Reprimand

Rating: PG

Disclaimer: I do not own Giles, Jenny or anyone else—I just wish I did!

Distribution: http://mysticmuse.net

Please ask first.

Spoilers: Following Ted.

Feedback: Yes please. I'm needy ;-) I take full responsibility for any mistakes (spelling or otherwise) in this fic.

Pairing: Giles/Jenny

Snyder narrowed his eyes as he noticed the giggling teenagers back away from the library doors. He had no love for any of the kids in the school, but this group inspired a particular loathing. Buffy Summers and her cohorts. He could not begin to imagine what unearthly powers had brought her, Rosenberg and Harris together—and what was even more baffling was that the Chase girl had thrown her lot in with them. But when a man was as rich as Cordelia Chase's father was, no one was going to question her actions. Every time Snyder saw the four of them, his ulcer gave an extra twinge. And they treated the library like their own private club…

The fact that they hadn't marched in there as usual was what had pricked his curiosity in the first place. Snyder began to walk towards the doors. His ulcer gave another twinge at the thought of his other pet hate. Rupert Giles. The man had no respect for Snyder's authority. Or his importance. Or anything else for that matter. Snyder looked through the library window and came to an abrupt halt at the sight that greeted him. A strange expression—a mixture of triumph and disgust—spread across his face as he watched.

A low hum of pleasure sounded deep in her throat as that tender, passionate kiss ended. Jenny opened her eyes slowly, re-focusing on her lover's handsome face. Giles" hands were still caressing her face, every touch sending shivers of excitement through her.

"Yukon, if you keep this up, England, I'm gonna have to start taking my classes in here."

"Rampant computer usage in my library? Never." He brushed her lips with his.

Jenny laughed slightly, tilting her head back so she could see him better. "One of these days I'll drag you into this century. Believe me, it's not that scary a place."

"I'm perfectly happy where am right now, but thank you," he replied, his smoky green eyes glowing with suppressed amusement and passion.

His hands had dropped to her shoulders, but his thumbs were still stroking her neck, the callused digits rasping deliciously against her sensitive skin. Ever since their dramatic reunion in the park a couple of nights ago, they had strived to spend every free moment they had with each other. She had driven him home from the hospital and had been pleasantly surprised when he had not put up much resistance to her avowed intention of staying with him. And when she had slid into the bed next to him, clad in one of his shirts, he had pulled her to him so that she fell asleep with her head pillowed on his chest and his fingers playing with her hair. At the moment he seemed to be in a flirtatious mood, and Jenny was more than happy with that. In fact, she was great with that. It was wonderful to see him looking so relaxed and happy. To see him free—even it was just for a few moments—from the constant strains of his calling. Jenny could feel her own happiness welling up inside and she couldn't resist the urge to play with him just a little. She slid her arms around his waist, pressing herself closer to him.

"Uh-huh, right now here is good. Just a pity it's so public."

"Mm-hmm…" his eyes suddenly widened as he understood her meaning.

"Not that there's anything wrong with public." She added, trying to maintain a look of innocence.

"Y-yes, well, no…I-I mean, not as such…" A red flush was creeping up his face.

"Although, these aren't little kids. They've probably seen worse on Discovery—and it could even be called educational." Her voice shook slightly with suppressed laughter and the corners of her mouth twitched against her will.

"Calendar!" he growled.

Jenny could feel the sound rumbling in his chest and the laugh finally broke to the surface. His face was returning to a more normal color and she leaned forward to kiss him.

"You are an impossible woman," he informed her, gently pushing her away from him. "Go, skate the web, or whatever it is you do."

"It's 'surfing,' Rupert. Goddess, surely even you must…" she broke off and glared at him. "Hey, look at the technophobe making funny computer jokes."

He gave her one of his quick half-smiles, ducking his head slightly, and Jenny felt her insides melt.

"Sooo, maybe tonight, we could find somewhere a little more private?" she asked slowly, her fingers tracing circles on the smooth surface of the counter.

"I think that could be managed," he replied, capturing her in his arms fleetingly before releasing her.

Jenny smoothed down her hair and stepped away from him, just as the library doors flew open. They took one look at the intruder and both groaned inwardly.

Snyder stood in the doorway, his hands on his hips, smirking.

"Caught red-handed," he announced.

"Oh, for pity's sake," Giles muttered under his breath, rolling his eyes.

If Snyder noticed, he chose to ignore it.

"I know you like to think you're above the rest of us, Mister Giles, but I draw the line at…at…debauchery in the middle of the school library!"

"Debauchery?" Jenny raised her eyebrows. "Wow. You really don't get out much, do you?"

