"Th...Thanks." The young lady stumbled on her words as she walked from the park, Xander's arms around her shoulder

"Not a problem, I've done it..." Xander took a moment to ponder just how often he'd fought supernatural beasts. "...A lot" he said after thinking that a number in triple figures would not help her state "lets just get you safe, okay?"

"I don't know what to say, what was that thing????"

"You really haven't lived in Sunnydale all that long, have you?" asked Xander with a smile..

"N..No, why"

"Well ..um..er..."

"Karen."

"Well Karen, strange things often happen here." He explained as they turned the corner towards the Magic Box, Karen was still shivering even with Xander's jacket and his arm around her. "Living here isn't just real estate.. it's a lifestyle choice." Xander pushed the door to the Magic Box open and guided Karen inside with the arm that was still around her. "We'll be safe here"

"Safe from what??" Asked Anya's voice from behind the counter.

Looking from Anya, to the attractive blonde, back to Anya, back to the attractive blonde. Xander slowly removed his arm from about the girl

"Um I was attacked" said Karen, sensing the tension in the room, as Anya's eyes bore a hole into Xander's chest." By some guy... Xander hit him in the chest and he exploded"

"In the... In the park" said Xander almost too quickly. "Vampire."

"Vam..." Started Karen in surprise

"Oh really? And why were you in the park? You weren't supposed to be on patrol tonight!" said Anya ignoring the blonde

"I um... couldn't sleep"

"V..va.."

"Likely excuse Xander Harris! " Huffed Anya

"EXCUSE ME!" Karen said aloud.. "I'm still trying to deal with the fact that I just had my life saved and my rescuer is saying I was attacked by a vampire!" she flustered..

"Oh Xander is more than likely correct, Young lady" Came the dulcet english tones of Giles as he entered form the back room. Xander looked awkward for a moment,

"Um Karen, This is Anya and Giles. Anya, Giles, This is Karen, " he made introductions because he figured there was little else to do, other than start arguing."Anya, Honey, can I see you in the other room for a moment?"

"Don't "Honey" me Xander Harris! A few years a go I would have turned men inside out for less.." This warranted a VERY confused look from Karen, so reaching over the counter, Xander hooked Anya under the arm and escorted her from the room. Karen watching dumbfounded.

Giles, who had been sitting back on the stairs up to the bookshelves watching the young newcomer while the argument had been going on, finally made himself known. "Please come and sit down" he crossed to the table and pulled out a chair "umm Karen wasn't it?"

"Yes., and you were Mr Giles.. right?"

"Yesyes... Rupert Giles the proprietor of this establishment." He said as he reappeared from the backroom.. He had a bowl of water and a cloth "here, clean yourself up a bit" Giles sat opposite her and he tried to look at her neck.. there were no bite marks that he could see, Xander must have interrupted just at the right time.

"Thank you, Rupert" said Karen as she took the bowl and wet the cloth and started dabbing at her face. This allayed Giles' fears; she hadn't reacted to the holy water she just dabbed on her face.

"Tell me Karen, did this Va..um"

"Vampire.. That's what you were going to say, right? Xander kinda let it slip a little while ago"

"well did this Vampire have any reason to attack you?"

"Well, No not really, I said something to him and he just turned round and backhanded me." Karen was patting the tender area of her cheek with the cool water. Giles took his glasses off and leant forward

"What did you say?"

"I just complimented him on his tattoo.."

"Ta... tattoo?"

"Yeah he had a symbol tattooed on his forearm" on instinct Giles turned and picked up a pencil and paper and pushed them towards Karen

"Please?"

About Ten minutes later, Karen had finished her drawing, amidst having to listen to Xander and Anya in the other room. "talking", Giles had made tea. She set her pencil down.

"I'm not very good at this kinda thing" she tried to make an excuse as Giles picked up the sketch. He looked at it. "It was some kind of eye ball, I'm not sure why it drew my attention but it did.." Karen watched the older gentleman as he was already on his way towards a staircase when the door opened. Karen jumped a little still a little shocked and awed at the events of tonight, her eyes cut to the door, what she saw was a tall, and in he opinion, strikingly handsome Blonde man,Who immediately locked eyes with her.

"Well, Well, Well, what have we here?" the mans English accent made Karen look at Giles.

"Are you 2 related?" she asked the older man.

"No!" affirmed the older man, while the peroxide blonde laughed and approached sitting into a chair next to her.

"The name's Spike, but you can call me William."

"Leave the girl alone, Spike. She's just had a rough night."

"What happened, hon?" Spike asked Karen a slight hint of mock concern in his voice.

"I was attacked by a v...vampire." Karen was missing the hint.

"Really?.. you want to watch them... tricky buggers, vampires." Offered Spike with a smile.

"Sorry to interrupt your, no doubt riveting, little téte-ta-téte, Spike. But what ARE you doing here? Enquired Giles , looking over the pages of a small book

"Just popped by to see if you had any supplies." Giles looked up and sighed

"There are some in the fridge over there" he said.. "You should be glad I think to keep some around for you Spike." Karen blinked between the 2..

"Oh..cold?" Spike sounded dejected "can I at least use your microwave?" Giles just looked at him, Spike nodded his head and crossed to the fridge and pulled something out unseen and tossed it into the microwave. "So you get saved by the slayer?" Spike directed this at Karen.

"N...no... a guy named Xander."

"Really?" Laughed spike as he pulled his now microwaved goodie out, bit into it and was now sucking

"Yeah he..." It took a few seconds to sink in that Spike was drinking from a blood bag "V...VAMPIRE!" she screamed and fell backward off her chair..

"Well I'm certainly not the tooth fairy" quipped Spike as Xander emerged form the backroom to check everything was allright.

"VAMPIRE!" Screamed Karen again as she scrambled to her feet and headed to the door

"Oh... I'm sorry" said Spike pulling the blood bag from his lips somewhat nonplussed "Want to share?" But Karen was already tearing the door to the magic box open and heading out into the night. Xander fixed Spiked with a glare and ran out after her.. a few seconds later he ran back in picked up a weapon

"Just in case" he said sheepishly

and then ran out again the night swallowing him as he disappeared.