Seeing Red
by TheBear
Chapter 3
[reviews]
Part 3
========== BtVS ==========
Willow was sitting next to Buffy's bed, watching. Watching her girlfriend's tortured sleep, watching for her own personal nightmare, Angelus, to show. She performed the ritual, hopefully it would work, because the backup plan was weak. She looked down at the supersoaker in her lap. Filled with holy water, it would definitely do some damage to a vampire, but this was Angelus- her own personal boogieman ever since he had held her, dangling, by the throat, threatening to kill her. "God, if Buffy hadn't shown up..." she thought. She'd be dead. Dead. No more Willow. She couldn't really grasp the concept. Sure, intellectually, it made sense. She wouldn't be... anywhere or anything. She wouldn't go to classes, wouldn't be in the library researching the next big bad, wouldn't be helping Buffy... with anything ever again.
So, it made sense when you thought about it, but she couldn't really picture it. Couldn't imagine what it would be like to just not be there anymore. She couldn't grasp not being there for Buffy. She couldn't imagine Buffy without Willow. More to the point, she never wanted to imagine Buffy without Willow.
That, of course was the real fear she was having. One doesn't grow up with a psychiatrist for a mother and not learn to self analyze. She was terrified that Buffy would leave her. Either through death or just because she would realize she had chained herself to a pathetic loser and tell her to get lost. She knew that wasn't fair to Buffy. She said she loved Willow, and when Willow questioned her, it was like saying she didn't believe Buffy was being honest with her.
That wasn't the case at all. She knew Buffy loved her. She really did! She just didn't think she was worth it. She knew that was because of a lot of reasons that weren't really valid, but again with the 'understanding mentally' but not 'accepting emotionally' thing. Didn't make it any easier.
So, instead of focusing on why did Buffy love her- she'd think about why she loved Buffy. A much happier subject!
Looking at the love of her life- laying there, pale, sweaty, dark circles under her eyes, that oh-so-attractive line of drool down the side of her mouth...
Willow paused in her observations to grab a Kleenex and wipe up the Buffydrool.
Willow looked at her fevered love, smoothed back the hair off of her brow, and remembered the first time she ever saw her. She was walking up the steps outside their beloved Sunnydale high school. Willow thought she was so pretty that it took her breath away. She stood stock still, her eyes focused on this angel come down from heaven to grace their presence.
Of course Xander managed to snap her out of it by taking that opportunity to run right into the stair railing- obviously as smitten as she, but not having the presence of mind to come to a standstill pre-smite.
She had never been truly jealous of Xander trying to hit on Buffy. She knew Xander didn't stand a chance with such a glorious being. No she'd been more jealous of Buffy- not that she thought Buffy wanted Xander, but rather because she could so obviously have him on a whim if she ever did want him.
Willow thought she would always have some lust for Xander. Despite his goofy act, she knew he was a wonderful person. He was kinda a hottie too, if he'd just loose the loud baggy clothes. Anyway, she was supposed to be thinking about Buffy, not Xander.
She still couldn't believe Buffy wanted her. It was an amazing thought- that Buffy Summers wanted to touch her, feel her skin against her own. That she wanted Willow's lips against her own... Willow was quickly coming to accept that fact. She rarely had time to doubt it as Buffy took advantage of every opportunity to demonstrate. And she didn't have to suffer the ignominy of being relegated to closet kisses only, as poor Xander had had to do for so long with Cordelia.
No, Buffy thought nothing of walking up to Willow in front of Xander, Giles, or Cordelia and locking lips. A brief hello kiss was expected anytime they met, anyplace except a classroom or crowded hallway. Even that was only to cater to Willow's sense of propriety. Buffy was clearly addicted to Willow kissage. Willow didn't really know why, "But who am I to second guess the 'chosen one'?" she snickered.
Nor was Buffy always the initiator. When there wasn't an audience gathered, Willow was prone to unexpected assaults on the slayer's mouth. She chuckled as she remembered Monday, after school in the library- she had been standing over by the counter outside Giles office when Buffy got up from the table and walked over, put her hand on Willow's shoulder and asked if she was ready to go yet. Willow turned to face her, put her hand up to cup Buffy's cheek- something she loved to do, but then slid her fingers back into the hair on the back of Buffy's head- grabbed a fist full of it and dragged her forward to meet Willow's mouth in a searing kiss. Willow stepped into the slayer, wanting full body contact and ended up walking her backwards until she was pressed up against the wall, Willow's free hand running up and down her side, brushing up against the outside of her breast.
Of course the slayer retaliated, grabbing a double handful of Willow's ass and pressing her closer so that their jean-covered pelvises were rubbing into each other. That, of course, was the moment Giles walked in. From the midst of their passionate encounter they heard "Willow, did you get a chance to Good Lord!" When they guiltily broke apart, and turned, Buffy couldn't restrain a giggle at the sight of Giles furiously cleaning his glasses. Willow was mortified, but couldn't help noticing... "Giles, are you blushing?" the imp-spirit that had evidently taken over her mouth for a moment asked.
