Title: Chapter 1: Aftermath of the Where Do We Go From Here? Series
Author: littleotter73
Disclaimers: Buffy the Vampire Slayer belongs to Joss Whedon and other companies. I am just borrowing the characters and placing them in my own stories based on the show. I am not making any money from my writings.
Spoilers: Set immediately after the series finale "Chosen"
Pairings: B/G
Rating: FRAO for the series, FRT for this chapter (guessing)
Summary: Now that the Hellmouth is closed, what's next?
Dedication: To my brilliant beta Cat, who is making me a better writer, keeps me honest, and won't let me get away with anything hinky... not "a bit"!

WDWG - Chapter 1: Aftermath

The small band of survivors looked out over the giant cavern that used to be Sunnydale. All that was left of their seven year guardianship over the Hellmouth was their comradeship, their memories, and a few injured Slayers in the back of the school bus they commandeered for their escape. They won, but so much was lost along the way.

As usual, it was Faith who finally broke the silence, "I'm going to check on Robin," she said, her characteristic flippancy gone.

Dawn turned to join her. "I'll check on the others," she volunteered.

The core Scoobies nodded but continued their hushed contemplation. Giles moved closer to Buffy squeezing her shoulder in that comforting gesture he hadn't used in a long time. Xander and Willow moved closer too, and with tearful eyes the small group hugged each other desperately. They truly made it!

The Englishman was the first to pull out of the embrace, "We'd better move on. We must find aid for Robin and the injured Slayers as well as somewhere to settle for the night."

With that he headed back to the bus and Buffy immediately felt the loss. She hadn't realized before just how much she missed his presence, his guidance in her life. They had been so... disconnected the last two years. The Slayer glanced at her two friends still caught up in a comforting hug. They had all been so disconnected over the last two years. So many things had gone wrong leading up to the final battle, but as usual the Scoobies had focused and beaten back the First despite enormous losses. Spike, her champion, saved the world. Anya had found her redemption in her sacrifice, but had broken Xander's heart in the process. So many of the Potentials - no, Slayers - were dead, several of whom she hadn't know at all. And now Sunnydale was gone. No comfortable home to return to. No cemetery where she could visit her mother's grave. No memories of her previous life. Nothing. She looked out over the great cavern again.

Noticing her reverie, Xander tried to lighten the mood, "Think they'll have an explanation for this one?"

"What? The great quake of '03?" Willow asked sardonically.

The three Scoobs exchanged lopsided grins before walking back to the bus, once more ready to face the future.

The drive was uncomfortably long and they weren't able to find a hospital or urgent care center. They did, however, stumble upon an abandoned strip mall with a camping store and a supermarket. The group grabbed clothing and necessities and afterwards, Buffy, Faith, Xander and Giles procured camping supplies, food, water, Gatorade, and first aid supplies for their troupe since it was getting late and they still hadn't found a motel or shelter for the evening. If they hadn't been transporting injured warriors, they probably could have made it to L.A., but the uneven ride could cause more harm.

They were only about 30 minutes from the place Giles took the potentials on their retreat a few weeks back, so it was decided that this would be the best place to set up camp. Xander drove the bus for this leg of the journey and Giles made his way over to where Willow was sitting.

"How are you holding up?" He queried quietly. He knew of her doubts about casting the spell to call the Slayers and what effect it might have on her. She had come a long way from her Dark Willow period, but still harbored fears that the magicks would overtake her again. Instead, she had come through it knowing the utter joy of connecting as one with the earth forces.

"Still buzzin' from the casting, but ok, I guess. You?"

"I'm fine." He dismissed. "We'll need to tend to the wounded first thing. You think you can help with that? I thought you and I might help where we can with some healing spells."

"Sure, but I don't know how much I have left in me tonight."

"You'll do fine. We've already triaged and know who needs the healing magicks the most. They will be our main concern. The rest we'll just clean and bandage up and allow for the Slayer healing to kick in." He replied.

Giles gave Buffy a surprised look after she moved up several seats and sat next to Willow. Discerning his acknowledgement, she suggested, "We should probably plan to stay a few days at the campsite to allow for recovery. Then head into L.A. once we know folks are stable enough to travel again." Shifting her gaze over to where Faith sat cradling Robin's head in her lap, she asked in a lower voice, "Think he'll make it?"

