DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything to do with Buffy the Vampire Slayer - it all belongs to Joss Whedon.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I apologise for the scene at Spike's club. . .I had been watching a little too much Will & Grace at the time. You'll understand what I mean once you read it.

Chapter 7

After the victory, Buffy had gone back to the changing room to change out of the ugly costume into her other clothes. Just before she went in, someone tapped her shoulder, and she spun around.

'Buffy!' It was the fat balding man who she hoped would hire her. 'That was amazing! Do you know, Kate is the ultimate champion? And you beat her!'

Buffy hesitated. 'So, uh. . .do I get the job?'

He smiled. 'Of course! And the double pay, as promised!'

Buffy tried to smile, but for some reason she wasn't that happy, despite getting the job.

'Can you start tomorrow at 9?'

She nodded. 'I'll see you then,' she replied.

He walked away, a certain jump in his step. She watched him, and then she heard behind her-

'Buffy!' Kennedy called out. Faith was with her, carrying the weapons bag.

'B, you rocked out there!' Faith praised. 'Forget the secretary job, you should do this professionally, kick the ass of every Kate the Great there is!'

Faith and Kennedy were really enthusiastic, but Buffy dampened their mood. 'Not exactly.' They looked at her confused.

'I'll explain,' she said, but then she looked around. 'As soon as we get out of here.'

**********

The three of them went out the way they came in and directed themselves in the direction of the club Spike worked at.

'Come on, tell us Buffy, you're killing us here!' Kennedy wailed. Buffy made sure the three of them were close, and she told them about the green eyes.

'Are you sure it wasn't the light?' Kennedy checked.

'I'm positive! It was a total demon thing!'

'Can we go back and kill it?' Kennedy asked desperately.

'No. . .' Buffy gave her a look. 'I've gotta find out more about this wrestling place before we do anything drastic. I'm starting work tomorrow, I'll try find out more about it from my boss.'

'Do you think he knows she's a demon?' asked Faith carefully.

'Well, I dunno,' Buffy answered honestly. 'We don't know his role in the whole thing, whether he was the one who employed her. If he is. . .he didn't know I was a Slayer. I wouldn't think he'd care what she is, as long as she's strong.'

'But what puzzles me,' contributed Kennedy, 'is: why did he ask you to fight in the first place? What does he benefit from it?'

'Money?' Buffy guessed. 'He bets on us?'

'Probably,' said Faith. They had turned into the street of the club, and in the distance could already see the queue.

'So are we gonna tell everyone?' asked Faith.

'Of course,' said Buffy. 'Especially considering this is the first proper demon action we've had in a while.'

They had almost reached the club, and could see the front door, where they caught sight of Spike with another man, dressed completely in black, looking over the people entering the club. For the first time they'd seen, Spike was wearing sunglasses, and acting very macho to everybody. However it wasn't men and women - it was just men. And some of them with quite revealing clothing. . .

'Oh my God, it's a gay club!' exclaimed Faith, clasping her hand over her mouth. 'Spike works at a gay club!'

Faith was laughing hard now. Buffy scowled at her, but Faith laughed even more.

'Looks like Anya's kind of place,' said Kennedy, half-joking half-serious.

'Spike!' Buffy called out over the crowd. He looked up and, spotting her, whispered something to the other man at the door. He nodded, and Spike walked over through the gays to where the three girls were standing. On the way there, one of the men in the queue whistled at Spike. He rolled his eyes.

'So, what happened?' he asked eagerly.

'Aren't you gonna tell us what this,' Buffy pointed to the queue of gay men, 'is all about?'

'What?' he shrugged. The three Slayers glared at him.

'Oh, you mean the club!' he understood. 'Yeah, well, it was the only place with a job opening. This city does have a high gay population, you know, what do you expect?'

'Hopefully that you're not one of them?' Buffy joked. Faith and Kennedy giggled.

'Look, it's good business! And it's not as if I flirt!'

Buffy raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms.

'Anyway. . .' he said. 'What happened?'

'Buffy fought a demon,' Faith interrupted. Spike's eyes widened.

'What?!'

Buffy explained what had happened, from the changing rooms to the fat balding man. When she had finished, Spike just stared at her.

'Working for him my ass. . .Buffy, you can't go work at that place!' he protested.

'Look, I know it might seem dangerous. . .'

'Seem dangerous?!' he snorted. 'The man sent you out to fight a demon with your bare hands! Who knows what else he'll make you do!'

'Spike, I'm in pain, I have bruises in places I never thought I would - I worked hard for this job, and I'm bloody well taking it!' she paused, rolling her eyes. 'I've spent so much time with you; you're actually starting to influence my speech. Anyway. . .even if I don't keep the job, maybe I can find out more about this demon.'

'But Buffy,' this whole time, Kennedy and Faith had been listening and watching intently, but now Spike wanted some alone time with Buffy. He took her arm, pushing her aside enough so the other two Slayers even with their improved hearing couldn't hear.

