A/N This is an A/U fiction in response to a challenge set out by my good
friend Tinkerbell42
Summary: Set just after the episode "Hush" Giles is finding it hard to adjust to a life of leisure, having no job as well as being sacked by the watchers council. When a surprise letter arrives from London from the Watcher's council requesting the presence of a certain slayer and recently chipped vampire in England, he's eager to help them, even if Spike and Buffy will be less than thrilled......
London Calling
Chapter 1
Buffy was awakened by the sound of singing, she was a little disorientated at first. She turned over in bed to see Willow already awake.
"Willow, it's only 7:00am," Buffy groaned at her friend.
Willow stopped singing.
"Yeah, I know, but I was just checking the Gentleman hadn't taken my voice again," she replied.
"That was over a week ago. I screamed their heads off, I don't think they'll be coming back any time soon Will," said Buffy.
"So what are you doing tonight? I have a meeting with that lame Wicca group on campus. Probably be learning how to make non voodoo corn dollies," said Willow sarcastically.
Buffy frowned.
"I'm meeting Riley tonight at the espresso pump. He wants to talk, but I'm not so sure that I'm ready for that," sighed Buffy.
Buffy had many things on her mind. She and Riley had called a halt to their growing relationship after discovering that they had both been keeping secrets from each other. Besides boyfriend troubles, Willow still hadn't performed, that forgetting spell, after she'd got engaged to Spike. Maybe if she wished hard enough, then it would all go away. No that would be bad, wishing had caused these icky feelings in the first place.
Willow threw back her bed covers and picked up her towel and toiletries.
"I'm gonna grab the bathroom before that girl down the hall gets it," said Willow, as she exited the room.
Buffy was left alone with her troubled thoughts.
She had almost drifted back off to sleep when the phone rang, making her jump. Buffy thumped the pillow in frustration and reached over and picked up the receiver.
"Hello?" she said a little more sharply than she'd intended.
"Buffy? Hi it's Giles, I need to see you this evening, it's urgent," he said.
"I have to see someone tonight," Buffy protested.
Giles sighed impatiently.
"You can put your social life on hold for just one night surely?" he asked.
"It's been on hold since I was 16 years old, but hey what's another night?" she asked sarcastically.
"Okay, see you around eight then," he replied.
With that, he was gone. Riley would think she was just trying to avoid their talk again, but that couldn't be helped.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Spike awoke to the hell that was Xander's basement. He'd been having another dream about being in the middle of the ocean, lying on a giant orange life raft. Spike wrinkled his nose at the dank smell of Xander's living space. The aforementioned was still fast asleep and snoring, as though driving the pigs to market. Spike had an itch on his nose. He tried to lift his hand to scratch it, growling in frustration as he had forgotten the ropes that bound him, hand and foot to the garish PVC chair. It almost made him miss the luxury of being chained up in Giles's bathtub. He looked across at Xander again, he was lying on his back, his mouth wide open.
"Hey Harris! Fire, fire," yelled Spike.
Xander shot up in bed, bleary eyed.
"What! Fire where?" he asked in confusion.
Spike smirked in satisfaction.
"No one said anything about fire, you stupid git. I have an itch and as I am all tied up, I need you to scratch it," Spike informed him.
"I hope you don't mean that in the sexual sense," said Xander as he rolled over in bed, trying to get back to sleep.
"Yeah right, you wish. Always did wonder about you Harris," said Spike.
"Spike, anyone ever tell you, that you're a complete bastard?" asked Xander
The phone rang, and he put a hand across the bed to answer it.
"Giles? Do you have any idea what time it is?" asked Xander
"Hello Xander, I need to speak to Spike actually," Giles told him.
"Please tell me it's to ask him to move back in with you," asked Xander hopefully.
Xander got out of bed to hand Spike the receiver .
"I'm a little tied up right now mate," said Spike wryly.
Xander rolled his eyes, putting down the phone, he started to untie Spike's ropes.
"Thank you so much, the phone?" asked Spike.
"Get it yourself, I'm off for a shower," said Xander.
Spike snatched the phone up off the bed.
"What the hell do you want?" asked Spike.
"Nice to talk to you too, I need to see you. I expect you at my place tonight around eight, be there," said Giles.
"Or else? Look, I don't have to go anywhere. Unless of course there's some money or smokes in it for me," said Spike hopefully.
