Forever Anne: 23: Cleansing
by Timan
"Well?" Giles asked

Faith leaned uncomfortably against the table.

"The place was totaled Jeeves," Faith explained, "No idea what happened but there was one hell of a fight."

"And there was no sign of Buffy?"

"Blondie was long gone and there was no sign of the soldier boys either."

Giles screwed his face up in anger. He slammed his hand down on the table before he started to pace around the library. Faith looked at him curiously.

"I don't get you Jeeves, I mean, what this girl's deal? She tries to kill Xand and Willow Then it's all hugs and kisses when she gets back."

"There were circumstances Faith."

Faith shot him a look

"Right circumstances," She replied," You sure you don't have a boner for her?"

Giles swung around to her.

"What?"

Faith folded her arms and rolled her eyes

"Come on Jeeves you're a guy, she a hot little blonde who gets extra sweaty from fighting the big nasties. Don't think I can't put two and two together."

"Get the hell out of my library." Giles snapped

Faith smiled at him in a sultry way.

"Ooo I hit a nerve," Faith remarked, "maybe daddy need a new girl."

"Out!" Giles yelled

"Okay, okay. You know where I'll be when you un-bunch you're panties" Faith replied as she walked out of the room.

Giles took off his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose stressfully. He walked into his office and sat down on his chair. Where the hell did everything go wrong and more importantly where was Buffy taken to? The phone on his desk began to ring. Giles picked up the receiver in a distracted manner.

"Hello?" he asked softly

"Poor, Poor Ripper," Ethan said on the other side of the line, "Loosing a slayer and an artifact in the space of a few weeks. Not exactly you're best work."

Giles leaned back in his chair. He wasn't entirely surprised Ethan was calling him.

"Ethan, I guess this is where I listen to you gloat for the next few hours." Giles commented

"Well it was a masterful piece of planning." Ethan replied smugly

"If you call raping a young girl masterful planning then, yes, I suppose it was."

"Oh now that hurt Ripper," Ethan replied in mock anger, "here I am extending a caring hand to one of my oldest friends and you're giving me lip."

"Is there a purpose for this call Ethan? Or are you just wasting time until Faith finds you and kicks your ass."

"Bold words old friend. Need I remind you who left an emotionally vulnerable Girl on the harsh, cold streets of L.A.?"

"I have no idea where she was." Giles snapped

"Oh don't give me that," Ethan remarked, "You are honestly trying to make me believe that you couldn't figure out how a girl her age could leave the town, on her own, without anybody seeing her?"

For the first time in his relationship with Ethan Giles couldn't think of a reply.

"That's what I thought. Everything that happens to Buffy is on you're head Ripper I just want to remember that while you train you're new slayer. Have a great life, well, what's left of it."

Giles heard the click of the phone line followed by the soft beeping of the dial tone. Slowly Giles hung up the receiver and continued to lean back in his chair. If he didn't feel low enough already this pushed him closer to the edge.



Buffy shifted uncomfortably on the sofa in Doyle's apartment. She pulled an empty beer can from behind her back and, with disgust, tosses it to the other side of the room. Danny leaned against the wall and eyes the apartment cautiously.

"It's not entirely . . . Unlivable." He remarked

Buffy looked at him in surprise.

"You're kidding right? I swear just I saw a rat reading the real estate pages to try and find a better dump then this."

"Hey," Doyle remarked as he emerged from the bedroom straightening the collar of his new shirt, "I'll have you know it took a lot of effort to get this place organized the way I like it."

"Remind me to steer clear of your decorator."

"No, no I know where everything is in this place."

"Seriously?" Danny asked, "Okay, where's the phone book?"

Doyle gestured towards the window.

"That pile near the window. Third book down."

Buffy and Danny shared a look as Danny ventured over to the pile. With surprise he pulled out the Phone book from exactly where Doyle said it was. Buffy nodded her head lightly.

"I'm impressed," she remarked, "and just a little creeped out."

"Hey, if you spend enough time with me you'll find I'm full of surprises." Doyle replied

Doyle walked over to his chair and picked up his jacket.

"Alright, you two stay here I'm gonna go talk to some people I know."

"Can you hire an exterminator while you're out?" Buffy asked, "I think the roaches are beginning to organize."

Doyle shot her a look as he opened the door.

"That's enough cheek out of you missy." He smirked, "I'll be back as soon as possible."

Doyle closed the door leaving Danny and Buffy alone. For the longest time the both of them looked around not exactly sure what to say to each other. A lot of the tension had lifted since Buffy bared her soul to him. As Danny poked around a suspicious magazine pile he looked over to Buffy seriously. He sighed.

"I'm an ass."

Buffy looked over to him confused.

"This one of those random word things you like to say?"

"No I'm really an ass," Danny explained, "I should have talked to you before jump to conclusions."

Buffy dropped her head.

"No I should've been honest with you from the start." Buffy replied

Danny walked over from the suspicious magazine pile and sat next to her on the sofa. He smiled at her mischievously

"Gotta say," he replied, "the mystery thing was part of your charm."

Buffy looked at him with mock surprise.

"Really? Wow that is the suckiest line I've ever heard."

"Hey, I had, like, two seconds!"

The both of them laughed lightly. Danny looked into Buffy's eyes

"So we square?" he inquired

Buffy's smile became broader. She slid closer to him.

"I'll let you guess." She replied.

Buffy leaned in and kissed him tenderly. Danny wrapped his arms around her waist as they slowly lay down on the sofa. Suddenly there was a knock on the front door. The both of them stopped and looked at the door urgently. Danny gestured her to stay where she was as he moved over to the door. He gazed through the peephole. Danny breathed a sigh of relief.

"It's okay," He said, "Just some priest."

Danny opened the door. On the other side Caleb smiled at him.

"I'm so sorry to interrupt you two but could I trouble you for directions? I just arrived in and I got myself a might turned 'round." Caleb said sweetly

"No problem happy to help Father . . ?"

"Oh, Caleb, Father Caleb." Caleb replied extending his hand.

Happily Danny shook it. In one swift motion Caleb pulled Danny out of the apartment and slammed him into the hallway wall knocking him unconscious. Buffy stood up in Alarm as Caleb entered and calmly gazed at her.

"What do you want from us?" Buffy asked

"My dear, sweet child I am here to clear you conscious and guide you onto the true path," Caleb explained, "You have gone against his will and his divine teachings by breaking the eighth commandment."

Buffy scanned her brain quickly.

"Honor thy Mother and thy father?" Buffy asked anxiously

"No, but very close, 'Thal shalt not steal'. See there was this little trinket he held close to his heart but it was taken from cruelly him by you and your gentlemen friend. I believe you remember it. Small, hexagonal, goes by the name of The Prophet Stone."

Suddenly everything locked into place. She knew why this priest was here.

"You're working for that thing in the cave. The . . . The first evil"

Caleb glared at her in anger. He walked up and leaned over her.

"You do not get to sully his good name in my presence missy! And you will tell me where the stone is."

"Or what?" Buffy asked in concern

Caleb smiled at her in a way that made her feel even less comfortable.

"And the lord said 'Let they of the purest sin be swept from the earth so the righteous of men shall reign steadfast. And with my word be carried forth on herald's wing . . ."

Caleb grabbed Buffy by the back of the neck. From the back of his pants he drew a large hunting knife and held it close to her face as a wicked glint shined in his eyes.

". . . So the cleansing of the wicked will truly be my will.'"

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