jesterladyfic (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
jesterladyfic) wrote2008-11-19 07:55 pm
jesterladyfic) wrote2008-11-19 07:55 pm
Half a Stranger: Chapter Six: Just a Picture of Me
This chapter's title is from a Caedmon's Call song.
Chapter Six:
“Give me good news, Will. I just spent six hours going over things I didn’t understand the first time around.”
“Was it quadratic equations? That’s what we had first day of senior year, I
remember. It was-“ Willow stopped talking as Giles looked at her strangely and she
realized how nerdy she sounded. “It sucked, like huge.”
Buffy smiled.
“I miss my Will. So, whatcha got?”
“We got Ethan Rayne.”
“Doesn’t the Initiative actually keep anyone in their cages?”
“Guess not. We thought we should talk to Riley, but do you know how to do
that? We’ll do it, I know you probably don’t want to, or…”
“It’s okay,” Buffy assured her. “I’m not exactly crying my eyes out at
night. Xander pep talk or no, I’m feeling okay about that decision.”
“Then have you got an in for us? We have to find out where Ethan is.”
“Most definitely agreed. I think there might be a number in a desk drawer in
my room or something. Go ahead and look. I think you’re supposed to talk to a
florist or something.”
“How covert ops of them.”
“Yeah, they probably giggle with manly pride over it all. Anyway, maybe have
Veronica do it, so he hears my voice and then you can explain it all to him.”
“Sounds like a wise plan. We’ll do it.”
“Let me know.”
Willow hung up the phone and went to find Veronica. She found her in the
basement with Spike doing some sparring. Dawn sat on the stairs and watched with
avid glee. Willow wasn’t all too sure if she approved of the arrangement, but she
wasn’t about to force an issue that wasn’t a problem at this particular moment. She
had too much else to deal with.
“Veronica, you up for a little pretend Buffy time? We think we might have
figured out who cast the spell.”
“Sure. If Buffy’s being me, I can be her.”
“Who’s doing it, Red?”
“Ethan Rayne.”
“Bollocks, Giles’ Fyarl bloke?”
“That’s him. Big into the chaos.”
They followed Willow upstairs while she explained to Veronica who Riley was
and how she could talk to him. Spike muttered things about ‘Captain Cardboard,
stakes and poncy buggers,’ in the background.
***
The phone rang in Veronica’s ear and someone from a flower shop answered. She gave as good of an answer as she could think of; then again, she had plenty of experience pretending to be somebody else.
“Agent Finn speaking.”
“Riley, it’s me.”
“B-buffy? What happened? Are you all right?”
“I’m fine. I just- we had a question. I thought you should hear it was from
me.”
“Did Spike do something? Are there demon problems?”
“No, I said everything is fine,” Veronica answered, a little irritated. “I
have a question for you, but Willow knows the technical details so I’ll let you talk
to her.”
“Okay, if I can help. It’s…good to hear from you.”
“Sure. Bye.”
Veronica handed the phone over to Willow who started babbling on about Ethan
Rayne.
Veronica sat down on the couch where Spike had plopped himself.
“How’s the wanker doing?”
“Seemed to be very interested in helping.” Spike snorted and started
flicking his lighter cap on and off. “I’m guessing you two don’t get along.”
“He staked me, you know.”
“You seem a little bit, well, not dust.”
“It was plastic.”
“Oh.” Veronica thought a moment. “Well, I didn’t like him.”
“Buffy did.”
Willow hung up the phone.
“Okay, Ethan was set free. Riley doesn’t know how, but he’ll send us any
info there is on the release.”
“So, we’re at a stand still till then,” Giles surmised.
“Great, how about some patrolling, luv?” Spike asked Veronica. “You’re
almost fit to go out alone, yeah?”
“Spike!” Willow exclaimed. “She’s not Buffy.”
“Fairly aware of that, Red,” Spike said dryly. “I will protect her and not
do any of the evil things I’m so inclined to do with my very bad, nasty, soulless
self. Satisfied?”
“You just better take her before Xander gets here,” Willow mumbled, looking
slightly ashamed of herself. “He won’t like it that you’ve gone.”
“Even when I asked for bloody permission first?”
Spike slammed out the front door after grabbing an axe and tossing Veronica a
stake. Contact with Riley seemed to make him especially volatile and he was reacting
to things he would probably normally scoff at. Veronica hesitated, thinking she
would let him work some things out internally before trying to talk to him.
***
“I’m pretty sure Wallace is following us,” Buffy murmured to Logan as they walked along the beach.
