Otherside
part 1/3
Author: Frau Hunter Ash
Copyright © 2005 by Hunter Ash. All Rights Reserved.
Email: hunterash1@...
hunterash@...
Feedback welcome!!
Homepage Addy: http://www.hunterash.com/

Disclaimers: The characters and show all belong to Joss Whedon, Fox,
Mutant Enemy, Kuzui, and God only knows who else. The storyline,
however, is the sole property of the author. This story cannot be
sold or used for profit in any way. Copies of this story may be made
for private use only and must include all disclaimers and copyright
notices.

F/F romance: the story assumes a loving and sexual relationship
between people of the same and opposite genders. If this offends or
is illegal for you, then please leave. Come back when you are
older, have an open mind, moved, or changed your laws.

Spoilers: After Chosen

Summary: Giles has gone to England to help set up a new Watcher's
Council. Faith and Buffy have moved to Cleveland to train the new
Slayers. Willow, having hacked into the Council's records and bank
accounts, has set up funding for both ventures and put together a
research group with advanced computers that rival the CIA.

After losing contact with Giles and getting no answers from the Head
Watcher, Jason, Willow plans to head to England. Buffy finding out
about Willow's plans, tags along, determined to find out what's
wrong with her Watcher.

They aren't prepared for what they find. Someone has come back from
the past and they want Giles on the Otherside. Or are they what they
seem? Can Slayer and Witch find answers before Giles crosses and
doesn't return?

Rating: PG13 (USA), 12 (UK), M (Aus)

Pairings: G/other, G/?

# # #

November 1

Buffy Summers watched as Faith put some of the new Slayers through
their paces and nodded to herself. They were coming along nicely
and most were ready to branch out on their own, Buffy thought.

Day after Halloween and most of the Slayers were still moving a
little slow. Having the night off from patrols, Buffy and Faith had
arranged a Halloween party for the trainees and their friends.
Popcorn, horror movies, costumes, and lots of candy.

All equaled sluggish Slayers the next day.

Buffy was worried, though not about sluggish Slayers, there weren't
enough Watchers for two Slayers, let alone individually. So far
there was just Xander, Robin, Faith and Wesley.

It did help that Willow had set up a database and a small team of
researchers in New York. After hacking into the Council's remaining
database (with Giles' approval), Slayers and trainer Watchers had
access to the same resources. After hacking into the bank accounts,
there was enough money for Buffy and Faith to train Slayers, Willow
to set up the computer database and for Giles to begin training new
Watchers.

Giles. Buffy sighed. She missed her Watcher terribly.

It had only been six months and those months had been busy ones.
Still she missed him and regretted harsh things that had been said
between them before facing The First Evil and the destruction of
Sunnydale. They had made up but still…

Since then Buffy, Faith, Willow, Dawn and the new Slayers had moved
to Cleveland to deal with the Hellmouth there and continuing
training the new kids. Giles had chosen to return to England to
recover what he could from the destroyed Council and start a
training program for new Watchers for new Slayers. Even with Buffy
and Faith's physical training and Willow's computers, Giles felt the
Slayers would need the guiding hand and support of a Watcher.

Although it felt almost like sophomore year with Xander, Willow,
Giles and herself back as a team, there was still a wall between her
and her Watcher that she couldn't seem to bridge or knock down.
Even with Spike gone it was as if his ghost and the aftermath of her
death was still coming between them.

Buffy knew Giles was right, he was needed in England and she was
needed where most of the new Slayers and latest Hellmouth were.
Still, she hated the distance.

Buffy sat down at her desk and sighed at the endless paperwork.
Arranging guardianship and schooling for underage Slayers, endless
forms for running a "private girls school," and reports from Angel
in Los Angeles, Giles in London, Willow in New York, the Coven in
Bath, England, and Kennedy in Seattle.

Buffy continued to frown. The tension between herself and Kennedy
hadn't improved after Sunnydale. Throw in Faith's smart-ass attitude
and the fact Kennedy and Willow were going through a meltdown, Buffy
had nearly thrown Kennedy through a wall several times. Kennedy
decided to head for Seattle to be the Slayer there. With a large
artist, Bohemian attitude and large youth populations, vampires
loved Seattle and it needed a Slayer.

The eldest Slayer looked at a familiar photo on her desk. It was
one she had carried in her pocket. This one had been copied and
enlarged and sat on her desk. One of the only ones to survive the
destruction of Sunnydale. It was of her, Willow, Xander, Oz,
Cordelia and Giles. Taken before graduation by her mom.