Giles sighed deeply. It was a bit hard to appeal to someone's better nature, when they were seriously lacking in one.
"How about a twenty and a carton of cigarettes?" asked Giles
"Done, wouldn't want any one accusing me of being greedy. See you at eight then," said Spike.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Buffy sighed as she flopped down on her bed. It had been a particularly tough day and Riley hadn't taken her news, that she wouldn't be able to meet him tonight too well either. She hoped that what ever Giles had to tell her tonight, would be good news for a change. Because boy did she need it, she thought to herself. Buffy changed out of her dress into her usual jeans and jacket, perfect for a little patrolling after the meet. She picked up a stake out of the weapons bag under her bed and closed her dorm room door behind her.
She walked through the dark campus grounds. Although there were street lamps dotted around, there were still many shady areas perfect for vamps to lurk around, wanting to get a piece of the slayer. Her senses bristled as she neared the bus stop, she took her stake out of her pocket and turned around, at that moment the bus pulled up and she hastily stuffed the stake back in her jacket.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Buffy got off the bus and walked the few blocks to Giles's apartment. She was almost to the door when she bumped into something black and smelling of leather. Buffy looked up to see Spike looking down at her mockingly.
"If you wanted another feel love, all you had to do was ask," he said Mockingly.
Buffy pulled the stake out of her pocket and levelled it at his chest.
"Feel this!" she replied.
"Okay, okay I get the message," said Spike, holding his hands up in surrender.
She lowered the stake, a thought occurring to her.
"What are you doing here Spike?" she asked.
"Got a call from Giles this morning, said he wanted to see me," said Spike.
"That's funny, he called me too, and with the same message," said Buffy.
The door to Giles's apartment opened, Giles stood there looking at the both of them.
"Thought I heard voices, well come in then," said Giles.
"There must be some mistake, Spike thinks you actually wanted him here too," said Buffy.
"No, no mistake, I wanted to see the both of you together," said Giles.
Buffy looked at Spike, who was sporting a huge smirk on his face, an expression she would dearly love to wipe off. Spike followed Buffy into the apartment and sat down in a chair in the corner.
"That's my chair, Spike," Giles protested
"And you think I care, where's my money and cigarettes?" asked Spike.
Giles ignored him and disappeared into the kitchen to fix his guests a drink. He returned several moments later with a tray. Buffy looked at Spike in distaste as he gulped down his mug of blood, his game face slipping on.
"Eww," said Buffy.
"Didn't seem to mind it so much when we were engaged," said Spike.
"Mention THAT, once more and you will be going out of here in a dust buster, buster," said Buffy her cheeks flaming.
Giles sighed. He hadn't even spoken about why he wanted them both here yet, and they were already arguing. This wasn't going to be easy, he walked over to his drinks cabinet and poured himself a large scotch. Something told him, he was going to need it.
"Spill Rupes, I don't have all night," said Spike.
"Oh what else do you have to do, lurk around street corners looking evil?" scorned Buffy.
"Hey I still got it," said Spike
"Yeah," replied Buffy sarcastically.
"Children, please, if I could have your attention for a moment," asked Giles desperately.
Both of them fell silent. Giles fished around in the jacket of his tweed suit and brought out a white envelope.
"What's that?" Asked Buffy.
"A letter. It arrived from the London headquarters of the Watcher's Council," Giles informed them
"What are they to do with us? I quit and they fired you," said Buffy.
"Yes, Buffy thanks for the reminder," said Giles.
"Here let me look at that," said Spike.
He snatched the envelope out of Giles's grasp and took out the letter, scanning the page.
"Oh, hidden talents Spike, didn't know you could read," said Buffy.
Spike ignored her insults and started to read the letter aloud.
"Blah, blah, Watchers Council, requests the presence of Buffy Summers and the vampire, known as William the Bloody immediately in London......Bloody hell, you have got to be kidding!" said Spike.
"Carry on reading, there's more," said Giles.
"I don't wanna hear more, cos it's not gonna happen," said Buffy.
"Buffy, you cannot ignore a summons from the Watchers Council. You know better than any one, their methods of persuasion can be very er persuasive," said Giles.
Spike read the rest of the letter to himself , he walked over to Buffy and dropped the letter on her lap. His grin spread across his face.
"Read it and weep pet," said Spike.
