Chapter 5
Title: Just Messing Around
Author: Joyce
Email: zinehall@yahoo.com
Disclaimer: Joss is King.
*****************************************************************
Buffy is working at the Doublemeat Palace thankfully in the back room. She has not been keen on working at the register out front ever since Riley surprised her. She is mindlessly wrapping burgers with Tom so that they won't fall behind. The Doublemeat Palace has no shortage of customers. Dinner time, 5-7PM, is the busiest time of the evening. She has the wrapping down to a science. If the customer wants something extra, someone else can insert it in the burger.
The Doublemeat Palace has no shortage of customers. Tom is new and anxious.
"Am I doing these right?," he asks. "Are the edges OK?"
Buffy looks at him, stifling an exasperated sigh. "Yeah, they'll do".
She can't believe that some people place high hopes on this job. It's just supposed to be a steppingstone to something better. Yeah, right. She had told herself that at one time. But was there really something better out there for her?
Unfortunately, Buffy's mind wanders again. Not jealous of Sam really. Sam and Riley made a great couple. What is it then? She's jealous of what they have...the marriage which she'll probably never have. Too dangerous for her to marry someone, especially a normal person. They'd be a continual target as the Slayer's husband. Just look at how Dawn is targeted. A husband would be a much more visible target to demons who made it their business. At least, Dawn as a teenager, was ashamed to be constantly seen with Buffy. Buffy did ,however, want warmth and companionship in her life. And something more. She wanted to cling and be loved by an equal. She thought of her father, Hank Summers, and blamed him for her seeming inability to have a workable relationship. Angel was the love of her life and he'd left her. And if that wasn't enough of a low point, Parker Abrams,a normal human, had used her and discarded her. Think again. Maybe Parker was the source of her difficulties. Maybe she'd placed a shield up which was impenetrable. Maybe Riley saw it and got tired of trying to knock a hole through it. Spike was different. He had been the one to always see right through her. She had enjoyed their companionable bickering. That was something she secretly enjoyed. Secret because she hid it from the Scoobies. She'd surprised herself by being so turned on when she'd found out his chip didn't work on her. Where'd that come from? It was fire. Self destructive? She'd needed it like a wino needed a bottle. But Spike wasn't going with the spirit of the thing. It was just sex for itself. Since when had she become Parker? It really hurt her to see Spike's hopeful eyes each time they'd made love. That's why she'd bolted in the mornings. Hopeful of what? Something she couldn't give him certainly. It all became too much. "Tell me you love me." The look on his face was eye opening. She just couldn't do this to him anymore. She wasn't a jerk.
Tom knocked over a box of wrappers sending paper all over the floor.
"Oops. I didn't mean to. I was just trying to keep up with you," he said as he awkwardly started to pick up the papers.
The crashing noise brought the manager to the door. At Tom's utterly helpless expression, Buffy said it was no big. The manager crossed her arms, shook her head and left.
"Just slow down, Tom. You will have your speed soon enough. Just take your time now. Everything costs money. The boss won't be happy if you rush to destroy things." Buffy helped Tom toss the now contaminated wrappers.
She changed gloves and got back into the wrapping rhythm and thus, into her reveries. Yeah, Spike understood her. Wonder what he was doing now?
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Spike had found a light piece of chain and some useable leather in the rubble from which he fashioned a makeshift dog chain. He knew that humans could get into trouble for walking with an unchained dog in Sunnydale. Stupid rule really and funny too. There were all sorts of nasty unchained beasties and the human authorities would fine a bloke for a loose dog.
Spike and Bear walked amiably in silence. Bear's previous training served him well. He knew how to heel properly so that he wouldn't get caught in the strange chain. Bear led Spike to the spot where his mistress had been assaulted. Police tape surrounded the area as Spike had known there would be. Bear whined and tugged on his chain. However, there was nothing to be done now. It was up to the police. Spike, of course, could have followed a blood trail for the police but that would open up all sorts of questions. It was best to let the humans solve the mystery.
