* * * * * * *
Giles awoke with a start. The sound of his cell being opened cleared any remaining sleep from his mind. "W-what is it? What’s happening?"
The police officer looked down at him. "You’re free to go."
"Wh. I beg your pardon?"
"All charges have been dropped. And, it seems, you’ve been a victim of a conspiracy. Some bureaucrat got his funnies at making us run around chasing trumped up charges."
Ethan. "How? I-I er, how did you find out?"
"He confessed." The officer moved back. "Well. You wanna leave or not? We have better things to do with our time."
"Yes. Yes, er, of course." It was all over? As simple as that? He stepped through the cell, almost afraid it was a trap. Following the policeman out of the holding area, and through the station, he expected them to grab him. To try and force a confession out of him. His trepidation wasn’t assisted by the fact that every police officer stopped and watched his exit.
The officer hurried Giles along. He’d been told to get the librarian out of the station before he asked any embarrassing questions. They’d be lucky to get away with not being sued. This guy was so timid, they could intimidate him into not saying anything. He opened the front doors. "There you go. Go on. Get out of here."
Giles considered taking offense. It wasn’t worth the effort. He just wanted to go home. And see Buffy. One question he wanted answered though. "The, um, the person who did this? You called him a beaurocrat?" At the officer’s nod, he proceeded. "Wh-what happened to him?"
"Don’t know. He just disappeared. Don’t worry. We’ll get him. Nobody is allowed to get away with that kind of activity."
"Yes. Yes." Just murder and other demonic activities. But not making fools of the local constabulary. Pillock. He walked through the doors. The ever-present sun shone brightly. Temporarily blinding him. When his eyesight adjusted he looked toward the road.
They were all there. Willow leaning into Oz. Xander and Cordelia with their arms around each other. They were all leaning against Oz’s van, and wore beaming smiles. In front of the van was Mrs. Summers’ four-wheel drive. She was leaning against the passenger door. And next to her. His Slayer. Come home.
He moved forward. She met him halfway. They stared. Took in the changes the last few weeks had made. Her whispered "I’m sorry" barely reached his ears.
He could only shake his head. "You’re home. That’s all that matters."
"We need to talk. About everything." .
"Yes. But not now. Now I just..." He paused, not able to go on. She moved forward. Their arms came round each other. It was the first time they had hugged. But it felt right. As if they were both, finally, home. He looked at the others. Willow and Cordelia were both crying. Xander was trying to be manly. Oz just smiled. His gaze turned toward Buffy’s mother. She acknowledged his mouthed "Thank you."
Buffy moved back. "I bet I know what you want."
"What?"
"A strong drink. Of tea."
"Yes, well. That is one option." She took his hand and led him toward the waiting Gang. It was time to get back to work.
end