Buffy blinked back the tears. That was exactly what she felt like doing.
TBC
Summary: Set just after the episode "Hush" Giles is finding it hard to adjust to a life of leisure, having no job as well as being sacked by the watchers council. When a surprise letter arrives from London from the Watcher's council requesting the presence of a certain slayer and recently chipped vampire in England, he's eager to help them, even if Spike and Buffy will be less than thrilled......
London Calling
Chapter 1
Buffy was awakened by the sound of singing, she was a little disorientated at first. She turned over in bed to see Willow already awake.
"Willow, it's only 7:00am," Buffy groaned at her friend.
Willow stopped singing.
"Yeah, I know, but I was just checking the Gentleman hadn't taken my voice again," she replied.
"That was over a week ago. I screamed their heads off, I don't think they'll be coming back any time soon Will," said Buffy.
"So what are you doing tonight? I have a meeting with that lame Wicca group on campus. Probably be learning how to make non voodoo corn dollies," said Willow sarcastically.
Buffy frowned.
"I'm meeting Riley tonight at the espresso pump. He wants to talk, but I'm not so sure that I'm ready for that," sighed Buffy.
Buffy had many things on her mind. She and Riley had called a halt to their growing relationship after discovering that they had both been keeping secrets from each other. Besides boyfriend troubles, Willow still hadn't performed, that forgetting spell, after she'd got engaged to Spike. Maybe if she wished hard enough, then it would all go away. No that would be bad, wishing had caused these icky feelings in the first place.
Willow threw back her bed covers and picked up her towel and toiletries.
"I'm gonna grab the bathroom before that girl down the hall gets it," said Willow, as she exited the room.
Buffy was left alone with her troubled thoughts.
She had almost drifted back off to sleep when the phone rang, making her jump. Buffy thumped the pillow in frustration and reached over and picked up the receiver.
"Hello?" she said a little more sharply than she'd intended.
"Buffy? Hi it's Giles, I need to see you this evening, it's urgent," he said.
"I have to see someone tonight," Buffy protested.
Giles sighed impatiently.
"You can put your social life on hold for just one night surely?" he asked.
"It's been on hold since I was 16 years old, but hey what's another night?" she asked sarcastically.
"Okay, see you around eight then," he replied.
With that, he was gone. Riley would think she was just trying to avoid their talk again, but that couldn't be helped.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Spike awoke to the hell that was Xander's basement. He'd been having another dream about being in the middle of the ocean, lying on a giant orange life raft. Spike wrinkled his nose at the dank smell of Xander's living space. The aforementioned was still fast asleep and snoring, as though driving the pigs to market. Spike had an itch on his nose. He tried to lift his hand to scratch it, growling in frustration as he had forgotten the ropes that bound him, hand and foot to the garish PVC chair. It almost made him miss the luxury of being chained up in Giles's bathtub. He looked across at Xander again, he was lying on his back, his mouth wide open.
"Hey Harris! Fire, fire," yelled Spike.
Xander shot up in bed, bleary eyed.
"What! Fire where?" he asked in confusion.
Spike smirked in satisfaction.
"No one said anything about fire, you stupid git. I have an itch and as I am all tied up, I need you to scratch it," Spike informed him.
"I hope you don't mean that in the sexual sense," said Xander as he rolled over in bed, trying to get back to sleep.
"Yeah right, you wish. Always did wonder about you Harris," said Spike.
"Spike, anyone ever tell you, that you're a complete bastard?" asked Xander
The phone rang, and he put a hand across the bed to answer it.
"Giles? Do you have any idea what time it is?" asked Xander
"Hello Xander, I need to speak to Spike actually," Giles told him.
"Please tell me it's to ask him to move back in with you," asked Xander hopefully.
Xander got out of bed to hand Spike the receiver .
"I'm a little tied up right now mate," said Spike wryly.
Xander rolled his eyes, putting down the phone, he started to untie Spike's ropes.
"Thank you so much, the phone?" asked Spike.
"Get it yourself, I'm off for a shower," said Xander.
Spike snatched the phone up off the bed.
"What the hell do you want?" asked Spike.
"Nice to talk to you too, I need to see you. I expect you at my place tonight around eight, be there," said Giles.
"Or else? Look, I don't have to go anywhere. Unless of course there's some money or smokes in it for me," said Spike hopefully.