Spike tugged gently at the leash and pulled Bear along. They went to the local pet shop before it was closed. When they arrived, the clerk complimented Spike on such a healthy looking dog. Spike just smiled. He hadn't had anything to do with it but didn't want to arouse the suspicions of the clerk. Who knows..she might think him a dognapper or something. He knew enough that dogs were big business and dognapping was a serious offense even if he didn't understand it. Dogs were delicacies to many of his demon friends and they'd pinch puppies secondary to their first choice, kittens. Better lay low from them. Yeah, don't trust demons again. There's something special about this little guy. Spike bought a proper chain, some food and a pooper scooper. Must keep the crypt clean in case of accidents. He chuckled. Yeah, right. He managed to keep the glum feeling down. Bear whimpered questioningly. Spike petted him and went back to the counter to ask the clerk about getting rid of pet accidents. She recommended Watkins Permanent Pet Odor Eliminator which she just happened to have under the counter. A human who mixed her real job with a side job, hmm. Spike trusted that this would work. He'd seen enough infomercials on TV and Watkins was an old reliable product.
They left the store and found themselves by the Doublemeat Palace. Buffy saw them first and hid. Spike with a dog on a chain? The same dog from last night. What is this? A pet? She breathed a sigh of relief. She didn't want to think of Spike as being a puppy eater. Still she kept out of sight.
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Dawn and Kevin were out walking after having malts, the official bonding drink of teenagers. This was an unoffical date ,sort of, but not really. Kevin and Melissa were Dawn's best buds from school but Buffy didn't need to know that one of them was a boy. Maybe Kevin liked her just a little? Buffy didn't even care enough about her friends to check them out. After all, there had been the Halloween incident. As far as Dawn was concerned, this gave her more freedom but she still seethed inside. Giles had been the one to step in and set bounds. That was supposed to be Buffy's job. Willow? Oh, please. She was busy in her room with her own problems so it had been easy to sneak off and meet Kevin at the malt shop.
They'd just been laughing and catching up on the school gossip. Dawn liked the fact that Kevin always noticed the antics of Kirstie and her gang to diss Dawn and Melissa. As a good friend, he was on Dawn's side. Kirstie was just the female version of a bully. Kevin, being smaller and a target of jocks, really didn't like Kirstie despite her preening before him. She was one of those girls who thought all boys, including the ones she didn't think much of, should bow down before her. Not this guy. Dawn was a real girl, one of the sparkling beauties of the school, even if she didn't know it. He beamed at her as they walked. Now was not the time to tell her. He was confused at the feelings that brew beneath the surface ,bubbling up now and then. No. I'm too confused. Why confuse her too?
"Hey, Spike!" Dawn suddenly called out, breaking Kevin's revery. Kevin looked to see an older, white haired guy with scuffed Doc Martens and a sinister looking coat ..and a cute fluffy dog. Was this guy a family friend? He'd never been to Dawn's house and Dawn didn't talk much about home. But the guy looked dangerous.
Spike stopped and, noticing Dawn with a boy, glared at the boy. Who was this wanker? Why was Dawn out alone with him? Did Buffy know? His Victorian upbringing was shocked and he wanted the boy to know it.
"Ooh, a puppy," Dawn's eyes widened in glee ..and then stopped. What's wrong with this picture? Vampire and dog? She didn't like the implications. Her mouth hung open with suppressed words.
Spike, catching the look, hurried to ease the fear in her eyes. "Don't worry, B..Dawn. Just walking Bear, here." He once again turned his gaze to the boy. Got to keep him quaking in his boots. Who is he?
Dawn, no slouch, caught the message. " Uh, this is Kevin, a friend of mine from school. Buffy knows him." She added the lie on as a matter of course. "Kevin, this is Spike, my sister's friend."
"Pleased to meet you, Spike." Kevin had started to extend his hand out of politeness but stopped when the glare increased twofold. He looked down and shuffled his feet. Not a good feeling here.
"Just walking the girl home, were you now?" Spike directed this to Kevin, Kevin nodded feebly. " Right then. I'll just walk along with you. Make sure you get there all safe and sound." He smirked.
Dawn's shoulders dropped knowing the jig was up. Kevin didn't mind. He was finally going to see where Dawn lived.
"So, Spike, where'd you get the dog?" Dawn tried to take the focus off Kevin.
"Does Buffy really know Kevin, here?"Spike didn't miss a beat.
Dawn bit her lip.
TBC
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Please excuse the Watkins plug. Hee, hee.
