FOOLS FOR LIFE

CHAPTER 21: WORK PLAN

"Yes, I'm.....I'm sure there's an interesting story behind that." Tara said, glancing at Spike's lower regions.

In the place where his pants were supposed to be buttoned, a bendy little twig had been tied in a knot, keeping his pants together, after a fashion.

"I don't really need the details." Tara said, softly clearing her throat as she poured some water in a coffee pot. "But seeing how tensions are already running high, maybe it's not a good idea if Xander picks up on that. Especially considering that the twig may be doing something of a job replacing the button, but that the zipper's position is still...shall we say, vacant." She glanced again. "Especially when you bend forward..ahem."

Spike looked down with a curse. "Ah, uh, yeah...okay. Good point."

"I don't suppose you could get changed or something? Your crypt isn't that far."

Spike flustered. "Ahm...well y'see..this is basically, sort of.."

She looked at him, not understanding.

He sighed. "....the one pair I got."

"I thought you had at least a few?"

"Well....some get torn when you fight, but ehm, most...got torn when Buffy and I...regularly....met. Hadn't gotten around to nicking some new ones."

Tara had to smile. "Ah, okay. Well, I don't think you'd fit into some of Buffy or Willow's pants..."

"Not bloody likely." he grunted.

"..so let me see if I can find you some safety pins."

While she opened a kitchen cabinet Spike scratched his head. Not exactly his idea of a good time: discussing the failure of his pants with a lesbian wicca bird. She was nice enough about it, but still. And she had a point, if monkey boy had noticed he had been hoisting an unconscious Buffy around town with his parts practically hanging out ...no time for that.

She handed him a box of pins. "Thanks" he muttered. She moved to leave the kitchen and give him some privacy, but before she could do so he said. "Hey."

She stopped and turned. "Yes?"

"This thing...with Buffy...I didn't want this." He looked up at her. "That's the truth."

She nodded with a solemn look. "Yeah, we sort of already figured that. But you have to admit it didn't look all that great."

"No I don't imagine it did." he sighed. "Uh, thanks for the pins. When you have to enter a rough demon bar, even a twig looks good when it comes to keeping your pants up, but otherwise..."

She nodded. "Yeah..I can see that. And I can see how you get those 'cramps'." She gave a teasing little giggle. "Must be drafty." And with that, she went back to the living room.

Spike watched her go as her words sank in. Buffy's birthday. "Cramp in my pants....put some ice on it..Huh, so she was in the know even then, prob'ly." He'd wondered about that. And when exactly had she gotten all clever and teasing-like? Oh well, live and learn. Not like he'd had much dignity left by then anyway.

Spike carefully got to work on his pants. VERY carefully. That area had suffered enough for one night!

At least the trusty sidekicks were all over Buffy's.... problem now. Things would probably work out. They always managed. And he'd do whatever it took. What he didn't want to do now however, was imagine how Buffy would look at him after she was better. Maybe he should get a head start already! Or maybe he should just bare his chest and get it over with. Getting your heart torn out on a daily basis was getting kinda old anyway.

"That's the spirit, mate." he muttered to himself. "Now, if you're done whining, let's get back in the game eh?" He checked his pants, made sure the pins weren't all that visible unless you looked really hard, and went back to the living room where the Scoobies were still at it.

"Anya, do you think it's possible Halfrek's still in town? Or could she be halfway around the world by now?" Tara asked.

"No I think she's still in Sunnydale. It's like I can almost sense her, but not quite. She's hiding somehow. And it's ....changing. Like when we drove over here she felt closer at some points than others."

"Could she be hiding from D'Hoffryn with a spell?"

Anya shook her head. "Nothing she herself could do. Anything done with our power, he can sense."

"So she went and got help." Spike said. "Someone in the know. Somebody good."

Willow froze as a thought hit her. "It....moved, you said?"

Anya nodded. "I was wondering if she was driving around but it was more like teleporting. Not quite, but similar. But I'm sure she's not. D'Hoffryn would find her in a heartbeat if she teleported by herself."

Willow sighed. "I think I know where she is."

"What?" Xander asked. "How do you know? Where is she?"

Willow frowned and didn't answer him. "Alright" she said. "This is what we're going to do. Xander, you look for locating spells in case I'm wrong. Tara, you and I will work on something else."

"Willow, I better do that alone.." Tara tried. "No." Willow said. "Buffy needs us. We need everyone doing whatever they can. It will be okay, maybe...maybe you can do most of the ritual, but even if I have to join in, so be it. If we even manage to find anything. But it will take the two of us to work this out. What Anya said, about the spell being unfocused, gave me an idea. Maybe we can try something."

"Nothing will work." Anya said. "Only Halfrek can..."

"If we try to break it, yes. But we're not. Maybe we can bend it a little. If it works, it could be useful. But let's look into it first. Anya, Spike!" She gestured them to follow her as she walked to the front door. They exchanged looks as they both noticed the sense of authority suddenly hanging around the redheaded Wicca. Then they both did as she said.

"Alright" she said as she opened the door. "You're going to find Halfrek. You can sense her Anya, and Spike is still the wisher," Spike looked at his shoes for a second. "so it's probably a good idea he's there as well. Plus, if you run into trouble, Spike can help you out."

Spike grinned. "Have the Big Bad keep an eye out for her? Sure red, but where are we going then? You said you have a clue where she's at?"

Willow sighed and looked uncomfortable. "Yes, I could be wrong, but with everything Anya said, it seems logical. And you know how to find it yourself actually."

Understanding dawned on Spike's face. "Ahh, yeah I see what you're saying... and I see why you're not coming with us, luv. Bad vibes, huh?"

Willow's face hardened a little as she saw he got it. "I would stay here anyway. I have to work on that spell, but....yeah, bad vibes."

"Fair enough." Spike nodded and started walking out the door. "Coming, luv?" he said to Anya, who followed after some hesitation.

As they were walking down the street she elbowed him. "What was that all about? Where are we going?"

Spike lit up a cigarette.

"We're going to visit someone, luv."

"Great," Anya said. "Anya asks a question, she doesn't get it, so let's be MORE cryptic! Who are we going to visit??"

He blew out some smoke as they walked on.

"Fella named Rack." he said.

** **

TBC!

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