Giles looked into her mossy green eyes, his jade ones softening, "I think so." Abruptly, he got up and moved amongst the other Slayers to check on them, not sure how to react to Buffy. So much had happened between them, not just since his return with the Potentials in tow, but since he'd left after her resurrection. While they had made up after he came back to confront Dark Willow, things had remained strained. They just couldn't get their relationship back to the comfort level they had before her confrontation with Glory... before she died. He shuddered at that painful memory. Recently, he'd found himself again at the sharp end of her temper and shut out of her life after the whole mess with Spike and Robin. Yes, he'd been in the wrong, but he couldn't understand her obsession with defending the vampire. In the end, she'd been right, of course. Spike had been needed. Giles rubbed his neck tiredly. If she'd only tried to explain, but she'd just gotten defensive and shut him out.

Buffy's confused eyes followed him. She couldn't understand why Giles was pulling away, but she felt the need to talk to him, to take comfort from his calm demeanor. She would try again later when things settled down a bit. Willow took Buffy's hand, "He just needs some time," she said reassuringly.

"We all do." Buffy returned quietly.

Just then Xander turned the bus down a small road and a few miles later, they arrived at their destination. Those who could help, set up camp. Tents were pitched, sleeping arrangements assigned, and cots were set up in the mess tent which became the hospital for the wounded. Xander and Giles helped Faith move Robin out of the bus and into the makeshift sick bay. The Watcher called Willow over so they could start the healing magicks on the former principal while Dawn and Kennedy started tending to the rest of the wounded. Buffy started a fire and Andrew stepped up to prepare something for dinner. Night fell quickly but the moonlight was enough to see by and Buffy watched as her mentor stepped out of the hospital tent and headed into the wilderness by himself.

Giles desperately needed to quiet the thoughts racing through his head. They had just come through a battle unlike any they had fought before. The Council was decimated. Were there any Watchers left at all? Could the irony be that now there was one Watcher for an untold number of Slayers out there? God, he was tired. But he couldn't stop thinking any more than he could stop breathing. He had lost many friends in the Council. Hell, he had lost family in the Council. And he hadn't grieved, there hadn't been time. It had all been compounded by the stress of the last several months and returning to a Buffy who constantly pushed him away or outright ignored him. He paused and leaned against a rock pushing his hands deep into his pockets. Everything was in turmoil. Remembering Buffy's command on the bus, Giles steadied himself, and agreed she was right: first things first, take care of the wounded.

"If I had a penny, I'd offer it, but then, I think that wouldn't be enough for your thoughts, Watcher-mine." Giles jumped at Buffy's approach, pulling him from his musings.

He started at the use of the endearment. It had been a long time since she'd addressed him as such and very out of character with her recent behavior. He kept his place leaning on the rock for a moment and Buffy thought he might walk away again. Finally, he said, "Just reflecting at the moment. How are you doing?"

"A little stiff in the side, but doing ok. Slayer healing and all that. Quite the day we had," she understated, trying to draw him out.

"Indeed." Giles wasn't sure what to say. As his mind continued to race, he didn't even know where to begin with Buffy or even if he really wanted to. At a loss for words and realizing it wasn't the time for sarcasm, Giles tossed her a lob, "Robin will be fine, he just needs a couple days rest."

"Yeah, Faith hasn't left his side. Who'd have seen that one coming?" She grinned.

"I did." He said plainly, watching something beyond the horizon and offered nothing more.

The silence was too much for Buffy. She was hoping that now, after the renewed focus of the Scoobies to defeat the First, that she and Giles would have found their familiar camaraderie again. But clearly things were too awkward right now; still too fresh. She gave up and told him, "Andrew's almost done with dinner." With that, she turned around and headed back to camp. Giles straightened, let out a sigh, and followed her.

Dinner was a quiet affair. Kennedy started to talk of the battle, but Faith stopped her. Everything was too raw, the losses too great despite the victory. Xander made to stand up, but Buffy put her hand on his arm stopping him. She then stood, her Gatorade bottle in hand. "I'd like to say a few words and I know I am no good at this sort of thing, but I want to honor those we've lost along the way." Giles had been staring into the fire, but looked up at that. Buffy continued, "They died saving the world and we owe them for their sacrifice. I'd like to have a bonfire tomorrow and we can each say a few words in memorial." She raised her bottle of Gatorade, "To the good fight and to those who sacrificed!"