Title: Just Messing Around
Author: Joyce
Email: zinehall@yahoo.com
Disclaimer: Joss is King.
*****************************************************************
Buffy is working at the Doublemeat Palace thankfully in the back room. She has not been keen on working at the register out front ever since Riley surprised her. She is mindlessly wrapping burgers with Tom so that they won't fall behind. The Doublemeat Palace has no shortage of customers. Dinner time, 5-7PM, is the busiest time of the evening. She has the wrapping down to a science. If the customer wants something extra, someone else can insert it in the burger.
The Doublemeat Palace has no shortage of customers. Tom is new and anxious.
"Am I doing these right?," he asks. "Are the edges OK?"
Buffy looks at him, stifling an exasperated sigh. "Yeah, they'll do".
She can't believe that some people place high hopes on this job. It's just supposed to be a steppingstone to something better. Yeah, right. She had told herself that at one time. But was there really something better out there for her?
Unfortunately, Buffy's mind wanders again. Not jealous of Sam really. Sam and Riley made a great couple. What is it then? She's jealous of what they have...the marriage which she'll probably never have. Too dangerous for her to marry someone, especially a normal person. They'd be a continual target as the Slayer's husband. Just look at how Dawn is targeted. A husband would be a much more visible target to demons who made it their business. At least, Dawn as a teenager, was ashamed to be constantly seen with Buffy. Buffy did ,however, want warmth and companionship in her life. And something more. She wanted to cling and be loved by an equal. She thought of her father, Hank Summers, and blamed him for her seeming inability to have a workable relationship. Angel was the love of her life and he'd left her. And if that wasn't enough of a low point, Parker Abrams,a normal human, had used her and discarded her. Think again. Maybe Parker was the source of her difficulties. Maybe she'd placed a shield up which was impenetrable. Maybe Riley saw it and got tired of trying to knock a hole through it. Spike was different. He had been the one to always see right through her. She had enjoyed their companionable bickering. That was something she secretly enjoyed. Secret because she hid it from the Scoobies. She'd surprised herself by being so turned on when she'd found out his chip didn't work on her. Where'd that come from? It was fire. Self destructive? She'd needed it like a wino needed a bottle. But Spike wasn't going with the spirit of the thing. It was just sex for itself. Since when had she become Parker? It really hurt her to see Spike's hopeful eyes each time they'd made love. That's why she'd bolted in the mornings. Hopeful of what? Something she couldn't give him certainly. It all became too much. "Tell me you love me." The look on his face was eye opening. She just couldn't do this to him anymore. She wasn't a jerk.
Tom knocked over a box of wrappers sending paper all over the floor.
"Oops. I didn't mean to. I was just trying to keep up with you," he said as he awkwardly started to pick up the papers.
The crashing noise brought the manager to the door. At Tom's utterly helpless expression, Buffy said it was no big. The manager crossed her arms, shook her head and left.
"Just slow down, Tom. You will have your speed soon enough. Just take your time now. Everything costs money. The boss won't be happy if you rush to destroy things." Buffy helped Tom toss the now contaminated wrappers.
She changed gloves and got back into the wrapping rhythm and thus, into her reveries. Yeah, Spike understood her. Wonder what he was doing now?
********************************************************************
Spike had found a light piece of chain and some useable leather in the rubble from which he fashioned a makeshift dog chain. He knew that humans could get into trouble for walking with an unchained dog in Sunnydale. Stupid rule really and funny too. There were all sorts of nasty unchained beasties and the human authorities would fine a bloke for a loose dog.
Spike and Bear walked amiably in silence. Bear's previous training served him well. He knew how to heel properly so that he wouldn't get caught in the strange chain. Bear led Spike to the spot where his mistress had been assaulted. Police tape surrounded the area as Spike had known there would be. Bear whined and tugged on his chain. However, there was nothing to be done now. It was up to the police. Spike, of course, could have followed a blood trail for the police but that would open up all sorts of questions. It was best to let the humans solve the mystery.
