Chapter 5:
Spike was ready for today. He would be in front of a judge again. Although he hated the type of law he was practicing, being in front of people and making grand speeches was such a rush for Spike. He was a little nervous about the other lawyer, but he wouldn't let that get him done from his happy mood.
He was parked in front of Buffy's apartment complex. He had been waiting for her for about five minutes now. She was helping Dawn get ready for school. He was looking over his notes when he heard the knock on his window. It was Buffy. Spike quickly on locked the door and Buffy climbed into the car.
Buffy situated herself comfortably in the passenger's seat and said, " Dawn threw a fit when she realized that you came in 'Your totally cool car'." She used the air quotes to show Spike that it was what Dawn had said.
"It wouldn't have been to bad to give her a ride."
"I don't want her to get to attached to the car. I mean unless you don't mind her sleeping in it." Spike started the car and pondered that comment. He knew she was joking about it, but it was a comment he found himself wishing applied to Dawn's mommy.
"Well, very respectable people sleep in cars."
"Like bums. Wait bums don't even have cars half the time. So, what people who get kicked out of their homes."
"No people trying to live their dreams. I have a friend who slept in his car so he could save money to live his dream."
"You didn't offer him a place to live?" Buffy found the story amusing. She wondered how Spike could just sit back and watch a friend sleep in his car.
"I did. He wouldn't except if he couldn't pay rent. The whole idea was to save money. He was a stubborn jackass, but he made his point."
"So, he lived in his car for how long?"
"It was about a month or two. Then Fred came back from her consult in England and got so pissed at him. She, of course like all of us, had to practically beg him to come and live in a house."
"Oh so this is about your friend Wes." Buffy said very proudly. She knew some of the people in his life and for some reason this made her happy.
"Yeah. Fred, his better half, although some times she can be his worse half, forced him to live with her."
Buffy admired the way he talked about his friends. So open. She never talked about Willow with other people. He must have been very close with his friends.
"So, this Wes guy who slept in car. What was it that he slept in his car for?" Spike chuckled. He remembered Wes determination to start his own medical practice. He was a man just out of medical school and didn't have very good credit.
"He was trying to save money to start his own medical practice. He is a pediatrician. He was just out of medical school so his credit was, pardon my French, shot to shit. He wouldn't let Fred pay for any of the expenses. They fought over that for years. Not the sleeping in the car thing, but his whole 'Fred can't pay for anything' approach to his situation."
"Well he was certainly stubborn. I think if someone wanted to help pay for my dream I would gladly let them."
"That's the difference between men and women. Men can't except help. It's a whole pride thing."
"So if someone you loved wanted to help pay for your dream you wouldn't let them?"
"Many people have tried, but I've turned them down so many times. I want my firm to be only mine. God I can't count how many time Anya, Angel, Wes and Fred have offered me money."
"Well I would rather get my dream finished then not have it finished. I wouldn't care if that involved borrowing money."
"So what's your dream?"
The question hit Buffy hard. Her dream. It had been such a long time since she thought about the dream she always had. When she married Riley the dream was put aside. When she had Dawn that dream was thrown away in the that'll never happen pile.
"I guess that would be to become a doctor. I always wanted to be a doctor. When I got married and had Dawn I just settled for nurse. Its okay, but not that great."
"Well now you'll be able to accomplish your dream."
"Are you kidding! I can't waste money on my college when Dawn was to go to college. That would be un-parently."
"Well you know Riley will be helping you pay for the whole 'Dawn goes to college and gets married' thing. You should do something for Buffy."
"You obviously don't have kids. My life revolves around Dawn."
"All I know is that you are entitled to a little suppressed twenty- something syndrome." Spike said this as he pulled into the courthouse. The words danced around in Buffy's head. She had never had the wild and adventurous twenty- something life and never wanted it. If anything she wanted to go to med.-school. Spike realized that he had said something that Buffy was actually pondering. He didn't mean to say something so offhanded, but he would have been lost if he didn't have those rebellious years. Although his had come a little earlier than twenty, but he needed those years to show him " the error of his ways". Buffy hadn't had any time to let lose. She had to be a buttoned up conservative woman.
What had she gotten for her troubles? A marriage to an abusive husband and a six-year old daughter. Spike wondered how love could turn so vicious. He pulled into a parking space and turned off the car. "Well we're here." Buffy nodded to acknowledge she knew what he was talking about. Both of them stepped out of the car and started to walk to the steps.
Spike had a natural habit to look at the cars that surrounded the courthouse. He say two cars that he thought looked familiar. One reminded him of Anya's car and one was definitely Angel's car. Nobody else could have that stupid sticker that said "Police detective on board. Watch out and don't speed". He wondered what they might be doing there. Buffy saw him looking in a certain direction and followed his gaze to two cars. Both were huge SUV's and one had a stupid sticker on the bumper.
"What are you looking at?"
"Those two cars over there belong to my sister and brother."
Oh. Why does that worry you?"
" Doesn't really. All of us use to frequent courthouses. They still do. Must be some huge case or something, because I see tons of police cars and one that belongs to another detective." When Spike's assessment was finished Buffy eyed him with curiosity.
"Are you sure you aren't in the wrong profession. That sounded a lot like a detective to me."
"In the blood. Come on lets go." They made their way to the courthouse.
They were inside the building that seemed so huge. To Spike it was home. It was the place that he was supposed to be. Sure his father would say that was because he was a good for nothing piece of shit, but that wasn't it. When he was younger he loved to hear the story that he was almost born in a courthouse. It just added to his theory. Buffy was a little nervous to be in there. She felt that this place was so huge at that she was so little. Spike seemed at home in this environment. She knew exactly why he was a lawyer just by looking at his face.
