A/N : Moonjava, vanillagigglez, Demonica Mills, bella-lover, katie, Girl version of Chandler, Mita427, star2421, Brunettepet, Moluvsnumber17, spuffygrl, and Celestia Nailo - thanx you guys for all the kind words and encouragement with this story. You rock, as always.
(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)

Chapter 5 - Apply Within

Tuesday morning at Giles' Electronics and Spike was having trouble concentrating on his work. Firstly there was Dawn, his little girl who despite the brave smile on her face this morning was clearly not ecstatic about going to school today. Yesterday had not gone hugely well and despite having managed to cheer her up afterwards, Spike knew she didn't relish the idea of going there day in and day out. Still, he'd told her it would get better, and he was almost certain he was right. It did not stop him worrying about her though. Over the years he'd found a vast amount of his role as a father consisted of worrying about his little girl.

The second thing that was keeping his mind off his work was another female, or in truth two. Buffy was stuck in his head, refusing to leave him alone. He'd spent just a few minutes with her on two occasions yesterday and all he wanted to do was see her again, get to know her better. This led to thoughts of Dru, and guilt because he was betraying her memory by looking at another woman that way. It was stupid, but Spike was loyal to the point of the ridiculous and thinking of Buffy in that kind of way made him feel like he was cheating on his dead wife.

"For the third time, William!" Giles stood behind the younger man, trying to get his attention as he stared blankly at the screen. Finally he seemed to remember where he was and why, and he turned to see his father's irritated expression.

"You want somethin', Dad?" he asked innocently, as if he didn't know he'd annoyed him. Giles sighed tiredly.

"I was simply trying to remind you that I am interviewing for a Personal Assistant today, and will be unavailable until at least two o'clock" he explained.

Spike gave a snort of laughter.

"Let's hope you have better judgement this time" he said with a smirk, "That Anya was bloody awful"

"I think awful is a little strong" his father frowned, "She was just..."

"Loud? Obnoxious?" Spike suggested, "Perverted? Obsessive? A complete bloody bi..."

"That's quite enough William!" Giles said sternly as a worried looking young woman appeared in the doorway.

"Hi, I'm here for an interview" she said cautiously, Giles switched on a smile as he walked over to the door and invited her in, "Miss Kendall, I presume?"

"Oh please" she giggled, "Call me, Harmony"

Spike rolled his eyes as he watched his father lead the ridiculous blonde through to his office. He prayed to God that silly bint didn't get the job. His father needed someone sensible, some chit with her head screwed on, and a little bit of fire to keep him on his toes. Before the diabolical Anya, there'd been Fred, and she and Spike had got on famously. There was never any romantic feeling between them, for one thing she had a fiancé and he was still grieving for Drusilla but she was a friendly sort and smart too.

Anyway, there was work to be done, and who dear old Dad got for an assistant was a disagreement best left for later. At least for ten minutes Spike hadn't been thinking about Buffy.

Three hours. That's how long it'd been since Xander had left for his interview. He'd promised to call his cousin as soon as he got out of his interview to let her know how it went. In the meantime Buffy had checked all the local papers and was now trawling around the shops, checking the windows for job vacancy ads.

The blonde was just starting to worry about her cousin when her cellphone rang into life and she rapidly answered it.

"Xander?"

"Buffy, it's incredible!" he called down the phone to her, "I got the job! There were three other guys waiting to be interviewed but the guy told me I already got it!"

"Oh Xan, that's great!" his cousin enthused, "I'm so happy for you"

They talked for a short while about his new job on a local construction site, how much he would be getting paid and what his hours would be and so forth.

"How goes the job search for you?" he asked Buffy eventually and there was a long-ish pause before she answered.

"Oh, well, I..." she was about to admit she'd found nothing she could actually do when she came face to face with what looked to be her salvation, "I have another interview to go to" she said with a slight smile as she read the ad in the window. It'd be a great job if she could get it.

"Wouldn't it be great if we both had jobs by the end of the day?" her cousin said through the phone. Buffy nodded absently as she finished reading the ad, "Buff?" she'd forgotten that her cousin couldn't actually see her.

