Chapter 11

Fred's Paranormal References

"99 bottles of beer on the wall! 99 bottles of beer! Take 1 down and pass it around 99 bottles of beer on the wall!" Fred sang happily. It was around 3:30 with about another hour and a half to go before they arrived in Lexington. Cordelia, who half way through the ride had to trade spots with Wesley, nudged Spike.

"Do you think it ever occurred to her that every time around you're supposed to subtract a bottle?"

"Think I should have a talk with her?" Spike asked.

"No. I think Angel's beaten you to it," Cordelia nodded over to Angel who leaned over his seat and grabbed Fred's arm.

"Winnifred Burkle!" he cried. "If you don't stop your nonsense singing then I will personally keep you quiet!"

"Sheesh Angel. Don't have to be so rough," Fred sighed and pulled back her hair. The weather outside was dark and gloomy. Heavy black clouds waited to pour rain on everyone as soon as they exited the bus. All that was heard now was booms of thunder, followed by bright flashes of lighting.

"Wesley?" Fred asked, poking Wesley on the head.

"What Fred?" he asked opening one of his eyes.

"Where do you figure noise comes from?"

"Your mouth," Wesley and Angel said at the same time.

"That is not funny," she sighed and closed her eyes.

"I mean the whole concept of sound. I wonder if it's something that's always been that way or if we developed it over hundreds of years," Fred said.

"It's nice that you're curious Fred," Cordelia said, sounding like a mother talking down to her child. It was only a little while before Fred spoke again.

"So, who's up for a round of 20 questions?" Nobody moved to her call.

"Come on Angel. What about you?" she asked.

"I rather jump out of an airplane with no parachute," he said, appearing bored, his eyes closed.

"Wes?" she asked. 'Don't look at her eyes,' he told himself. 'Don't look in her eyes'. But it was too late. He couldn't resist.

"Fine Fred," he finally replied.

"Shoot em' at me."

At 4:00 it started to rain and by the time it was time to get off of the bus at around 5:20 it was pouring. Everyone sat under the small cover they had at the bus station, waiting until it was time to load everyone on the bus again. The boys huddled with Cordelia and Fred and from a distance away looked like it was more for protection then warmth.

"I'm afraid," Fred said.

"Of what?" Spike asked, wiping water from his forehead.

"The paranormal," Fred said.

"Some funky things happen when you're on the road."

"Such as?" Angel asked. Cordelia smiled. Good old Angel always in need of proof.

"Well for instance, in the summer of 1982 two twin boys where killed in the same biking accident, 2 hours apart from each other," Fred said.

"How is that possible?" Wesley asked.

"Well the first boy was hit head on with a meat truck. He died instantly. Then exactly 2 hours after his accident, his brother was driving down a different route but was hit by the same meat truck and died instantly," Fred said, snuggling deeper in to Wesley jacket.

"That's a bunch of junk Fred. Just a silly fable," Angel insisted.

"Oh yeah but how do you explain this. Along this very roadway to Bristol, Virginia both sightings of big foot and aliens have been recorded."

"Probably on their way to have a beer with Frankenstein," Spike teased. Angel chuckled.

"Yeah sure. Laugh it up now you guys because when big foot eats you all whole, Cordelia and I will have the proof to get millions of dollars," Fred said.

"Everyone headed to southern Bristol! On the bus now!" The driver called through and intercom in the bus station. Copper barked after a clap of thunder made everyone jump.

"See, Copper's seen big foot," Fred said taking her seat next to Wesley on the bus.

"Fred ruined it for me Spikey," Cordelia snuggled into him, Copper settling down behind her.

"How babe?" he whispered into her hair.

"Now, until we past Bristol all I'm going to be thinking about is big foot and worrying if were going to hit some kids," Cordelia complained, catching her thumb on one of his belt loops.

"Don't worry Cordy. With Wesley and Angel and Xander and Copper and me and...Well even with Fred around, I promise nothing will ever happen to you."

"And if we hit two kids?"

"The bus driver will figure it out," he smiled and put his arm around her.

She started to drift to sleeping, wishing she could stay in Spike's protective grasp forever.

Thanks to everyone for all my great reviews! Special shout out to Starr. HAPPY 16th!!!!! I hope you can sit around and do nothing all day!

Dru619

(Willow and Faith coming soon!)