Chapter Eight
Colleen looked speechless at her son, and Laurence just sat back down. Connor didn't say a word. He knew they just needed a moment to let it sink it.
Laurence looked up at his son. "What about college? What will you be doing? Why?"
Connor looked at his shoes for a moment, then sat down in front of his father. "Well as for college, I can take a leave of absence for a year. I've already checked. What I'll be doing is very likely fighting demons and evil things that go bump in the night." Colleen sat down heavily, but Connor continued. "Why? Because I need to go with them. There is this whole other part of me I am just beginning to understand. I need to explore that...to learn from it."
Colleen whispered, "And you can't do that here?"
Connor shook his head sadly. "No Mom, I can't. I have to do this alone. I can't protect the people I love with only half the information. What if those nut jobs come back? I need to go, and find out who I am....and what I am capable of."
Laurence looked at his wife resignedly. "We knew he would have to enter the big bad world someday." She nodded weakly back. He looked at his son and smiled. "But I didn't think it would be to go fight the forces of darkness."
Connor looked in awe at his parents. "You mean I can go? You're ok with this?"
Laurence looked thoughtfully at his son. "I don't we'll ever be a hundred percent ok with it. But we can understand it...the need to go, to prove yourself, and find your own way. Just make sure you call often, and let us know you're ok."
Colleen looked tearful, but nodded. She started sniffing, "I'm sorry...but my baby is leaving home...I'm going to get a bit weepy." She leaned over, and engulfed her son in a hug.
Spike watched the sun descend from the sky in wash of pinks and purples. He took the last drag from his cigarette, and went back inside. "So whatcha up to then," he said as he sat down on the couch next to Layla. Gunn looked at the kitchen door, then back at the vampire. "Kid's telling his folks what's up...and that he wants to come with us."
Spike raised an eyebrow at that, and found himself blurting, "He wants to do what?"
Gunn looked at him with surprise. "Thought you'd had figured that out? He wants to get in touch with his roots, so to speak. He wants to make a difference."
"He wants to make it up to Angel, you mean," Spike frowned.
Gunn nodded. "That too. I say we let him. Kid's a good fighter, and god knows we need all the help we can get. What have we got to loose?"
Spike sat back, and considered. Illyria, who had been sitting silently, spoke up. "It would be pleasant to my eyes to see his face. There is much we can teach him."
Gunn smiled. "That's two votes."
Spike looked at Layla. She was staring off into space. "So what about you then? You're part of the team now, what's your vote?" She turned, and looked at him. Spike shivered a little. He was glad no one noticed. Layla nodded in agreement with the others.
Spike sighed. "Great Angel's gone, and now we got mini-Angel in his place." He sat up, and waved his hand. "Fine, Kid's in. What about his parents though? They've got a say in all of this, you know."
As if in answer, the doors to the kitchen opened, and out came a happy, if emotionally drained, Connor, followed by his parents. Spike and the others stood quickly if awkwardly.
Laurence smiled slightly, and put his hand on Connor's shoulder. "Take care of our boy."
Gunn grinned.
Spike stood at the truck beeping the horn blaring the horn. "Come on Kid! Time's a wasting!" Layla walked over from where she was standing with Illyria and put a hand on his arm.
"He is saying good bye to his family and all he knows. Give him a moment," she said. Gunn chuckled as he loaded Connor's two bags into the back of the truck, as well as some food his mother had insisted that they bring along as well. "Yeah, Blondie really knows the meaning of patience."
"Sod off!" came the indignant reply directed at him from up front. Spike turned to Layla, and stepped out of the truck. "Look Angel Toes, we only got so many hours before the sun comes up, and we still need to get back to the motel and check out. Forgive me, if I feel we need to get out collected arses in gear."
She smiled. "Your forgiven," she said cheekily. Spike almost dropped his cigarette he was lighting, and looked over at her. "That was rhetorical!" he said. Her smile became bigger as she leaned in till she was inches away from his face. If he breathed his breath would have been caught in the back of his throat, as it was he could feel hers on his lips. "I know," she whispered, and walked off back to Illyria. It took a moment till he found his voice again, "Right," he mumbled. "Knew that," and walked off quickly.
Gunn watched the scene with interest. 'She's getting to him,' he thought. It was obvious to him, that there was something starting there, and he was curious to see where it would lead. It should be entertaining to watch, and he would place a very large bet that if anyone could tame Blondie it would be her. He closed the back of the truck, and saw Connor wave to his parents and head over. Illyria took note, and she and Layla also returned to the truck.
"We ready?" Gunn asked. Connor nodded. "Right, everybody in! The Champion Express is leaving the station," he said opening the truck door. Connor groaned at the young man's comment, and got in; followed by Illyria and Layla. Gunn got in the passenger seat, and Spike slipped into the driver's.
"Right!" The vampire said, "Let's get this bloody trip on the road!" He started the truck, and drove down the driveway. Connor looked out the back window, watching his home grow smaller and smaller until it disappeared into the night
Ok folks! That concludes this episode...stay tuned for Episode Four: Who Watches the Watchers. Thank you for all your kind reviews and thoughts. Keep them coming!