Spike had been sitting in the Desoto on his own in the middle of a rainstorm for about 20 minutes now. Buffy had insisted on going to the payphone on her own even though Spike wasn't sure that they should separate at all for the time being. In the end, he'd given in but still wasn't at ease with the whole idea. She'd been gone too long now and he was half tempted to go and look for her. Just his luck, she would be fine and heading straight back here now. He'd been telling himself this for 10 minutes. He had to get some piece of mind somehow. He leant forward and pressed a button in front of him and suddenly The Sex Pistols began to blare out of the speakers. It wasn't his preferred choice of music right now but it was the only tape he had with him and it was better than the harrowing noise of the storm. He drummed his fingers furiously on the steering wheel, trying to tune out his thoughts and refrain from staring out of the window when suddenly the passenger door swung open and in slumped a drenched Buffy. Water was dripping off of every single inch of her and the paper bag she was holding was almost torn.

"Thought it made sense to get the food while I was out!", she yelled over the music as she threw the bag into the back. Spike continued tapping but in a less anxious rhythm.

"Can you turn that crap off?"

The vampire signed but reached over to shut off the music.

"You really have no taste in music slayer."

"I hardly call a collection of loud noises that deafen people music." She began to ring her hair out and water splashed over the seats.

"Hey! Not over the leather!"

"I'm already sick. I'm not getting sicker because you want to protect your stupid seats."

"Use a blanket at least!"

Buffy scowled at him.

"Fine. But I'm using yours. You can't get cold."

Spike went to protest but Buffy had already launched into the back seat.

Spike had always been outside smoking when she'd seized the opportunity to change but it didn't seem likely that he'd be going outside in this weather any time soon.

"Don't look", she demanded. Spike made a disgusted noise with his mouth.

"You're alright slayer." Spike shuffled down in his seat so that she wasn't in view of the rearview mirror. Deep down, he didn't trust himself not to look. If his heart could beat right now, it would be loud enough to heard miles away as the rustling in the back became more distinctive. It took him all of his self control not to turn around. Suddenly, a bag of blood came flying over his head and landed in his lap. She rejoined him in the front soon after, a boxed salad in her hands. She'd changed into a plain white blouse and bootleg demin jeans, a red check jacket thrown over her shoulders.

"You know how awkward it was going into the butcher's just to buy pig's blood? I was being looked at like I was some sort of freak. You're doing the shopping next time."

"Fine with me love. At least then I can buy blood that I know's fresh." Spike fiddled with the bag, purposely trying to avoid opening it.

"It's still drinkable right?"

Spike's brow furrowed.

"Just."

She threw her plastic fork at him.

"Then drink. We can't afford to get picky."

Spike reluctantly ripped the top of the bag open and downed the thick, sticky liquid in one. Buffy watched in grotesque.

"Pig. Did I not mention to drink it sparingly?"

Spike ignored her and therw the empty packet on the floor.

"So what did Rupey say then?"

Buffy's face fell at the mention of the phone call.

"He was concerned obviously and wants us to go back."

Spike turned his head a few degrees towards her, as if hinting to what she had said.

"I-I said that we couldn't. That it was still too dangerous." There was a brief pause.

"You've done the right thing. Until we can figure out how to stop these buggers, I don't think it's safe to stay anywhere permanently. We'll have to keep moving."

"We could be going forever. Especially if Giles can't contact us with new information. We need a cell at least."

"Sounds like a plan. Unless the Miyrids are phone hackers."

Buffy went pale at Spike's suggestions.

"I was jokin slayer."

"Yeah well don't joke! Not about stuff like this."

"Alright slayer, don't get your knickers in a twist."

That comment didn't help Buffy's already over active and imaginative mind either.

"Just drive alright?", she snapped. Spike's foot was already on the accelerator before she'd even finished the sentence...

A routine of sleeping, eating and a lot of driving ensued over the next few weeks. Spike had remained generally sarcasm free and in return Buffy had tried to keep her snappiness under control. It wasn't always possible however.

"Give it to me!", she squealed. Buffy and Spike were in the back seat, Spike trying desperately to keep their newly acquired phone out of Buffy's reach.

"No! You've been calling Giles twice a day for 2 weeks straight. It ain't gonna help. Giles will phone when he's got news. You're driving yourself crazy. Spike was almost on his back, his hand high over his head. Buffy was trying her best to snatch the cell without leaning over him.

"Not. Funny", she muttered, trying not to giggle. Was she actually lasughing with Spike? She made one last attempt to grab the phone.

He snapped back his hand, causing her to fall forward, only just stopping herself from falling onto him completely by supporting herself with her hands. Spike was now completely laid across the seats, a panting Buffy hovering over him and blocking any way of getting up. His right leg was bent and his arms were now down by his sides. Her hair was dangling over him, almost touching his cheeks. His eyes captured hers and for the first time, she saw him in a completely new light. Someone who wasnt trying to make her life more difficult more than it already was but someone trying to make her laugh, make her happy, make her smile when she didn't really have anything to smile about. Spike wasn't sure what to do. Should he try and get her off of him or leave her to make the move? She still wasn't moving back after 10 seconds but edging closer. He knew how this would end if he responded.

"Slayer. You might wanna..."

Buffy suddenly recalled where she was, why she was here, who she was with.

"Yeah. Sorry." She hopped off of him and stepped forward into the front passenger seat.

"S'okay." He tried to lighten the mood.

"You're still not gettin' that phone back."

Buffy laughed weakly, still reeling from her own actions. Why had she lingered? Spike noticed her discomfort.

"Listen, don't worry about it yeah? You fell."

His avoidance of what had just happened was making things worse...