"Yes, w- well, I- I would appreciate it if the t- two of you would save such behavior for more p- private surroundings!" he'd stuttered out
Both girls had said, "Sorry Giles." Willow thought she had at least made an effort to *sound* sincere, which was more than she would say for Buffy...
Her thoughts returned to the present and she looked at her watch, hoping Giles was ok, hoping that Angelus would just stay away until Buffy was ready to fight him. If he did show, Willow was rooting for a successful crossbow shot. It might seem anti-climactic, but she just wanted it over and done.
She clutched a little tighter on her squirt gun. "I hope Giles is ok," she whispered.
========== BtVS ==========
Xander had run as fast as he could to Giles apartment, he figured that Giles would most likely go to either the library or his place, and- seeing as the school was a public environment, he'd have more privacy at his own place.
By the time he got there, Giles car was already parked and empty. He ran to the building, and peered in the little window next to the door.
For the next hour, Xander stood in place, unmoving; his eyes riveted on the scene before him.
Giles had Angelus strung up, hanging from the ceiling in his living room. He had attached a chain to each end of the bar separating his elbows, and had it strung up through a big eyebolt in one of the exposed beams of his ceiling. He was pulled up high enough that he could just stand on the tips of his toes, and even then his arms were pulled high up behind him, placing incredible stress on his shoulders. Giles had apparently cut off his clothes, as they were nowhere to be seen. He was left wearing only a pair of black silk boxer shorts.
The vampire was still out of it, judging by the way that he was leaning against the chain, not paying attention to the pressure on his shoulders. Xander noticed that there was a short chain between Angelus' feet and another eyebolt fixed to the floor. Xander was amazed that Giles had such a setup. That particular fixture looked like it had been there a while, and he noticed that it was located where the couch normally sat. There was another one several feet away. Looking up, he saw a corresponding bolt in the ceiling. Why hadn't he ever noticed that before?
Giles was walking about with a jaunty step, arranging some things on the side table. A large bowl, a plastic packet of some kind of sticks, a large bottle of water, what looked like a kitchen sponge, and a web-style belt. He was actually whistling as he got set up for whatever he had in mind.
Giles opened the packet and Xander recognized the sticks as bamboo skewers- the type one used for shish kebabs. He dumped the packet into the bowl, and poured the water over them. He took the sponge, tossed it into of the water and picked up the belt as well. Looping the belt and passing the end through the brass buckle, he stopped whistling and considered his prisoner for a moment.
Giles spoke for the first time since Xander had started watching, and he could hear the watcher's suppressed anger in the words as clearly as if he had been standing next to him. "I imagine you would love to chat while we do this, but I don't think I really want to hear anything you have to say." With that, he looped the belt over Angelus head and left it hanging loosely around his neck. He picked up the sponge, now dripping with water, and quickly stuffed it into the vampire's mouth. As he hastily snugged the belt down, and tightened it so that it forced the sponge deeper into Angelus mouth, Xander realized what was in the bowl- holy water.
The vampire came to, and began to thrash around as the water seared the inside of his mouth. Xander saw water and blood seeping out around the belt as Angelus screamed into his makeshift gag.
Giles was standing behind him as he tightened the belt even further, prying his jaws apart and exposing his fangs. Angelus had his gameface on as he thrashed his head around, trying to figure out where he was, and who was doing this to him. His eyes narrowed as he realized where he was, and Xander thought he saw a brief look of fear pass over his face before he steeled himself for what was to come.
When the vampire's movements had stilled, Giles walked back around in front of him, arms crossed and a look of pure, undiluted loathing on his face. "I imagine you would like to take this opportunity to tell me how much you enjoyed the little 'present' you left for me last week. I'm sure you've been in this position before in your long and illustrious un-life, and I have no doubt that you would love to turn the tables, torturing the torturer. Well, sorry to disappoint..." he said, his voice dripping sarcasm.
He turned his back on the vampire, showing his contempt. As Giles had no doubt predicted, Angelus sought to strike out with his feet, ending up separating both his shoulders as he reached the end of the slack in his foot chain, and ended up yanking his body down against the chain attached to his elbow binding. Giles smiled a little at the sound of jerking chain, followed by a muffled scream of agony. He picked up a skewer out of the bowl of holy water and turned back to the undead monster.
"You see, I was quite smitten with Ms. Calendar. I have no doubt that we were falling in love. I don't know what our future would have held- this being the Hellmouth and all- but I was looking forward to finding out." Giles paused his narration, and slid the wet skewer into his left pectoral muscle, the angle shallow enough that it came back out again where the muscle curved around to the side of his chest. Xander could see the flesh redden and burn at the entrance wound, and the blood bubbling and smoking as the skewer came out the other side. He actually winced at the grunt of pain forced from the trussed-up vampire.
Giles watched the wound smoke and sputter for a moment before speaking again. "Her death, and the circumstances around it, naturally, struck me quite hard." He reached into the bowl for another skewer, saying, "As a result, I have what the Americans call 'issues' that I need to work through." Giles slid the second skewer through Angelus' right pectoral muscle, apparently aiming for symmetry. As the vampire jerked and grunted Giles explained, "That's why you are here. I don't want apologies, or sympathy or even remorse from you. I wouldn't get it, and even if you offered it, it would be false."
