Chapter Two : Old Friends
“Most friends fade
Or they don't make the grade.
New ones are quickly made,
Some of them worth something, too.
But us, old friends —
What's to discuss, old friends?”
“Old Friends”, from the musical Merrily We Roll Along

First thing Buffy had done after buying Gayle a coffee was to call Angel. Wesley checked the prison: Faith was alright, alive and kickin’ some inmate butt. So no panic there…

So where was this new Slayer from? Philadelphia, apparently, where she had been working as a nurse before she was called. They talked for about an hour, and while Buffy knew she had to be careful, she just couldn’t find anything wrong with the girl…

She was staying at the Sunnydale Inn at the moment. Buffy thought it would be wise to have some research done (especially about Gayle’s stylist) with the gang in the morning. She left out the important questions for now and gave the brunette the Magic Box’s address, telling her to meet her there at nine sharp the next day. Buffy herself went home to get some sleep and hopefully her senses back.

The next day, after sending Dawn to school, Buffy called everyone for a meeting, not giving too much information yet. On her way to the Magic Box, had she paid attention, she would have noticed the headlines by the newsstand: New Disappearance Of A Young Man…

But as she arrived to her destination, she couldn’t help her thoughts going to Spike and the kiss they shared last night…

What does that mean about me? Am I deranged? A masochist? Why do I keep doing this to myself?

She couldn’t get the taste of his mouth out of her head. The way his tongue danced against hers. The way his arms strangely always felt warm around her. The way his eyes shone when he looked at her…

But then Reasonable Buffy’s voice made itself heard: Evil bastard who tried to…

Yes! I know! Nobody knows that better than me, OK? Could we please change the tune now? Could we just please –

“Hi!”

Buffy spun, ready for battle, only to find herself facing Gayle, who was smiling as usual with all her perfect teeth.

“Oh… it’s you”, Buffy said, relaxing. “How very… punctual.”

“Sorry if I startled you. You know, in my line of work, timing if often of the essence and…”

“Is this gonna be another word vomit, because I don’t think – hey, that’s a cute top!”

Gayle was wearing a bat-sleeved, loose-fitting white t-shirt with a faded grey Rolling Stones logo adorned with a multi-colored mock paint splatter effect. Buffy had never been a fan of the band, but the resulting design was so bright and summery, she could totally see herself wearing it, especially with the drop-dead gorgeous tight black pants and studded black ankle boots Gayle had added to the mix.

“You like it?” Gayle said. “You can borrow it sometimes, if you want, it would look totally gorgeous on you!”

“Totally! Designer label, isn’t? Costs an arm and a spleen?”

“Hardly! Got it in the clearance sales at, like, a fifth of the original price. I never paid full price for any of my clothes.”

Buffy stared for a moment. “You know, if you’re the genuine article, you could be quite useful to know…”

“Oh, stick with me, girl, and you’ll have a killer wardrobe for a penny in a month!”

Buffy couldn’t help herself: “Promise?”

“Stake my heart!”

“You’re officially adopted! Come in and meet the rest of the family! Oh I can’t wait to see the look on their faces!”

Buffy took Gayle’s arm and lead her through the door. At the sound of the bell, everyone looked up. Willow, Xander and Anya were sitting at the table, while Giles was filing some books. Buffy suddenly wondered if there was anything else he ever did in here…

“Everyone, this is Gayle Masterson. Gayle, the Scoobies. The Scoobies, Gayle.”

Gayle gave smiled brightly at the group and gave a little wave. They smiled back and Willow even waved back, before glancing interrogatively at Buffy, who carried on the introductions very matter-of-factly.

“Gayle is from Philadelphia, she used to be a nurse at a children’s hospital, likes Star Trek, old music, horror films, rain drops on roses and whiskers on kittens. Oh, and did I mention she’s a Slayer?”

The gang stared at the brunette, and a few jaws dropped.
Gayle then turned to Buffy: “You were right: they are pulling some funny faces.”

Giles spoke first… or at least tried to: “H-how? What? Who?”

“Thank you Giles for this enlightening monologue. However, I would be interested in how she is here. ”

“I took a plane the day before yesterday.”, the newcomer said.

Buffy winced and shook her head. “I meant how another slayer is here.”

“Oh my god!” Willow exclaimed. “Is Faith…?”

“I called Angel last night: Faith is still in one piece and breathing. So that’s not that.”

Gayle eyeballed the petite slayer. “Well I hate to break it to you, girl, but you did die again, ya know…”

Buffy gasped. “Well thank you for reminding me! So?”