Keith had gotten tired of Logan’s unhelpful comments while they researched
and had kicked them out, telling them to go on a ‘date.’
“And Veronica always swore they were platonic.” Logan shook his head.
“Someone’s putting the smack down when she gets home.”
“What are we supposed to do about it?” Buffy asked impatiently. “It’s
probably not a good idea to let the entire world know about this. Though, I must say
I’ve always been way less covert than is probably listed in the Slayer Handbook. Not
that I ever had a chance to read it. Still, my point is valid.”
“I think your point got lost in there somewhere. I wouldn’t worry about
Wallace. He’s just concerned about Veronica. Not to burst your little dream bubble,
but you’re not the best Veronica in town.”
“Thanks. I am the only Veronica in town, however, so you’re stuck with me.”
“We bear our burdens cheerfully,” he assured her.
“Our stalker,” Buffy reminded pointedly.
“Hmm.” Logan thought for a moment. “Well, let’s go home and think it over.
It’s a delicate situation since you don’t wanna play the tell-all game. Veronica
might not admit it often, but she’d actually rather keep Wallace and Mac.”
“I take it she doesn’t have many friends.”
“Partly my fault, I’m afraid.” Logan laughed slightly bitterly. “But a lot
of it is just Neptune politics. She has some die hard fans, see re: those two
aforementioned individuals, but she’s been alone a long time.”
“I can relate. Relate and relate and be sick of relating and relate some
more.”
“I just realized something.”
“What’s that?”
“You and she have complexes.”
“Complexes? I hope you mean shopping complexes.”
“Nope, psych complexes.”
Buffy got into the Xterra and turned in her seat to face Logan. He took his
time, warming up the car, adjusting his seat. He noticed out the rearview window
that Wallace and Mac were having a whispered conversation near Wallace’s car.
“What complexes?” Buffy exclaimed, her curiosity seemingly peaked.
Logan’s mouth curved into a smile.
“You feel all alone when you’re not.”
“To be a Slayer is to be alone.”
“Then why’s there a houseful of people all jumping out of their pajamas to
help you body hop into the right bod?”
“They’re my friends, but they don’t understand and in the end it always comes
down to just me.”
“I don’t think it has to be that way.”
“That’s what Spike always says,” Buffy mumbled.
Logan glanced sharply at her.
“Now, Veronica,” he continued, as if he hadn’t heard her, “Veronica doesn’t
remember she has friends. Doesn’t think about them as friends, doesn’t remember
them, or doesn’t think they’ll measure up. Bit jaded, my girl. But she doesn’t have
superpowers, unless it’s the powers of gathering resources. She can’t always rely on
her own strength. I just hope she realizes it.”
“You would do anything for her,” Buffy realized.
“Anything,” came the quiet, but immediate, response.
“I hope she sees it.”
“And overcomes the bad boy exterior.” Logan sighed. “We’re not exactly
reformable, but we’re open to options.”
He gave her a slight wink and pulled out of the beach parking lot.
***
Buffy shifted uncomfortably. Logan sounded a lot like someone else that she never gave much credit to and usually ignored on principle. Unless she needed something. She really didn't want to think about the comparison much. It led to bad thoughts. Thoughts that were even worse than the last time she'd had such thoughts. No, she was simply better off relying on herself.
On the other hand, maybe it wasn’t that bad giving people a chance. Maybe
it wasn’t wrong to have people, a person, caring for you. Even if they came from the
wrong side of the moral spectrum. There was more to it than that, a lot more, but
the upside to it seemed really good from her vantage point.
She twitched her nose, annoyed at Logan. She simply hated having her
viewpoint challenged. But she supposed she'd better learn something out of this
body-swapping thing to make it worthwhile. And if it took the cocky son of a movie
star murderer, well, then she guessed that was okay.
***
Veronica and Spike slipped into the Summers’ residence at around four in the morning. Veronica didn’t mind the slight adjustment to her schedule. She’d always been a night owl and this way she didn’t have to get up for school. Plus, Slayer sleep needs were entirely different apparently.
“What are you doing with her, Spike?”
“Xander!” Veronica exclaimed. “You scared me. You’re not as easy to sense
as vamps.”
“Well, I’m glad you learned that much. I just don’t want him doing anything
else to you.”
“Like what?” she asked in confusion.
“Don’t mind him, pet,” Spike put in, resting the axe on the weapons chest.
Xander glared at the slight gore that dripped onto his handiwork. “He’s just
knackered from eating donuts all day.”