Buffy stared at Giles who looked uncomfortable in front of a
camera. So many walls she had never bothered to knock down. So much
she never learned about him.

"Why did you let him go, B?"

Buffy blinked and looked up at Faith standing in front of her desk.

"Who? What?"

"G-Man, why did you let him go?" Faith repeated, sitting down on the
edge of the desk.

"He wanted to set up the new Watcher training program," Buffy said,
looking puzzled.

"B… Buffy, I know there's more than that between you two," Faith
said softly, with a slight smirk. "Isn't that why he left after you
came back from the dead? You were looking at him like a father and
he couldn't take it?"

Buffy frowned but nodded. "He wanted to be a friend and respected."

"He wanted more than that and you turned to Spiky," Faith shrugged.

"What are you talking about?"

"You're dense sometimes, Summers," Faith complained. "With the new
Slayers and not being the only Chosen One anymore why didn't you go
to Angel? Willow could fix that soul problem easy. Why aren't you
with him?"

Buffy hesitated, looking unsure of herself.

"What did it feel like when Giles left again?" Faith asked as she
stood up. She pulled a piece of folded up paper out of her hip
pocket. "Try this, Summers."

Buffy took the paper and unfolded it as Faith walked back to the
trainees. The blonde saw it was an email from Willow to Faith.

Faith - have you heard from Giles? His assistant, Jason Longley, is
the one answering phone calls and emails. He says things are running
wonderfully but is worried about Giles. He barely goes into the
office anymore. He tells Jason that he's doing research but won't
say what he's researching. Jason is running things and thinks Giles
set it up that way from the beginning, like he's not going to be
around or something!
Okay, I'm worried. I contacted the Coven but they could only do a
scan of the energy around Giles and they said it wasn't evil, just…
off.
Don't tell Buffy but I'm leaving in two days to see him. We all know
how close Buffy is to him, even closer than the rest of us. I don't
want to worry her until I know it's really time to worry. Maybe
he's just depressed and drinking again. I'll smack him or something
and get him back on track. If it's worse, I'll yell. I'll call or
email when I get there. Willow.

Buffy frowned and looked at the date and time of the email. The
night before.

Giles.

The Slayer stood up and went to a wall safe and drew out her
passport and visa. It was something all the Slayers, Watchers and
Willow and team had in case of emergency and this felt like one.

Buffy could feel Faith's eyes watching her as she turned and quickly
walked over to the other Slayer.

"I'll handle things here," Faith said as Buffy approached her. "You
go and kick Giles ass and then… whatever feels right with him."

"Faith, not every relationship is based on sex," Buffy complained.

"Right," Faith smirked and shrugged. "Call when you connect with
Red."

# # #

3 November

Willow's eyes widened when she opened the door to her apartment, she
was expecting one of her team coming to take her to the airport.
Instead, it was Buffy Summers standing in her hallway.

"Uh, Buffy? Hi? Impromptu visit? I'm kinda heading out," Willow
stammered.

"I've got my passport, you?" Buffy asked, dropping her travel case
at Willow's feet.

"Passport?" Willow asked, trying to sound surprised.

"Willow Rosenberg, big bad witch or not, you're still a miserable
liar," Buffy grinned. "Aren't we leaving soon? Faith arranged a
ticket on the same flight as yours."

"She can be such a bitch," Willow mumbled.

"I've got a cab downstairs and scared off your team mate," Buffy
added. "Let's go."

"Why are you going, Buffy?" Willow asked as she grabbed her suitcase
and laptop case. "I mean, you're needed with the Slayers and stuff.
We don't know anything is wrong for sure."

"It's Giles," Buffy said calmly, grabbing her case and walking down
the hall, leaving Willow to catch up with her.

# # #

4 November

By the time they actually reached Heathrow airport, both girls were
quiet and thoughtful. Buffy was a little irritated that Willow
hadn't shared her concerns with her but had with Faith and that
Willow and Faith seemed to be sharing a secret and Buffy couldn't
get it out of Willow.

Willow was irritated with Buffy for some reason but wouldn't tell
the Slayer why, and both were worried about Giles.

"I think that's Jason," Buffy said as they cleared Customs.

"Why do you say that?" Willow asked wearily. She hated traveling so
long.

"Because he looks like Wesley," Buffy smirked.

Willow did have to agree that he looked like Wesley. Tall, thin,
glasses but with a shock of black hair instead of brown.

