Title: Evil In Mind
Author: Katie
Disclaimer: These characters belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy et al.
Rating: 15 - British System.
Feedback: Please. It helps to know what works, what doesn't.
Dedication: To Andrea.
Notes: Sequel to 'Getting Away'.


 

Willow was sleeping soundly, her dreams of Rupert. She smiled slightly in her sleep and turned over. Suddenly the dream faded to black, and a menacing voice began calling her name. She shifted slightly, subconsciously made uneasy by the dark, disembodied voice.

"Willow, Willow Rosenberg." The voice seemed to be trying to get her full attention. "You will come to us. Leave the watcher, and come to us." Willow was shaking her head, denying what she was hearing. "We will have you. We will." The voice continued, becoming louder and louder until Willow screamed, her voice high-pitched and loud. She took a breath and screamed again.

"Willow?" Giles flew up the stairs and into the bedroom, the teapot and cups lying shattered on the kitchen floor where he had dropped them. He scanned the room for some kind of intruder, before fixing his eyes on Willow, who, despite her screaming, was still asleep. He sat down on the side of the bed and attempted to wake her, gently at first. When she failed to wake and continued to scream, her took hold of her upper arms and shook her. Her eyes flew open and she stared wildly about the room.

"NO!" She shouted, as if trying to ward off an attacker.

"Willow, it's me. It's Rupert." Giles stared into her eyes, trying to force her to recognise him.

"Rupert?" Willow stared at him, as if seeing him for the first time.

"Yes, Rupert." Giles relaxed his grip slightly, and was thrown off guard when Willow launched herself at him, burying her face in his chest. He brought his arms up and hugged her to him as she cried into his chest.

"Did you have a nightmare?" Giles brought a hand up and stroked her hair, soothing her.

"No...I...yes...I don't know." Willow struggled to remember what had happened.

"It's over now." He reassured her as he continued to hold her.

"I hope so." Willow clutched him tighter, a feeling of dread weighing on her chest, making it hard for her to breath.

"Some tea?" Giles pulled back slightly and wiped a tear from her face with his thumb.

"Please." Willow nodded, slowly letting go.

"I'll just have to clean up first."

"Clean up?" Willow was puzzled.

"I...er...dropped everything when you screamed." Giles confessed, rather sheepishly.

"Sorry." Willow dropped her head to his shoulder again, the tears still threatening to come.

"It's nothing to worry about. I have another teapot." Giles gave her a small smile.

"You would." Willow teased, trying to gain control of her emotions.

"Better?" Giles asked, dropping a kiss on her forehead.

"I'm fine." Willow spoke firmly, attempting to convince herself as well as Giles. "I'll just go take a shower."

"You could stay in bed a while longer." Giles offered as she rose.

"No." Willow shook her head. "It's after eight." She gestured towards the clock to prove her point.

"I'll make the tea, then." Giles made a move towards the stairs.

"Rupert." Willow called after him. He turned to face her. "I love you."

"And I you." Giles walked back over to her and kissed her, proving his love. She smiled against his mouth and he was slightly disappointed when she pulled away.

"Tea." She reminded him.

"Right." This time Rupert made it down the stairs.

Willow wrapped her arms around herself as she tried to fight off the chill that threatened to overtake her.

Part 2

Giles watched as Willow sipped her tea and picked listlessly at the toast he had set before her. He reached over and placed his hand over Willow's smaller one, stilling her movements.

"What was your nightmare about?" He asked gently, attempting to coax the truth from her.

"It was nothing, really." Willow stared at the teapot, unwilling to look at his face.

"I don't think you'd be this upset if it was nothing." Giles pointed out as he used his other hand to raise her head.

"It was just a voice." Willow gave him a small smile. "What did it say?" Giles persisted.

"Nothing intelligible." Willow felt uncomfortable lying to Giles, but she certainly wasn't going to worry him.

"If you were Buffy, we would have to analyse it to death, but I think we can safely say that it was just a nightmare." Giles gave her hand a squeeze before releasing it and gathering up the breakfast things.

"Just a nightmare." Willow echoed. She shook her head and stood.

"Perhaps a walk this morning?" Giles asked as she came up behind him, snaking her arms around his waist.

"Sure. It's the weekend." Willow snuggled closer to him. "I really need to help Buffy with that paper tonight, though." Willow smiled when she heard his groan of disappointment. "I promised."

"Very well, then. I suppose Buffy's education is more important than the fact that I can't stand to be without you." Giles was smiling as he continued to wash the cups and plates from breakfast.

"One night, Rupert." Willow sunk her hands into the warm water, caressing his as they washed. "Buffy really is stuck - she's not even going to see Riley tonight."

"Must be serious, then." Giles spun around abruptly, his hands full of soapy bubbles. Willow stepped away from him, but he backed her into the wall and dropped some bubbles onto her nose.