“Spike, I’ve had it with you! You and your undead charm don’t work here.
Stop corrupting people!”
“Right. I’ll just stop then.” Spike leaned against the doorway. “By the
way, want to hear what Will said about you last night?”
“What did- You won’t catch me like that again!” Xander shouted. “I didn’t
trust you then and I don’t trust you now. Buffy doesn’t have any idea what’s really
happening!”
“What? Yes, cause only yesterday I hired vamps to attack you, nicked all
your things, lit the house on fire and assaulted your lady friends.”
“Doesn’t mean you weren’t thinking about it!”
“Especially you.” Spike smirked.
Veronica held her tongue. She knew Xander was easily baited and just plain
annoyed Spike with his prejudice and his paranoia. She wanted to say something but
didn't want to push herself into a situation where she didn't have all the facts.
“Just shut it. When Buffy gets home…”
“Maybe she’ll thank me real nice for taking care of everything while the
little human wasn’t able.”
Spike stuck his tongue between his teeth and licked his lips. Veronica
thought it was incredibly sexy and probably incredibly provoking to Xander, who
couldn’t do the tongue thing in a million years.
That tipped it for her and she was going to say something.
“Okay, let’s just cool the testosterone,” she said and stepped between the
middle of them. “First, let’s not wake Joyce. I haven’t had the pleasure, but
apparently she’s real sick. Other than that, you’re both stupid.”
“Oi! Easy on the insults.”
“What!”
“You’re both idiots. Can’t you see what you’re doing to yourselves and
everyone else? No, then the two perceptive ones are the ones who need the
perceiving.”
“What’s your point, luv?”
“My point is that you are a valuable asset to this team, Spike. I don’t care
what you are or what you’ve done, you’re changed now. It’s stupid to not trust you
and you haven’t done a thing that I can see is wrong.”
“He’s a vampire, Veronica,” Xander explained. “That’s enough.”
“Apparently not, or the Slayer would’ve slew him.”
“She’s confused because of the chip.”
“Or by the fact that he obviously has changed?” Look, you don’t have to like
each other. It doesn’t matter to me what you do with your lives. I’m leaving soon.
Just stop acting bone-headed, stop baiting each other and grow up. Realize Spike’s a
part. Realize Xander’s important.” The two men didn’t say anything. “Spike could
help. A lot.”
Veronica excused herself and went to get a few hours sleep. She left Spike and Xander staring at each other across the room.
***
“Hey,” Keith said as he walked in the door.
Buffy looked up from where she’d been trying to cook a meal. Logan lay on
the couch, sound asleep. Keith smiled at the picture of domestic inequality they
made. Buffy wasn’t that great at cooking, judging by the amount of flour on the
floor that Backup was enjoying. Logan wasn’t that great at work, judging by his half
open mouth.
Still, he missed seeing his daughter at that counter.
On the other hand he couldn’t tell why he felt so compelled to reach out to
the girl. It was weird seeing his daughter act in such an alien way. It repelled
and attracted him at the same time.
“Hi.” Buffy looked around in dismay. “Oh, I’m sorry about all this. I’m
definitely not a Slayer in the kitchen. More like the Klutz of the kitchen. I’ll
clean it up though. I totally can clean.”
“Relax. Looks worse when Veronica’s here.” Keith put his briefcase and
jacket down by the door and rolled up his sleeves to help.
“Probably want to do that if you want actual food.” She sighed. “I haven’t
felt this useless since my eighteenth birthday.”
“When you could vote and do adult things you felt useless?”
“Slayers get to do the adult getting differently.”
“Tell me about it.”
Buffy stared at him for a second until the hissing pot on the stove caught
her attention. He hid a smile. She didn't seem to believe that he would really care
to listen about her, especially when she wasn’t even his daughter.
“Um, well, let’s just say it was even worse than my seventeenth, well,
maybe. But being as bad is saying something. I was literally helpless and someone I
looked up to let me down, betrayed my trust.”
“I’m sorry, kiddo.” And he really was. He gently took over stirring because
despite the lack of Slayer strength, she was putting too much effort into a delicate
matter. “Prop yourself up there on the counter if you don’t mind the flour. I’ll
finish.”
“Thanks. Let’s keep our little cooking spree a secret, huh? Logan only saw
the respectable beginning so he can’t tell on me.”
“Ah, Logan. Poor kid. Poor, stupid, dumb kid.”
“Dating your daughter too.”
