Disclaimer: Don't own anyone except Jeannie.
Buffy and Willow were sitting at a table in the Bronze relaxing and enjoying the music. "Ah," Buffy said. "This is the life. No world saving, no demon killing. Just peace and quiet.
"Hi guys!" an annoyingly cheerful voice cried. Jeannie Walker seated herself on one of the empty chairs at the table.
"Hi Jeannie," Buffy said halfheartedly. She was in no mood to put up with the annoying girl.
"Hey, wanna hear about my horrible day?" Without waiting for an answer, she launched into a long and indepth account of a day that Buffy would consider a blessing. It didn't even involve a life-threatening situation. Buffy found her mind and her eyes wandering. Then her heart lifted and for the first time in her life, she was happy to see Spike.
"Oh, Jeannie, we have to go." Buffy directed Willow's attention to Spike, who was making his way to the table.
"Yeah," Willow said. "That guy's kinda stalking Buffy. So we better run."
"But, you didn't hear the rest of my story," Jeannie protested.
"Oh, darn. Sorry, but we really have to go," Buffy said, dragging Willow away.
*******************************************
Spike scowled as he reached the table just in time to see the Slayer slip away with Willow. Since, he could no longer enter her house, he was looking forward to this chance to talk to her again. He had to find a way to convince her to love him!
"Hi," a voice said, snapping him out of his thoughts. He looked down to see a girl about Buffy's age still seated at the table. "I'm Jeannie."
"Friend of Buffy's are you?" he asked, sitting down at the table.
Jeannie nodded. "Oh, yes. She and Willow are my best friends."
"That so?"
"Uh-huh. So, why are you stalking Buffy?" Jeannie asked, conversationally.
Spike blinked and then scoffed. "Oh, please! Is that what she told you? Well, it's a bloody lie!"
Jeannie regarded him for a moment. "Wanna talk about it?"
Spike frowned and was about to give a definite "no" but he reconsidered. "As a matter of fact I do."
Spike told the entire tale of how he'd started having dreams and fantasies about Buffy, then how Drusilla had entered into things, and finally his plan to have a robot constructed who looks like Buffy.
"Hmm," Jeannie said. "It sounds to me like you're projecting."
"What?" Spike demanded, incredulously.
"You don't really love Buffy."
"No?"
"No. See, vampires have to convince themselves they're evil so they won't feel bad about killing. So for the past hundred years you've been running around doing what vampires are supposed to do. But ever since you got that chip in your brain you have no reason to be evil. In fact, you want to be good. And that's where your obsession with Buffy comes in. You see Buffy as a representation of good and you think if you can love her and she can love you then you must be good too. But what you have to realize is that there is good inside you or else you wouldn't be trying so hard to get Buffy to love you."
Spike just stared. "What are you a bloody head shrinker?"
Jeannie smiled. "I'm a psych major." She got up and walked off, leaving Spike to ponder what she'd said.
*******************************************
"Willow!" Jeannie ran up to her in the hallway of the college.
Willow smiled warmly. "Hey Jeannie, what's up?"
"Ugh, my roomate is horrible. She's so mean! She's having friends over tonight and she says she wants me to make myself scarce. So, I was thinking, study party at Willow's?"
Willow looked doubtful. "I don't know...Terra and I kind of had an evening at home planned."
"Great I'll bring the popcorn?" Jeannie looked at her watch. "Gee, I gotta go. See ya tonight Willow. How about seven?"
"Uh..." Willow didn't have time to answer before Jeannie skipped off.
Later in her room,Willow was recounting the tale to Buffy. "Terra and I were gonna have alone time tonight," she whined.
"Well, why didn't you tell Jeannie that, Will?" Buffy demanded.
"I didn't want to hurt her feelings." Willow shrugged. "Maybe an evening with Jeannie won't be so bad."
Buffy looked unconvinced. "Not to sound mean or anything, but Jeannie is kind of annoying. I mean, she talks incessantly."
"Yeah, it's like she *always* has to be the center of attention," Willow added.
Outside the door, Jeannie's eyes welled up with tears. She dropped the book of spells she'd brought for Willow and sprinted back down the steps and out of the dorm building.
Jeannie ran blindly, not knowing or caring where she was going. Finally, she collapsed on her knees, tears running down her face.
"What on Earth is all the bloody noise about?" a familiar voice asked.
Jeannie looked up to see Spike standing a few feet away. She realized she was in the graveyard. Jeannie just sobbed in reply, drawing her knees up to her chest.
"Oh, it's you. What's with the blubberin'?" Spike asked squatting in front of her.
Between sobs, Jeannie managed to gasp out, "The-they hate me!"
"Who?"
Jeannie sniffed. "Bu-Buffy, and Willow. They said they hate me!"
"Now, now, Slayer would say a thing like that."
"They didn't know I was there. They said I was ann-annoying and-and they hate me!." Jeannie started sobbing again.