He skewered the vampire through the side of his abdomen, just the very tip coming out through his back. "You are here to die painfully. That is all I expect or want from you. Your death- as painful as I can make it."
Xander felt a cold shiver go down his spine. Giles was being almost clinical, with no emotion in his voice as he continued his torture. Xander began to feel slightly nauseous, yet he couldn't turn away.
"I was going to make love to Jenny that night. It was to be our first time together..." he said, grabbing yet another skewer and making a matching wound on the other side of his stomach.
Xander was starting to become mesmerized by the even tone of Giles voice, the slow and deliberate infliction of the wounds- seeming almost gentle as he slid each skewer home.
Giles turned his back to Xander and picked up something out of his line of sight.
"When I went upstairs and saw her laying in bed..." Giles said as he kneeled before the vampire. "...My first thought was, 'how beautiful she looks'..."
Xander wondered what Giles was doing, when suddenly his hand raised up high and Xander saw a small sledge hammer in his grip. Both his eyes and Angelus' widened suddenly at the unexpected sight.
"...It was just then that I saw that her neck had been broken." He said as he brought down the hammer- the impact on the vampire's left great toe coinciding exactly with the word 'broken.' The toe popped like a grape being smashed-the blood spraying for several feet, splashing over Giles hand and covering his front with little red droplets.
Angelus scream was quite audible, even through the gag, as he shuddered and jerked.
Giles looked up at the crying vampire and said, "Yes. That's exactly how *I* felt. The pain was sharp and sudden, and it felt like all the air had been sucked out of the room." He again raised the hammer, watching until Angelus opened his eyes so he could see it coming again. "It was masterful, actually;" he said as the hammer dropped onto the vampires right great toe. "The note, the Champagne... the rose petals... the way you laid her out on the bed..." He stood up and grabbed several skewers, punctuating his words with a quick thrust directly into the stomach. "Each scene calculated to induce maximum suffering and torment ."
The extreme brutality of the hammer, after the coldness of the previous torture was too much for Xander. He turned his head and vomited noisily onto the ground. Only the cries and groans from Angelus kept Giles from hearing him as he retched his guts out into the shrubs framing Giles door.
"I have to admit..." Giles said as he considered his prisoner, now victim, once again for a moment. "...the stories, the legends of your cruelty... they certainly weren't exaggerated." Taking another handful of skewers, Giles rapidly stabbed them into his thighs, calves and even his knees- until the vampire could no longer stand, but was hanging cruelly by his dislocated shoulders.
Xander looked back up in time to see the Watcher grip the dangling vampire by his shoulders and push down. Only the fact that he had already emptied the contents of his stomach kept him from retching at the tearing and popping sounds of the ligaments and tendons in Angelus' shoulders and arms.
Finally Giles seemed to tire of his sport. He went over to a leather bag and removed a big, fat hypodermic needle. Xander gulped, seeing that. "Great!" He thought. "Now I'm gonna have nightmares of Doctor Giles coming to give me a shot!" After a second he shook his head at the ridiculousness of that thought. He just watched his father-figure horribly torture someone, and it was the sight of the needle that was gonna give him nightmares. "How sad is my life?" he thought.
Gilles plunged the needle into Angelus heart, drawing a large sample of the vampire's blood. "Never know when this might come in handy," he explained. He emptied the sample into a small glass jar and went and put it into his freezer.
When he came back, Giles put the needle into the bowl of holy water and drew a large dose. "And so, the reign of Angelus ends at last." He said as he plunged the needle once again into the vampire's heart. "May you rot in hell for all eternity!" he whispered harshly, showing some emotion for the first time since this all started. He depressed the plunger, emptying about five ounces of holy water directly into the vampire's heart. He quickly stepped back to watch the show.
Angelus began screaming again, his body violently jerking and spasming as the holy water began to eat away at his heart. It took nearly a full minute before the damage to that organ was sufficient, and the Master Vampire Angelus collapsed in his bonds, then exploded into dust.
For a moment, Xander had a hard time accepting that it was over. Finally- the vampire he had hated for so long was dead and gone- no more to trouble their lives. He didn't notice as Giles dropped heavily onto the couch, burying his face in his hands. Xander was too preoccupied with his own conflicted feelings; joy that the bane of his existence was finally gone, and at the same time, he was highly disturbed by the behavior of the Scooby Gang's paternal member.
His musings were interrupted by the sound of a painful sob. He looked at Giles and saw him begin to shake. Suddenly he took a deep breath and cried out the name of his fallen beloved. His voice was raw with pain, as if he was experiencing all at once the emotions he had coldly talked about during the session with Angelus.
A lot of Xander's horror was washed away as he saw the older man collapse onto his side, holding his stomach as he sobbed out the pain and agony he had been unable to completely let go of since her death. Xander turned away, wanting to give the man some privacy. He walked away from the building thinking that maybe now Giles would be able to start the healing process.
========== BtVS ==========