“I tell you...” Keith turned the burner off and opened the oven “...parenting
is rough. This single parenting thing is even rougher. I regret a day where I don’t
spend enough time with her. But you know what I regret even more?” He turned to
face Buffy.
“What?”
“I regret the time I’m not hard on her, or don’t tell her no. I love our
close relationship, but it makes it easier and harder when the time comes for me to
be the grownup. She doesn’t always get that. Sometimes she thinks she is or that
she’s one too. In many ways she is. But she also never got to do too many kid
things she should have.”
“I know the feeling.”
“Yeah, yeah, I bet you do.” Keith went back to the sauce. “Maybe this whole
body swapping deal will be good for both of you. I’m glad to have you here.”
“You are a classy guy,” Buffy said admiringly, sounding touched, and jumped
off the counter. “You mind if I use the phone? There’s someone I want to call.”
“Dinner will be ready soon. We’ll wake Logan when it’s time.”
***
The phone started to ring and Buffy shut the door to Veronica’s room.
“Yes, hello?”
“Giles?”
“Buffy, everything all right, I trust?”
“Yeah, peachy and keen all at once.”
“Did you need to talk with someone? Dawn perhaps?”
“Just felt like talking to you actually.”
Buffy sat down on the bed and shrugged her shoulders though he couldn’t see.
It was hard to define what she meant. Family was a tricky word for her to
understand. But Giles was a part of hers and for some reason she needed him to know
that.
“Oh, well, that’s…pleasant. Are you sure everything’s all right?”
“Give in to the chill, Giles. I just…it’s weird being here without my mom
and with a dad.”
“I’m sure it’s very disconcerting. You’ll probably want to spend every
moment with your family upon your return. I promise to be lenient with the training.”
“You always say that. But some Big Bad always shows up. I still have to
deal with Glory anyway.”
“That’s true, but I do feel bad about pressing you when it’s not going to be
helpful.”
Buffy couldn’t help herself anymore.
“But you’re supposed to press me. You’re my Watcher. I told you I needed a
Watcher again and I do, but, Giles, you’re so much more than that. I know you know
it, but I never told you how much I love…you know, you. I’m not saying you and my
mom should hook up again, sans candy or anything, cause’s that’s gross, but I need
you. Even if you did do the whole Cruciamentum thing, you also never judged me for
the whole Angel thing.”
“Buffy,” Giles stammered, clearly not knowing what to say, “you’re not making
any sense. Well, you are, but I don’t know what brought it on. I-I’m honored as
always. I’m bound by destiny to you, but more than that. I do love you as my
daughter.”
“When I come home can we do things not Watcher/Slayer related? Like riding a
bike or something?”
“Of course.”
There was an awkward pause. Buffy laughed slightly.
“Okay and I just used up my entire word quota for the next three days. I
guess I should go eat dinner.”
“Um, is Logan there, by chance? Veronica mentioned earlier she was planning
on calling him and I just hear her coming in with Spike.”
“Sure, I’ll go wake him up. Tell Spike…hi for me.”
“I will,” Giles said, speaking slightly guardedly. “Thank you, Buffy.”
“Yeah, you too.”
Buffy walked into the other room where Logan still slept. She whacked him in
the arm.
“Veronica’s on the phone.”
“Blossom?” he said cockily into the phone, which was extra amusing since he
was still half asleep.
Keith and Buffy looked at each other and laughed.
***
Veronica smiled at the sound of Logan’s voice. She’d missed him a lot. He was the one person from her life who she felt could slip into this crazy world just as she had.
“Don’t blossom me. Your mouth will start to sprout things.”
“Well…”
“And don’t talk like that. I know my dad’s right there.”
She heard the sound of a door closing.
“And now I’m outside. I could’ve gone into your room and gone through your
underwear, but I didn’t. Proud of me?”
“Prodigiously.”
“What’s new in Slayer land?”
“Well, same old. Met a lot of new guys.”
“Must be related to all those girls I keep seeing.”
“Not funny. I just...I just wanted to talk to you.”
“Interesting. That almost smacks of me being important to you in some way.”
“You are important, Logan. I know I’ve been distant lately and I’m sorry.
But I wanted you to know you do mean something to me.”
“I feel a tear,” he said sincerely. “Thank you. You know I love you.”
“I know. I miss you a lot. It’s lonely here despite all the people. I
think I’m not used to being in a crowd and so I get lonely. Crazy, huh?”
“When you get back we’ll be a crowd unto ourselves, k? Snuggle up against
the world and all that rot.”
