “Go ahead then…”

Willow looked at Buffy and nodded. “Yeah. I guess I’m just worried…you know…maybe he’s found someone else. Or…he just doesn’t want to be with me anymore.”

“Have you tried to talk to him about it?” Buffy slowed her pace, not taking her eyes off of her best friend.

“Yeah. But every time I try, he just changes the subject or says he’s just tired.”

Xander shrugged his shoulders and looked over at Willow. “Maybe he is just tired. I mean…he’s been pretty busy lately.”

Buffy sighed. “Yeah, it’s possible…but…that excuse doesn’t work for Giles. Even if it is true. I just badger him until he tells me what’s wrong. If it is just because he’s tired, he finally gives in because he just wants to go to sleep.”

Xander chuckled softly and Willow grinned. Buffy offered Willow an understanding smile.

“When you guys get back home…his or yours, doesn’t matter…don’t let up until he tells you what’s wrong. Tell him you’re worried about him… ‘cause you are. And…maybe let him know that you’re worried about him…you know…”

“Getting over me?” Willow asked quietly. “I think maybe I’m afraid he’ll say that he is.”

Xander rolled his eyes. Willow caught the motion and stopped walking as she stared at him.

“What was that?”

“What?” He asked innocently.

Willow gestured towards him. “The whole rolling your eyes thing. What was that?”

Xander exhaled slowly. “I’ve seen the way he looks at you, Will. Other girls don’t even catch his eye. He loves you. And…guys do this sometimes. We just get quiet…most of the time, it’s for no reason at all.”

“Yeah, but…” Willow started to protest.

Xander offered her a gentle smile. “I agree with Buffy though. This is really bothering you and he should tell you what’s going on in his head. Ask him…and don’t let up until he talks to you.”

He walked over to her and pulled her into a hug. “I’m sure you’ll find it’s nothing to worry about.”

Willow sighed sadly and returned the hug. “I hope not.”

Buffy smiled softly. Just as she opened her mouth to speak, she heard a snap of a twig behind a crypt. She took a deep breath and twirled the stake in her hand.

“Hate to break this up, but…fun’s about to start.”

Xander and Willow stepped apart and stood behind Buffy, each pulling a stake from their respective jacket pockets.

“Yay…” Xander muttered as four vampires made their way into view.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Giles pulled a book down from one of the many bookcases in the library and began flipping through the pages quickly. Oz regarded him curiously.

“Have an idea?”

Giles looked up and smiled softly. “Actually, yes. I have a friend who is a Shaman. He, uh…he might be able to assist us in this. If I can persuade him.”

Oz raised an eyebrow, but said nothing.

Finding the page he was looking for, Giles sat down at the table and looked through Oz’s research once more. He pointed at a particular item and looked at the young man.

“This…this is rather interesting. Where did you come across this?”

Oz could see the excitement in Giles’ eyes and leaned forward to get a better view. “The talisman? A friend in Tibet sent that information to me. I’ve been looking for it, or something similar, for months. Haven’t found anything though.”

Giles smiled and stood, quickly walking to a small chest in the corner. He opened the lid and stared at the contents for a moment. Suddenly he reached in and pulled an item out, dropping the lid with a soft thud.

“A few months ago, Buffy was on patrol and came across this charm. I had meant to research it, but it got lost within the wedding, the pregnancy, and…well, everything that is the Hellmouth.” When Oz chuckled, he looked up with a small smile on his face. “I’m not exactly fluent in ancient Phoenician…it may take some time to properly translate the markings.”

He slid the charm onto Oz’s palm. Oz’s eyes widened slightly. “Pretty close to the picture I have.”

“Yes.” Giles replied simply.

“The next full moon is in two weeks.” He looked into Giles’ eyes and sighed. “Do you think we might be able to come up with something before then?”

Giles took a deep breath. “Possibly. But, I make no promises. I’ll – ”

Oz and Giles both looked towards the library door. Giles cleared his throat softly.

“Buffy’s home.”

Oz smiled and inhaled deeply. “So is Willow.”

“Giles?” Buffy called down the hall. “Are you home?”

“Be right there.” He called back as he stood.

“Um…can you bring the first aid kit with you?”

Giles and Oz exchanged a worried glance. Giles gestured towards the door with a tilt of his head. “Go.”

Oz needed no further instruction and took off down the hall. Giles grabbed the first aid kit and ran out of the library and headed towards the living room.

He took in the scene as he ran into the room. Willow was wrapped in Oz’s embrace. Buffy was on the couch next to Xander, holding a towel tightly against his forearm. Xander had his head tilted back, resting on the back of the couch, his eyes closed and obvious pain etched on his face.

Giles knelt on the floor in front of Xander and opened the kit as he looked up at Buffy. “What happened?”

Xander licked his dry lips. “Arms aren’t good for blocking swords.”

Giles narrowed his eyes. “What?”