“Oh please! First time you died, Kendra was called, maysherestinpeace, then Faith. Everyone knows that! So what did you think would happen when you died again? That’s how I know I’m here… erm, well if that makes sense…”

“Not really.”

“Ok, so one day late spring, this British guy shows up at the hospital…”

“Let me guess: chosen one, sacred duty, blah blah blah?”

“Yes! Exactly! You’re good!”

“I think that’s proof enough, Giles?”

“Well, it’s…”

“Cool, then my next question: why are you here?”

“Trouble ahead, evil’s a-coming, etc… Watcher said so.”

“Why didn’t I think of that. Any idea as to what kind?”

“Nope.”

“Of course not, wouldn’t be fun otherwise.”

“Eh, Buff?” ventured Xander.

“Yes?”

“We’re still here.”

“Oh, damn, I’m so sorry… Ok, Gayle, let me introduce you properly: the guy who just pointed out how rude and obnoxious I can be is Xander. That’s Willow, she’s a witch, I mean the good kind… By the way, Will, how’s Tara?”

Willow smiled softly. Tara was recovering slowly after finally coming out of her coma. They had decided only a week after she woke up to move out to a place of their own and eventually get married once she was out. “Much better. Doc says she could probably come home soon.”

“Brilliant. Tara is Willow’s girlfriend, also a witch of the good kind, you’ll meet her soon. She’s at the hospital right now, long story. That’s Anya, she owns the shop…”

“Nice place you’ve got here!” said Gayle with her trademark smile. “I love it already.”

Anya smiled back, quite pleased with the compliment. “Thank you! I like you already! Do not hesitate to spend money here!”

Both Slayers gave the ex-ex-demon an uneasy smile before Buffy spoke again.

“Dandy. And over there is Giles, my Watcher. First name Rupert.”

“Hi!”

“Good morning. And welcome to Sunnydale, where I hope you’ll have a pleasant stay, however unlikely. May I be so bold as to enquire who is your Watcher?”

Gayle’s eyes went wide and turned to Buffy. “Does he always talk like this?”

Buffy gave her a tired nod.

“Gosh, so mine wasn’t that bad... His name was Donald Hawthorne. He died, I’m afraid.”

“I’m sorry. Was it a vampire attack?”

“No, he was run over by an ice-cream truck.”

“Yeah, come on, Giles, stupid question! Of course it was a vamp, what else could it be?” said Xander.

Gayle glared knives at him. “I wasn’t kidding. The driver was drunk.”

“Oh…sorry. Really?”

“Yeah-huh.”

“Oh…sorry.” Shut up now before inserting foot in opened mouth AGAIN…

Just then, the front door opened and a dark smoking shape came in… Spike dropped his blanket, shook off the smoke rising from his duster and sleeked back his hair. Buffy’s breath stopped dead in her throat. She fought back just in time the urge to run to him.

Spike saw her first. But did not see her reaction. They just stared at each other from a distance.

As for the rest of the Scoobies, while nobody really ran to his arms, nobody seemed surprised to see him. Xander was the only one to send him a dark look.

“Oh, wow!” whispered Gayle. “Hottie McHot just walked into the shop! S’cuse me…”

She walked towards Spike before Buffy had a chance to warn her.

“Hello! Welcome to the Magic Box, the one place for all your magical needs!”

When she heard that, Anya was impressed. She definitely liked that one!

Spike looked at the newcomer slightly surprised, and yet feeling a little smug when he saw her beaming at him. Yeah, mate, you still got it…

“If you need anything,” she kept going, “do not hesitate to ask. I’m Gayle, by the way!”

She extended her hand and Spike shook it with a smile. However, Gayle’s disappeared when she felt the cold of his touch…

“And… you’re a vampire. Who just came in without any difficulties. And nobody reacted when I pointed it out.” She turned to the gang. “Why is nobody panicking? And why did a vampire just enter the shop without being staked?”

“You know, I often wondered that myself” said Xander. “That’s Spike, he’s… mostly on our side.”

“It’s a vamp! How can he possibly be on… Spike? As in William the Bloody?”

“A.k.a. Scourge of Europe, yep. That’s our Spike!” continued Willow.

“Oh My God!” She suddenly went into teen-meeting-popstar mode. She looked back at the slightly surprised vampire. “I have read everything about you! You’re a frikkin’ legend! I can’t believe I’m standing in front of you!”

“Feelin’s mutual, beautiful. Just who the hell might you be?”

“Did you just call me beautiful? Oh my! You did! I’m Gayle, and believe me this is an honor!”

“Course it is, and I heard your name firs’ time, still doesn’t tell me who you are though…”

Willow decided to come to the rescue. “Spike, meet Gayle Yet-Another-Vampire-Slayer. She’s new in town and… apparently always in a disturbingly cheerful disposition.”