The young Englishman smiled tentatively as they approached. "I
recognize you both from photos Giles has showed me," Jason said
almost shyly.

"I'm Buffy, this is Willow," the Slayer smiled a small
smile. "What's up with Giles?"

Jason looked surprised at Buffy's bluntness and stammered, reminding
her very much of Wesley when corrected by Giles over something.

"Well, I'm not quite sure," he said slowly as they headed out of the
airport. "I, uh, haven't actually seen him for a fortnight."

"Two weeks," Willow quickly translated.

"That long? That isn't normal, is it?" Buffy asked, looking even
more worried.

"No, it isn't," Jason said, unfurling his umbrella in the normal
English November rain. "Three days ago he stopped answering his
phone. I rang round yesterday but he wouldn't let me in. He was
unshaven and looked like he had been up for days. What I saw past
him in his flat, well, he seemed to be in the midst of some major
research."

"Will? New prophecy worrying him?" Buffy suggested.

"Not that I know of, there's nothing in the computer base and the
Coven hasn't heard any rumbles," Willow said slowly, tossing her
luggage in Jason's car, followed by Buffy's. "Is he using a
computer?"

"Yes, since you gave him lessons, he's been using it more and more,"
Jason nodded, opening the doors.

"Maybe I can hack into his system and get an idea what's bugging
him," Willow suggested softly.

"Will, is that ethical?" Buffy teased as she crawled into the back
seat.

"What about the firewalls you set up?" Jason asked, ignoring the
Slayer's teasing of her friend.

"Well," Willow began to blush a bright red. "I, uh, well… I left a
back door in the programs."

"Back door?" Buffy asked and Jason laughed.

"Typical hacker," Jason commented. "Most programmers leave a way in."

"Like in War Games?" Buffy asked, remembering the 80s movie that
Willow found amusing.

"Yes, exactly," Willow shrugged.

"Then let's head to the mansion and do it," Jason nodded firmly.

"How are the trainees doing?" Willow asked as they drove along.

"Very well, we've lost two since beginning," Jason said, watching
the traffic around him. "One couldn't handle the studies and the
second couldn't keep up with the physical training. I'm afraid we
might lose one next week but the remaining fifteen are doing well."

"Why one next week?" Buffy asked from the back seat.

"Well, she can't seem to adapt to the social changes she'll be
facing," Jason sighed. "Bit posh and looks down."

Willow smiled at Jason's slipping into a touch of lower class slang
and turned to face Buffy. "She's upper class and turns her nose up
at anyone from the wrong side of the tracks," she translated.

"Or country," Jason added.

"She definitely wouldn't work in America or France," Willow nodded.

Buffy frowned, turning to watch out the window. Having never been to
England, she felt a little behind Willow, who had spent several
months in England with Giles.

Giles. Buffy sighed. She missed Giles more than she even wanted to
admit to herself.

# # #

Buffy had been impressed with the set up Giles had arranged in
England for the new Watchers. A mansion had been adapted to almost
a mirror of the school she had formed for the Slayers. The major
exception was the huge library and the magic room. Unlike the
previous Council, Giles insisted on Watchers having more than a
passing knowledge of magic and students weren't rejected if they
showed a magic talent.

The lower floor included a gym, kitchen, rec room, dining room,
offices, and reception area. The second floor was the library,
computer room and magic area and the third floor was bedrooms, three
of them actually small apartments for Jason and teachers.

Originally one of them had been meant for Giles but he had moved
into a small flat the month before.

Buffy and Willow joined Jason in the library, door locked against
anyone walking in unannounced and magically sealed against
eavesdropping.

"Describe what's happened the last six months," Buffy
demanded. "What's led to this?"

"The first month went smoother than I expected when Mr. Giles and I
began here," Jason sighed. "The mansion came together quickly and we
found students to start with. Mostly relatives of previous Watchers
and Council members."

Buffy and Willow nodded, they had seen the reports from both Giles
and Jason in the previous months.

"There were some glitches in teaching the Watchers basic magic,"
Jason continued, blushing. "We, uh, had a slight fire and then a
flood when the students attempted to use magic to put out the fire."

Buffy tried to resist giggling, images of a sorcerer apprentice
Mickey Mouse being swept away by water running through her mind.

"After that, things seemed to fall into place. Giles found teachers
from somewhere, most in Europe, to train our Watchers. Then… he
seemed to lose interest," Jason said slowly.

