Crime and Punishment: Part 5
by Fire Girl
The only thing I own is the name that I gave Snyder. Everything else, goes to the ever-powerful Joss
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Part Five
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When Buffy woke up, she had one hell of a headache. She looked around and saw that she was still outside, only it was now much lighter. She looked at her watch. It read 12: 27. She'd been out for a long time. She was surprised no one had come by and seen her. She got up, and, having trouble with her balance, leaned against the tree. She soon started walking and arrived at home about five minutes later.
When she got there, her mom had already left for work. She went up to her room and lay down on her bed. She yawned then grabbed on to her pillow and closed her eyes. A second later, a hand fell upon her back. She looked up and was surprised to find Angel in her room. She looked at him, obviously confused as to why her was there at 12:30 and to how he got there.
"What are you doing here?" she asked.
"Wondering what you're doing here. We were supposed to meet in Giles' room, remember?"
"Yeah, but not till-" she looked at her watch. It was nearly 9:00. She couldn't even remember going to sleep. She sat up, and instantly got a head-rush. Immediately, she lay back down. She wanted nothing more than to go back to sleep. To forget everything that had happened, but she couldn't. Memories rushed back before she could push them away.
"Hmmmmmmmm." She moaned with annoyance.
"C'mon" he said, "We gotta go." He pulled her up from the bed. She stood on unsteady feet, then moved towards her dresser. She pulled on some clean clothes and ran a comb through her hair. As she dressed, he told her that they were no longer meeting in the hospital room. Giles had been released earlier that day.
They walked down to the kitchen. She looked around for something to eat, but didn't find much; it was the end of the week and her mom hadn't gone grocery shopping yet. They left the house and stopped at Taco Bell. Finally, they were on their way to Giles' place.
They arrived at his apartment at 9:30. The same people from the night before greeted her. Giles was in an armchair, Xander and Cordelia were on the couch and Willow and Kayla sat cross-legged on the floor. Buffy told everyone what she'd learned. At first, they all looked at her as though she was crazy, but then as they thought about, they realized exactly how much sense it made.
"That, actually explains a lot." Said Xander.
"Yeah, it explains why he hates all of us." Said Cordelia.
"How are we gonna find him?" asked Willow.
"I'll find him." Said Kayla.
Before anyone could protest, she was gone.
"That's getting annoying." Said Buffy, in reference to Kayla's constant disappearances.
"Told you." Said Angel.
Kayla showed up about 10 minutes later. She had a piece of paper in her hand. She gave it to Giles.
"I got this from his apartment." She told him.
After reading it, he gave it to Buffy, then left the apartment. Buffy read it. It said:
Flight 357
11:00- cancelled
The China main- 12:30
"The China Main? That's a cargo ship." Said Buffy.
"Where's he going?" asked Xander.
"My guess: home. He's been found out."
"I meant Giles."
"He must've gone after him."
"I'm going with him. A guy who just got out of the hospital is no condition to be fighting alone." Xander got up and headed out the door. Willow and Kayla followed him, leaving Buffy with Angel and Cordelia.
"Well, I guess it's a group fight." said Buffy as she walked after them.
"Wait." Said Cordelia.
Buffy stopped.
"We shouldn't kill him."
"What?" Buffy was surprised.
Cordelia continued, "Look, I know I don't usually give insight, but I really think that killing him is a bad idea."
"Why? He killed Jenny!"
"And if you kill him, they'll just send someone else. You know how that tribe works. They live off their vengeance. It's like it's all they know. Haven't you noticed that? Look at the lengths they've gone to, to torture Angel. If Principal Snyder dies, it'll only make things worse."
"She's right." Said Angel.
Buffy hadn't thought of that. She didn't like to admit it, but they were right.
"We need to stop him." She said. The three of them ran out the door to catch up to their friends.
* * *
Giles sat at the dock and looked down. It was along way to the water, at least 30 ft. The China Main was at his right. It was a large ship, perfect for someone to hide on, but he wasn't interested in that. He was waiting for one of two things. Either for Snyder to show, or for Buffy to get there and talk him out of what he wanted to do.
A long sigh caught his attention.
"What are you doing here?" a voice asked. Giles turned around and found himself in the presence of Snyder. He stood and walked toward him. As soon as he was close enough, he swung hitting Snyder square in the in the jaw.
"Waiting for you." He said as his opponent struggled to regain his balance. Before he could, Giles hit him again, knocking him down. He kicked him twice in the stomach, yelling, "Bastard!" with each one. He picked up Snyder by the collar and leaned him over the railing of the dock.
"Go ahead, but killing me won't do you or any of your friends any good." Said Snyder. Giles savored the fear in his voice.
"Giles stop!"
Giles turned around and saw Buffy running toward him. She wasn't alone, but the others stayed at a distance.
"Don't kill him." She said.
He looked at her confused. "Why not? Why shouldn't I?"
"He was right, it won't do you any good. You're killing him out of vengeance which is what started this whole thing, in the first place."
"He killed Jenny!"
"Giles, if you kill him, they'll send some after you. End it now."
He refused to listen and kept Snyder in the threatning position.
"It won't bring her back." Buffy said as a final plea.
Maybe it was the tone in her voice, or maybe it just dawned on him, but, n any case, he realzed that she was right. Slowly, Giles pulled Snyder from the rail.
"Go back," he said, "and tell you're people to leave us the hell alone. That includes Angel. Your need to avenge the people that he killed a hundred years ago has destroyed too many lives. If anyone comes after him, or anyone else, I guarantee I'll be more than willing to continue this feud, starting with you."
He released Snyder who said, "You think this is how I wanted it? I can't wait for the next generation of elders. They're all willing to let these things go. In a few years, your problems with us will be over."
He started to leave.
"Wait." Said Buffy, "If you didn't want this, why did you kill her?"
"Janna didn't like her job anymore than I liked mine. We do what we're told. Whether we want to or not, isn't our choice. I can't make promises, but I don't think we'll bother you for awhile."
With that, he walked away.
Giles turned around and leaned on the railing. His thoughts were all jumbled. He wanted to jump, he also wanted to run after Snyder and join him on the ship to Asia. Anything, so he wouldn't have to face his friends. Instead of the more drastic measures, he simply left the scene.
He went home and lay down on his couch. After a few minutes, he heard a knock on the door. He didn't want to answer it, but forced himself to get up. He found Buffy on the other side.
"Hi." She said.
He moved aside and let her in.
"What can I do for you?" he asked as he moved back to the couch, where again he lay down. She sat next to him.
"Nothing." She said, "I just wanted to make sure you were Ok."
"I'm fine." He insisted, then sensing her next question, he said, "and no, I don't want to talk about it."
Buffy decided not to push him.
"I also wanted to say that..." she paused, " you did the right thing. You may not think it now, but-"
"I know." He interrupted, "It was right. I got them to leave us alone, but no justice was served."
"It rarely is."
Giles laughed, "You know, you sound more like me everyday."
Buffy laughed too. "That's a parent line if I ever heard one. You're close enough."
She bent down and gave him a hug, then got up and headed for the door.
"When you're ready to talk..."
"You're first on my list."
Buffy smiled and left the room.
Giles stayed on the couch for the rest of the night. Eventually, he fell asleep. For the first time in weeks, his dreams were calm.
The End
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