Spike considered the situation for a moment. Taking care of one of the Slayer's friends might get him back in her good graces. And even if it didn't, he was starting to think she had a point about his obsession with Buffy. "Come now, pet. Why don't you come with me and I'll fix you up a nice drink. You'd like that wouldn't you?"
Jeannie sniffed and nodded. Spike helped her to her feet and into his lair. He guided her to the couch, grabbed a bottle of some liquor or other and two glasses, then sat down beside her.
Jeannie had quieted down a lot, but was still crying a little. "They were my best friends," she said tearfully.
Spike patted her on the leg and poured her a drink. "This'll fix you up good as new. Make you forget all about that mean old Slayer," he said handing her the glass.
She sipped it, then coughed violently.
"Good, huh?" Spike asked, downing his second glass. "Well, come on."
Jeannie hesitated, then downed the glass, launching into anothe fit of coughs.
*******************************************
Four hours later, she and Spike had polished off two bottles and were halfway through the third. "You know what I think your problem is love? You're too needy. Goin' around jumpin up at anyone who happens along. You're like a little poodle. And God knows nobody can stand those things. You gotta be more tough, solemn, you know, cool."
"And you gotta be more...good," Jeannie said in a heavily slurred voice.
"Hey, I got an idea, how about I teach you to be cool and you teach me to be more good," Spike suggested.
All of a sudden, Jeannie burst into tears.
"What's wrong!?!" Spike asked patting her on the back.
"I don't want to be a-a poodle," Jeannie sobbed.
*******************************************
The next morning, Spike woke up to find himself sitting up on the couch. Jeannie was stretched out next to him with her head resting in his lap. He looked her over, she wasn't half bad looking when she wasn't talking; nice body, pretty face. *Fella could get used to this* he thought, looking down at her.
She stirred and opened her eyes. She smiled up at him for a moment and he admired her pale blue eyes. Then, she groaned and puked on the floor. "Bloody hell!" he exclaimed, jumping up and away so he wouldn't get any on his boots.
"Don't yell!" Jeannie pleaded, clutching her head.
Spike grabbed a loose rag and threw it over her mess. "If you're gonna vomit, I'll thank you to do it outside."
Jeannie groaned and lumbered up and out the door. Spike grimaced at the horrid symphony of sounds coming from outside. He started the small gas stove up and placed the coffee pot on top.
By the time Jeannie returned, he had one of the strongest cups of coffee ever made waiting for her. "Thanks," she said, joining him at the beaten up card table.
Buffy and Willow were sitting at a table in the Bronze relaxing and enjoying the music. "Ah," Buffy said. "This is the life. No world saving, no demon killing. Just peace and quiet.
"Hi guys!" an annoyingly cheerful voice cried. Jeannie Walker seated herself on one of the empty chairs at the table.
"Hi Jeannie," Buffy said halfheartedly. She was in no mood to put up with the annoying girl.
"Hey, wanna hear about my horrible day?" Without waiting for an answer, she launched into a long and indepth account of a day that Buffy would consider a blessing. It didn't even involve a life-threatening situation. Buffy found her mind and her eyes wandering. Then her heart lifted and for the first time in her life, she was happy to see Spike.
"Oh, Jeannie, we have to go." Buffy directed Willow's attention to Spike, who was making his way to the table.
"Yeah," Willow said. "That guy's kinda stalking Buffy. So we better run."
"But, you didn't hear the rest of my story," Jeannie protested.
"Oh, darn. Sorry, but we really have to go," Buffy said, dragging Willow away.
*******************************************
Spike scowled as he reached the table just in time to see the Slayer slip away with Willow. Since, he could no longer enter her house, he was looking forward to this chance to talk to her again. He had to find a way to convince her to love him!
"Hi," a voice said, snapping him out of his thoughts. He looked down to see a girl about Buffy's age still seated at the table. "I'm Jeannie."
"Friend of Buffy's are you?" he asked, sitting down at the table.
Jeannie nodded. "Oh, yes. She and Willow are my best friends."
"That so?"
"Uh-huh. So, why are you stalking Buffy?" Jeannie asked, conversationally.
Spike blinked and then scoffed. "Oh, please! Is that what she told you? Well, it's a bloody lie!"
Jeannie regarded him for a moment. "Wanna talk about it?"
Spike frowned and was about to give a definite "no" but he reconsidered. "As a matter of fact I do."
Spike told the entire tale of how he'd started having dreams and fantasies about Buffy, then how Drusilla had entered into things, and finally his plan to have a robot constructed who looks like Buffy.
"Hmm," Jeannie said. "It sounds to me like you're projecting."
"What?" Spike demanded, incredulously.
"You don't really love Buffy."
"No?"
