Title: Taking Care of Business
Author: Andrea
Email: aegermaine@yahoo.com
Rating: U
Pairing: Willow/Giles
Disclaimer: Joss owns the characters
Distribution: All the usual sites that have my permission. Anyone else just ask!
Spoilers: Doomed
Summary: Giles takes care of a little business for Willow
Feedback: Yes...no flames
Dedication: To Vernon,Sharon,Katie,and Shawna. Thanks.
And to Mary Ellen...congratulations on passing the bar exam!!!!
"Giles, are you sure you don't want me to stay?" Willow asked concerned. The bloody gashes he'd received still looked dangerous to her and she didn't want anything to happen to him.
Smiling at the redhead, Giles said. "It's quite all right, Willow. I don't want to keep you from anything."
"You aren't." she muttered sadly. Giles picked up on the tone of her voice and asked. "Willow, is something wrong?"
She looked up at him and shook her head. "No, I'm fine." 'Just a nerd' she whispered under her breath.
Giles heard her and his heart broke. Ever since, she'd come from the fraternity house,Willow hadn't been her usual vibrant self. She had, of course, been as helpful as always but there was a quietness about her that he hadn't seen in a long time.
As she was explaining her experience at the fraternity, she kept mentioning how she wasn't a nerd anymore and that Percy was the culprit. He mildly recalled Percy, the boy that Willow had tutored her senior year. But, the only thing he did remember was the boy's arrogance, the way he flaunted his status as star athlete. He was the type that 'Ripper' in the olden days would have tossed aside, so to speak. To think that this excuse for a man had produced a familiar insecurity in Willow that he hadn't seen in months made him angry.
She had lost some of her confidence after Oz had left and was just now slowly regaining it back. But now, after that prat's comment, he feared that she might not recover this time.
"Giles?"
Snapping out of his thoughts, he turned his attention to her. "Yes,Willow?"
"I was wondering if there was anything more you needed to be researched about the Hellmouth opening. I can come by tomorrow if you want?" she asked.
"Er.."he stuttered as an idea formed into his head. "No, that's quite all right."
"Are you sure?"
He nodded. "Yes. You've worked hard tonight. You deserve some relaxation."
"Okay." she opened the door and smiled. "Good night, Giles."
He smiled softly at her. "Good night, Willow." he shut the door and began his plan.
****
Next morning:
He pulled into the parking lot a little after 8:00 in the morning. He'd wanted to take care of business before anyone got up. He wanted to be in and out before anyone noticed. As he walked along, he thought over what he was about to do. Potentially dangerous and possible jail time accompanied him but it was worth it. She was worth it.
'More than she knows' he mused wistfully.
Reaching his destination, he sauntered up the stairs, tension in his every step. He was finally going to come face to face with that pompous jerk who had made a grievous mistake when he decided to insult the one person who meant everything to him. And now he was going to correct it.
Standing in front of the door, he pounded on it, the loud reverberations echoing through the quiet hallway. He waited briefly before knocking once more, a little louder this time. He heard footsteps and some grumbling behind the door and smiled inwardly at the occupant's discomfort.
"What do you want?" the guy asked grumpily as he opened the door.
"Percy?"
"Yeah." he scratched his head. "Who are you?"
He smiled evilly." Call me Ripper."
***
Later that same day:
KNOCK! KNOCK!!
Getting up from the bed, Willow went to answer her door. "Percy!" she opened the door wider. "What are you doing here? And what happened to your face? You look like you went 12 rounds of boxing."
"You could say that." he shrugged. "Rosenberg. Er..Willow. I just wanted to apologize for last night."
"Last night?" Willow said before it dawned on her. "Oh, the nerd comment."
Percy nodded. "Yeah. I didn't mean it." Willow raised an eyebrow at him and he noticed. "No, seriously I didn't mean it. It was just there was this girl,Leanne who had legs that.."
Willow raised her hand. "That's okay. I don't need details." she crossed her arms over her chest. "Why are you apologizing, now?"
"I don't know." he admitted. "I felt bad, I guess." he looked at Willow straight in the eye. "I know, it's lame but it's the truth."
Willow smiled. "Thanks, Percy. For whatever reason, I'm glad you came by."
He grinned widely at her."You're pretty cool, you know Rosenberg."
"I've been told that before." Willow said, causing them both to chuckle.
"Well, I'd better go." Percy offered.
"Okay."
He turned to leave but not before saying over his shoulder. "See you around."
As Percy left and Willow closed the door, a tall figure stepped out of the shadows. He had a satisfactory smile on his face that spoke volumes. He had seen the exchange between the two and had been pleased.
'That boy certainly takes direction better than I thought' the man mused as he walked up to Willow's door.
Knocking twice, he waited patiently for her to answer. He wondered if...
The door swung open. "Giles!" Willow exclaimed in delight.
"Hello,Willow." he offered, his heart warm at her smile.
"Giles, you'll never guess who stopped by." she began as she grabbed his arm and pulled him willing inside her room, smiling all the way.
***
The End