The Slayer was met with a chorus of "here here's" as they honored their fallen. Xander looked at her, nodded, and took her into a hug. She grabbed his hand and walked into the darkness with him. Giles watched the two go and set his focus back to the fire.

Buffy started once they were out of earshot, "How are you holding up, Xand?"

"I can't believe she's gone, Buff!" Xander choked out, "I miss her." He whispered. Buffy turned to him and wrapped him in her arms.

"I know... I know." She felt his body shake as he sobbed silently. Buffy wasn't sure how long they stood there as she held her friend and offered her support but by the time they walked back to the fire, only Giles remained. Before they got any closer, Xander motioned towards Giles and said, "He needs you. Just be there." Then he excused himself and headed to the tent he was sharing with Andrew.

Buffy sat down to the right of Giles, watching his face in the dancing fire light. She contemplated the different emotions washing over his handsome features and wished she could do the same for him as she had done for Xander.

"It's just us, you know. You can let your guard down if you want. I won't tell." She offered.

Giles looked over at her and attempted to redirect the conversation. "I am sorry about Spike."

She narrowed her eyes, grimaced, and looked into the fire. "Thanks." Silence hushed over them. This was not something she was ready to talk about. The vampire had been a point of contention for a long time. He took her cue and stared back into the fire.

"Are you going to talk to me, Giles? I kinda feel the avoidance thing and I'm not sure how to react to it."

"I'm not sure what there is to say right now, Buffy. It's all a bit overwhelming, actually."

"Can we start with that, then?" She queried.

"I don't know." He replied honestly. "What do you want, Buffy?" He pulled off his glasses, pinching the bridge of his nose. She could hear the exhaustion in his voice.

Buffy knew at that moment that if she wanted things to get back on track, she was going to have to be the one to move things along. She closed the gap between them, but stopped a few inches from his side and kept her eyes on the fire. "I want us to be us again, Giles. Things have been so bad for so long. I thought things were good between us after Willow tried to end the world, but we stumbled somewhere." She turned and looked at him. His jaw was tight and his muscles tense.

"You know why, Buffy." He managed after deciding to pursue this conversation with her. He really didn't want to have it. Not now. It was almost too much.

She blew out a breath. "Spike."

"Yes."

"Ok. I admit. I could have done a lot of things better. Handling Spike was one of them." She threw him that bone.

He stood up, looked down at her, and steadied his voice, "You were right, Buffy, we needed him. I am sorry for your loss."

As Giles started to turn away, his Slayer spoke softly, "Please don't, Giles. I'm trying..."

He sighed. "Give me some time, Buffy. We can talk more when we're not so tired. It was a good thing well done today. I am proud of you... all." With that, he put a hand on her shoulder as an offering as he headed off to his tent.

She didn't know what to make of his evasiveness. She didn't know what to make of him. She turned and looked into the fire, tears welling up in her eyes. He had been there for her all the way through the seven year ordeal and now he had dismissed her. Her Watcher had softened the blow somewhat, but once again, she was alone. Not wanting to bother Dawn in the tent they were sharing with her crying, Buffy decided to keep vigil for the night by the fire, but the mesmerizing dance of the flames soon had her out like a light.

Giles tossed in his sleeping bag, not sure how to clear up the mess with Buffy. He knew he was still angry about Spike - and yet she'd been right, the blond vampire had been the champion. Spike had saved the world and Buffy had lost another lover. Was he being petty? Maybe he should be there for her, comfort her the way she needed, but he just didn't have it in him anymore. He felt petty and he felt selfish, but what about his losses? What about his feelings? Giles thought about what she had said. Yes, she was trying. He just wasn't sure he wanted to anymore. The worst part was that he knew there was a lot of work to be done to rebuild and restructure the Council, and he knew he needed her help with that. The new Slayers needed a Council to support them, and all he wanted to do was say bugger it all. Damn duty! As sleep started to come, he knew that at the very least he would have to mend some fences to make that happen.