He loved courthouses. All of a sudden a group of people came out of a courtroom. It was a huge crowd of people that seemed to be there because of some big story. Lots of police officers were at the head of the group. Along with a very pissed of man and a girl who was trying to calm him down. Both Buffy and Spike knew who the girl was. It was Anya. Spike noticed that the man was Angel. Without realizing he was running towards them he took off, leaving Buffy wondering what he was doing. " Angel! Anya!" Spike yelled. He wondered what had gotten his brother so pissed off he was kicked out of a courtroom. The crowd had all gone back into the courtroom leaving the courthouse quiet once again. Angel and Anya slowed down when they heard their names being called. They turned around to see that it was Spike.
"Hey, Will, what are you doing here?" Angel asked. He wondered why his brother was in a courthouse, which was stupid considering his profession.
"I have a case that is going to trial to day. Now I think the more appropriate question is what are you doing here?"
"I had to testify for a big case that I helped cracked. You remember me telling you 'bout that." Spike knew his brother was going to try and change the subject, so he turned to his sister for the answer to his unspoken question.
"He was thrown out because he doesn't know how to act in a courtroom. He yelled at the judge for Christ sakes!" Spike knew that his brother had not been in a courtroom in his life and that Angel also had a temper that would flare up and the littlest thing.
"So mind telling me why you yelled at the judge. Don't you know that that is the cardinal rule to courtroom edict?"
"Things just didn't go the way I wanted them to. I got a little angry."
"A little angry! You called the judge a fucking piece of shit ass wipe and said his verdict was bullshit." Spike chuckled in spite of the angry look on Angel's face. He knew that Anya would be very blunt on the truth.
"Thanks, Ahn, but I don't think Will needed to know all the details of my stupidity."
"Sure I did. You always get to hear all the details of my stupidity. I figure turn'bout is fair 'ame." He was speaking with his accent. Why was it that when he was around them it came out? Both Anya and Angel spoke with a slight accent.
"Well I guess, but still it was 'otally 'barassing. I don't think I'll be able to step inside a courthouse for 'bout a month or two." Angel said this with a grin on his face.
"Well actually I would give it 'bout four months for your display of jackassism. That is if they don't get a restraining order on the psycho who yelled at the judge." Anya said this and all of them broke out laughing.
Buffy stood not to far away from the small group. They seemed so close. She had caught parts of their conversation and knew that the older looking man who appeared very angry was his brother. They all seemed to fit together perfectly. The oldest had a bad temper, Spike was stubborn, and Anya was the one who lightened situations with her own brand of humor.
They were like the three musketeers. Buffy found herself wanting to have had a special relationship with anyone like the one Spike had with his siblings. She looked down at her watch and realized that they needed to be on their way. She cleared her throat loudly to catch Spike's attention.
Spike heard her clear her throat and knew that time had gotten away from him.
"Sorry, but I think it might be time to go," he said to his siblings, "I do have a court hearing to catch and I don't think Ms. Summers would be happy if we were late." Angel and Anya turned their attention to the small blonde standing a few feet away from them. Angel instantly understood the attraction. She was very pretty and held herself quiet well. Not rude, but gracefully.
Angel turned his attention to his little brother and said, "Okay, anyway I think I need to get something to cool down my temper. Although, this saves me a phone call, Cordelia and I are having a barbecue this weekend. You have to come."
It wasn't even a question and Spike knew that, but he had to ask his next question, "Is dad going to be there?" Spike had avoided his father since he was fired.
"Oh, Spike, cut this stupid teenage shit off. Xander and I are going. Wes and Fred are showing up. Giles is even coming." Anya was the one who said this. Angel was about to respond with something to that affect, but she was quicker than him.
"Still doesn't answer my question." Spike said quiet stubbornly. He knew he sounded like a little kid, but he had to inquire.
"Yes, Will, mom and dad are going to be there. But as Anya stated get your shit together, because Cordy will kill me if you aren't there. So I suggest that you get over the whole 'my dad hates my guts' bullshit and show up. I really don't feel like being castrated."
"I'll think about it."
"If you don't show up I'll get the whole fucking Sunny-D police department looking for your stubborn ass," Anya said.
"Alright. I really have to go now." Instead of waiting for their answer he grabbed Buffy and took off down the halls.
Buffy wasn't sure why he was so stubborn about going to his brother's for a barbecue. He seemed to love his family.
"Why are you so objective to going to your brother's house for some good family fun?" Buffy asked.
" I'll tell you about it later. Right now we have to get to a courtroom." That was the only thing he said as the silently searched for the courtroom that they had to go to.
When they found it the hurriedly stepped inside. No one was there so Buffy and Spike made their way to the benches where the people are suppose to sit. They sat quietly for a few minutes until the judge made his way inside the courtroom. Buffy and Spike stood up and sat down accordingly. The judge's voice boomed throughout the courtroom.
"Where is the defendant?"
"The defendant wasn't shown up yet." The bailiff said, in a monotone voice.
"Well we could get started or we can wait. Personally I will have to talk to Judge Price about this. She swore that everyone would be on time." Spike felt a twinge of guilt pass through him. He made a mental note to buy Fred something nice and pretty for her troubles.
"Well we haven't got all day. Why don't you start with your open argument, counselor." Spike stood up and adjusted his tie. He picked that up from Giles. Adjust the tie to make yourself look serious always impressed.
It is fairly simple, your honor. My client was married to the defendant and had to endure psychical and mental abuse. Now she wants to divorce her husband. She isn't asking for too much and I think that the other counselor and I can reach a mutual point on almost everything that is if they show up."
Good point out the flaws.
"The only thing that isn't being handle with ease is the matter of their six-year old daughter Dawn. My client wishes are that Dawn is only allowed to see her father under supervision. He has displayed time and time again that he is very abusive and my client thinks this is a reasonable request. Now she is willing to give this a little wiggle room, but not too much."
The judge seemed to ponder this for awhile.
"What about the matter of child support?"
"My client is willing to be very lenient on that matter. She doesn't want too much from Mr. Finn."
