DeeDee2B@aol.com

Even In Her Dreams

By Danielle

Disclaimers: They belong to Joss and no one else.

Authors Notes: This is for WC assignment 6. Write a fic with Buffy and Giles
set in the Library during Season 5. Here you go!

"What am I doing here?"

A voice echoed out of the office. "Maybe you were thinking back to when
things were simpler?"

Buffy slumped down in the chair at the large table in the center of the room.
"Were things simpler here?"

Giles appeared and set a cup of tea down in front of her. Looking around the
Library, which had served them so well for three years, he sighed. "Weren't
they?"

She shrugged. "I'm not sure. We had a lot of bad things happen here, too.
Kendra died here. We had to blow it up to take out the mayor. I don't think
things were ever simple."

Giles patted her hand absently. "Oh, I think they were. Here we were safe for
the most part. This was where we came up with all of our plans. Where we
closed the hellmouth, twice. Where all the answers were. Now it just doesn't
see like there are any answers, does it?"

She looked him in the eye. "I don't want to kill my sister."

"I know you don't. But you may well have to, Buffy. We can't let the
dimensions meld. Everyone would die, including Dawn. We didn't want to blow
the Library up, but it was the only way to stop the mayor. Being the Slayer
comes along with tough choices. Ones that rarely seem fair to you or anyone
else."

"But the Library wasn't a person. It wasn't my sister."

"Wasn't it your home away from home for 3 years? It meant blowing up a part
of your life, a part of you."

She slammed her fist down on the table. "Yes it was a part of me. But then I
had more- I had my mother, and my sister to be my real home. And if I kill
Dawn to beat Glory, I won't only be killing her, I'll be killing the last
piece of myself that I have left to hang on to."

Giles stood and walked into the office. Returning, he brought out a picture.
It was of Giles, Buffy, Willow and Xander sitting at the table researching.
Ms. Calendar had taken it a long time ago. He pressed it into her hands.
"You'll always have us, Buffy. Remember that. If there is no other way out,
and you have to kill Dawn, remember that we'll always be there for you. To
keep you centered."

"I know that Giles. I always have known that. Since the first battle we
fought together. But it's not enough. Not enough to fill the void I'll have
left inside me if I kill Dawn. I love her- she's a part of me. And I won't do
it. Not now, not ever. I will protect her with my last breath. Nothing you
can say is going to make me change my mind." She stood and gave him a wan
smile. "I'm sorry, Giles. I know that's not the answer you were looking for.
But it's the one you get."

He grinned back at her. "I expected as much. You wouldn't be you if you chose
to do things the easy way. You never have in the past. I should have known.
We'll find another way."

"Thanks, Giles. I guess I better get going. Dawn needs me." She turned and
walked through the double doors into the hall, and as she did, her eyes
fluttered open.

She woke up and looked around her room. She was alone. And her decision was
made. She would not kill her sister. No matter what the consequences. And
somehow, she knew Giles would understand and believe in her. He always had-
even when she fought him at every turn. Even when she did crazy things
without thinking. Even when it looked hopeless, like it had so many times.
Even, it seemed, in her dreams.