Standing on the Edge of Tomorrow
Previously:
"Don't worry about it. Be careful, Xan. Ask Buffy about the apparitions she, Faith, and Dawn saw. Tell her that it's not a ghost. It's the First Evil. It paid Angel a little visit back in '99. It's incorporeal, so it can't hurt anyone, but it has messengers. Bringers. They're looking for all of the potential slayers and watchers, trying to kill them, to end the line of slayers. Tell Buffy her dreams are real. We'll be back as soon as we can," Kara said, smiling at Xander before disappearing out of the back door.
Chapter Twenty-Eight:
"Ah, home sweet home," Callum said as he stepped off the airplane and into Heathrow airport. "William bloody Shakespeare, Manchester United, the Tower of London, and English Porter. Does it get any better?"
"Relax, Callum. We're not here to sight see, remember?" Kara asked, stepping up beside him with Giles in tow. "Although I could use a drink," she amended upon seeing his slightly crestfallen expression. He immediately perked up.
"Well then. I know just where to go. Best pub in all of Englandâat least it was when I was alive. I don't know quite know if it's around yet," Callum said a bit apologetically, shrugging his shoulders.
"You know our hotel, yes? While you're out getting sloshed, I think I'll contact some old friends at the Council. I don't believe meeting with Quentin Travers immediately will do us much good. We need to go in the back door," Giles said, shifting his luggage between hands.
"Excellent plan," Callum said enthusiastically. "To the drinking," he declared and wandered off.
"Do keep an eye on him," Giles said in exasperation. Kara smirked.
"And here I was counting on him to keep an eye on me," she responded, throwing Giles a wink as she stalked off after Callum.
Thirty minutes later, Kara and Callum were standing outside a rather run down looking establishment. "I think they fixed it up by the time I got around to coming here," Callum said, looking the place over. "Either that or I was always so smashed; I never really noticed it looked like an outhouse."
Kara laughed. "I think I believe the latter. Come on," Kara said, taking his hand and leading him into the bar.
ââââââââ
"Jack, it's Rupert," Giles said into the phone. He stood on the street corner of the hotel, shielded from the chilly breeze by the pay phone booth.
"Rupert, it's been a while," the voice answered jovially.
"Yes, unfortunately. I hear you're leading a faction against Travers within the Council, is that right?'
A humorless chuckle answered. "That's right. Not like it does a bloody lot of good."
Giles smiled. "Oh, I think you're in for a bit of luck. I have some people with me that want to meet with you. They have some information you might find particularly pertinent."
"Oh? I'm available tomorrow at three o'clock in the afternoon. Drop by; I'd love to hear what they have to say."
"Excellent."
âââââââââââââ.
When Kara and Callum returned that evening, they were a bit tipsy. "Hey Giles," Kara said, smiling widely. "How'd it go?"
"I've got us a meeting with a friend of mine, Jack Borland, tomorrow at three. Here's your key. Get some rest," Giles said, giving them an indulgent smile.
"Thanks," Kara answered, grabbing the key and taking Callum by the hand, dragging him out the door.
"Hold on," Callum said, once they were out in the hallway.
"What's the problem?" Kara asked, turning around to face him. He looked a bit pale.
"Jack Borland," Callum said, half whispering.
"So?"
"That's my father."
ââââââââââââââ.
"Hey Spike!" Dawn said, smiling widely. "Raining?" She asked as he climbed in her bedroom window, water dripping off his hair.
"Just a bit," he said, shaking himself off. "Homework?"
Dawn made a face. "Yes," she said dejectedly.
"Not going well?"
"Not so much," Dawn said, slamming her book closed. "Nothing a break won't cure," she said. "You okay?" She asked, noticing that he was lingering by the window and a little more quiet than usual.
"Just fine," Spike said halfheartedly. Reaching into his duster, he pulled out a slightly crumpled bouquet of flowers. "Picked these for you," he said, thrusting them at her awkwardly. A smile slowly grew on Dawn's face as she took the flowers, smelling them. Spike watched her, enraptured.
"Thanks," she said sweetly. "Though, what's the occasion?"
"Well, I wanted to ask you something," Spike said hesitantly.
"Sure, what?"
"Well, there's this thing and I thought maybe you and I could," Spike stopped, growling low in his throat, as he started pacing. "What I'm trying to say is, that, well, there's"
"Spike?" Dawn asked, capturing his attention.
"Yeah?"
"Just ask already," she said smiling. Spike laughed as he skidded to a stop.
"I was wondering if you, maybe, wanted to go out tomorrow nightâwith me," Spike said, taking a deep breath once he had finished.
Dawn was practically beaming. "Yeah."