A/N: In this story I need you to believe one thing - the adjoining spell is not needed by a pure slayer.

Chapter 10

Giles paced. Every now and again he would stop and stare at the door as if, by mental strength alone, he could will those he wished to be there to appear in his doorway. He hated not knowing what was happening.

As he paced he allowed his mind to wander over the events of the last few days. And while there was much for him to focus on his mind kept going back to the phone call he'd received just prior to Joyce's arrival on that first day.

To say he'd been surprised to hear from Cordelia Chase would be putting it mildly, but after speaking to the man that had introduced himself as a half-Bracken demon who happened to receive messages from the Powers That Be so that Angel could be aided in his redemptive path, Giles had realised that he would probably have been less likely to listen to Doyle had the ex-cheerleader not spoken to him first.

Cordelia herself had surprised him. She had seemed much more humble than the self-involved girl that he remembered. Perhaps her father's downfall had at the very least allowed the girl to finally see past herself long enough to realise that the world did not in fact revolve around her. Giles had also sensed an underlying hesitancy in her voice, as if at this point in time she was unsure of her place in the world, much like Buffy had been when she first started College. For her sake he hoped that the brunette beauty would have an easier time of it than his young slayer had had, he also hoped that she would use the difficulties that she had faced to her advantage and never again fall back to her old ways. He would not be at all surprised to discover that she had become an amazing woman if she chose to continue on the path she was on. He firmly believed that she certainly had the potential to truly shine.

The Bracken demon had been a little harder to gauge over the phone. He did, at least, seem to have a realistic view of the brunette vampire he worked with. 

Doyle had been right, of course. He had said that the PTB's had sent him a vision relating to the rising of the Chosen Two, but had voiced his concerns in relation to Angel. He felt that the cursed vampire would be none too happy to discover the connection between Buffy and her intended. He had said quite plainly that he believed Angel had difficulty in letting things go and that he would not willingly let go of his ideal that Buffy was his. Doyle had suggested that if a vision was sent to him that affected the slayer it might be more prudent for him to contact the watcher directly rather than allow Angel to become involved, which was, primarily, why he was calling in the first place - to establish a connection. Giles found himself agreeing with that idea completely.

At this point Giles had not discussed the phone call with his young charge, having decided that it was not something she needed to know, especially so soon after her painful epiphany in relation to the overbearing vampire. The Watcher was very much of the opinion that keeping the brooding brunette as far from Buffy as possible was the most logical and the kindest thing he could do for his slayer, regardless of how much the malicious part of his brain wanted to be the one to inform the creature, that he still held fully responsible for Jenny's death, of the place that Spike now held in Buffy's life. The fact that Spike would now hold the position that Angel had most desired smacked of poetic justice as far as Giles was concerned. But for the sake of his slayer - the watcher would say nothing...yet.

"So what you're tellin' me is that you're possessed by that psycho bint until we mate and then she'll piss off and we'll become the 'Keepers of bloody Balance' in this pissy little town for the bleedin' duration?" Spike snorted in disbelief as he followed the highly embarrassed slayer into her waiting watcher's apartment.

"With new powers," she offered hopefully, completely ignoring the relieved Brit that had been waiting for her return.

"Which, by your own admission, you have no clue to what they are," Spike replied with disgust as he threw himself into one of the armchairs. "Could be the ability to stay dry in the rain for all you bloody know."

"Buffy," Giles called to his distracted slayer in an attempt to gain her attention.

"Oh please! You're just pissed that I didn't let you beat up Riley or Professor Walsh," Buffy accused the bad tempered vampire, completely ignoring her watcher.

"Slayer," Spike ground out with exaggerated patience. "The sort of power that bint showed is too much. It's the sort of power that can corrupt a person. I'm a bloody vampire, pet.  Corruptible is a given, but the type of thing you're nattering on about is enough to corrupt you, too, and then where would their 'balance' be?"

"Buffy," Giles called again, this time a little louder.

"Who the hell are you, and what have you done with Spike?" Buffy spluttered out in shock. The idea that the impulsive blond pain in her ass would be basically suggesting caution was wigging her out more than the invasion of the super scary source of slayer power. She was seriously beginning to hate surprises.

Spike rolled his eyes in exasperation. What was it with these people? Why did they assume he was an idiot just because, so far, none of his plans to take down this slayer had succeeded? His plan to cure Drusilla had worked! He'd successfully defeated two other slayers! Just because he didn't want to wait to fight the aggravating little bint till St Vigeous didn't mean he couldn't take the time to think things through. Yeah, he was usually more of a fighter than a thinker but that didn't mean he wasn't capable of thinking at all.

Buffy felt the rising waves of frustration coming from the vampire and she realised that she had been jumping to conclusions. She really didn't know him at all. Maybe it was time for her to take the time to rectify that situation. "I'm sorry, Spike. You're right. I don't know enough and I probably am rushing into this. It's hard for me not to. I hate having this 'whole other person' inside me. I'm action girl and this is something that I can't hit. I really hate to say it...but...maybe we need to research this. Take our time. Maybe get to know one another better."

Spike moved closer to the petite blonde, absentmindedly rubbing her arms in comfort. Not questioning his need to do so. "It'll be alright, luv, we'll find the way."

"BUFFY!" Giles shouted in frustration, removing his glasses and cleaning them in an attempt to control his rapidly diminishing British stoicism when two sets of startled eyes focused on him as if noticing him for the first time. With a calming breath, Giles returned the glasses to their position and focused on his two guests. "Perhaps you could do me the courtesy of explaining what has happened? The last thing I saw was my slayer being possessed by a higher being and calling for justice before sweeping out of my home like an avenging angel. I've spent the last two hours worried sick."

"Oops," Buffy muttered sheepishly before offering the man she felt of as her father in deed if not in blood an innocent grin and a giggle.

Spike chuckled softly at her performance and Giles just shook his head in resignation. Nobody, but nobody, did the 'I'm-just-an-innocent-little-girl' act as well as Buffy Anne Summers.