"Well I would have to agree with Mrs. Finn on the matter of the child. I don't think that a poor child she bear the berth of something so heinous as an abusive parent. Although I have no proof of this abuse and the defendant isn't hear to argue an case yet." Just than the doors opened wide to a woman and Riley Finn.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Dru walked with ease into the courtroom. How hard could a divorce case be? This guy was a piece of shit, but she was a defense attorney. She knew that the whole trick of showing up late would piss off the judge, but it would give the dire affect it always did. There was only one time it didn't work and there was no way that he would be there. That was until Dru spotted him. He seemed to be confident even though he was looking directly at her. That was what she admired most about him. His confidence in the courtroom. Of course that was only in the courtroom and nowhere else. That was why she cheated on him. She regretted it later, but at the time it was a good idea. He never stood up to anyone outside the courtroom especially his family. Dru could have shit her pants when she saw him. She walked confidently to the other bench and took out her files from her brief case. She silently looked them over.
"Well counselor I'm glad you decided to show up. We were just discussing your client. Now it has been brought to my intention that Mr. Finn is an abusive man. Care to reiterate?"
"Yes your honor. I believe that you have been lied to. My client was never abusive to his child or the defendant. This is all quiet ludicrous." Buffy's face fell into a frown. She couldn't believe Riley was actually pulling that card. He was a piece of shit, yes, but she never pegged him as a liar. Especially in a courtroom. It was just another side she never saw of him and now she would never see of him.
Spike looked at Buffy trying to tell her that he had prepared for this. What he wasn't prepared for was to have his ex-girlfriend defend Buffy's husband. He knew that it would be tougher than he thought. He could handle it though. He knew Dru's tricks. The whole 'come late and you'll win 'em over' wasn't going to work this time.
"Well my client has proof that the defendant was abusive. If the defendant wants to take that route to things than my client and I are happy to oblige. Although I must know that everything is agreed upon before I go any further." Spike finished.
"Everything with the settlement is agreed upon." Dru said. She wasn't going to let him intimidate her. She knew him and she would win. So what if the guys really did hit his wife and kid? It wasn't her problem. Riley looked over at Buffy and then Dru.
Buffy looked so hurt and he knew why. He was lying. He was letting Miss Collins lie. It was wrong, he knew, but he would do anything to see his daughter. Even if it meant lying. He wouldn't put up with supervised visits every once a month. He wanted to be involved in his daughter's life not a spectator. He put on his resolve face and went back to listen to the lawyers talk.
"Since everything is boiling down to just the matter of the child and it doesn't seem the plaintiff is prepared to started witness testimony, I'm granting a recess until 9:00 o'clock next Monday morning. That is three days to come up with witnesses and evidence, Mr. Flannery. And please don't go asking other judge's for continuances or to speed things up. It puts me in an awful position." With that the judge left and both sides gathered their stuff.
Buffy and Spike put their stuff away pretty quickly, but couldn't avoid a confrontation with their ex's.
"Well, Spike, it seems you have your work cut out for you." Dru commented.
"Well if you mean by that winning this case and never letting you forget it I think I will enjoy that work."
"Remark with the witty puns all you want, but we both know who was more experience."
"Sometimes more experience isn't a good thing." With that Spike started to leave the courtroom, but realized Buffy wasn't following him.
Buffy was staring at Riley with murder in her eyes. She started to speak in a low voice, "You fucking cock sucker. You are a piece of shit son of a bitch. Why don't you just admit you hit Dawn and me? You fucking throw bullshit at me after what you put me through. You shitty bastard! I outta cut your useless dick off!" Buffy was screaming by the time she was finished. Spike ran over to her and tried to get her to stop.
"Oh like you were Miss Perfect. You were a stupid bitch!" Riley was beginning to loss his grip. She shouldn't be yelling at him. She was taking his kid away.
"I never hurt my kid you fucking dickless son of a Bitch!" Buffy knew she was being stupid, but she couldn't help yelling at him. She ignored Spike as he tried to calm her down.
"You are such a whore you know that. You are the one trying to take my kid away. You fucking bitch!"
"What are you going to do? Hit me." Riley really felt liking hitting her, but he knew he couldn't in front of all these people.
Spike knew this would turn uglier if he allowed it to go on.
"Alright. Both of you shut your mouths. This will not help anything."
"Your client started it." Dru said with ease.
"That ain't the point. I'm stopping it. Now Buffy go outside and Dru, next time, try to stop things. I could have used some help. But then again you were probably eating this up." With that Buffy and Spike left.
"What was that about?"
"I got angry." Buffy knew it wasn't a good response.
"Fuck! You got angry. Shit! You know how much re-con I'm gonna have to do to fix this. Fuck! Get mad at him after." Spike was cursing too much for his liking. He took a deep breath and then calmed down.
"Let's just go to the deli and maybe after I eat I'll calm down." Spike nodded and they left.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ They were sitting in the deli. They were quiet the whole way there. Buffy only talked to give spike the directions and Spike didn't feel up to talking to her right know. They order and were know waiting for their food. Buffy thought that she should break the silence.
"Look I know I was irrational, but I couldn't help it. It got a little out of hand."
"S'kay. I would have gotten upset too. I just want you to know that you can't act like that anymore."
"Understood. Now I think that I have two questions to ask you."
"Shoot."
"Well was it just me or do you know Riley's lawyer?" Buffy thought she saw the surprise in his eyes when the black haired woman entered the courtroom.
"Actually, yes, I do know Dru.
" "On a more personal basis then work?"
"Yes. She and I dated for quiet some time. I dumped her last year when I caught her cheating on me. She was a real bitch to me anyway. Said that I wasn't confident enough."
"Oh well you don't really need that."
"No I don't. I just haven't been able to think about women since I dumped her. She did a number to my head. So what is the second question?"
"Well it is actually the same question I had earlier." Spike knew which one she was talking about.
"Oh, well I really don't get along with my dad."
"I sensed that."
"It's a whole thing."
"I have time."