Buffy sighed softly, glancing at Xander before meeting her husband’s eyes. “Four vamps, one with a sword.”

Giles nodded as he carefully removed the towel from Xander’s arm. “What kind of sword?”

Xander hissed as Giles repositioned his arm for closer inspection. “Sharp.”

“About yay-long…” Buffy held her hands about two feet apart. “Blue hilt, green blade. A picture of something gross etched on the hilt.”

Giles did his best to hide his smile as he pulled the antiseptic and a sterile pack of sutures from the kit. “Can you describe the picture in more detail other than ‘gross’?”

Oz sat down in the chair and pulled Willow onto his lap. Buffy shrugged and pulled Xander down until he was lying on the couch with his head on her lap.

“It was horny.”

Xander’s eyes snapped open and met Buffy’s. Buffy shook her head and chuckled.

“As in…it had horns. Three of ‘em, I think.” Out of the corner of her eye, she saw that Giles was ready to begin stitching up the wound. “Close your eyes, Xand.”

Giles nodded absently, carefully sliding the needle through the skin. “Anything else?”

Xander gritted his teeth as Giles made the second stitch. “No mouth.”

Giles looked up quickly, his hands halting their motion. “No mouth?”

“No. And, let me tell you how freaky it is to see something that doesn’t have a mouth.” He opened his eyes, looking up at Buffy. “All done?”

“Huh? Oh. No, a few more to go. Close ‘em.” She looked back at Giles and sighed. “Anyway…I got rid of three of the vamps pretty quickly. The one with the sword was pretty…wily. For a vampire.”

“Yes?” Giles asked in concern as he looked up, nearing the end of the wound. “What happened?”

“Well, Xander here caught wily vamp’s attention. Wily took a swing…”

“And I blocked it with my arm like a stupid idiot.” Xander finished for her.

Giles smiled again as he began bandaging the wound. “Better your arm than your head. Ten stitches in your arm I can do. I’m not as good with decapitation.”

Xander opened his eyes and rolled his head to the side, meeting Giles’ eyes. “You’re a funny man. I’m sure I would’ve laughed if you had this conversation with someone else.”

Giles chuckled and pulled a bottle of painkillers out of the first aid kit. He shook two out and handed them to Xander as he sat back up. “I’ll get you some water.”

“Nah, I’m good.” Xander popped the pills into his mouth and swallowed them down.

Giles turned his eyes to Buffy. “And the sword?”

“Gone.”

He narrowed his eyes. “The vampire escaped?”

“No.” Buffy sighed heavily. “I killed him, but…the sword went poof with him. Weird, huh?”

“To say the least.” Giles agreed. “But, the description gives me a starting point.”

“You’re not coming to bed tonight, are you?” Buffy pouted.

Xander snorted, the painkillers obviously beginning to work.

Giles glanced at Xander and then back at Buffy. “Of course I am. Why would you assume otherwise?”

Buffy shrugged and leaned back against the cushions. “I gave you something to research.”

Giles closed the first aid kit and moved until he was kneeling in front of her. He placed his hand on her knee, squeezing gently.

“There’s always something to research, Buffy.” He stated quietly.

Her pout turned into a smile as she understood his meaning.

“God, can someone take me home before they have sex right here?” Xander moaned.

Oz and Willow laughed lightly. Buffy rolled her eyes. Giles turned his head and stared at Xander.

“We’re perfectly able to control ourselves, Xander.” He paused for a moment before continuing. “While you’re here, at any rate.”

Oz gently nudged Willow off his lap and smiled as he stood, taking her hand. “There’s something I need to talk to you about.” He gestured towards Xander. “After we take him home.”

Willow returned his smile, squeezing his hand. “Good, ‘cause…I have some questions for you.”

He gave her a slight nod. “Help me get him in the van?”

Giles moved to sit on the coffee table and looked at Xander. Reaching for the first aid kit again, he opened it and rummaged through the bottles of medication. He found the one he was looking for and handed it to Willow.

“What’s this for?”

“Antibiotics. To stave off any infection that should occur.” He looked back and Xander and tapped his knee. “Xander?”

“Yeah?” He answered sleepily.

“Do you have painkillers at home?”

He lifted his head and gave Giles a drugged grin. “Oh, yeah…we’re good.”

Giles chuckled and stood up, turning his eyes towards Oz. “I’ll help you get him to the car. Will you be alright to get him into his apartment?”

“Sure. We’ll get Anya to help if we need it.”

Xander laughed. “Only if Little House is over. If it’s not, you’ll have to drag me inside yourselves.”

Giles’ brow furrowed in confusion. “Little House?”

“On the Prairie.” Buffy supplied. “Television show. Seventies…and bad. About pioneers or something. Boring, even for you.”

“Ha ha.” Giles rolled his eyes and hauled Xander from the couch.

Buffy grinned and followed the men in her life out the front door with Willow by her side.