"Rupert!" Willow made a feeble attempt to get away before giving in and allowing him to envelop her in his soapy embrace. "I think we'll have to make a stop at the dorms. I'm a bit wet."

"Sorry about that." The grin on his face showed that he obviously wasn't.

"Come on. We can drive there and then go for a walk." Giles offered her a towel which she took in a useless attempt to dry off.

"Will Buffy be there?" Giles asked as he grabbed his jacket and followed her out of the door.

"You're not afraid of your slayer are you?" Willow teased.

"Of course not. Well, I mean...I just...ah..." Giles trailed off as Willow began to giggle.

"It's okay, Rupert, she's probably at Riley's." Willow regained control of herself as she got into the car.

"Good. I mean, she might still be harbouring some...ah...resentment."

"I don't think so. She was okay last night. We both did some venting and finished with a good cry." Willow started the car and pulled out.

"Well, if you think that's good." Giles smiled over at her, not quite understanding the value of an argument followed by tearful apologies.

"It's very good. We do it all the time." Willow returned his smile when she saw that he was still struggling with the concept. "You know, let all the anger and emotions out."

"Ah. Something I'm not very good at."

"I don't know, I've seen you angry, and you were pretty emotional last night." Willow kept her eyes on the road.

"Well, in those sort of situations..." Giles smiled as he saw her glance across at him.

"I enjoyed our 'situation' as you put it." Willow smiled as she brought the car to a stop. In a flash he was opening her door for her.

"Well, yes..." Giles was at a loss for words.

"I'm teasing, Rupert." Willow took his hand and pulled him along slightly.

"You definitely are a witch." Giles removed his hand from hers and slipped his arm around her shoulder.

"You're quite magickal yourself." Willow remarked as they entered the dorms. Neither of them noticed the solitary figure watching the dorms, but he noticed them.

Part 3

Willow and Giles entered her dorm room engaged in light conversation about nothing in particular, simply enjoying being with each other. They both stopped suddenly when they noticed Buffy and Riley sitting on Buffy's bed, engaged in equally, if not more, pleasant activities.

"Ah. Um." Giles coughed in an attempt to attract their attention.

"Willow." Buffy jumped up. "I wasn't expecting you...and Giles." Buffy gave him an embarrassed smile.

"Obviously." Giles tightened his hold on Willow.

"You take a shower with your clothes on?" Buffy took in Willow's wet clothes with a grin. "On second thoughts, don't answer that. I really don't want to know what you and Giles did...or what you're going to do."

"Good, 'cause I'm not about to tell you." Willow shot back as she began to look for some dry clothes.

"Is that the time? I've got to go." Riley gave Buffy a supportive smile before passing Giles and exiting the room.

"I'm going to get changed. You two be nice, now." Willow reached up and gave Giles a kiss before leaving, clothes in hand. Buffy and Giles stared after her, before turning to face each other.

"So..." Buffy began. "You and Willow, huh?"

"Yes." Giles moved to Willow's bed and sat down, facing Buffy.

"You don't think that's a bit..." Buffy trailed off.

"I think it's the best thing to happen to me for a long time." Giles spoke firmly.

"Okay, but it's still freaky."

"In what way?" Giles's eyes narrowed, and Buffy gulped.

"Just the age thing...which is not necessarily bad." Buffy decided that she didn't like the murderous looks her ex-watcher was sending her.

"Buffy, please try to understand." Giles's voice held the exasperated tone of a parent. "I love Willow, Willow loves me. If the disparity between our ages doesn't bother us, why should it worry you?"

"I'll try." Buffy promised. "I really will." She added, seeing his skeptical look.

"Good." Giles gave her a smile.

"What's good?" Willow asked, coming into the room.

"Life, love, you." Giles supplied.

"Oh, but I'm bad sometimes." Willow balanced herself on his lap.

"Guys? Other person in the room?" Buffy reminded them.

"Sorry." Willow removed herself from Giles and grabbed a jacket. "We're going for a walk now, anyway." Buffy was about to protest when Willow spoke again. "I'll help you with the paper tonight."

"Oh, okay. Bye." Buffy sat back down on her bed as they left.

"So, you survived Buffy then." Willow remarked as they made their way out of the dorm and across campus.

"It was touch and go for a minute." Giles deadpanned.

"My poor Rupert." Willow giggled.

"Indeed."

"I'll make it all better." Willow smiled at him.

"And just how do you propose to do that?" Giles asked, grinning.

"I thought this might do for a start." She reached up and kissed him, passionately.

"Definitely a start." Giles breathed as he struggled for air. Willow laced her fingers through his.

"Good." Willow moved closer. Then she felt it. A sharp tug inside her mind. She ropped Giles's hand and stepped away from him, her movements involuntary and jerky.

"Willow?" She could hear Giles calling her name, but she couldn't respond. She looked up at the sky and then the world went black.

Part 4

Everything was happening in slow motion. Giles saw Willow begin to fall, and he reached out to catch her, cushioning her fall with his body as they both tumbled to the ground.