'What I said earlier,' he went on, quietly, 'about me not wanting you to get hurt. . .all jokes aside, I love you.' He took her hand. 'I'm not gonna let you injure yourself unless your Slayer duties force you to.'

'But this is my Slayer duty,' she said gently. 'It's just one demon. . .I can fight it.'

There was a break as he looked deeply at her. 'Alright. . .but promise me as soon as you find out more about it and kill it, you'll quit your job, OK? You can find somewhere better to work at, I know you can.'

She sighed, deep in thought. 'OK, I promise.' They leaned in to each other, touching foreheads. He placed his hand on her chin, lifted it up, and kissed her gently. 'I've got to go back now. . .but go home, get some rest.' She nodded.

Meanwhile, Kennedy and Faith had moved themselves subtly towards the queue of gay men. Some of them let out groans of disappointment.

'Oh no! I can't believe he's straight!'

'I knew it, my gaydar just wasn't reacting to him!'

Faith smiled cheekily at Kennedy. 'I have an idea. . .' she turned to them. 'Oh, but boys, he is gay! That girl over there. . .' she lowered her voice, as they all huddled together to hear her better. 'Actually a guy. . .'

They gasped.

'You are not serious!'

'Oh, sweet Britney, my prayers have been answered!'

'There's still hope for us!'

Kennedy stared wide-eyed at Faith, but she had a smile on her face. 'I can't believe you just did that!' she whispered.

'It was just too good of an opportunity to miss. . .'

**********

Buffy, Faith and Kennedy walked home, discussing possible tactics and what they could do next. Faith however failed to mention the little trick she'd played on Spike, and what would lead him to get home that night feeling very harassed.

'Well, your boss is definitely gonna mention it,' said Kennedy. 'So you can be like "oh, by the way, what have you got to do with it all?"'

'I can't seem too suspicious though,' said Buffy. 'If I ask too many questions he's immediately gonna think I know something.'

'Well, just try to find out where Kate came from,' Faith suggested. 'I figure, wherever she came from, that's where you might find out more about her.'

As they reached the house, Buffy unlocked the door, and wandered in to find Willow and Dawn sitting on the sofa, eating mini cookies from a bag.

'Dawn!' Buffy exclaimed. 'What are you still doing up?! Look at the time. . .and you've got school tomorrow. . .Will, how could you let her stay up this late?'

'Oh, I'm sorry,' Dawn answered in her typical sarcastic way. 'Is it wrong for me to be worried about my sister?'

Buffy pouted. 'Sorry. . .' she looked down at her shoes. 'That's sweet of you. . .but your homework better all be done.'

'Got it covered,' she assured.

'So Buffy, what happened?' Willow asked concerned, putting her arm around Kennedy's waist. 'What did you have to fight?'

'Not fight,' Buffy corrected. 'Wrestle.'

Willow screwed up her face. 'As in. . .WWF wrestle?'

'That's the best way of describing it, yeah,' Buffy confirmed.

'But you see, B used a pole. That's the difference,' Faith pointed out, quite proudly, considering she'd been the one that had thrown it down to Buffy.

'The duel pole,' Buffy explained. She got it out of the weapons bag and showed it to them. Willow and Dawn nodded, recognising the weapon. 'I did a couple of Slayer moves on her. The woman couldn't even stay on her feet.'

Faith coughed obviously. Buffy looked at her surprised. 'What?'

'Don't you mean "demon" rather than "woman"?'

'Demon?' Dawn and Willow said at precisely the same moment.

'Oh yeah, she was actually a demon. Good night,' Buffy started going towards the stairs.

'Not so fast,' Dawn stopped her. Buffy turned around. 'Did you kill it?'

Buffy hesitated. 'No. . .but I couldn't! It was already the end of the fight when I saw it was a demon!' They looked at her with annoyed looks on their faces. '. . .but I got the job. . .' she went on.

'You're actually gonna work for this guy even though he made you fight a demon?' Dawn said. 'Is that so smart sis?'

Buffy rolled her eyes. 'Oh, for God's sake, I'll be fine! I'll go to work tomorrow, find out more about the demon, and then I'll kill it. No questions asked.'

They kept looking at her, but this time doubtfully.

'Cross my heart,' Buffy lifted her hand up.

'That's swearing under oath,' Willow pointed out.

'Oh, then. . .scout's honour.'

'You were never a scout,' said Dawn.

'Whatever! Just trust me, OK?' She took a deep breath. 'Where are Anya and Xander?'

'Where'd you think?' Willow raised an eyebrow.

'Ah,' Buffy acknowledged what Willow meant. 'Oh, well, I'm off to bed. See you guys tomorrow.'

With that, she went upstairs, so she would be well-rested enough for her first - and possibly last - day at work.

**********

A/N: TBC. . .Next, Buffy's first day at work, and another request from her boss. More of Buffy's personal thoughts revealed, and her making an important decision.