Title: Road Trip
Author: Joyce Maetta
Email: zinehall@yahoo.com Disclaimer: Joss owns everything. Spoilers: Season 5 pre Joyce's surgery.
Summary: Buffy and Dawn visit their dad. A curious platinum haired vampire is on their trail. Rating: PG-13
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Chapter 2
"What do you mean he's not here?" Buffy nearly yelled at the new secretary. "We had an appointment." This was so typical, she thought.
"I'm sorry, miss. It's just that Mr. Summers is not available at the moment. Something very important came up which required his immediate attention. He was sure you would understand. He's out of town for the day but should be back tomorrow."
Part of Buffy was numb. She was sure her father had some foreknowledge of whatever was "very important". After all, she'd spoken to him just yesterday ,for Pete's sake, and the plan was a big go. The happy blocks were getting knocked over. Buffy stole a look at Dawn who could barely suppress her tears. What a terrible letdown! And this secretary really did not seem very sorry at all in Buffy's eyes. Just look at her. It's gotta be illegal to wear such a form fitting dress in an office.
Dawn couldn't hold it any longer. She was outright bawling to the consternation of the secretary who rummaged on her desktop.
The secretary brought out an envelope, purposely ignoring Dawn, and gave it to Buffy . "Mr. Summers wanted you to enjoy your visit. He suggested that you go have fun while he's , er, indisposed."
The envelope held the key to an upscale hotel room as well as lots of cash. Buffy took it while Dawn returned to wide eyed mode. Fine. Why does he always do this? Buy our love with cash instead of presence. It was all so ...empty. But , hey, so not going there.
Buffy herded Dawn out. " How does shopping sound?"
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"Enough of this. Slayer's hiding somewhere and I mean to find out where". Spike stood outside the house on Revello Drive. He could see Joyce Summers inside but no one else. The upstairs lights were off. Looks like she's alone. Slayer wouldn't like me to be alone with her mum. The resolve that had been there went vamoose. Where's the Little Bit? Shouldn't she be safe at home all snuggly and not on the streets? Maybe the Slayer and the Bit are together? 'S really none of my business. Spike leaned against the familiar tree. It was his business because she was the only light in his world. One bright illustrious light to offset the darkness.
"Brilliant, luminous, effulgent beauty.."
"Is that you, Spike?" Joyce peered out the window making sure that it was indeed Spike before issuing an invitation. After all, Spike wasn't the only platinum haired vampire in Sunnydale. "Come on in, Spike."
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"And the second kid says, 'You can bet your ass I'm not having Cheerios!" Spike grinned as he recited the punchline.
Joyce was laughing in her rich dulcet tones. She sounded OK. She looked OK but something about her didn't smell right. Spike couldn't put his finger on it but something was definitely off. But she looked happy so maybe everything was going well. The way Joyce told it, the gallery was prosperous and there was even a new man paying attention to her.
"You deserve to be happy, Joyce. About time something went right in this house, eh?" Spike said as he sipped the remnants of hot chocolate in his cup.
"Want some more?"
"If it's not too much trouble, yes." Wish the Slayer could see him being on his best behavior. " Uh, Joyce, I didn't see your eldest out about tonight. You wouldn't happen to know where she is, would you?"
Chapter 2
"What do you mean he's not here?" Buffy nearly yelled at the new secretary. "We had an appointment." This was so typical, she thought.
"I'm sorry, miss. It's just that Mr. Summers is not available at the moment. Something very important came up which required his immediate attention. He was sure you would understand. He's out of town for the day but should be back tomorrow."
Part of Buffy was numb. She was sure her father had some foreknowledge of whatever was "very important". After all, she'd spoken to him just yesterday ,for Pete's sake, and the plan was a big go. The happy blocks were getting knocked over. Buffy stole a look at Dawn who could barely suppress her tears. What a terrible letdown! And this secretary really did not seem very sorry at all in Buffy's eyes. Just look at her. It's gotta be illegal to wear such a form fitting dress in an office.
Dawn couldn't hold it any longer. She was outright bawling to the consternation of the secretary who rummaged on her desktop.
The secretary brought out an envelope, purposely ignoring Dawn, and gave it to Buffy . "Mr. Summers wanted you to enjoy your visit. He suggested that you go have fun while he's , er, indisposed."
The envelope held the key to an upscale hotel room as well as lots of cash. Buffy took it while Dawn returned to wide eyed mode. Fine. Why does he always do this? Buy our love with cash instead of presence. It was all so ...empty. But , hey, so not going there.
Buffy herded Dawn out. " How does shopping sound?"
************************************************************
"Enough of this. Slayer's hiding somewhere and I mean to find out where". Spike stood outside the house on Revello Drive. He could see Joyce Summers inside but no one else. The upstairs lights were off. Looks like she's alone. Slayer wouldn't like me to be alone with her mum. The resolve that had been there went vamoose. Where's the Little Bit? Shouldn't she be safe at home all snuggly and not on the streets? Maybe the Slayer and the Bit are together? 'S really none of my business. Spike leaned against the familiar tree. It was his business because she was the only light in his world. One bright illustrious light to offset the darkness.
"Brilliant, luminous, effulgent beauty.."
"Is that you, Spike?" Joyce peered out the window making sure that it was indeed Spike before issuing an invitation. After all, Spike wasn't the only platinum haired vampire in Sunnydale. "Come on in, Spike."
*********************************************
"And the second kid says, 'You can bet your ass I'm not having Cheerios!" Spike grinned as he recited the punchline.
Joyce was laughing in her rich dulcet tones. She sounded OK. She looked OK but something about her didn't smell right. Spike couldn't put his finger on it but something was definitely off. But she looked happy so maybe everything was going well. The way Joyce told it, the gallery was prosperous and there was even a new man paying attention to her.
"You deserve to be happy, Joyce. About time something went right in this house, eh?" Spike said as he sipped the remnants of hot chocolate in his cup.
"Want some more?"
"If it's not too much trouble, yes." Wish the Slayer could see him being on his best behavior. " Uh, Joyce, I didn't see your eldest out about tonight. You wouldn't happen to know where she is, would you?"