"Last time he did that he just drank himself silly," Willow
commented thoughtfully. "This feels… more serious."

"Do the computer thing, Will," Buffy urged. Several minutes later
Willow grinned and motioned Buffy and Jason over.

"I'm trying to find what he's researching. I can't make out his
filing system, if he even has one," Willow complained.

"What do you mean? Giles files letters from friends alphabetically,"
Buffy muttered and Jason chuckled in agreement.

"Not on the computer, it's all disorganized," Willow sighed and
continued clicking and exploring. "Here's something, stuff he's
filed in the last week. What is this?"


How long how long will I slide
Separate my side I don't
I don't believe its bad
Slit my throat
Its all I ever

I heard your voice through a photograph
I thought it up it brought up the past
Once you know you can never go back
I've got to take it on the otherside

Centuries are what it meant to me
A cemetery where I marry the sea
Stranger things could never change my mind
I've got to take it on the otherside
Take it on the otherside
Take it on
Take it on

Pour my life into a paper cup
The ashtrays full and I'm spillin my guts
She wants to know am I still a slut
I've got to take it on the otherside

Scarlet starlet and she's in my bed
A candidate for my soul mate bled
Push the trigger and pull the thread
I've got to take it on the otherside
Take it on the otherside
Take it on
Take it on

Turn me on take me for a hard ride
Burn me out leave me on the otherside
I yell and tell it that
Its not my friend
I tear it down I tear it down
And then its born again

How long I don't believe its bad
Slit my throat
Its all I ever
Otherside
Red Hot Chili Peppers


"Song lyrics? Is he singing again?" Buffy asked, reading over
Willow's shoulder.

"Kinda downer, isn't it?"

"Behind Blue Eyes isn't exactly a dance number," Buffy
countered. "What else?"


it's been awhile since I could hold my head up high
and its been awhile since I first saw you
its been awhile since I could stand on my own two feet again
and its been awhile since I could call you

you're everything I can't remember, it's the passing of time
it seems
the consequences are rendered, I've stretched myself beyond
my means

and its been awhile since I could say that I wasn't addicted
and its been awhile since I could say that I loved myself as
well as
and its been awhile since I went and fucked things up just
like I always do
and its been awhile but all that shit seems to disappear
when I'm with you

and you're everything I can't remember, it's just passing me
by it seems
the consequences that I've rendered, I've gone and fucked
things up again
why must I feel this way
just make this go away
just one more peaceful day

its been awhile since I could look at myself straight
and its been awhile since I said I'm sorry
and its been awhile since I've seen the candles light your
face
and its been awhile but I can still remember just the way
you taste

you're everything I can't remember, it's the passing of it
seems to me
I cannot blame this on my father, he did the best he for me
its been awhile since I could hold my head up high
and its been awhile since I said I'm sorry
(Staind - It's Been Awhile)

"Oh, this is not good," Buffy grumbled.

"I'd heard rumours that he was playing in a small Goth Punk type
club," Jason said softly, blushing when they looked at him. "I
didn't want to say anything in case he… he seems to keep his music
to himself."

"Okay, here's something different," Willow declared, quickly
scanning through a file. "Celtic deities of the Underworld," she
mumbled. "Welsh Underworld God Gwynn ap Nudd… fairy people, Wild
Hunt like Odin, Underworld called Annwn… associated with Avalon.
He's got a date highlighted on his calendar and here it is in the
research: 8 November - Gwynn ap Nudd, Avalon. What does that mean?
His notes are so damned random."

"Glastonbury Tor," Jason responded. "It's thought to have been the
place of the mystical Avalon when it was surrounded by water. It's
still a very magical place, complete with the ruins of an old abbey,
spirals, and rumours of fairies."

"Fairies are a problem for Slayers?" Buffy asked, obviously confused
by Giles' choice of research topic, as was Willow.

"Not normally," Jason shook his head and Willow nodded in agreement.

"Humans rarely see them anymore, you have to really work at it,"
Willow added. "Sometimes the elves and fairies weren't nice to
humans, other times they want humans as mates but that was old
stuff. They don't usually pay attention to humans and this world
anymore."

"Working at it, like knowing where the doorways are?" Buffy asked,
looking at the information on Gwynn ap Nudd.

"Why in the name of the Goddess would he want to contact the
Underworld?" Willow demanded, throwing her hands up in confusion.

"I don't know but we'd better find out quick. November 8th is only 4
days away," Buffy said firmly.