"Oh, yeah, Xand. I have to go now...for my interview. I'll see you later" she said quickly hanging up the phone and pushing the door to the building open.

"Hi" she said cheerily to the lady behind the reception desk, "I was wondering, about the job ad in the window..."

"Oh, I'm sorry" the girl with the name-tag that said Anne shook her head sympathetically, "That should have been taken down yesterday"

"Someone already got the job, huh?" Buffy sighed in defeat.

"Not exactly" the other blonde explained, "the interviews are today, all applications had to be in by yesterday. I'm sorry" she said, feeling really bad for Buffy who's bright smile had completely disappeared, like black clouds coming to cover up the sun.

"Just poppin' out for some fags, Annie" an English voice called as it's owner hurtled down the last few steps of the flight of stairs and headed for the door, almost knocking Buffy over just outside, "Oops, sorry pet, I didn't...Buffy?" Spike looked surprised to see her, and she him when she turned and saw him standing there.

"What are you doing here?" they said together, both stopping and laughing a little at that.

"I work here, luv, remember?" Spike answered first, "This is the old man's firm"

Buffy looked up and saw the sign proclaiming it to be Giles Electronics and she nodded that she did indeed remember.

"Well then, I guess I almost got a job working for your Dad" she smiled, despite her disappointment, "I'm a little late though, applications had to be in yesterday"

Spike frowned. He'd almost had the opportunity to spend more time with Buffy and that was being snatched away because of some stupid bloody time limit on job applications? Bugger that.

"Who says it's too late?" he smirked.

"Well, I think her name was Anne..." Buffy gestured back inside and Spike shook his head.

"Annie just sorts the candidates and gives them all a time to turn up cos dear old Dad doesn't have the time" he explained, "and he won't know if she slips an extra name on the bottom of the list"

"I couldn't ask her to do that" Buffy shook her head and turned to walk away but Spike reached for her arm with his hand. She stopped and turned back, both of them glancing between his hand and the others face.

"You're not asking her, I'm telling her" he said firmly, letting his hand slip from her arm, "Call it perks of being the boss' son" he tilted his head and smirked once again.

"Thankyou" Buffy smiled even more brightly than before, "You have no idea what this means to me" in a moment of probable madness she stepped forward and hugged him briefly, right there in the middle of the street. For a split second Spike was shocked but at the same time he really did not want to let go, of course he knew he had to.

"Don't thank me yet, luv" he said, opening the door and encouraging her back into the building, "You haven't got the job yet"

"But I have the interview" she smiled as they walked over to speak to Anne again, "and that means I have a shot, thanks to you"

"My pleasure, pet" he told her as she dug in her bag for another copy of her resume. He found he meant that more sincerely that he'd meant anything in a long time.

Buffy's interview was to be at two forty-five, giving her just enough time to run back to the motel and freshen up and prepare a little. If Mr Giles was anything like his son, well that could be a good thing or a bad thing she surmised. If he was gorgeous like Spike there was just no way she was going to be able to concentrate, but if he was as sweet and thoughtful, well then that would definitely be appreciated right now.

Inside the office, Spike was wondering if maybe he should tell his father about Buffy, maybe put in an extra good word for her, but then Giles would want to know why he was doing it and he really couldn't deal with that right now.

The clock soon said quarter to three and his eyes followed his father out of the office with the previous job applicant, and back in again with Buffy on his heels. She shot him a quick glance as she passed his desk and he winked at her, smiling slightly when she ducked her head because he'd made her blush.

"Was that Buffy?" Willow asked as soon as the blonde had disappeared into the other office with her boss.

"Er, yeah, I think so" Spike shrugged.

Oz stifled a smile as he looked over at his friend. He'd seen the look pass between the two blondes, but he'd keep his mouth shut for now. He wasn't the type to gossip.

Spike couldn't keep his eyes off the office door and barely got any work done for the full ten minutes that Buffy was in there with his Dad. When she came out he was a little worried that the interview was over so fast. There was no way it could've gone well and it saddened him. For some unknown reason he really liked this woman and having her working in the next room would make it so much easier to get to know her without the pressure of having to ask her out or anything major. Now it seemed he was unlucky...or was he?

