Chapter Seven – Jack

"What are you doing up there?" a young voice called from the roots of the tree.

Spike ignored it.

"Hey, aren't you that fella? The one with the weird rash?"

Spike said nothing, but he really wanted to hit this child.

"Yeah, you're the kid with the sunburning problem. You're like allergic, or you'll die or something. What are you doing in that tree? Sunrise is up in half an hour."

Spike almost snorted. Kid. Right. If only.

"You could get hurt. You should really come down."

God, does he ever shut up.

"Well, fine. I'm coming up then."

He heard the boy grunting as he climbed up the tree. The boy eased himself up next to Spike.

"So, who are you?"

Spike said nothing.

"Are you deaf?"

No reply.

"Well, if you're not going to tell me your name, I'm just going to have to make one up for you," he said. "Let's see. I'll call you….John."

"John?" Spike asked, turning to him. "John. JOHN. Do I look like a bloody John to you?"

"Ah, so the man speaks," the boy impishly grinned at him. He was in his early twenties, with brown hair, and hazel brown eyes, wearing a flirtatious smile. "Nice to meet you, John,"

"Yeah? And what do they call you?" Spike asked.

"The Face of Boe," the kid replied.

Spike snorted. "Great name. Your mother must have hated you."

"Ha ha ha. They call me the Face of Boe because I'm the first person from the Boeshane Peninsula to join the Time Agency. I'm their poster boy." He smiled, and stuck out his hand. "I'm Jack. You?"

Spike shook his hand, but turned away as he muttered, "John." It was the name he was going by when he registered at the Time Agency this time.

Jack shook his hand, and then started laughing. Not soon after, Spike joined in. And he was laughing, drunk off his ass, on top of a tree with a stranger.

He didn't remember what laughing felt like. In a way, he almost felt guilty because of it. He shouldn't be happy.

But he couldn't stop laughing. And he laughed and laughed, with Jack on the roof.

And his heart didn't feel so heavy.