"Well, he wanted all his kids to be perfect. I was slightly less then fitting to that image. I guess you could say I was a bad kid. Got arrested a few times back in my teen years. Anyway, he thought I would amount to nothing. He also wanted all his kids to become police officers. I, obviously, didn't follow that trend. So as you can see, he hates me."
"There isn't more to that story?"
"Well the whole fact that we fight constantly doesn't help."
"So know dramatic stories?"
"No, I'm afraid not. We never hit each other or anything like that. Just never got along. Giles was more of a dad then he was."
"Your mentor."
"Yeah, he was there for me when I needed him. In fact, come to think of it, it would be nice to see him again."
"See you should go. It would be good for you to clear things up with your dad."
"Yeah, but I'm very stubborn. I'll probably won't decide to go until the last minute." Spike and Buffy laughed at the insult to Spike.
"Well you aren't the only stubborn one. I can be pretty stubborn."
"It isn't like it is a bad thing." Buffy giggled. She couldn't remember the last time she laughed. It felt like years ago.
"Also, I know I said two questions, but I have to ask. Is the accent real?"
Spike tensed up for awhile and then answered the question, "Yes."
"How come you hide it?"
"Well I hate where it comes from."
"Which is?"
"My dad moved us from England when I was seven. I loved it, but hated it at the same time."
"Okay I'm not going to get a whole answer from you am I?"
"Well I guess I could tell you about Spike's horrible England experiences. Well my dad was always working and so was my mom. They worked their asses off trying to provide for us. I never saw them. When my dad moved us from that country to the US of course I was heart broken. It was the only home I knew. I had to leave friends and family. My dad took us away from there because he didn't think it had much to offer. I don't speak with the accent because of all the ridicule I received from peers. Also because that country is the reason my dad took a more active interest in my life."
"Lost a little. I thought you wanted your dad to spend more time with you?"
"Are you insane. My dad did nothing, but nit pick at my life. Even as a little boy. It got much worse when he had time to sit down and do it properly." Buffy thought about that. When her dad was alive and around he had never treated her like that, but she knew what nit picking could do to a kid. Her mother was like that. Every little thing Buffy did wasn't up to her standards, except for marry Riley, which showed her mother's lack of common sense.
"I can image how that feels. I hate it that my mother picks at every little detail of my life. She just can't seem to get it that I'm a grown-up that can make her own decisions. She used to do that constantly until I shut her out."
"See so shutting out parents is a good thing every once in a while. I love my mom, but I can't stand my dad."
"I love my mom, but can't stand her." they laughed at how similar their lives were.
Their lunch came and they ate, but not in silence. Spike told Buffy about his niece and nephew, who he spent a large amount of time with. He told her about how his big brother was like his dad and that he and his sister called their brother dad as a nickname. He told her more about his wild life as a teen and about the only person he would give his life for without a second thought, his best friend Wes. The way he talked about Wesley was enough to mill her over. He held this man in the highest respect. Buffy never talked about Willow that way and she didn't understand why. Willow was her best friend and she was always there for her just like Wes was always there for Spike.
"So enough about me. Let me here something about you."
"Well it's pretty uneventful. I grew up in Los Angeles and moved here because it was where Riley was from. I had Dawn when I was about twenty one and I've been a mom and a nurse since then."
"What about being a doctor? What happened to that?"
"Well I went to pre-med. and I finished it before I gave birth to Dawn. I never went to med. school because I had to take care of Dawn. I settled for being a nurse instead. I still help people so it isn't too bad."
"You never thought about going back?"
"Course I did, but I decided that I had to care of Dawn. It really wasn't a hard decision."
"So, what about friends? Any besides Willow?"
"Not really. I never made friends with anybody besides Riley's friend's wives. They were boring, trophy wives. They didn't really appeal to me, but I kept up appearances. Willow is probably my only friend."
"Well now you have two."
"What. Oh you. Yeah I guess you're right I do have two friends." Buffy kept the disappointment out of her voice. She knew now that he just wanted to be her friend.
Spike knew that Buffy wanted to hear that, or at least he thought. He was relieved that he was able to say it without sounding to fake.
"You know what?"
"What?"
"Friends really shouldn't let their friends do something they don't want to do alone."
"Your point."
"Well I think that maybe you should go with me to this bb-q. I really don't feel like going alone." What was he doing he thought. This was an invite to meet his family and Spike didn't think that that was appropriate.
"Well I don't know. Dawn and I are probably doing something." Buffy wasn't sure what he was getting at so she played it off coolly.
"Dawn can come. I know that she really loves my car. Besides, my niece and nephew are about her age so she won't be bored." What was he doing he thought. This was totally unlike him.
"I guess when you put it that way it seems okay. I just thought that Wes would be there for you." "Wes wants me to put this whole I hate my dad thing behind me. I need someone who doesn't know my dad so that I could have somewhere to retreat."
"You make it sound like a bombardment."
"It will be. It's going to be Will this and Will that. He's going to pick on me for every detail of my life. He already was enough ammo, which is partly my fault, but still. I need someone who will be there to say 'Spike you know that your life isn't totally in the shitter.' Not to mention the fact that Xander will be there. He loves it that my dad picks on me so much. It makes his job a lot easier."
"Alright I get the picture. I know that it would probably be easier to have a friend there. I guess I can't say no to you. I mean you will be all helpless to defend yourself against your big bad dad and his evil sidekick your brother-in-law."
"Exactly. I can't defend myself."
"Maybe you're in the wrong business."
"No I defend other people. There's a difference."
"Right. Okay so you'll pick us up at."
"4:00 on Saturday."
"Sounds like a plan."
"Great then I guess we are on for Saturday." Spike wondered what he had just done. He had asked a woman who he was very attracted too to a family gathering. It wasn't just stupid, but selfish for him. Why did he have to open his mouth ever?
Buffy thought about the invitation all the way home. There wasn't anything wrong for two friends to go to one friend's family gathering. It was a normal thing friends do. Meet each other's families and hang out. She could be a friend with a guy she was attracted to. It would be different, but she would probably stop feeling that way soon. She had to otherwise she was doomed.
