Chapter 3
Spike had checked into the motel just minutes before the sun reaches up into the sky. They make their way around the cheapish motel and walk inside their acquired room just a few short minutes before Spike would start to burn. Dawn shuts the drapes closed and tapes them to the walls while Spike lays out the food they just got at a local McDonalds. When they both are done with their tasks, they sit at the unsteady table and start drizzling syrup on the McDonald Hot Cakes they both ordered.
Dawn opens one of her Orange Juice's, Spike ordering her to get at least one thing healthy, and gulps it halfway down. She no longer cringes as Spike downs two blood bags before eating his Hot Cakes. As they eat they talk about where they want to go, as of right now they are making their way towards Las Vegas, and a flight overseas. "But I think England would be a nice place to settle down in! Weren't you born in England?"
"Yes bit, I was." Spike sighs knowing she won't give up until she has her way. "How 'bout this niblet. We go to England and try out a smallish town?"
Dawn eagerly nods her head. "We should have our papers in Vegas right?'
"Yes luv, you'll be my official daughter then." Dawn grins up at him and finishes her pancakes.
"I'll just go clean up and then sleep." Spike nods, after finishing his meal he throws the trash away and takes off his shoes, socks and shirt. He checks out both of the beds for bugs and other unsavory things, and then climbs in the second one. By the time Dawn comes out of the bathroom he's fast asleep.
When Spike wakes up it is just as the sun is going down, he gets out of his bed careful not to wake Dawn. He grabs his clothes for today and starts up a shower. Dawn is woken by the sounds of the shower and makes haste to put on her clothes for their nights travel. When she is done and had her hair up in a ponytail Spike comes out of the bathroom dressed and still towel-drying his hair.
Dawn packs up the dirty clothes and puts everything up and away as Spike checks out of the hotel. When he is finished he leaves and Dawn is waiting for him in the passenger seat of the Desoto. He climbs in the drivers seat. "Buckle up kiddies, daddy's putting the hammer down." and he does, his foot is a heavy weight on the gas and they tear out of the hotel parking lot.
"So how far do you think we have until we reach Vegas?"
"Would probably get there today if all goes well." Spike answers
"Really!" Dawn grins. "Is our flight booked?"
"Yep bit, we'll be leaving the bloody U. S. of A. in two days, we'll pick up the tickets at the airport." Spike grins when Dawn laughs and smiles with him.
"So what do you think about your new name?"
"You mean Dawn Thornton? I like it, don't know why you kept the Dawn part though."
"Like me being William? Well to tell the truth bit, William is my human name." Spike looks at Dawn to gage her reaction.
"So that's why, do I have to call you William now, or is it Dad?"
"Either really, even Spike will work. The story is that your mum and I never got along-"
"I lived with her, and how she died and now I'm living with you." Dawn interrupts. "I got that part, but why can't I call you dad?"
"Suppose you can bit, still rather you call me Spike though."
"Either way then huh? I'll have to come up with a pet name for you then, so it'll be a bit of both."
"Okay, what will this pet name be?" Spike asks.
"Um, Spikey?" Dawn says in a teasing manner.
Spike halfway scowls at her joke. "Something decent bit."
"I was joking, don't worry though I'll think of something before we get there." Dawn smiles and selects an 8-track tape to put into the player. As they drive along she bounces her back lightly against the back of the seat and talks on and off with Spike.
When they finally make it to Las Vegas, Spike and Dawn purchase their new identities and settle into a modest room at one of the cheaper hotels. Like the last few times they barely beat the sunrise.
They start into a routine that they have used all along the way. Spike sets the alarm clock and gets ready for sleep while Dawn takes a shower. They both wake up in the morning, Dawn packs everything and Spike takes a shower, also checking them out of the hotel. They leave for the Las Vegas International Airport with three hours to spare.
They approach the loading area and gives the woman their ID's and tickets to verify their passage. They load the baggage that isn't carry-on onto the baggage belt and the woman begins to type away.
"Your William Thornton?' The woman asks.
"That's me." Spike answers
The woman reaches under her desk and takes out a manila envelope and hands it to him. "It was delivered here two days ago to be handed directly to you." Spike slips the envelope into their carry-on baggage and they continue the processing before heading off toward the gates.
They get to the right gate just on time to board onto First class, where hopefully not so many people will be setting so spike can control the amount of sunlight.
Spike loads up their carry-on luggage and then sits next to the window so he has control over it and pats the seat next to him. Dawn sits down and starts to work on some games Spike had brought for her for the trip. "Last chance." Spike says almost too casually.
Dawn knows better, she knows he'd be heart-broken if she left know. "I know, no need to worry it's not like we run across any blockades. I guess they didn't want me after all." Dawn says almost brought to tears.
"Don't worry little bit," He says stroking her face, chasing her tears away. "Let's just put it all behind us, okay?"
"All right." Dawn smiles up at him, and then goes back to her game.
"Watch the windows for me will you bit? Jet lag is horrible going East, wake me up so you can take a nap halfway through too."
"Okay." Dawn glances up at him, and then resumes her game.
