Authors note: It's another short one – but at least it didn't take me two months to get it out! Thanks so much for your reviews, they really mean a lot to me! And really quicken the writing process! The more I get, the faster the writing comes ;)
As it turned out, the women at the bar were more than willing to supply Jack with all the rum he could swallow. And after he couldn't swallow any more, the ever so helpful women (tramps) practically climbed on his lap to mouth-to-mouth the rum.
Not that Jack minded.
"Now sees here, matey's," He let out a gigantic burp. "'ere's what we'res gonna do."
"Provided, of course, that you can stand," Buffy shot back, nose in the air.
He gave her a glare from behind whoever was on top of him at the moment.
"I's can stands up just fine," he assured, watching with some amusement as the girl on his lap fell off with a shriek as he rose.
"So…this is our therapy? Watching you drink yourself into a stupor?"
Jack swaggered up to her, crashing a few tables in the process.
"No, lassie, this here's just preparation. Cause see, when you've got such dunderbrains before ya, rum just give a little perspective, dinnit?"
"'s gotta point," Spike commented fairly.
Jack closed his eyes.
*Thump*
"Bloody 'ell slayer, what'd you do that for?"
"You idiot! Why did you side with him? What happened to supporting me?"
"What, now I can't give my own bloody opinion?"
"It's a bad opinion!"
"May I remind you, slayer, that this country, along with the shitty alcohol, hippies, and lack of flowering onions in most pubs, has a bloody free speech policy."
Buffy paused, looking confused.
"Bill of rights, slayer! Where were you in history class?"
"I was rescuing the world from vampires like you!"
"Well I'm dead, an' you don't see that stoppin' the learning process!"
"WHAT learning process?"
"Bloody bitch! I finished –"
"You probably never even went to college!"
"Finished at the top of my class."
"Huh?"
Buffy took a minute to imagine Spike, with the sexy red graduation cap and the tassel hanging down, touching his mouth. And the robe. With nothing underneath.
"Yeah, I can sort of see you in college," she amended, giving him a smile.
He gave her a soft smile in return, which turned into a wince as loud clapping filled the room.
"Ex'lent! Really, well done," Jack crowed, having obtained a new bottle of some amber substance. Another appeared in his hand, and he tossed it to Spike. "First step's done."
"First step…of our therapy?"
Jack nodded vigorously.
"See that? See how you both handled that? Came to an understanding, you did. Right way to go. Now, 'ere comes the hard part."
Buffy linked hands with Spike for support.
"I'm gonna as' you queszions now, I am. And you two – you answer. Savvy?"
"Uh-huh?"
"Bloody hell."
Jack settled himself comfortably in his chair, took out a worn green book, and crossed his legs on the table.
"How do you feel about the death of your wife," he asked, expression fixed in a serious yet caring, professional smile.
"You're saying I'm a lesbian?!"
"I had a wife?"
Cringing apologetically, Jack looked down.
"Was one the wrong page," he explained, flipping. "Ah…here we go."
And next chapter, the therapy actually starts. Promise.