“Sounds pretty nice.”
They talked for a while. They talked about everything but themselves. It
was too hard when they were so far apart. They still had so much distance to bridge.
Chapter Six:
“Give me good news, Will. I just spent six hours going over things I didn’t understand the first time around.”
“Was it quadratic equations? That’s what we had first day of senior year, I
remember. It was-“ Willow stopped talking as Giles looked at her strangely and she
realized how nerdy she sounded. “It sucked, like huge.”
Buffy smiled.
“I miss my Will. So, whatcha got?”
“We got Ethan Rayne.”
“Doesn’t the Initiative actually keep anyone in their cages?”
“Guess not. We thought we should talk to Riley, but do you know how to do
that? We’ll do it, I know you probably don’t want to, or…”
“It’s okay,” Buffy assured her. “I’m not exactly crying my eyes out at
night. Xander pep talk or no, I’m feeling okay about that decision.”
“Then have you got an in for us? We have to find out where Ethan is.”
“Most definitely agreed. I think there might be a number in a desk drawer in
my room or something. Go ahead and look. I think you’re supposed to talk to a
florist or something.”
“How covert ops of them.”
“Yeah, they probably giggle with manly pride over it all. Anyway, maybe have
Veronica do it, so he hears my voice and then you can explain it all to him.”
“Sounds like a wise plan. We’ll do it.”
“Let me know.”
Willow hung up the phone and went to find Veronica. She found her in the
basement with Spike doing some sparring. Dawn sat on the stairs and watched with
avid glee. Willow wasn’t all too sure if she approved of the arrangement, but she
wasn’t about to force an issue that wasn’t a problem at this particular moment. She
had too much else to deal with.
“Veronica, you up for a little pretend Buffy time? We think we might have
figured out who cast the spell.”
“Sure. If Buffy’s being me, I can be her.”
“Who’s doing it, Red?”
“Ethan Rayne.”
“Bollocks, Giles’ Fyarl bloke?”
“That’s him. Big into the chaos.”
They followed Willow upstairs while she explained to Veronica who Riley was
and how she could talk to him. Spike muttered things about ‘Captain Cardboard,
stakes and poncy buggers,’ in the background.
***
The phone rang in Veronica’s ear and someone from a flower shop answered. She gave as good of an answer as she could think of; then again, she had plenty of experience pretending to be somebody else.
“Agent Finn speaking.”
“Riley, it’s me.”
“B-buffy? What happened? Are you all right?”
“I’m fine. I just- we had a question. I thought you should hear it was from
me.”
“Did Spike do something? Are there demon problems?”
“No, I said everything is fine,” Veronica answered, a little irritated. “I
have a question for you, but Willow knows the technical details so I’ll let you talk
to her.”
“Okay, if I can help. It’s…good to hear from you.”
“Sure. Bye.”
Veronica handed the phone over to Willow who started babbling on about Ethan
Rayne.
Veronica sat down on the couch where Spike had plopped himself.
“How’s the wanker doing?”
“Seemed to be very interested in helping.” Spike snorted and started
flicking his lighter cap on and off. “I’m guessing you two don’t get along.”
“He staked me, you know.”
“You seem a little bit, well, not dust.”
“It was plastic.”
“Oh.” Veronica thought a moment. “Well, I didn’t like him.”
“Buffy did.”
Willow hung up the phone.
“Okay, Ethan was set free. Riley doesn’t know how, but he’ll send us any
info there is on the release.”
“So, we’re at a stand still till then,” Giles surmised.
“Great, how about some patrolling, luv?” Spike asked Veronica. “You’re
almost fit to go out alone, yeah?”
“Spike!” Willow exclaimed. “She’s not Buffy.”
“Fairly aware of that, Red,” Spike said dryly. “I will protect her and not
do any of the evil things I’m so inclined to do with my very bad, nasty, soulless
self. Satisfied?”
“You just better take her before Xander gets here,” Willow mumbled, looking
slightly ashamed of herself. “He won’t like it that you’ve gone.”
“Even when I asked for bloody permission first?”
Spike slammed out the front door after grabbing an axe and tossing Veronica a
stake. Contact with Riley seemed to make him especially volatile and he was reacting
to things he would probably normally scoff at. Veronica hesitated, thinking she
would let him work some things out internally before trying to talk to him.
***
“I’m pretty sure Wallace is following us,” Buffy murmured to Logan as they walked along the beach.
Keith had gotten tired of Logan’s unhelpful comments while they researched
and had kicked them out, telling them to go on a ‘date.’
