The store was closed, there was no evil to kill and Dawn was out with her friends. It was a perfect night for Giles to just relax. Something he hadn't done in a long time. "Well Mr. Shakespeare? Lets see what you have wrote this time." Giles said as he picked up the book, Hamlet. He sat in his most comfortable chair and enjoyed the warmth of the fireplace. The crackling flames made wicked shadows on the wall. Giles took a sip of his tea that was next to him and put on his reading glasses as he opened up to the first page of Hamlet. He began to read but had not gotten three words in when the door burst open and a herd of teenagers ruined the Watcher's atmosphere that he had worked so hard to create.
"Dawn?!" Who are all these children and why are they here?!" demanded Giles who seemed puzzled and frustrated at the same time.
Dawn looked up at him with a big smile which quickly went away when she saw Giles' mood. "Um, these are friends of mine, they wanted a place to hang out for a few hours so I thought you wouldn't mind. Is that ok Mr. Giles? Cause if it's not then we'll go somewhere else." Dawn made a kind of look that only a young girl could make which Giles couldn't say no to.
"No no it's fine. I'll just go upstairs and be quiet for you and your friends." Giles replied. "Just let me get my book." he turned to his chair which by now was occupied by a young boy. He was reading, or trying to read Hamlet.
"Man this book is dumb. What's with all the weird language?" he laughed.
Giles quickly took it from his hands. "That's not for you!" he remarked. At this, Giles headed up the stairs and lied on his bed. As he stared at the ceiling, the noises of his "guests" could be heard downstairs. Then there was a loud crash.
"DAWN!"
"No no you missed a spot." Giles casually remarked as he watched Dawn sweeping the floor. It was the next morning and Dawn was being punished. Giles was making her clean up her own mess, or rather her friends' mess. He had been firm with her. He laid down the law. He even resisted the look!
"Is that it?" Dawn whimpered. "No I think you still have some more to clean. Perhaps you could sweep the floor?" Giles replied with a bit of laughter in his voice.
"But I just did that!" Dawn said in a loud tone which quickly turned into a soft voice when she realized who she was talking to.
"Do it again." Giles smiled.
Dawn eventually finished her cleaning, and re-cleaning thanks to Giles, and soon they were off to the local supermarket. Giles had his usual small list which consisted of the essentials, milk; bread; toilet paper. There was no room on his list for "sweets" as he called them. But now he was taking care of a teenage girl, things were going to change, whether Giles liked it or not.
"Dawn, now really? What do you need those for?" Giles questioned as Dawn put in a pack of cookies. She had loaded up the cart with every known thing that contained sugar. "I need these." whined Dawn.
"Oh for..." Giles stopped before he said something he'd regret. "Ok Dawn. But no more!" he warned.
They finished their shopping and Giles noticed that he had too many things then he had the money for. He looked around cautiously and then reached down to his ankle and retrieved a secret stash of money. Dawn's eyes went wide.
"There must be a thousand dollars there." she thought to herself. When in reality it was more of about four hundred. But like a true Watcher, Giles was always prepared. As they left the store, Dawn wondered whether she should ask about it but decided to be polite. Although some people were more curious then others.
"Hey!" Dawn yelled out as she was pulled into an alley. Giles was right behind her.
"Let her go!" he demanded.
"Gimme the money and she don't get hurt!" came the man who had now placed a knife to Dawn's throat.
"Alright. Just stay calm." Giles reached into his pocket and gave the thief his money.
"All of it!" said the man. "I saw you in the supermarket. Gimme your sock money too!" he shook Dawn for some intimidation on Giles.
Giles was quick to obey and knelt down to once again get his money.
"Shouldn't of touched the niblet..." a voice trailed off.
"Who said that?" yelled the man and quickly turned. His hand was caught and the knife squeezed from his hand. The man cried out in pain but went for a punch. This too was blocked and then the man was thrown to the ground.
"Sorry mate. But you don't mess with my friends."
"Friends...?" Giles said to himself.
"Spike!" shouted Dawn who immediately hugged him. "Thank God you were here."
Spike patted Dawn on the back. "Yeah yeah. I wouldn't let the bugger hurt you niblet, you know that." Spike said as he took a cigarette out.
"Thank you Spike. But exactly how did you...I mean how are you out here? The sun is out." Giles asked, seemingly confused.
"There's shade in alleys Rupert. I just go through the sewers and come up into the alleys." Spike replied. "If I were you, I'd pick that money up before someone else does."
Giles nodded and began to collect his money and noticed Spike slipping a twenty into his pocket. He looked at him suddenly.
"Low on funds. I figure I save your life, you give me money for smokes." Spike said with a smile as he lit up his cigarette.
Giles sighed, "I suppose."