Spike was ready for today. He would be in front of a judge again. Although he hated the type of law he was practicing, being in front of people and making grand speeches was such a rush for Spike. He was a little nervous about the other lawyer, but he wouldn't let that get him done from his happy mood.
He was parked in front of Buffy's apartment complex. He had been waiting for her for about five minutes now. She was helping Dawn get ready for school. He was looking over his notes when he heard the knock on his window. It was Buffy. Spike quickly on locked the door and Buffy climbed into the car.
Buffy situated herself comfortably in the passenger's seat and said, " Dawn threw a fit when she realized that you came in 'Your totally cool car'." She used the air quotes to show Spike that it was what Dawn had said.
"It wouldn't have been to bad to give her a ride."
"I don't want her to get to attached to the car. I mean unless you don't mind her sleeping in it." Spike started the car and pondered that comment. He knew she was joking about it, but it was a comment he found himself wishing applied to Dawn's mommy.
"Well, very respectable people sleep in cars."
"Like bums. Wait bums don't even have cars half the time. So, what people who get kicked out of their homes."
"No people trying to live their dreams. I have a friend who slept in his car so he could save money to live his dream."
"You didn't offer him a place to live?" Buffy found the story amusing. She wondered how Spike could just sit back and watch a friend sleep in his car.
"I did. He wouldn't except if he couldn't pay rent. The whole idea was to save money. He was a stubborn jackass, but he made his point."
"So, he lived in his car for how long?"
"It was about a month or two. Then Fred came back from her consult in England and got so pissed at him. She, of course like all of us, had to practically beg him to come and live in a house."
"Oh so this is about your friend Wes." Buffy said very proudly. She knew some of the people in his life and for some reason this made her happy.
"Yeah. Fred, his better half, although some times she can be his worse half, forced him to live with her."
Buffy admired the way he talked about his friends. So open. She never talked about Willow with other people. He must have been very close with his friends.
"So, this Wes guy who slept in car. What was it that he slept in his car for?" Spike chuckled. He remembered Wes determination to start his own medical practice. He was a man just out of medical school and didn't have very good credit.
"He was trying to save money to start his own medical practice. He is a pediatrician. He was just out of medical school so his credit was, pardon my French, shot to shit. He wouldn't let Fred pay for any of the expenses. They fought over that for years. Not the sleeping in the car thing, but his whole 'Fred can't pay for anything' approach to his situation."
"Well he was certainly stubborn. I think if someone wanted to help pay for my dream I would gladly let them."
"That's the difference between men and women. Men can't except help. It's a whole pride thing."
"So if someone you loved wanted to help pay for your dream you wouldn't let them?"
"Many people have tried, but I've turned them down so many times. I want my firm to be only mine. God I can't count how many time Anya, Angel, Wes and Fred have offered me money."
"Well I would rather get my dream finished then not have it finished. I wouldn't care if that involved borrowing money."
"So what's your dream?"
The question hit Buffy hard. Her dream. It had been such a long time since she thought about the dream she always had. When she married Riley the dream was put aside. When she had Dawn that dream was thrown away in the that'll never happen pile.
"I guess that would be to become a doctor. I always wanted to be a doctor. When I got married and had Dawn I just settled for nurse. Its okay, but not that great."
"Well now you'll be able to accomplish your dream."
"Are you kidding! I can't waste money on my college when Dawn was to go to college. That would be un-parently."
"Well you know Riley will be helping you pay for the whole 'Dawn goes to college and gets married' thing. You should do something for Buffy."
"You obviously don't have kids. My life revolves around Dawn."
"All I know is that you are entitled to a little suppressed twenty- something syndrome." Spike said this as he pulled into the courthouse. The words danced around in Buffy's head. She had never had the wild and adventurous twenty- something life and never wanted it. If anything she wanted to go to med.-school. Spike realized that he had said something that Buffy was actually pondering. He didn't mean to say something so offhanded, but he would have been lost if he didn't have those rebellious years. Although his had come a little earlier than twenty, but he needed those years to show him " the error of his ways". Buffy hadn't had any time to let lose. She had to be a buttoned up conservative woman.
What had she gotten for her troubles? A marriage to an abusive husband and a six-year old daughter. Spike wondered how love could turn so vicious. He pulled into a parking space and turned off the car. "Well we're here." Buffy nodded to acknowledge she knew what he was talking about. Both of them stepped out of the car and started to walk to the steps.
Spike had a natural habit to look at the cars that surrounded the courthouse. He say two cars that he thought looked familiar. One reminded him of Anya's car and one was definitely Angel's car. Nobody else could have that stupid sticker that said "Police detective on board. Watch out and don't speed". He wondered what they might be doing there. Buffy saw him looking in a certain direction and followed his gaze to two cars. Both were huge SUV's and one had a stupid sticker on the bumper.
"What are you looking at?"
"Those two cars over there belong to my sister and brother."
Oh. Why does that worry you?"
" Doesn't really. All of us use to frequent courthouses. They still do. Must be some huge case or something, because I see tons of police cars and one that belongs to another detective." When Spike's assessment was finished Buffy eyed him with curiosity.
"Are you sure you aren't in the wrong profession. That sounded a lot like a detective to me."
"In the blood. Come on lets go." They made their way to the courthouse.
They were inside the building that seemed so huge. To Spike it was home. It was the place that he was supposed to be. Sure his father would say that was because he was a good for nothing piece of shit, but that wasn't it. When he was younger he loved to hear the story that he was almost born in a courthouse. It just added to his theory. Buffy was a little nervous to be in there. She felt that this place was so huge at that she was so little. Spike seemed at home in this environment. She knew exactly why he was a lawyer just by looking at his face.
