Note: How many of you have wanted to see Wesley dance since the episode "She"? Me? You bet. I have never laughed so hard in my life. I sometimes just put on the credits just to watch. Please enjoy.
Chapter Twenty-Five – Let's Dance
No one got enough sleep and it showed. All four were grumps. But Wesley was in a little better shape because Dawn had found a bit of tea. It was the kind in those paper bag things with the string attached, but it was better than nothing.
Faith even boiled the water for him, grumping the whole time. There'd been no coffee unfortunately, and only Dawn had taken him up on the tea.
So he drove while Faith and Connor dozed. He saw another barricade up ahead, not too far from the town of Lake Tahoe. Were there this many enclaves in California? If there were, thank God the government hadn't bombed.
But this barricade was different. They actually got through without too much hassle. They must have had someone who could tell whether they were human or not, he surmised. Connor must have passed muster too, because he still hadn't concluded if the boy was human.
Wesley asked for directions, knowing that they were headed for the California/Oregon border. That's where they were to rendezvous with Faith's contact. The guard told him the going could be treacherous. He knew of someone who'd just made it from there. He directed the four to an address and waved them through.
"OK, if you say that was too easy, I'll throttle you," Faith told Wesley as he pulled away.
"That was way too easy," Dawn picked up. "You didn't say anything about me."
"Let's check this guy out so we can get the hell out of here," Wesley added, trying to reassure Faith of his steadiness. She still looked at him strangely, like he would go off at any moment and mow a couple of people down.
They arrived at the address to discover it was a nightclub of some sort. The only person working there told them to come back to eleven that night, that the guy usually showed up then.
The foursome asked the guy for a referral for a place to stay.
"Across the street, actually. Motel isn't open, but I know the owner. Maybe he'll let you stay."
Faith and Wesley checked the place out. They traded some of their foodstuffs for a room. Wesley then parked the SUV behind their room and performed his spell, giving the other three the keyword to break it.
"Not very trusting, are you?" Faith pointed out as they sat on one of the two beds in the dingy room.
"No. I just never thought to give you the word."
"Not very smart."
"Stupid, frankly."
Faith leaned in to whisper in his ear. He shivered at her closeness. "When this is over, you and I are going to have it out."
"How so?" he asked.
"Oh, I'll just let your imagination run with that one, watcher."
And his imagination could run wild with that thought. He touched her hand slightly and her eyes went wide.
"Dirty-minded old man."
"With all his parts in working order."
Faith laughed heartily. The teenagers had been discussing some topic that had them enthralled and had not heard the exchange.
"What's so funny?" Connor asked.
"Old people," Faith told him.
"Adults are weird. Have you ever noticed that Connor?" And Dawn just smiled.
They each took a watch so the others could rest. On a reconnaissance mission, finding out that the nightclub was heavily guarded still didn't give Wesley any peace. They'd be going in with lots of unknowns surrounding them.
"They can't go," Faith told Wesley as they were getting ready to go.
"And to leave them here is such a great plan."
"They won't do anything."
"Yes. And you believe this because?"
Wesley didn't trust the two hormonal teenagers any more than he trusted himself around Faith.
"Right. Connor can handle himself. It'll be humans any way."
"We hope."
"Not making me feel any better."
Dawn entered the room from the bathroom. It was dark, but they could still see with a lantern.
"I'm ready." Dawn had changed into tight jeans and slinky top.
"Absolutely not," Wesley called out. He'd have to put his foot down.
"Yeah and if we go in there with our shirts buttoned up to our throats, we won't stand out at all."
Dawn had a point, Wesley thought. He still needed to protest. He had donned his maroon shirt with his black jeans so as to be more invisible. Connor had on a black tee shirt with dark jeans. Faith still had her jacket on, so no one knew what she had on underneath it.
"So, Faith. Give it up," Dawn chided her.
"What's it to you, kid."
Dawn knew what Faith had on under the jacket. It must not be good if Faith hadn't taken the jacket off. Would he have to yell at her too?
"It'll get hot."
"I'll tie it around my waist."
"Too restrictive. How would you fight? Can't bring any weapons in." Dawn was goading her.