Out of the corner of her eye she saw Giles suppress a quick smile.

"At least I know how to conduct myself in a civilized manner," Snyder retorted, his ears turning an odd shade of puce. "You two might try to remember that you're actually teachers in this school, instead of encouraging every lay about, deadbeat so called student in the place to behave like hooligans!"

Jenny glanced between the two men, and almost burst out laughing at the contrast. Snyder—short, balding and bristling with his own sense of self-importance—was almost raised up on his toes as though trying to make himself as tall as possible. His voice was rising in decibels.

Giles, on the other hand, appeared completely unconcerned. He was leaning against the counter; his arms folded across his chest and his head slightly tilted to one side. He looked slightly amused—more as though he were trying to follow Xander or Willow's incomprehensible babbling. But there was something about him: the way he held himself; coiled energy below the surface that could overflow at any moment. It made him appear to fill the room without moving a muscle. It made him dangerous.

Jenny had stopped listening to whatever it was that Snyder was talking about; instead, she allowed her eyes to wander appreciatively over her lover's form, taking in the slightly aristocratic profile and the way his hair curled at the ends. She remembered the implied promise for their activities later that evening and smiled in spite of herself.

Snyder glared at the couple in front of him. They should be quaking by now. They should be defending themselves and pleading with him to keep their jobs. Instead, they looked indifferent. The Calendar woman was actually smirking and the librarian was simply staring back at him. The arrogance of the man! But even Snyder was aware of the implicit menace that radiated off Giles, so he decided to turn his attention back to Jenny.

Jenny had been vaguely aware of phrases like "position of responsibility" and "disgusting behavior" floating around, but had managed to blot most of it out. Until she realized that the latest tirade was being directed at her.

"…setting an example instead of parading around like that." He gestured towards her clothes. Jenny's mind did back flips at the idea of Snyder lecturing anyone on fashion sense. "You obviously have no discipline in your classroom," he continued. There was a manic glint in his eye and the man was becoming incoherent. "And I am aware that everyone is entitled to their own personal beliefs, but…but I don't even know what the hell you are!"

There was a deafening silence and Jenny braced herself.

"Miss Calendar is an extremely talented teacher, who holds the love and respect of all her students. You would do well to remember that."

Giles" voice was low and soft: he had removed his glasses and his eyes seemed to have changed color from jade green to hard silver. She recognized the expression on his face from when he had assaulted that man Ethan. Snyder also noticed the change in Giles" demeanor and unconsciously took a step back.

"That…may be true." He was aware that he had somehow lost the upper hand in this encounter and was struggling to find it again. "But even so-"

"Even so, you're idea of discipline is to attempt to impose a tyrannical authority over these children—consequently you have none."

"None?" Snyder looked bewildered.

Jenny snorted impatiently. "Authority. He's saying you have no authority. And it's all your own fault," she added.

"If you seriously believe that by witnessing a display of affection between two adults in a stable relationship the students in this school will suffer untold mental tortures, then…" Giles suddenly seemed to loose interest in the fight and leaned back against the counter again. "Then you're an even bigger fool than I had previously taken you for."

Snyder stared at him open-mouthed for a second and then finally snapped it shut.

"You haven't heard the last of this!" He began to move towards the library doors. "You can both consider yourselves officially reprimanded!

Silence descended on the library once again.

"Well, that was…different," Jenny said after a while.

"Hmmm."

Giles had buried his hands in his pockets and was staring at the floor, frowning slightly. Perhaps he was more upset by the incident than she had realized. Uncertain as to what to do, she decided that leaving him to work it out of his system might be the safest option.

"I, er, I guess. I should go prepare for class and leave you to cross-reference something." Jenny attempted to inject extra lightness into her tone.

"Hmm."

She ran one hand soothingly up and down his arm. "Come by my place tonight. I can show off my appalling cooking skills and take your mind off things."

After dropping a kiss on his cheek, she started to walk past him and was surprised when he suddenly took hold of he wrist and started to lead her in the opposite direction.

"Rupert?"

He turned to face her and the expression in his eyes made her swallow hard.

"Well, Snyder wanted debauchery and I do so hate disappointing people. But I'm afraid I must still insist on privacy."

Jenny stared at him for a second, not quite believing what she was hearing, but feeling flutters of excitement beginning to run under her skin.

"Are you sure that this is a good idea?"

He flashed her a devilish grin that should have looked ridiculous on a man of his age, but somehow only served to heighten her anticipation.

"I suppose that depends on how you define 'a good idea'," he replied, turning away.

Jenny laughed as he guided her, unresisting, across the library floor and up the stairs into the stacks.

The End

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