Giles sighed deeply. It was a bit hard to appeal to someone's better nature, when they were seriously lacking in one.
"How about a twenty and a carton of cigarettes?" asked Giles
"Done, wouldn't want any one accusing me of being greedy. See you at eight then," said Spike.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Buffy sighed as she flopped down on her bed. It had been a particularly tough day and Riley hadn't taken her news, that she wouldn't be able to meet him tonight too well either. She hoped that what ever Giles had to tell her tonight, would be good news for a change. Because boy did she need it, she thought to herself. Buffy changed out of her dress into her usual jeans and jacket, perfect for a little patrolling after the meet. She picked up a stake out of the weapons bag under her bed and closed her dorm room door behind her.
She walked through the dark campus grounds. Although there were street lamps dotted around, there were still many shady areas perfect for vamps to lurk around, wanting to get a piece of the slayer. Her senses bristled as she neared the bus stop, she took her stake out of her pocket and turned around, at that moment the bus pulled up and she hastily stuffed the stake back in her jacket.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Buffy got off the bus and walked the few blocks to Giles's apartment. She was almost to the door when she bumped into something black and smelling of leather. Buffy looked up to see Spike looking down at her mockingly.
"If you wanted another feel love, all you had to do was ask," he said Mockingly.
Buffy pulled the stake out of her pocket and levelled it at his chest.
"Feel this!" she replied.
"Okay, okay I get the message," said Spike, holding his hands up in surrender.
She lowered the stake, a thought occurring to her.
"What are you doing here Spike?" she asked.
"Got a call from Giles this morning, said he wanted to see me," said Spike.
"That's funny, he called me too, and with the same message," said Buffy.
The door to Giles's apartment opened, Giles stood there looking at the both of them.
"Thought I heard voices, well come in then," said Giles.
"There must be some mistake, Spike thinks you actually wanted him here too," said Buffy.
"No, no mistake, I wanted to see the both of you together," said Giles.
Buffy looked at Spike, who was sporting a huge smirk on his face, an expression she would dearly love to wipe off. Spike followed Buffy into the apartment and sat down in a chair in the corner.
"That's my chair, Spike," Giles protested
"And you think I care, where's my money and cigarettes?" asked Spike.
Giles ignored him and disappeared into the kitchen to fix his guests a drink. He returned several moments later with a tray. Buffy looked at Spike in distaste as he gulped down his mug of blood, his game face slipping on.
"Eww," said Buffy.
"Didn't seem to mind it so much when we were engaged," said Spike.
"Mention THAT, once more and you will be going out of here in a dust buster, buster," said Buffy her cheeks flaming.
Giles sighed. He hadn't even spoken about why he wanted them both here yet, and they were already arguing. This wasn't going to be easy, he walked over to his drinks cabinet and poured himself a large scotch. Something told him, he was going to need it.
"Spill Rupes, I don't have all night," said Spike.
"Oh what else do you have to do, lurk around street corners looking evil?" scorned Buffy.
"Hey I still got it," said Spike
"Yeah," replied Buffy sarcastically.
"Children, please, if I could have your attention for a moment," asked Giles desperately.
Both of them fell silent. Giles fished around in the jacket of his tweed suit and brought out a white envelope.
"What's that?" Asked Buffy.
"A letter. It arrived from the London headquarters of the Watcher's Council," Giles informed them
"What are they to do with us? I quit and they fired you," said Buffy.
"Yes, Buffy thanks for the reminder," said Giles.
"Here let me look at that," said Spike.
He snatched the envelope out of Giles's grasp and took out the letter, scanning the page.
"Oh, hidden talents Spike, didn't know you could read," said Buffy.
Spike ignored her insults and started to read the letter aloud.
"Blah, blah, Watchers Council, requests the presence of Buffy Summers and the vampire, known as William the Bloody immediately in London......Bloody hell, you have got to be kidding!" said Spike.
"Carry on reading, there's more," said Giles.
"I don't wanna hear more, cos it's not gonna happen," said Buffy.
"Buffy, you cannot ignore a summons from the Watchers Council. You know better than any one, their methods of persuasion can be very er persuasive," said Giles.
Spike read the rest of the letter to himself , he walked over to Buffy and dropped the letter on her lap. His grin spread across his face.
"Read it and weep pet," said Spike.
Buffy blinked back the tears. That was exactly what she felt like doing.
TBC