“And Veronica always swore they were platonic.” Logan shook his head.
“Someone’s putting the smack down when she gets home.”
“What are we supposed to do about it?” Buffy asked impatiently. “It’s
probably not a good idea to let the entire world know about this. Though, I must say
I’ve always been way less covert than is probably listed in the Slayer Handbook. Not
that I ever had a chance to read it. Still, my point is valid.”
“I think your point got lost in there somewhere. I wouldn’t worry about
Wallace. He’s just concerned about Veronica. Not to burst your little dream bubble,
but you’re not the best Veronica in town.”
“Thanks. I am the only Veronica in town, however, so you’re stuck with me.”
“We bear our burdens cheerfully,” he assured her.
“Our stalker,” Buffy reminded pointedly.
“Hmm.” Logan thought for a moment. “Well, let’s go home and think it over.
It’s a delicate situation since you don’t wanna play the tell-all game. Veronica
might not admit it often, but she’d actually rather keep Wallace and Mac.”
“I take it she doesn’t have many friends.”
“Partly my fault, I’m afraid.” Logan laughed slightly bitterly. “But a lot
of it is just Neptune politics. She has some die hard fans, see re: those two
aforementioned individuals, but she’s been alone a long time.”
“I can relate. Relate and relate and be sick of relating and relate some
more.”
“I just realized something.”
“What’s that?”
“You and she have complexes.”
“Complexes? I hope you mean shopping complexes.”
“Nope, psych complexes.”
Buffy got into the Xterra and turned in her seat to face Logan. He took his
time, warming up the car, adjusting his seat. He noticed out the rearview window
that Wallace and Mac were having a whispered conversation near Wallace’s car.
“What complexes?” Buffy exclaimed, her curiosity seemingly peaked.
Logan’s mouth curved into a smile.
“You feel all alone when you’re not.”
“To be a Slayer is to be alone.”
“Then why’s there a houseful of people all jumping out of their pajamas to
help you body hop into the right bod?”
“They’re my friends, but they don’t understand and in the end it always comes
down to just me.”
“I don’t think it has to be that way.”
“That’s what Spike always says,” Buffy mumbled.
Logan glanced sharply at her.
“Now, Veronica,” he continued, as if he hadn’t heard her, “Veronica doesn’t
remember she has friends. Doesn’t think about them as friends, doesn’t remember
them, or doesn’t think they’ll measure up. Bit jaded, my girl. But she doesn’t have
superpowers, unless it’s the powers of gathering resources. She can’t always rely on
her own strength. I just hope she realizes it.”
“You would do anything for her,” Buffy realized.
“Anything,” came the quiet, but immediate, response.
“I hope she sees it.”
“And overcomes the bad boy exterior.” Logan sighed. “We’re not exactly
reformable, but we’re open to options.”
He gave her a slight wink and pulled out of the beach parking lot.
***
Buffy shifted uncomfortably. Logan sounded a lot like someone else that she never gave much credit to and usually ignored on principle. Unless she needed something. She really didn't want to think about the comparison much. It led to bad thoughts. Thoughts that were even worse than the last time she'd had such thoughts. No, she was simply better off relying on herself.
On the other hand, maybe it wasn’t that bad giving people a chance. Maybe
it wasn’t wrong to have people, a person, caring for you. Even if they came from the
wrong side of the moral spectrum. There was more to it than that, a lot more, but
the upside to it seemed really good from her vantage point.
She twitched her nose, annoyed at Logan. She simply hated having her
viewpoint challenged. But she supposed she'd better learn something out of this
body-swapping thing to make it worthwhile. And if it took the cocky son of a movie
star murderer, well, then she guessed that was okay.
***
Veronica and Spike slipped into the Summers’ residence at around four in the morning. Veronica didn’t mind the slight adjustment to her schedule. She’d always been a night owl and this way she didn’t have to get up for school. Plus, Slayer sleep needs were entirely different apparently.
“What are you doing with her, Spike?”
“Xander!” Veronica exclaimed. “You scared me. You’re not as easy to sense
as vamps.”
“Well, I’m glad you learned that much. I just don’t want him doing anything
else to you.”
“Like what?” she asked in confusion.
“Don’t mind him, pet,” Spike put in, resting the axe on the weapons chest.
Xander glared at the slight gore that dripped onto his handiwork. “He’s just
knackered from eating donuts all day.”
“Spike, I’ve had it with you! You and your undead charm don’t work here.
Stop corrupting people!”