"Splendid, I'll shall look forward to seeing you tomorrow, Miss Summers" Giles smiled, holding out his hand and shaking hers.

Buffy couldn't stop grinning as she shook the man's hand.

"Thankyou so much, Mr Giles" she said gratefully, "I promise, I won't let you down"

Spike stared into the computer screen, telling himself not to turn around and make an obvious pratt of himself, but he was completely thrilled that Buffy had got the job.

"I have no doubt you'll do an admirable job" his father told the young woman as he led her towards the door.

"Oh, I should hurry home, before it rains" she said, suddenly noticing the black clouds through the window. It seemed ironic that since she'd arrived in town it'd done more than live up to it's name being constantly sunny. Now suddenly she was in a light and happy mood and the rain was about to pour down!

"Oh dear" Giles frowned, "Really Miss Summers I don't think you'll make it without getting wet through...William?" he called to his son and Spike innocently turned around as if he hadn't been eavesdropping at all.

"What's up, Dad?" he asked getting to his feet and switching off the computer, "I was just heading out"

"You could give Miss Summers a lift home, could you not?" he suggested, "It isn't far from your normal route"

Buffy shifted uncomfortably. The address she'd given was slightly fake, since she could hardly admit she was living temporarily at a motel. Instead she'd given just the name of the street the place was on, knowing there were apartments further down the road and hoping the lack of exact location would not be noticed.

"Sure thing" Spike responded to his fathers question with a casual smile, though inside he felt like a giddy teenager.

"Really, I don't wanna be any trouble, I can walk" Buffy protested, but Spike shook his head as he walked over to the door and opened it for her like a gentleman.

"Wouldn't hear of it, pet" he smiled, "I gotta go now anyway, pick up Dawnie"

With that the pair said goodbye and left the building, both smiling like idiots.

"Thankyou so much for this, Spike" Buffy said gratefully as they walked to his car, and he unlocked it.

"S'only a ride home" he shrugged, knowing that's not what she meant, but feeling far too embarrassed to take any thanks for the job. He hadn't felt this bashful since before he'd met Dru, and he was starting to wonder what the hell was wrong with him!

"I meant the job" she told him as he held open the car door for her and she climbed in, "I never would've even have got the opportunity to try for it if you hadn't..."

"Oh hush" he interrupted, rolling her eyes, "S'just a job luv, it's not as great as all that, and my part in it barely counts for anything" he knew he was only being this way because he couldn't handle the praise from her. To her credit, Buffy realised his problem and shut her mouth, though she couldn't help smiling. Spike seemed like such a tough guy, but give the man a compliment and he was like a blushing teen.

"So" she decided to change the subject as they drove along "is Dawn your girlfriend?"

The look he gave her was stunned to stay the least, but also partially amused, and Buffy regretted asking.

"I'm sorry, that's really none of my business" she shook her head "Bad, bad Buffy"

"No, it's fine" Spike assured her, not meaning to make her feel bad "it's just...Dawn's my daughter" he explained ad the woman beside him blushed, going so far as to hide her face behind her hands briefly.

"Oh, now I feel stupid" she told him, as Spike tried desperately not to laugh at her. It was nice to know he looked young enough to pass for a teenager's boyfriend though, and clearly Buffy was interested in whether or not he was dating. Was that a good thing? He wasn't sure yet.

"How old is she?" Buffy asked, bringing him out of his thoughts.

"Oh, um, Dawn is fourteen" he told her "She just started High School yesterday"

"Wow" came the response, and he wrongly assumed she was stunned that he was old enough to have a daughter that age. In reality she was just thinking about the person she'd come to town to find. She would be fourteen too by now. Just thinking of how much she would've changed brought tears to Buffy's eyes that she fought hard to hide.

"You okay, luv?" Spike asked when she went suddenly too quiet.

"Yeah" she nodded gently, hoping the water in her eyes would stay where it was "I'm fine" she told him with a fake smile, her stomach doing flips as she realised that any one of the freshman girls that came pouring out of Sunnydale High today could be her long lost daughter.

To Be Continued...