Buffy stared at her watcher. This couldn't be her Giles. It had to be some kind of crazy spell. She looked over at Spike and saw her own shock played out on his face.
"Have you lost your bloody mind, Watcher?" Spike popped up from his chair. "I will not be going to some posh ski resort to fetch and carry for the slayer. I am evil."
"There's a thousand dollars, three bottles of my best whisky, and a carton of cigarettes in it for you." Giles leaned back in his chair and rubbed the bridge of his nose.
Buffy watched as Spike stilled. It was a windfall for him. He was going to agree, stupid damn vampire. She rolled her shoulders back. There was nothing for it. She was going to have to put her dainty foot down, hard.
"You can bribe him, but I am not going." Buffy glared at both of them. "I can barely stand being around him when I come here. I'd never make it, not and still be sane, happy Buffy."
"I understand that this is a lot to ask of you, but doing this small thing could help us greatly." Giles pushed his glasses closer to his eyes and stared at her. "The Council's support does serve a purpose, and this request didn't ome from Travers."
"The Council tried to kill me and they made you the weapon. How can you forget that?" Buffy's chin jutted out and her hands seemed glued to her hips. She didn't flinch when she heard the low rumbling growl from Spike. she didn't spare him a glance.
"The Council did what now?" Spike's voice was different, lower and rumbling.
"There's this test where they take all your powers and make you fight a vamp." Buffy rolled her eyes. "Seems like you'd want a video of it and some popcorn."
"Not bloody likely, Slayer. I am going to be the end of you and I'll tear anyone else that tries to steal my prize limb from bloody limb." His eyes flashed amber for a moment.
"First, you can't be the end of me anymore. No bitey, no killy. Remember?" Buffy tossed her hair and pointed a finger at the vamp. "Second, stop using bloody as your only damn adjective. Your smarter than that, and it's gross."
"Bloody right." Spike stuck his tongue out at her. She couldn't help the quick grin that flashed across her face. He was the most annoying vampire in like ever, but, since Willow's spell, there was a but. Buffy closed her eyes and forced her thoughts away from the bad places.
"Shut up, Spike." Buffy turned back to Giles. One crazy Englishman at a time, please. "Just because the request didn't come from Travers the troll doesn't mean it's a good idea. He's dumb, but not completely stupid. It's easy enough to have one of his fellow trolls call you."
"My father is not a troll, nor is he a lackey." Giles took a deep breath and fastened his green eyes on her. She could see the emotions he so carefully guarded swirling in his gaze. Damn and double damn, she was going to have to do this. She swallowed.
"Why can't Xander go with me or you? Why does it have to be Spike?" She was whining now, and she hated it.
"Buffy, these demons are stronger and faster than you can imagine. I saw one once in the Himalayas. Bullets don't stop them, and crossbows won't work. You have the remove their heads in one stroke. There's a nest. There could be up to six young ones and the two adults. If you should get hurt, Spike is the only one of us fast enough to get you to safety. He might even enjoy the battle, what with his newfound ability to harm those of his own ilk."
"Ilk? My ilk? I have nothing in common with those things." Spike huffed and stomped off to the kitchen making a mess while warming his blood. They both ignored him.
"Then why can't we all go? You know, do the group road trip thing?" Buffy pouted.
"Willow is taking a course in winter session, Xander has just started to succeed in his new endeavor, and I have some work to do with the local museum. Without the income from the Council, we need the funds for weapons and research materials."
"So, I get to go on a trip to the icy north with the bleached wonder." Buffy flopped down in her chair, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Do you honestly believe I would send you away with him if there was another option?" Giles looked at her over the rims of his glasses and her heart sank. There was no getting out of this. She sighed.
"Don't go making promises you can't keep, Watcher. I still haven't agreed to this little jaunt." Spike leaned casually against the wall by the kitchen entrance.
"What more could you want?" Giles' exasperation was clear.
"You're sending me off with your precious slayer and expecting me to squire her about. I need the money upfront." Spike looked into his mug. Buffy knew he was smiling. She wanted to smash his face in. He couldn't just be happy with the offer on the table. No, the stupid bloodsucker had to negotiate.
She sighed and examined the ceiling. There was no need to listen anymore. She tuned out their voices and focused on the spot of demon blood that had evaded clean up after Thanksgiving. It could be mushy peas.
Why didn't any man want to spend time with her? Angel had abandoned her. She grimaced. It was for the best, but it still hurt. Parker had used her. It sucked, and she still felt stupid because of it. Riley was cute, but he just didn't get her. The only time she had ever felt truly loved and accepted was when Willow had tossed Spike at her.
She turned her head and examined her erstwhile fiancé. There were days when she wished Willow hadn't been able to fix everything. It was nice to be loved the way Spike loved, with every part of himself. Oh, she had complained and made faces about it, but that had been the expected show. Willow and Xander would never understand. Giles would probably have her committed.
Spike's eyes gleamed and she knew he was about to deliver his coup de gras. She knew that look. He relished the fight, no matter what kind of fight. Watching him argue with her watcher was just fun.
"Fine, Spike. I will provide you with spending money." Giles sighed. "Is there anything else you will need?"
Spike's eyes darted toward Buffy and she smiled and shook her head. She knew that arched brow. Her watcher wasn't done paying, not by a long shot.