"No. See, vampires have to convince themselves they're evil so they won't feel bad about killing. So for the past hundred years you've been running around doing what vampires are supposed to do. But ever since you got that chip in your brain you have no reason to be evil. In fact, you want to be good. And that's where your obsession with Buffy comes in. You see Buffy as a representation of good and you think if you can love her and she can love you then you must be good too. But what you have to realize is that there is good inside you or else you wouldn't be trying so hard to get Buffy to love you."
Spike just stared. "What are you a bloody head shrinker?"
Jeannie smiled. "I'm a psych major." She got up and walked off, leaving Spike to ponder what she'd said.
*******************************************
"Willow!" Jeannie ran up to her in the hallway of the college.
Willow smiled warmly. "Hey Jeannie, what's up?"
"Ugh, my roomate is horrible. She's so mean! She's having friends over tonight and she says she wants me to make myself scarce. So, I was thinking, study party at Willow's?"
Willow looked doubtful. "I don't know...Terra and I kind of had an evening at home planned."
"Great I'll bring the popcorn?" Jeannie looked at her watch. "Gee, I gotta go. See ya tonight Willow. How about seven?"
"Uh..." Willow didn't have time to answer before Jeannie skipped off.
Later in her room,Willow was recounting the tale to Buffy. "Terra and I were gonna have alone time tonight," she whined.
"Well, why didn't you tell Jeannie that, Will?" Buffy demanded.
"I didn't want to hurt her feelings." Willow shrugged. "Maybe an evening with Jeannie won't be so bad."
Buffy looked unconvinced. "Not to sound mean or anything, but Jeannie is kind of annoying. I mean, she talks incessantly."
"Yeah, it's like she *always* has to be the center of attention," Willow added.
Outside the door, Jeannie's eyes welled up with tears. She dropped the book of spells she'd brought for Willow and sprinted back down the steps and out of the dorm building.
Jeannie ran blindly, not knowing or caring where she was going. Finally, she collapsed on her knees, tears running down her face.
"What on Earth is all the bloody noise about?" a familiar voice asked.
Jeannie looked up to see Spike standing a few feet away. She realized she was in the graveyard. Jeannie just sobbed in reply, drawing her knees up to her chest.
"Oh, it's you. What's with the blubberin'?" Spike asked squatting in front of her.
Between sobs, Jeannie managed to gasp out, "The-they hate me!"
"Who?"
Jeannie sniffed. "Bu-Buffy, and Willow. They said they hate me!"
"Now, now, Slayer would say a thing like that."
"They didn't know I was there. They said I was ann-annoying and-and they hate me!." Jeannie started sobbing again.
Spike considered the situation for a moment. Taking care of one of the Slayer's friends might get him back in her good graces. And even if it didn't, he was starting to think she had a point about his obsession with Buffy. "Come now, pet. Why don't you come with me and I'll fix you up a nice drink. You'd like that wouldn't you?"
Jeannie sniffed and nodded. Spike helped her to her feet and into his lair. He guided her to the couch, grabbed a bottle of some liquor or other and two glasses, then sat down beside her.
Jeannie had quieted down a lot, but was still crying a little. "They were my best friends," she said tearfully.
Spike patted her on the leg and poured her a drink. "This'll fix you up good as new. Make you forget all about that mean old Slayer," he said handing her the glass.
She sipped it, then coughed violently.
"Good, huh?" Spike asked, downing his second glass. "Well, come on."
Jeannie hesitated, then downed the glass, launching into anothe fit of coughs.
*******************************************
Four hours later, she and Spike had polished off two bottles and were halfway through the third. "You know what I think your problem is love? You're too needy. Goin' around jumpin up at anyone who happens along. You're like a little poodle. And God knows nobody can stand those things. You gotta be more tough, solemn, you know, cool."
"And you gotta be more...good," Jeannie said in a heavily slurred voice.
"Hey, I got an idea, how about I teach you to be cool and you teach me to be more good," Spike suggested.
All of a sudden, Jeannie burst into tears.
"What's wrong!?!" Spike asked patting her on the back.
"I don't want to be a-a poodle," Jeannie sobbed.
*******************************************
The next morning, Spike woke up to find himself sitting up on the couch. Jeannie was stretched out next to him with her head resting in his lap. He looked her over, she wasn't half bad looking when she wasn't talking; nice body, pretty face. *Fella could get used to this* he thought, looking down at her.
She stirred and opened her eyes. She smiled up at him for a moment and he admired her pale blue eyes. Then, she groaned and puked on the floor. "Bloody hell!" he exclaimed, jumping up and away so he wouldn't get any on his boots.
"Don't yell!" Jeannie pleaded, clutching her head.
Spike grabbed a loose rag and threw it over her mess. "If you're gonna vomit, I'll thank you to do it outside."
Jeannie groaned and lumbered up and out the door. Spike grimaced at the horrid symphony of sounds coming from outside. He started the small gas stove up and placed the coffee pot on top.
By the time Jeannie returned, he had one of the strongest cups of coffee ever made waiting for her. "Thanks," she said, joining him at the beaten up card table.