The Waiting is the Hardest Part
After I finished up at Sookie's, there was really not much else for me to do. I took my time getting back to Shreveport in deep thought. Being at Sookie's house really made me miss Sunnydale. Seeing all the pictures on the wall and beat up old furniture made me royally home sick.
I decided to head back to the roach motel and crash for a bit. I stare at my cell. I need to hear a voice from home again, but I didn't want to use my cell. Maybe I can try to get a hold of Xander again? Maybe I'll just use my cell to see if I can get a hold of Spike? The only one that knows where I'm at is Spike and I seriously doubt that he would even bother tracking my cell. I know he hasn't made it back to Sunnydale yet. He's probably driving back home in his 1953 Imperial with black out windows. Maybe I'll call him after dark.
I clicked through the channels to see that nothing was on unless I wanted to watch some stupid reality show about housewives. These people had no idea what reality truly was. It's the kind of mindless dribble that Spike would so enjoy. Oh great, now I'm missing my punk rock vampire again!
I'm back to worrying about Dawn again. What if I don't make it out of this job alive? I don't really worry about who is going to care for her, because I know my friends will be there. Hell, Xander seems to have moved in already. Spike seems to take a shine to her too. Yep, first thing is first, I'm going to be making some phone calls later.
I get bored. I don't need a nap or anything. I feel fully rested. I know I'm fully feed. I munched on fries all the back to Shreveport. I decide to play around on my new toy Eric gave me. The battery is running low so I look through the bag for a charger cord. As I go through the expensive leather bag, I find a red Blackberry phone. A lot nicer then that thing I call a cell. What the hell did I need this for? So I decide to play around with it while the laptop charges.
I go through the phone numbers that some vampire so generously put in. There's Pam, some guy by the name of Tommy Mickens, must be the vampire daytime guy, Fangtasia of course, and a direct link to Eric's personal phone. Great! The gangs all here! I browse through the phone some more and I find a video had been sent this morning around five. I press it on and there is big, blond, and dangerous himself. Hair tied back, wearing a black tank top and wearing it well I might add. Yep, my vamps have nothing on this guy.
"Greetings, Ms. Summers," he says with a smirk. "I suppose you have retired for the night so I thought I would send you a little message. I know that I have shown you the laptop, but I completely forgot to tell you about this phone," he paused and smirked. "Your beauty has enthralled me so."
Yuck! Who does this guy think he is? Some uber piece of Eurotrash, that's what I think.
"Anyway, I have the database programmed here too. Whatever you do, do not loose this phone or the laptop for that matter. We cannot risk any humans getting their filthy hands on these devices," he went on to say. I growled because I am a so-called filthy human.
"You shall return these devices to me once your mission is complete. I wish you the best of luck, Ms. Summers. If there is anything you shall need, don't hesitate to call," he finished his little speech and the screen went blank. I played around some more and found the database. I typed in William the Bloody. There is my Spike in all his punk rock glory. Tears welled up in my eyes as I remembered his scent. Not the cigarettes but the smell underneath it all. Yep, calling Spike first.
I dozed off for a bit. Woke up to the dark sky. I practically ran to my cell where I know Spike's number is. I punched it in and he answered after the first ring.
"Hello beautiful," he answered.
"Spike?"
"Who the bloody hell do you think this is, the bloody queen!"
"Sorry. My bad."
"What do you want, Buffy? I'm going through Texas right now. It's still sort of daylight out."
"I wanna talk."
"Bloody hell! Okay then. Talk."
"I want you to take care of Dawn when you get back. You can stay in…"
"Your bloody basement. Yeah, I bloody know. What's really bothering you? It's more than having me babysit."
"I'm so worried, Spike. I'm worried I might not make it out of Louisiana alive."
"Awww, com'on Buffy. You've fought a hell of a lot worse. Hell you have even fought me and made it out alive. I think you can slay a so-called king. Hell, the bugger isn't even a king, just a second in command."
"Still Spike. I want you to watch over Dawn for me. I'll call Xander and let him know that you are allowed in," I said as the tears started to well up. "Take care of her for me."
"What about you mates, Buffy? The Scoobies? They are just capable of taking care of her. Besides, I might be a bad influence. You know bloody well how you were at the age," Spike said. I could hear his smile over the phone. Spike is doing his best to cheer me up. The Blackberry begins to buzz.
"Hey look! I gotta go. Love you," I said.
"Love you too. Bye," Spike said and I hung up.
I ran to the Blackberry and surprise, it is Eric. He must love himself enough to give me a video conference call. This time his hair is wet like he just got out of the shower and no shirt. Talk about slippery when wet!
"Awww, Ms. Summers! Glad to see you can take my calls now," Eric said in a wise ass way. I wish I could reach through that phone and strangle him. The cocky bastard!
"Yeah, yeah, what do you want," I ask in a nonchalant way. He give me a smirk
"Another thing I neglected to tell you. Your beauty has a way of making me forget," he said, giving me an eye fuck through that tiny screen.
"Okay! Whatever! Just tell me."
"I forgot to tell you what will happen if something does befall you while on your mission. I know you worry about your sister, Ms. Summers and even that motley crew you hang around with. So I am willing to still compensate them for your troubles. Only if you meet your final death. It may not be as much, but they shall receive benefits along with your body." he said in a matter of fact way. "I shall get a hold of them through good old William," he continued. I thought I was going to cry. Vampire aren't the most generous creature on God's green earth. I never expected this. Not from anyone, with or without fangs. Eric must have picked up on my change of mood through the phone.
"Is that a problem, Ms. Summers?"
"No…No prob, Eric," was all I could manage to say.
"Good. I trust all is going well so far," Eric asks in a chipper tone.
"As well as it's going to."
"Good. Pam will be by to bring you some blueprints to the compound. Do me a favor and get your leaking out of the way before she comes. My child is not used to human emotions," Eric said. Then the screen went blank. Better call Xander before my guest gets here.
I dig for some quarters out of the bottom of my purse. I go out to the pay phone to feed it the quarters. I dial the familiar number and pray to God that Dawn doesn't answer. After the second ring I hear the familiar male voice say hello.
"Hey Xander, it's me again," I say.
"Oh hey! Buff, how are you?"
"Is Dawn nearby?"
"No, she's down at The Magic Box with Will and Anya."
"Good. You alone?"
"Yeah, what's up Buff?""I wanted to call to tell you that I'm about to go on some dangerous mission. I can't tell you what it is, much less where I'm at."
"Is Spike with you?"
"Why?"
"None of us have seen him in a while is all. We just thought he ran off after all the coming out of the coffin crap."
"Yeah, I've seen and talked to Spike. He is on his way back to Sunnydale. Speaking of which, if he comes by, let him in. Don't take away his invite either."
"What? Buff you off your rocker?"
"No, I'm perfectly fine. He is the only one strong enough since I'm not there. Besides, you know where all the emergency stakes are if he does happen to get out of hand."
"Yeah, yeah. But I still think your off your rocker on this one. I'll do as you say."
"Good. Hope to be back soon. Love ya, Xander."
"Love ya too, Buff. Bye."
"Bye," I said and hung up the phone. Tears started to overwhelm me as I walk back to my luxury suite. I better a hold of myself before Pam comes.