He loved courthouses. All of a sudden a group of people came out of a courtroom. It was a huge crowd of people that seemed to be there because of some big story. Lots of police officers were at the head of the group. Along with a very pissed of man and a girl who was trying to calm him down. Both Buffy and Spike knew who the girl was. It was Anya. Spike noticed that the man was Angel. Without realizing he was running towards them he took off, leaving Buffy wondering what he was doing. " Angel! Anya!" Spike yelled. He wondered what had gotten his brother so pissed off he was kicked out of a courtroom. The crowd had all gone back into the courtroom leaving the courthouse quiet once again. Angel and Anya slowed down when they heard their names being called. They turned around to see that it was Spike.
"Hey, Will, what are you doing here?" Angel asked. He wondered why his brother was in a courthouse, which was stupid considering his profession.
"I have a case that is going to trial to day. Now I think the more appropriate question is what are you doing here?"
"I had to testify for a big case that I helped cracked. You remember me telling you 'bout that." Spike knew his brother was going to try and change the subject, so he turned to his sister for the answer to his unspoken question.
"He was thrown out because he doesn't know how to act in a courtroom. He yelled at the judge for Christ sakes!" Spike knew that his brother had not been in a courtroom in his life and that Angel also had a temper that would flare up and the littlest thing.
"So mind telling me why you yelled at the judge. Don't you know that that is the cardinal rule to courtroom edict?"
"Things just didn't go the way I wanted them to. I got a little angry."
"A little angry! You called the judge a fucking piece of shit ass wipe and said his verdict was bullshit." Spike chuckled in spite of the angry look on Angel's face. He knew that Anya would be very blunt on the truth.
"Thanks, Ahn, but I don't think Will needed to know all the details of my stupidity."
"Sure I did. You always get to hear all the details of my stupidity. I figure turn'bout is fair 'ame." He was speaking with his accent. Why was it that when he was around them it came out? Both Anya and Angel spoke with a slight accent.
"Well I guess, but still it was 'otally 'barassing. I don't think I'll be able to step inside a courthouse for 'bout a month or two." Angel said this with a grin on his face.
"Well actually I would give it 'bout four months for your display of jackassism. That is if they don't get a restraining order on the psycho who yelled at the judge." Anya said this and all of them broke out laughing.
Buffy stood not to far away from the small group. They seemed so close. She had caught parts of their conversation and knew that the older looking man who appeared very angry was his brother. They all seemed to fit together perfectly. The oldest had a bad temper, Spike was stubborn, and Anya was the one who lightened situations with her own brand of humor.
They were like the three musketeers. Buffy found herself wanting to have had a special relationship with anyone like the one Spike had with his siblings. She looked down at her watch and realized that they needed to be on their way. She cleared her throat loudly to catch Spike's attention.
Spike heard her clear her throat and knew that time had gotten away from him.
"Sorry, but I think it might be time to go," he said to his siblings, "I do have a court hearing to catch and I don't think Ms. Summers would be happy if we were late." Angel and Anya turned their attention to the small blonde standing a few feet away from them. Angel instantly understood the attraction. She was very pretty and held herself quiet well. Not rude, but gracefully.
Angel turned his attention to his little brother and said, "Okay, anyway I think I need to get something to cool down my temper. Although, this saves me a phone call, Cordelia and I are having a barbecue this weekend. You have to come."
It wasn't even a question and Spike knew that, but he had to ask his next question, "Is dad going to be there?" Spike had avoided his father since he was fired.
"Oh, Spike, cut this stupid teenage shit off. Xander and I are going. Wes and Fred are showing up. Giles is even coming." Anya was the one who said this. Angel was about to respond with something to that affect, but she was quicker than him.
"Still doesn't answer my question." Spike said quiet stubbornly. He knew he sounded like a little kid, but he had to inquire.
"Yes, Will, mom and dad are going to be there. But as Anya stated get your shit together, because Cordy will kill me if you aren't there. So I suggest that you get over the whole 'my dad hates my guts' bullshit and show up. I really don't feel like being castrated."
"I'll think about it."
"If you don't show up I'll get the whole fucking Sunny-D police department looking for your stubborn ass," Anya said.
"Alright. I really have to go now." Instead of waiting for their answer he grabbed Buffy and took off down the halls.
Buffy wasn't sure why he was so stubborn about going to his brother's for a barbecue. He seemed to love his family.
"Why are you so objective to going to your brother's house for some good family fun?" Buffy asked.
" I'll tell you about it later. Right now we have to get to a courtroom." That was the only thing he said as the silently searched for the courtroom that they had to go to.
When they found it the hurriedly stepped inside. No one was there so Buffy and Spike made their way to the benches where the people are suppose to sit. They sat quietly for a few minutes until the judge made his way inside the courtroom. Buffy and Spike stood up and sat down accordingly. The judge's voice boomed throughout the courtroom.
"Where is the defendant?"
"The defendant wasn't shown up yet." The bailiff said, in a monotone voice.
"Well we could get started or we can wait. Personally I will have to talk to Judge Price about this. She swore that everyone would be on time." Spike felt a twinge of guilt pass through him. He made a mental note to buy Fred something nice and pretty for her troubles.
"Well we haven't got all day. Why don't you start with your open argument, counselor." Spike stood up and adjusted his tie. He picked that up from Giles. Adjust the tie to make yourself look serious always impressed.
It is fairly simple, your honor. My client was married to the defendant and had to endure psychical and mental abuse. Now she wants to divorce her husband. She isn't asking for too much and I think that the other counselor and I can reach a mutual point on almost everything that is if they show up."
Good point out the flaws.
"The only thing that isn't being handle with ease is the matter of their six-year old daughter Dawn. My client wishes are that Dawn is only allowed to see her father under supervision. He has displayed time and time again that he is very abusive and my client thinks this is a reasonable request. Now she is willing to give this a little wiggle room, but not too much."
The judge seemed to ponder this for awhile.
"What about the matter of child support?"
"My client is willing to be very lenient on that matter. She doesn't want too much from Mr. Finn."