"Willow?" Giles called her name as he fought to get back on his feet. She didn't respond. "Willow, please." Giles begged her to wake. She remained unconscious. Giles scanned the campus, as if looking for inspiration, before gently picking her up and heading back towards the dorm.

"What's happening?" Buffy was just heading out of the building as they arrived. "Willow!"

"I think she fainted." Giles wasn't exactly sure what had happened.

"Fainted? Since when does Willow faint?" Buffy seemed oblivious to the strange looks they were getting from other students.

"Let's go up to your room and see what the matter is, shall we?" Giles hugged Willow closer to him.

"Yeah, right. Good idea." Buffy headed back inside with Giles behind her.

"Here. Put her on her bed." Buffy held the door as Giles carried Willow through. "What happened?" She questioned as Giles laid Willow gently on the bed.

"She was fine one minute, then she pulled away from me. Next thing she was falling." Giles knelt by the side of the bed, his hand stroking her hair.

"She just looks like she's sleeping." Buffy pointed out. "Should we call a doctor?"

"I don't know. If she fainted, she should be coming round soon." Giles used the back of his hand to feel her cheeks and forehead. She was cool to the touch.

"Just to be safe?" Buffy asked.

"Yes. You're right. I'll go and do that." Giles planted a gentle kiss on Willow's forehead before standing. "You stay with Willow." He instructed Buffy.

"Right. Can do." Buffy sat down on her own bed, her eyes never leaving Willow.

Giles cast a nervous glance back at Willow before leaving.

"Willow. Wake up, please." Buffy entreated. "We all love you. Giles...well, I know he loves you, Will." Buffy sighed as her words got no response. She was roused from her thoughts by a knock on the door. She pulled the door open to reveal another student.

"Phone call for you." The girl turned on her heel and marched off.

"But I..." Buffy trailed off, seeing that the girl wasn't going to stop. She turned back to look at Willow. "I'll be right back." With that Buffy slipped from the room.

As the door slammed shut behind Buffy, Willow's eyes flickered. They slowly opened, but their usual lucidity was absent. Her movements were stiff, but she nevertheless made her way to the door. She looked left and right before she exited the room, but in reality her eyes took in nothing. Her feet continued to move, driven on by the voice in her head that directed her.

Part 5

Giles returned to the dorm before Buffy. He opened the door and stopped, abruptly. Willow was gone. He scanned the room quickly, looking for Willow or Buffy, but failed to find either of them. He turned sharply and almost collided with Buffy who was on her way into the room.

"Hi Giles." She smiled up at him. "Is the doctor coming?" Giles stared at her.

"Where have you been?" His voice was even.

"Phone call. They hung up." She shrugged her shoulders.

"And where is Willow?" Giles moved slightly, allowing Buffy a clear view of Willow's empty bed.

"I...er...I have no idea." Buffy confessed, searching the room as Giles had moments earlier. "Maybe she woke up?"

"And decided to go out, by herself, without telling anyone?" Giles asked, with just a hint of sarcasm.

"It's a possibility." Buffy shrugged. "Come on, lets go have a look." Together they made their way out of the building. They stood outside, both wondering what to do next.

"You look worried." Riley's voice startled Buffy, causing her to spin around and into a fighting stance.

"Don't do that." She berated him. "Have you seen Willow?" She asked as an afterthought.

"Yeah. About five minutes ago. She was just going off campus." Riley gave Buffy a smile before turning to Giles. "You guys have a fight? She looked pretty out of it."

"Riley." Buffy gave him a look that told him to shut up, before reaching a hand out to Giles. "At least we know she's okay."

"Okay? She's wandering Sunnydale, which, in case you've forgotten, is on the hellmouth, in God knows what state." Giles wrenched his arm from Buffy's grasp and stared pointedly at Riley. "What did you mean, she looked 'out of it'?

"I shouted her name, but she didn't even look round." Riley looked confused. "Is there something wrong with Willow?"

"She fainted." Buffy replied absently, as she watched Giles's frown deepen.

"Her mind was elsewhere?" Giles persisted in his questioning of Riley.

"Yeah, like she was on autopilot." Riley had barely finished his answer before Giles started sprinting across the campus.

"Giles!" Buffy shouted as she sped after him, her slayer speed allowing her to catch up with him before he got off campus. "What's going on?"

"Idiot." Giles berated himself. "I've been so blind."

"What's going on?" Buffy repeated, fear for Willow and worry for Giles competing for her attention.

"Her nightmare. A voice. Bloody hell!" Giles continued to talk to himself.

"Willow had a nightmare? Like my nightmares?" Buffy was trying to get a hold on the situation.

"She said she couldn't remember." Giles turned to Buffy and addressed her directly for the first time. "This is magick."

"Magick? What? How? Why?" Buffy's mind spat out the questions.

"I can feel it." Giles looked around him. "Willow's in danger."

 

 

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