"Spike, it's your turn" Willow yelled up into the loft just as jingling bells signaled Xander's entrance at the front door of the shop

CHAPTER TWO

"Spike, it's your turn" Willow yelled up into the loft just as jingling bells signaled Xander's entrance at the front door of the shop.

"Bloody hell, I'm busy woman," Spike yelled back.

"Don't tell me, tell Giles" Willow responded lightly. "Xander could you lock the door and turn over the closed sign? Xander turned the sign over, pulled the blind down and locked the door. Just then Spike leapt down from the second floor, landing lightly in front of Willow.

"Show off" Willow muttered as Spike swaggered his way to the training room "How was work Xander?" Willow asks as Xander approached the counter.

"Peachy Monday" Xander replied sarcastically as he leaned over the counter to give Anya a peck on the cheek as she was counting money in front of the cash register. "How's sales today An?"

"A little slow, but I'm sure my studies in advertising will start paying off very soon"

"I'm sure they will my little entrepreneur, Hey where's Tara and the Dawnster?"

"Dawn's up there" Willow said while pointing to the loft and "Tara's got grocery shopping duty this week, then she's going to pick up dinner for us"

"Cool, what's on the Scooby agenda for tonight, the usual?" Xander inquired while he walked across the room to flop down in a chair and propped his steel-toed boots up on the table.

"Yeah just the norm, except if I'm a good little Wicca Giles might let me kill a demon with my mind" Willow gushed excitedly.

Dawn then appeared at the top of the ladder and started making her way down. "Hey Dawn, how was school?"

"It was school, just glad it's over"

. . . . . .

"Rupert, is this really bloody necessary?" Spike asked.

"Yes it is bloody well necessary, now will you concentrate and pull that blindfold back up" Giles said while circling his trainee.

As soon as the blindfold was in place Giles attempted a foot sweep which Spike easily hopped over. Next came an upper cut, which Spike once again easily dodged. This went on for another two or three minutes before the vampire was completely bored once again and ripped the blindfold off and sauntered over to the couch and sat down on the arm with an exasperated sigh.

Giles just watched him then shrugged his shoulders and said "Fine, I guess we can quit for today but"

"Great" Spike said as he jumped up and headed toward the door "I just go back to my reading then"

"Spike!, will you wait until I finish my bloody sentence" Giles said quite aggravated. Spike turned and looked at the man with an expectant look on his face. "Like I was saying we can't forgo the rest of the training today but no more books either. I want you to get some rest before patrol tonight, Willow maybe trying some new things and I want you rested incase something goes wrong"

"Rupert, I'm a vampire, I don't need rest" Spike said even though he has extremely exhausted he hadn't slept since the day before yesterday.

"No arguing, if you don't rest, you don't go" Giles said flatly.

"Fine, no need to get your panties in a bunch, I'll just go fetch the rest of my dinner and crash on the couch back here until patrol time" with that Spike turned and left the room.

"Bloody hell, what have I gotten myself into with this bunch" Giles said to the empty room before heading into the shop."

"Ready for more book time, Spike" Dawn said as soon as Spike entered the room.

"No, I'm going to get a little rest before patrol, I'm just gonna run back upstairs to get that wonderful dinner you brought me" Spike said on his way up the ladder.

"Okay, we don't want a sleepy vamp going all dusty on us" Dawn replied just as Giles walked in the room.

"Willow, what time will Tara be joining us?" Giles asked.

"Anytime now, Giles, she's bringing pizza"

"Well, yes, of course she is, that's all we ever seem to eat these days" Giles replied "I'm going to run to Buf . . er. . . I mean I'm going to run home and get changed do you need anything I can pick up?"

"No, I'm good, thanks Giles"

Just then Spike jumped down from the loft this time landing right behind Giles silently and said "I don't need anything either Rup"

"Bloody hell! SPIKE! stop doing that." Giles said in his surprise. Dawn just giggled as Spike walked to the back while taking a swig from the carton.

TBC . . .