Time Out
By
Penmom
Author's Notes: (1) ENJOY.
Chapter Two
Gatwick / London
Looking out the polarized glass of the jet's window, he could see that walking about in daylight was not going to be a problem. No wonder there were always so many damn vamps in England, they could bloody well take a holiday at the Roman Baths without so much as sunscreen. His tolerance to the sun had increased seen the big who-ha in Sunnydale but he still couldn't manage broad daylight in California.
Now - Boston in the winter - he was all over it. Probably why he was there. Teaching at BU during the day, takin' care of the odd nasty at night. Wasn't bad at all --- not great, not wonderful but not bad.
He owed Angel a big one for getting his papers in order so he could teach. It was probably what saved him. The routine, the day in, the day out, the contact with normal folk - it was a balm - or maybe a tranquilizer - for his soul. Didn't stop him from prowling around at night but made it so he could really have a place, a name. - William Shepherd Knot, Ph.D., professor of English Literature, Boston University. Most of his colleagues called him "Bill" - how bloody American.
If anyone had told him ten years ago that the Big Bad would evolve into ol' Bill Knot in the Classics Department, he would have proclaimed them daft. Believing more in Bill and less in Spike had probably been the buffer - oh what a choice for a word! - to keep him away from Buffy.
They'd seen each other twice since the big boom. Had each other's bloomin' email addresses, last year she'd sent him a bloody Christmas card but by mutual non-verbal fear or consent or whatever --- they generally treated each other like two blokes that worked together once upon a time.
She had to know that he would find out as soon as Angel knew and surely she knew that Willow would call the states. He shook his head as if to clear it. Listen to you, tryin' to convince yourself that she wants you here --- now. Did she call you? Did she email you? Did she write you?
No, but if he sat still and listened if could feel her pull as if she were the moon and he the tide.
Well, the tide was comin' in.
St. Anne's Hospice/ London
She rolls the ice chips around in her mouth. The medicine makes her mouth so dry. She closes her eyes and thinks of him. In the end, the only thing in her life that she has truly neglected. Her only loose end. Who was she kidding? --- Her only huge black hole.
Mrs. Brown, the little day nurse, pops in drawing her out of her own head. "Ms. Summers, there's a gentleman for you on the phone, all the way from America. You up to takin' it?"
Her heart speeds for the first time in weeks. She had thought that dread had replaced anticipation all around. Guess not.
She picks up the receiver by the bed, bracing herself to sound strong and happy.
"Hello?"
"Buffy. Oh Thank God. Well, I mean, I wanted to talk to you. As soon as, we heard I mean. Sam and I, well, we just think so much of you. If there's anything we can do."
Riley Finn --- her heart sinks a little. It is nice of him to call really but as he continues her mind wanders to another.
TBC
12/19/2005