Wesley had his spring-loaded stake on under his shirt. A little glamour spell worked to disguise it. He watched the byplay between the females with interest.
Faith eyed him like she wanted his approval for her outfit.
"Jacket Faith. We'll leave it in the car."
Faith took it off and crossed her arms over her chest. And what material there was to the top bunched up to show her ample cleavage.
"Change." It came out before Wesley could stop himself. He saw the fire in Faith's eyes.
"Don't think so, Wesley," emphasizing his name at the end. Defiant Faith had come out to play.
"You have other clothes. How about a nice tee shirt or even my sweater."
"Make me." Wesley rolled his eyes. Dawn snickered. Connor backed away, expecting a fight to really break out.
"Oh, Wes. Don't be such a prude. She'll fit in fine," Dawn finally said, breaking the tense silence.
"Let's go, Watcher Boy," Faith taunted him as she walked out the door. Her hips swayed just a little too much after that victory. She threw her jacket his way and linked arms with Dawn. "Come on, it's cold out here."
Wesley put the jacket in the vehicle and joined the others. When Connor commented on how nice Faith looked, Wesley ground his teeth but didn't take the bait.
The women were right. After being searched (glamour worked), they were let inside. The techno beat music blared from everywhere. Wesley couldn't hear himself think, much less talk to anyone else.
The four headed over to the bar to inquire about the man they had heard about earlier. Since they were a little early, he was a no show.
"Any vampires?" he asked Faith in her ear so no one could overhear them.
"None yet. But the night is young."
What Wesley didn't understand was how the business stayed open. It was packed. People dancing, swaying to the beat. Definitely not his kind of music.
He and Connor stood and watched in amazement. Although Wesley was just out of his element, Connor didn't have the faintest idea what to do next.
"This is just . . . ," Connor started.
"Loud, obnoxious, head-splitting. Yes, I would agree one hundred percent."
"Let's dance, Connor." Dawn tugged at him to follow her.
"We shouldn't split up," Wesley pointed out to Faith.
"They'll be fine. Let 'em have a little fun."
"Not too much though."
"Just a little. Come on." Faith took his hand.
"Oh, no."
"Yes, yes. You need to have a little fun too." Faith actually pouted. He'd never seen that expression on her face. Not one he liked to put there.
"I can have fun standing right here." Wesley stood firm.
"I'll make it worth your wile," Faith said in his ear. Wesley felt the heat rise on his face. Since the room was somewhat dark, no one could see his blush. "And we can keep an eye on them."
Wesley looked at the teenagers dancing close to one another even though the song wasn't slow. If anyone could call it dancing.
Faith took his hand to lead him to the dance floor.
"I'm not very good at this," he yelled to Faith. Wesley remembered Cordelia telling him not to dance again after one of her parties. And he had listened to her. Maybe he'd teach Faith the tango.
So he just stood there while Faith started to dance. And oh boy, could she dance. She swayed and bounced and moved like a pro. He didn't want to tell her like a stripper, but that's what came to mind. Luckily she wasn't touching him at the time.
She turned round and round in front of him and still he stood there.
"You are the biggest geek," Faith mouthed to him as she attached herself to his front. When she rocked her hips gently against his to the rhythm of the beat, he didn't know whether to follow her lead or drag her off the floor. Then she turned to grind her backside into him, which made his eyes cross.
She took his hands and placed them on her hips as she moved. It wasn't like they stood out much because many other people were doing the same thing. It was practically like having sex on a dance floor with lots of people watching.
Faith slithered up and down, arching her back as she slithered down. How could he get so turned on by one measly dance?
Oops, wrong thought. Faith turned to look into his eyes. She smiled like a Cheshire cat. That had been her intent all along.
"Little witch," he mouthed to her. She shook her head in acknowledgment.
And reached up to bring his head down to her level. He never realized how much taller he was than his slayer. At least a foot. Maybe she wanted to say something to him. He knew his ears would be ringing for days after this. Instead she licked, and then bit his earlobe.
His eyes went wide at the action. The woman was playing with fire and she knew it. And it would have to wait because the bartender was waving them over.
TBC