"Well I would have to agree with Mrs. Finn on the matter of the child. I don't think that a poor child she bear the berth of something so heinous as an abusive parent. Although I have no proof of this abuse and the defendant isn't hear to argue an case yet." Just than the doors opened wide to a woman and Riley Finn.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Dru walked with ease into the courtroom. How hard could a divorce case be? This guy was a piece of shit, but she was a defense attorney. She knew that the whole trick of showing up late would piss off the judge, but it would give the dire affect it always did. There was only one time it didn't work and there was no way that he would be there. That was until Dru spotted him. He seemed to be confident even though he was looking directly at her. That was what she admired most about him. His confidence in the courtroom. Of course that was only in the courtroom and nowhere else. That was why she cheated on him. She regretted it later, but at the time it was a good idea. He never stood up to anyone outside the courtroom especially his family. Dru could have shit her pants when she saw him. She walked confidently to the other bench and took out her files from her brief case. She silently looked them over.
"Well counselor I'm glad you decided to show up. We were just discussing your client. Now it has been brought to my intention that Mr. Finn is an abusive man. Care to reiterate?"
"Yes your honor. I believe that you have been lied to. My client was never abusive to his child or the defendant. This is all quiet ludicrous." Buffy's face fell into a frown. She couldn't believe Riley was actually pulling that card. He was a piece of shit, yes, but she never pegged him as a liar. Especially in a courtroom. It was just another side she never saw of him and now she would never see of him.
Spike looked at Buffy trying to tell her that he had prepared for this. What he wasn't prepared for was to have his ex-girlfriend defend Buffy's husband. He knew that it would be tougher than he thought. He could handle it though. He knew Dru's tricks. The whole 'come late and you'll win 'em over' wasn't going to work this time.
"Well my client has proof that the defendant was abusive. If the defendant wants to take that route to things than my client and I are happy to oblige. Although I must know that everything is agreed upon before I go any further." Spike finished.
"Everything with the settlement is agreed upon." Dru said. She wasn't going to let him intimidate her. She knew him and she would win. So what if the guys really did hit his wife and kid? It wasn't her problem. Riley looked over at Buffy and then Dru.
Buffy looked so hurt and he knew why. He was lying. He was letting Miss Collins lie. It was wrong, he knew, but he would do anything to see his daughter. Even if it meant lying. He wouldn't put up with supervised visits every once a month. He wanted to be involved in his daughter's life not a spectator. He put on his resolve face and went back to listen to the lawyers talk.
"Since everything is boiling down to just the matter of the child and it doesn't seem the plaintiff is prepared to started witness testimony, I'm granting a recess until 9:00 o'clock next Monday morning. That is three days to come up with witnesses and evidence, Mr. Flannery. And please don't go asking other judge's for continuances or to speed things up. It puts me in an awful position." With that the judge left and both sides gathered their stuff.
Buffy and Spike put their stuff away pretty quickly, but couldn't avoid a confrontation with their ex's.
"Well, Spike, it seems you have your work cut out for you." Dru commented.
"Well if you mean by that winning this case and never letting you forget it I think I will enjoy that work."
"Remark with the witty puns all you want, but we both know who was more experience."
"Sometimes more experience isn't a good thing." With that Spike started to leave the courtroom, but realized Buffy wasn't following him.
Buffy was staring at Riley with murder in her eyes. She started to speak in a low voice, "You fucking cock sucker. You are a piece of shit son of a bitch. Why don't you just admit you hit Dawn and me? You fucking throw bullshit at me after what you put me through. You shitty bastard! I outta cut your useless dick off!" Buffy was screaming by the time she was finished. Spike ran over to her and tried to get her to stop.
"Oh like you were Miss Perfect. You were a stupid bitch!" Riley was beginning to loss his grip. She shouldn't be yelling at him. She was taking his kid away.
"I never hurt my kid you fucking dickless son of a Bitch!" Buffy knew she was being stupid, but she couldn't help yelling at him. She ignored Spike as he tried to calm her down.
"You are such a whore you know that. You are the one trying to take my kid away. You fucking bitch!"
"What are you going to do? Hit me." Riley really felt liking hitting her, but he knew he couldn't in front of all these people.
Spike knew this would turn uglier if he allowed it to go on.
"Alright. Both of you shut your mouths. This will not help anything."
"Your client started it." Dru said with ease.
"That ain't the point. I'm stopping it. Now Buffy go outside and Dru, next time, try to stop things. I could have used some help. But then again you were probably eating this up." With that Buffy and Spike left.
"What was that about?"
"I got angry." Buffy knew it wasn't a good response.
"Fuck! You got angry. Shit! You know how much re-con I'm gonna have to do to fix this. Fuck! Get mad at him after." Spike was cursing too much for his liking. He took a deep breath and then calmed down.
"Let's just go to the deli and maybe after I eat I'll calm down." Spike nodded and they left.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ They were sitting in the deli. They were quiet the whole way there. Buffy only talked to give spike the directions and Spike didn't feel up to talking to her right know. They order and were know waiting for their food. Buffy thought that she should break the silence.
"Look I know I was irrational, but I couldn't help it. It got a little out of hand."
"S'kay. I would have gotten upset too. I just want you to know that you can't act like that anymore."
"Understood. Now I think that I have two questions to ask you."
"Shoot."
"Well was it just me or do you know Riley's lawyer?" Buffy thought she saw the surprise in his eyes when the black haired woman entered the courtroom.
"Actually, yes, I do know Dru.
" "On a more personal basis then work?"
"Yes. She and I dated for quiet some time. I dumped her last year when I caught her cheating on me. She was a real bitch to me anyway. Said that I wasn't confident enough."
"Oh well you don't really need that."
"No I don't. I just haven't been able to think about women since I dumped her. She did a number to my head. So what is the second question?"
"Well it is actually the same question I had earlier." Spike knew which one she was talking about.
"Oh, well I really don't get along with my dad."
"I sensed that."
"It's a whole thing."
"I have time."
"Well, he wanted all his kids to be perfect. I was slightly less then fitting to that image. I guess you could say I was a bad kid. Got arrested a few times back in my teen years. Anyway, he thought I would amount to nothing. He also wanted all his kids to become police officers. I, obviously, didn't follow that trend. So as you can see, he hates me."
