Guardian VI

She was still asleep when I finally made it. The disease had drained her and her body was still trying to heal herself. Sometime in the future he she would possess the rude health of the Slayer but that was still years away.

I put my bag down on the kitchenette counter and take out the container of cold blood. I can't help but cringe at the half-congealed mess but I manage to get it down in one tasteless gulp. With the container of warm chicken soup in my hands I make my way into her room. The girl formerly-known-as-lil'bit stirs and opens her bright green eyes. I plaster a smile into my face and nod towards my offering. She manages a weak grin.

"You went away" she whispers. The blisters had also erupted in the inside of her throat.

"I'm sorry but we were low on supplies" I muttered back. "I brought you some chicken soup. It might ease the ache in your throat"

She rose to her elbows as I made my way towards her. I put down the container on the bedside table and arranged her pillows so she would be in a sitting position with the bedcovers on her lap. When she was set I sat down next to her and took the plastic spoon in my hand.

The look she gave me was comical. Barely out of babyhood she wouldn't let me baby her and took the utensil into her own hand. That's my girl.

Neither said anything as she attacked her soup. She had not been able to swallow anything but water and Tylenol for the past few days so she was very hungry. I waited as she finished her meal.

When the last drop of soup had been consumed she fell back on her pillows. I picked up the empty container as well as the remnants of her illness. The glass thermometer almost slipped from my grasp but I caught it before it fell. Taking more care, I left the room with her eyes following my every movement.

I reached the kitchen and threw the container and spoon away. The thermometer needed washing before it went back to its plastic case. I turned the water as hot as it could get since temperature was not really an issue but proper disinfecting was.

My hands under the running water were shaking. The little glass stick slipped and crashed into the stainless steel sink splitting in half. I watched transfixed as the little ball of mercury slipped from one half of the broken thermometer and was pulled into the drain.

I always manage to wreck things.

Seconds later I was back in her bedroom. She had drawn the covers up but was still awake. Her eyes studied my face. Something was troubling her.

"What's wrong bit? Do you feel sick?"

She didn't answer but looked away. I made my way to her side.

"Hey, you know that you can tell me anything pet. I won't be mad" I volunteered.

Still, she did not say anything. A large tear rolled down her cheek. My undead heart lurched.

"That's okay sweet bit. You don't have to say anything if you don't want to. Just remember I'm here no matter what"

And I was, really. I have to be honest and admit to myself that things are not going the way I thought they would. I wasn't manipulating her, creating my own version of the Slayer but rather she was changing me. And what is more disquieting is that I have no idea how any of this is going to turn out.

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It all seems to be coming together now. The papers that the Marl demon delivered were more than adequate to enroll one Summer Blake in the local elementary school. We still resided in the same ratty basement apartment but I'd found an elderly Hispanic lady who would take her from our front door to the school bus stop and back for twenty five bucks a week. My girl was thrilled about going to school. It was all she would talk about for days. I indulged her enthusiasm and bought her an adequate wardrobe and school supplies.

In all her excitement she couldn't sleep the night before she went to school. I tried reading to her but she wasn't soothed at all. Realizing that my actions were futile, I gave up and settled for giving her one more chat. You can never be too careful…

"So bit, lets run through it again" I began only to be stopped by her pouting lower lip.

"What's wrong?" I asked and the lip protruded even more.

"You said that it wasn't my name anymore" she all but spit out.

I rolled my eyes. The name issue was not resolved yet. "Don't take it like that luv. 'Bit' is your nickname but the people at school are not going to call you that"
"What's a nickname?"

"It's just something that people call someone that they are close to. I call you that because when I first saw you were a tiny little thing"

"How little?"
"Very small. You were so small that I could bathe you in the kitchen sink"
She laughed at that. Her laugh still sounded like a tinkling bell and it coaxed my own.

Seemingly pleased at her effect she cuddled next to me on the bed. A quiet yawn betrayed her. I pulled the blankets about her.

"Don't worry luv. You'll do fine tomorrow"

She nodded. She already had the confidence of a Slayer.

"And if you don't I'll eat your teacher" I offered.

She knew that I was kidding and gave me a lopsided smile. My status as a vampire no longer bothered her. It had become a non-issue after I explained it to her and discovered that she was much more tolerant than your basic human. The Slayer at five had a truly unique perspective that was not customary of her calling. Time would tell if it would stick.

TBC. Coming up next: Summer and Spike's adventures or rather misadventures in Kindergarten. Raising the future "Chosen one" is not as easy as it seemed. Please R&R. I appreciate even the flames.