Spike tugged gently at the leash and pulled Bear along. They went to the local pet shop before it was closed. When they arrived, the clerk complimented Spike on such a healthy looking dog. Spike just smiled. He hadn't had anything to do with it but didn't want to arouse the suspicions of the clerk. Who knows..she might think him a dognapper or something. He knew enough that dogs were big business and dognapping was a serious offense even if he didn't understand it. Dogs were delicacies to many of his demon friends and they'd pinch puppies secondary to their first choice, kittens. Better lay low from them. Yeah, don't trust demons again. There's something special about this little guy. Spike bought a proper chain, some food and a pooper scooper. Must keep the crypt clean in case of accidents. He chuckled. Yeah, right. He managed to keep the glum feeling down. Bear whimpered questioningly. Spike petted him and went back to the counter to ask the clerk about getting rid of pet accidents. She recommended Watkins Permanent Pet Odor Eliminator which she just happened to have under the counter. A human who mixed her real job with a side job, hmm. Spike trusted that this would work. He'd seen enough infomercials on TV and Watkins was an old reliable product.
They left the store and found themselves by the Doublemeat Palace. Buffy saw them first and hid. Spike with a dog on a chain? The same dog from last night. What is this? A pet? She breathed a sigh of relief. She didn't want to think of Spike as being a puppy eater. Still she kept out of sight.
****************************************************************
Dawn and Kevin were out walking after having malts, the official bonding drink of teenagers. This was an unoffical date ,sort of, but not really. Kevin and Melissa were Dawn's best buds from school but Buffy didn't need to know that one of them was a boy. Maybe Kevin liked her just a little? Buffy didn't even care enough about her friends to check them out. After all, there had been the Halloween incident. As far as Dawn was concerned, this gave her more freedom but she still seethed inside. Giles had been the one to step in and set bounds. That was supposed to be Buffy's job. Willow? Oh, please. She was busy in her room with her own problems so it had been easy to sneak off and meet Kevin at the malt shop.
They'd just been laughing and catching up on the school gossip. Dawn liked the fact that Kevin always noticed the antics of Kirstie and her gang to diss Dawn and Melissa. As a good friend, he was on Dawn's side. Kirstie was just the female version of a bully. Kevin, being smaller and a target of jocks, really didn't like Kirstie despite her preening before him. She was one of those girls who thought all boys, including the ones she didn't think much of, should bow down before her. Not this guy. Dawn was a real girl, one of the sparkling beauties of the school, even if she didn't know it. He beamed at her as they walked. Now was not the time to tell her. He was confused at the feelings that brew beneath the surface ,bubbling up now and then. No. I'm too confused. Why confuse her too?
"Hey, Spike!" Dawn suddenly called out, breaking Kevin's revery. Kevin looked to see an older, white haired guy with scuffed Doc Martens and a sinister looking coat ..and a cute fluffy dog. Was this guy a family friend? He'd never been to Dawn's house and Dawn didn't talk much about home. But the guy looked dangerous.
Spike stopped and, noticing Dawn with a boy, glared at the boy. Who was this wanker? Why was Dawn out alone with him? Did Buffy know? His Victorian upbringing was shocked and he wanted the boy to know it.
"Ooh, a puppy," Dawn's eyes widened in glee ..and then stopped. What's wrong with this picture? Vampire and dog? She didn't like the implications. Her mouth hung open with suppressed words.
Spike, catching the look, hurried to ease the fear in her eyes. "Don't worry, B..Dawn. Just walking Bear, here." He once again turned his gaze to the boy. Got to keep him quaking in his boots. Who is he?
Dawn, no slouch, caught the message. " Uh, this is Kevin, a friend of mine from school. Buffy knows him." She added the lie on as a matter of course. "Kevin, this is Spike, my sister's friend."
"Pleased to meet you, Spike." Kevin had started to extend his hand out of politeness but stopped when the glare increased twofold. He looked down and shuffled his feet. Not a good feeling here.
"Just walking the girl home, were you now?" Spike directed this to Kevin, Kevin nodded feebly. " Right then. I'll just walk along with you. Make sure you get there all safe and sound." He smirked.
Dawn's shoulders dropped knowing the jig was up. Kevin didn't mind. He was finally going to see where Dawn lived.
"So, Spike, where'd you get the dog?" Dawn tried to take the focus off Kevin.
"Does Buffy really know Kevin, here?"Spike didn't miss a beat.
Dawn bit her lip.
TBC
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Please excuse the Watkins plug. Hee, hee.