Welcome to Sunnydale: Part Seven
by Eliz
Giles left the library straight after school. He’d never left that early before, usually preferring to stay well into the night, sometimes not even bothering to go home at all. But he didn’t want to leave Nikki on her own for too long.

He struggled to open the front door with one hand while juggling a number of books in the other.

He threw the books on the couch and made his way into the kitchen to make a pot of tea.

He stopped at the kitchen door when he saw Nikki fast asleep at the table. Her head was resting in one of his old books. One hand was around a cup of tea while the other was hidden under a mass of brown hair. She looked so lost in the white shirt he had given Buffy to put on her last night.

He wasn’t sure what to do. Whether to carry her upstairs, to wake her up or to leave her as she was. He eventually decided on the third option. He quietly made himself a cup of tea and retired to the sitting room to do some research.

Giles was engrossed in a very interesting book on demons, when she heard a small voice behind him.

“Hi”, Nikki stood in the doorway to the kitchen.

“Hello. How are you feeling?”, Giles stood up and ushered her over to the couch.

“Sore”, she pulled the shirt self consciously down over her legs.

“Well, yes, of course. That’s to be expected. A nice long soak in the bath is what you need”.

“Well I’m afraid that my motel room doesn’t give me that luxury. A wash in the sink with luke warm water is the best I can do”, she smiled at Giles as she pulled her knees up to her chest and rested her head there.

“You’re more than welcome to use the facilities here”, Giles looked across at the small figure sitting next to him, her arms covered in small cuts and bruises, as he was sure the rest of her body was.

“Thank you. That sound great”, she moved slowly from the couch. “Mr. Giles, this is kind of embarrassing but, last night, after I collapsed, did you, well, undress me”, she looked down at the ground as she said this.

“Oh. Good God no”, Giles laughed. “Don’t worry. Buffy changed you. I just supplied the shirt and bed”.

“Good”, Nikki breathed a sigh of relief. “Well, I mean, not that you’re... it’s just...” she struggled.

“It’s fine”, Giles smiled at the stammering girl. “I know what you mean. Now why don’t you go up and have a bath and I’ll fix us something to eat”.

Nikki smiled a silent thank-you and a few minutes later Giles heard the water running.

He was making his way to the kitchen when the phone rang.

“Hello”, he said, expecting Buffy.

“Giles”, a vaguely familiar voice came from the other end.

“Yes”, he struggled to place the voice.

“It’s Angel”.

“Oh, yes. Hello Angel”.

“How’s Nikki”, Angel asked in a concerned voice.

“She’s seems to be pretty much recovered. She’s still very sore so she’s just gone to take a soak in the bath”.

“Good. Listen Giles. I have a favour to ask you. I was wondering if Nikki could stay with you for the time being. I would let her stay with me but it wouldn’t be very safe and her motel is...”, Angel voice faded. “It’s just that she’s new and not used to living on the Hellmouth and after last night...”

“I understand your concern and that would be fine if Nikki agrees with it”.

“Get her to give me a call when she’s finished”. They said their goodbyes and hung up.

“Mr. Giles”, Giles turned around to see Nikki standing at the bottom of the stairs looking very uncomfortable in nothing but a towel. Giles eyes rested on her body longer than they should have. Her figure, usually hidden by baggy clothes, made him forget for a moment that she was a young girl. As he looked at her standing there, he noticed for the first time how attractive she was. He quickly brought his attention back to what she was saying.

“I don’t have any clothes”, she laughed, obviously extremely embarrassed.

“Oh dear”, Giles looked around the room hoping that some clothes would miraculously appear. “Clothes would come in useful”.

“Yes, although I’d probably get more attention in this”.

I’d agree with that, Giles thought before quickly reprimanding himself.

“I’ll go to Buffy’s to get some clothes for you”, Giles put on his coat. “and while I’m gone maybe you could ring Angel. He wants to speak to you”.

Nikki made herself comfortable on the sofa and dialled Angels number as Giles car drove away.


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