[That it does.]

[Is Arthur dangerous? I expect he caught you as off guard as me, but assuming we're paying attention and Sherlock is there should we wait to show up until I'm feeling stronger again?]

[He can see magic, and he probably has some theoretical combat training, but I don't think he'd give Sherlock any trouble.]

Now and then, he kisses her forehead.

"I love you," she sighs. "And I feel really, really dumb for falling for that guy's trick. Ugh, I handed it to him."

"What exactly happened?"

"I walked into the library. Giles wasn't there or answering the brainphone, but Arthur said he was one of Giles's colleagues and Giles wasn't feeling well, and he knew I was the Slayer and that it was my birthday, and I said - ugh, I asked him if I got a magic teacher for my birthday. And he said that yes I did and he had me staring into a crystal and then I guess he injected me with whatever cocktail of drugs is this year's gold standard for crippling Slayers. I passed right out. I should've been suspicious that Giles would've stayed home from school without telling me, even if a surprise birthday present seemed innocently traditional."

"Well, somehow I don't think that's a mistake you'll make twice."

"It is not. Anybody besides Giles shows up claiming to be a Watcher, and they get to spend that conversation with their hair on unconsuming cool fire being informed that if I stop paying attention to it the fire will do as fire does."

"I love you," he says with great fondness.

"I love you."

He kisses her forehead again.

Is that the Holiday Inn over there?

Why yes it is!

[He hasn't figured out how to work the wand or the square, has he? Or displayed any understanding of the laser pointers?] Bella asks Giles, with Sherlock conferenced in for common knowledge.

[He has not done any of those things, no.]

[Sherlock, can you find them?]

[Oh, yes.]

[The Holiday Inn might resent it if we break down their door,] observes Bella. [I don't suppose you know another way in? Somehow knocking and saying 'housekeeping' seems unlikely to work.]

[But it would be such fun,] he says brightly.

[Do you want to spend part of your inheritance paying damages to the Holiday Inn? They're innocent, and it's not unavoidable collateral damage like what happened to the orange grove.]

[Ooh, I know,] he says cheerfully. [Let's tell your father this fellow kidnapped you. Then he can break down the door.]

[I'm smart,] Sherlock declares happily.