“Right. I’ll just stop then.” Spike leaned against the doorway. “By the
way, want to hear what Will said about you last night?”
“What did- You won’t catch me like that again!” Xander shouted. “I didn’t
trust you then and I don’t trust you now. Buffy doesn’t have any idea what’s really
happening!”
“What? Yes, cause only yesterday I hired vamps to attack you, nicked all
your things, lit the house on fire and assaulted your lady friends.”
“Doesn’t mean you weren’t thinking about it!”
“Especially you.” Spike smirked.
Veronica held her tongue. She knew Xander was easily baited and just plain
annoyed Spike with his prejudice and his paranoia. She wanted to say something but
didn't want to push herself into a situation where she didn't have all the facts.
“Just shut it. When Buffy gets home…”
“Maybe she’ll thank me real nice for taking care of everything while the
little human wasn’t able.”
Spike stuck his tongue between his teeth and licked his lips. Veronica
thought it was incredibly sexy and probably incredibly provoking to Xander, who
couldn’t do the tongue thing in a million years.
That tipped it for her and she was going to say something.
“Okay, let’s just cool the testosterone,” she said and stepped between the
middle of them. “First, let’s not wake Joyce. I haven’t had the pleasure, but
apparently she’s real sick. Other than that, you’re both stupid.”
“Oi! Easy on the insults.”
“What!”
“You’re both idiots. Can’t you see what you’re doing to yourselves and
everyone else? No, then the two perceptive ones are the ones who need the
perceiving.”
“What’s your point, luv?”
“My point is that you are a valuable asset to this team, Spike. I don’t care
what you are or what you’ve done, you’re changed now. It’s stupid to not trust you
and you haven’t done a thing that I can see is wrong.”
“He’s a vampire, Veronica,” Xander explained. “That’s enough.”
“Apparently not, or the Slayer would’ve slew him.”
“She’s confused because of the chip.”
“Or by the fact that he obviously has changed?” Look, you don’t have to like
each other. It doesn’t matter to me what you do with your lives. I’m leaving soon.
Just stop acting bone-headed, stop baiting each other and grow up. Realize Spike’s a
part. Realize Xander’s important.” The two men didn’t say anything. “Spike could
help. A lot.”
Veronica excused herself and went to get a few hours sleep. She left Spike and Xander staring at each other across the room.
***
“Hey,” Keith said as he walked in the door.
Buffy looked up from where she’d been trying to cook a meal. Logan lay on
the couch, sound asleep. Keith smiled at the picture of domestic inequality they
made. Buffy wasn’t that great at cooking, judging by the amount of flour on the
floor that Backup was enjoying. Logan wasn’t that great at work, judging by his half
open mouth.
Still, he missed seeing his daughter at that counter.
On the other hand he couldn’t tell why he felt so compelled to reach out to
the girl. It was weird seeing his daughter act in such an alien way. It repelled
and attracted him at the same time.
“Hi.” Buffy looked around in dismay. “Oh, I’m sorry about all this. I’m
definitely not a Slayer in the kitchen. More like the Klutz of the kitchen. I’ll
clean it up though. I totally can clean.”
“Relax. Looks worse when Veronica’s here.” Keith put his briefcase and
jacket down by the door and rolled up his sleeves to help.
“Probably want to do that if you want actual food.” She sighed. “I haven’t
felt this useless since my eighteenth birthday.”
“When you could vote and do adult things you felt useless?”
“Slayers get to do the adult getting differently.”
“Tell me about it.”
Buffy stared at him for a second until the hissing pot on the stove caught
her attention. He hid a smile. She didn't seem to believe that he would really care
to listen about her, especially when she wasn’t even his daughter.
“Um, well, let’s just say it was even worse than my seventeenth, well,
maybe. But being as bad is saying something. I was literally helpless and someone I
looked up to let me down, betrayed my trust.”
“I’m sorry, kiddo.” And he really was. He gently took over stirring because
despite the lack of Slayer strength, she was putting too much effort into a delicate
matter. “Prop yourself up there on the counter if you don’t mind the flour. I’ll
finish.”
“Thanks. Let’s keep our little cooking spree a secret, huh? Logan only saw
the respectable beginning so he can’t tell on me.”
“Ah, Logan. Poor kid. Poor, stupid, dumb kid.”
“Dating your daughter too.”
“I tell you...” Keith turned the burner off and opened the oven “...parenting
is rough. This single parenting thing is even rougher. I regret a day where I don’t
spend enough time with her. But you know what I regret even more?” He turned to
face Buffy.