"I told you to wake me up and take a nap halfway though the flight bit." Spike says scolding his 'Daughter' "See what happens, I told you the jet lag would be bad."
"All right," Dawn says with a yawn, trying to get her 'Dad' off her back. "I'd never had jet lag before so I didn't know!"
Spike laughs. "Okay bit, I suppose we can kip in the hotel part of the Airport, but were off to that little town we picked out yesterday as soon as it's night-time."
They pick up their luggage and head towards the hotel that the Airport keeps up for jet lag cases such as Dawns'. They pick up a room, and sign in under their new names. As soon as she flops down onto her bed Dawn falls asleep. Spike spends the next few hours playing with one of the games he got for Dawn for the trip over the pond.
As soon as a few hours after nightfall Spike wakes Dawn up. They head out and catch a cab to Seacroft, about two hours ride (112 miles) north of London, in Lincolnshire county, England. Only 17 miles North East of Boston. Sort of in-between The Walsh and the North Sea. Spike wakes Dawn after the two hour ride and then they both un-load the luggage into the little 2-story home 500 yards from the beach. The cab driver helps them unload their baggage and Spike pays him, then tips him extra.
Once they lug their bags into the house, Spike had purchased a suitcase to replace the supermarket bags in Vegas, they cover up the windows and go to their respective rooms. Spike has the upstairs to himself, since the master suite is the entire second floor. Dawn takes the largest bedroom on the first floor that is also across from one of the two downstairs bathrooms. Spike and Dawn unpack their suitcases and Dawn decides to take a nap while Spike goes out for groceries, and to supply his liquid diet. Spike stocks the refrigerator and pantry with the groceries and blood then goes upstairs and tapes the window curtains shut. He showers and then falls asleep naked after crawling under the covers.
Chapter 4
Dawn wakes to the smells of breakfast cooking; she wakes up and is confused by her surroundings until she remembers they were in the house, and not in a hotel. She smiles and treads into the kitchen still in her night clothes. Once into the kitchen she can see Spike working over the stove. "Morning Niblet."
"Good Morning Spike, what's for breakfast?" Dawn replies coming up next to him to peer at the cooking food.
"Pancakes and bacon. I picked up the stuff when I went to the store yesterday." Spike says not looking up from his cooking.
"I hope it's not that turkey bacon, cause I so hate that."
"No bit, it's regular bacon. Why don't you go set the table, and pour yourself some orange juice."
"What about you?" Dawn asks.
"I've already had m' sustenance niblet." Spike says nodding to the mug in the sink that is filled with water.
Dawn sets the table and pours herself a glass of orange juice. It was timed perfectly because as soon as she was finished Spike sets down a hot plate full of pancakes and bacon. Spike then goes to the cupboards and brings the syrup, butter, and peanut butter out, they sit down on the table and eat their breakfast.
Later that day
"Nib, what exactly did you bring with you?" Spike asks.
"Basically what I knew I'd need right away, just a week's worth of clothes and my toiletries. Why did you want to know?"
"Because we need to get you enrolled into school, which means new clothes because you only brought a few sets."
"Okay, but do I have to be enrolled now?" Dawn asks. "Can we settle in first?"
"We are going to settle in first, I need to get a job and then your going to go to school."
"Alright." Dawn says knowing she's probably only going to have a week before she's going to have to start up school again. "But what are you going to do?"
"I'll start painting." Spike says, then he looks at her waiting for her response.
"You can paint?"
"I learned how to after I was turned, it was a nice way to bring in money here and there. I figured that we could go into town today if you wanted to so we could go to the art supply store and go clothes shopping. As well as buy more groceries for supper since I didn't really get anything that is suited for that."
"Okay!" Dawn says excited. "I'll help with the dishes then we can get ready to go."
They quickly washed and dried the dishes that were used for breakfast, then they each went to their rooms to get ready for the day. Spike slipped up to his room and put on another more normal set of clothes - well a black t-shirt and a pair of black jeans is normal for him - he then looks at the package that was waiting for him at the airport when they got to Las Vegas.
Spike holds the package out in-front of his face and sniffs, shrugging he opens the package up and up-ends the package, all that comes out is a single ring and a small piece of ripped paper.
Master Spike,
I found this and I thought you might
be needing it where you are going,
Where I found it is of no consequence,
I have no need of it, though you will,
Dalton.
Spike takes a look at the ring and shrugs again, knowing that Dalton wouldn't betray him he then puts it on. Spike heads downstairs and finds Dawn waiting for him.
"What took you so long?" Dawn asks, ready to go out and shop for new school clothes.
"Looked at that package Dalton sent me, t'was a ring and a note. Dunno what the ring was for, he said I'd need it though."
Dawn just shrugs. "Do you think the sun has gone down enough to go shopping yet?"
"Yes, it's right about dusk, we'll have to go back to human time though with you going to school n' all."
Dawn just shrugs and opens the door, "Either way, I still don't see why you can't home school me or something."
Spike smiles and shakes his head as he follows her out the door
tbc…