"There isn't more to that story?"
"Well the whole fact that we fight constantly doesn't help."
"So know dramatic stories?"
"No, I'm afraid not. We never hit each other or anything like that. Just never got along. Giles was more of a dad then he was."
"Your mentor."
"Yeah, he was there for me when I needed him. In fact, come to think of it, it would be nice to see him again."
"See you should go. It would be good for you to clear things up with your dad."
"Yeah, but I'm very stubborn. I'll probably won't decide to go until the last minute." Spike and Buffy laughed at the insult to Spike.
"Well you aren't the only stubborn one. I can be pretty stubborn."
"It isn't like it is a bad thing." Buffy giggled. She couldn't remember the last time she laughed. It felt like years ago.
"Also, I know I said two questions, but I have to ask. Is the accent real?"
Spike tensed up for awhile and then answered the question, "Yes."
"How come you hide it?"
"Well I hate where it comes from."
"Which is?"
"My dad moved us from England when I was seven. I loved it, but hated it at the same time."
"Okay I'm not going to get a whole answer from you am I?"
"Well I guess I could tell you about Spike's horrible England experiences. Well my dad was always working and so was my mom. They worked their asses off trying to provide for us. I never saw them. When my dad moved us from that country to the US of course I was heart broken. It was the only home I knew. I had to leave friends and family. My dad took us away from there because he didn't think it had much to offer. I don't speak with the accent because of all the ridicule I received from peers. Also because that country is the reason my dad took a more active interest in my life."
"Lost a little. I thought you wanted your dad to spend more time with you?"
"Are you insane. My dad did nothing, but nit pick at my life. Even as a little boy. It got much worse when he had time to sit down and do it properly." Buffy thought about that. When her dad was alive and around he had never treated her like that, but she knew what nit picking could do to a kid. Her mother was like that. Every little thing Buffy did wasn't up to her standards, except for marry Riley, which showed her mother's lack of common sense.
"I can image how that feels. I hate it that my mother picks at every little detail of my life. She just can't seem to get it that I'm a grown-up that can make her own decisions. She used to do that constantly until I shut her out."
"See so shutting out parents is a good thing every once in a while. I love my mom, but I can't stand my dad."
"I love my mom, but can't stand her." they laughed at how similar their lives were.
Their lunch came and they ate, but not in silence. Spike told Buffy about his niece and nephew, who he spent a large amount of time with. He told her about how his big brother was like his dad and that he and his sister called their brother dad as a nickname. He told her more about his wild life as a teen and about the only person he would give his life for without a second thought, his best friend Wes. The way he talked about Wesley was enough to mill her over. He held this man in the highest respect. Buffy never talked about Willow that way and she didn't understand why. Willow was her best friend and she was always there for her just like Wes was always there for Spike.
"So enough about me. Let me here something about you."
"Well it's pretty uneventful. I grew up in Los Angeles and moved here because it was where Riley was from. I had Dawn when I was about twenty one and I've been a mom and a nurse since then."
"What about being a doctor? What happened to that?"
"Well I went to pre-med. and I finished it before I gave birth to Dawn. I never went to med. school because I had to take care of Dawn. I settled for being a nurse instead. I still help people so it isn't too bad."
"You never thought about going back?"
"Course I did, but I decided that I had to care of Dawn. It really wasn't a hard decision."
"So, what about friends? Any besides Willow?"
"Not really. I never made friends with anybody besides Riley's friend's wives. They were boring, trophy wives. They didn't really appeal to me, but I kept up appearances. Willow is probably my only friend."
"Well now you have two."
"What. Oh you. Yeah I guess you're right I do have two friends." Buffy kept the disappointment out of her voice. She knew now that he just wanted to be her friend.
Spike knew that Buffy wanted to hear that, or at least he thought. He was relieved that he was able to say it without sounding to fake.
"You know what?"
"What?"
"Friends really shouldn't let their friends do something they don't want to do alone."
"Your point."
"Well I think that maybe you should go with me to this bb-q. I really don't feel like going alone." What was he doing he thought. This was an invite to meet his family and Spike didn't think that that was appropriate.
"Well I don't know. Dawn and I are probably doing something." Buffy wasn't sure what he was getting at so she played it off coolly.
"Dawn can come. I know that she really loves my car. Besides, my niece and nephew are about her age so she won't be bored." What was he doing he thought. This was totally unlike him.
"I guess when you put it that way it seems okay. I just thought that Wes would be there for you." "Wes wants me to put this whole I hate my dad thing behind me. I need someone who doesn't know my dad so that I could have somewhere to retreat."
"You make it sound like a bombardment."
"It will be. It's going to be Will this and Will that. He's going to pick on me for every detail of my life. He already was enough ammo, which is partly my fault, but still. I need someone who will be there to say 'Spike you know that your life isn't totally in the shitter.' Not to mention the fact that Xander will be there. He loves it that my dad picks on me so much. It makes his job a lot easier."
"Alright I get the picture. I know that it would probably be easier to have a friend there. I guess I can't say no to you. I mean you will be all helpless to defend yourself against your big bad dad and his evil sidekick your brother-in-law."
"Exactly. I can't defend myself."
"Maybe you're in the wrong business."
"No I defend other people. There's a difference."
"Right. Okay so you'll pick us up at."
"4:00 on Saturday."
"Sounds like a plan."
"Great then I guess we are on for Saturday." Spike wondered what he had just done. He had asked a woman who he was very attracted too to a family gathering. It wasn't just stupid, but selfish for him. Why did he have to open his mouth ever?
Buffy thought about the invitation all the way home. There wasn't anything wrong for two friends to go to one friend's family gathering. It was a normal thing friends do. Meet each other's families and hang out. She could be a friend with a guy she was attracted to. It would be different, but she would probably stop feeling that way soon. She had to otherwise she was doomed.