“What?”
“I regret the time I’m not hard on her, or don’t tell her no. I love our
close relationship, but it makes it easier and harder when the time comes for me to
be the grownup. She doesn’t always get that. Sometimes she thinks she is or that
she’s one too. In many ways she is. But she also never got to do too many kid
things she should have.”
“I know the feeling.”
“Yeah, yeah, I bet you do.” Keith went back to the sauce. “Maybe this whole
body swapping deal will be good for both of you. I’m glad to have you here.”
“You are a classy guy,” Buffy said admiringly, sounding touched, and jumped
off the counter. “You mind if I use the phone? There’s someone I want to call.”
“Dinner will be ready soon. We’ll wake Logan when it’s time.”
***
The phone started to ring and Buffy shut the door to Veronica’s room.
“Yes, hello?”
“Giles?”
“Buffy, everything all right, I trust?”
“Yeah, peachy and keen all at once.”
“Did you need to talk with someone? Dawn perhaps?”
“Just felt like talking to you actually.”
Buffy sat down on the bed and shrugged her shoulders though he couldn’t see.
It was hard to define what she meant. Family was a tricky word for her to
understand. But Giles was a part of hers and for some reason she needed him to know
that.
“Oh, well, that’s…pleasant. Are you sure everything’s all right?”
“Give in to the chill, Giles. I just…it’s weird being here without my mom
and with a dad.”
“I’m sure it’s very disconcerting. You’ll probably want to spend every
moment with your family upon your return. I promise to be lenient with the training.”
“You always say that. But some Big Bad always shows up. I still have to
deal with Glory anyway.”
“That’s true, but I do feel bad about pressing you when it’s not going to be
helpful.”
Buffy couldn’t help herself anymore.
“But you’re supposed to press me. You’re my Watcher. I told you I needed a
Watcher again and I do, but, Giles, you’re so much more than that. I know you know
it, but I never told you how much I love…you know, you. I’m not saying you and my
mom should hook up again, sans candy or anything, cause’s that’s gross, but I need
you. Even if you did do the whole Cruciamentum thing, you also never judged me for
the whole Angel thing.”
“Buffy,” Giles stammered, clearly not knowing what to say, “you’re not making
any sense. Well, you are, but I don’t know what brought it on. I-I’m honored as
always. I’m bound by destiny to you, but more than that. I do love you as my
daughter.”
“When I come home can we do things not Watcher/Slayer related? Like riding a
bike or something?”
“Of course.”
There was an awkward pause. Buffy laughed slightly.
“Okay and I just used up my entire word quota for the next three days. I
guess I should go eat dinner.”
“Um, is Logan there, by chance? Veronica mentioned earlier she was planning
on calling him and I just hear her coming in with Spike.”
“Sure, I’ll go wake him up. Tell Spike…hi for me.”
“I will,” Giles said, speaking slightly guardedly. “Thank you, Buffy.”
“Yeah, you too.”
Buffy walked into the other room where Logan still slept. She whacked him in
the arm.
“Veronica’s on the phone.”
“Blossom?” he said cockily into the phone, which was extra amusing since he
was still half asleep.
Keith and Buffy looked at each other and laughed.
***
Veronica smiled at the sound of Logan’s voice. She’d missed him a lot. He was the one person from her life who she felt could slip into this crazy world just as she had.
“Don’t blossom me. Your mouth will start to sprout things.”
“Well…”
“And don’t talk like that. I know my dad’s right there.”
She heard the sound of a door closing.
“And now I’m outside. I could’ve gone into your room and gone through your
underwear, but I didn’t. Proud of me?”
“Prodigiously.”
“What’s new in Slayer land?”
“Well, same old. Met a lot of new guys.”
“Must be related to all those girls I keep seeing.”
“Not funny. I just...I just wanted to talk to you.”
“Interesting. That almost smacks of me being important to you in some way.”
“You are important, Logan. I know I’ve been distant lately and I’m sorry.
But I wanted you to know you do mean something to me.”
“I feel a tear,” he said sincerely. “Thank you. You know I love you.”
“I know. I miss you a lot. It’s lonely here despite all the people. I
think I’m not used to being in a crowd and so I get lonely. Crazy, huh?”
“When you get back we’ll be a crowd unto ourselves, k? Snuggle up against
the world and all that rot.”
“Sounds pretty nice.”
They talked for a while. They talked about everything but themselves. It
was too hard when they were so far apart. They still had so much distance to bridge.