“Hey Red. How’s Glinda?”

“Glinda?” Gayle whispered to Xander.

“Nickname for Tara, Willow’s girlfriend.”

“Oh… can I have a nickname too?”

“Stick around, and you most likely will… whether you want to or not…”

“She’s getting better”, replied Willow. “She says thanks for the flowers.”

“Flowers?” said Buffy, mouth agape. “You sent Tara flowers?”

Spike’s face became tense. Figures first thing she’d say to me in front of her mates would be in that tone… “Yeah? What of it?”

Buffy opened her mouth to speak, but was interrupted by Gayle’s cheerful voice.

“This is so incredible! I can’t wait to fight you!”

Spike turned to her. “Fight me? You already hate me? Pff, Slayers are forming a straight line…”

“… and… going through a tight wind?”

Spike stared at her. Could it be…? “The kids are losing their mind…?”

Gayle smiled and they both sang in unison: “The Blitzkrieg Bop! They’re piling in the back seat! They’re generating steam heat –”

They stopped when they noticed they were being stared at…

Buffy asked first. “What the hell was that?”

Spike tried to answer, but Gayle was faster: “It’s a song by the Ramones, one of the greatest bands e-ver! Oh, and by the way, I resent the fact that you said I like ‘old’ music, I prefer ‘vintage’.”

For the first time in several days, Buffy saw Spike beam. Only it wasn’t while looking at her…

“Erm… Buffy?” Willow interrupted her trail of thought. “I’m thinking, since Tara and I will be moving out, maybe Gayle could take up our room? You could do with the rent money…”

“Oh, Will, that’s nice, but I can’t ask – ”

“I have money”, Gayle said.

“Huh? How? Did you already get a job in the two days since you arrived?”

“No, but I have money.”

“… again with the ‘huh’?”

“Well, I only took up the nursing studies because I was bored, and I also wanted to feel useful. My parents were like, really well off, and left me a few shiny pennies. But I hardly spend it. I prefer when I get something for a bargain, makes me feel like it won a prize!”

Buffy gawked. “You’re an heiress?”

“Ooh, I don’t like that word! Makes me sound like Paris Hilton… and I have such a better wardrobe…”

Buffy was reminded then of their earlier conversation. “When can you move in?”

Giles cleared his throat. “Buffy, may I speak with you for a minute? Alone?”

He lead her to the training room. Buffy was confused: had she said something wrong?

Giles took off his glasses and started polishing. “Buffy I’m not so sure about this… we barely know anything about this girl, and letting her into your home may only…”

Buffy’s eyes went wide. “What? No! No, no, no! I like her! She’s funny, a-and she finds me funny! And she knows fashion! Great fashion for little money! And she can pay rent! A-and she’s a kick-ass fighter, and god knows we never get enough of those, a-and a nurse would be a great addition to the team, a-and… I wanna keep that one! Why can’t I keep her? I promise I’ll take care of her! Did I mention the fashion?”

“Buffy…”

“Pretty please?” she whined. And then did the most treacherous move: … she pouted.

Outside, Willow was browsing on her laptop, when Gayle sat next to her. “Whatcha doing?”

“Oh, just…” she’s going to find out you’re a geek sooner or later, might as well be honest now… “… looking to replace my cell phone so I’m checking out what e-Bay can do for me.”

“Ooh, did you hear about that new ‘Discovery’ web phone? The one with the digital mini-pad included? It’s great and I know where to find one cheap…”

Before Willow could voice her admiration at how such a cool-looking person could know about technology, Xander raised his hand toward the brunette.

“Is that the one that looks like Picard’s tricorder?”

“No, I think it looks more like Janeway’s.”

Xander was in awe that a girl would know her Star Trek captains that well…

When Buffy and Giles came out of the training room, all the Scoobies (including Spike) turned to them with clearly smitten looks on their faces. Then they were assaulted by a clamor of “can we keep her?”, “please let her stay”, “we like her”, etc…

Buffy looked up longingly at her Watcher with big puppy eyes. Giles sighed.

“You realize you’ll have to take care of her and it’s a big responsibility…”

Buffy cried out a loud “YAY!” and hugged Gilles, soon joined by Gayle.

Buffy let go (with gratitude from Giles’ lungs) to face her new roommate. “This is gonna be awesome!”

“I know! And to have you as a mentor! And to think about all the stories you have about every baddy whose ass you kicked! Can't wait!”

“Well yeah, I bet you can’t! There was the Master, but obviously you know about that one… There was Spike here, that… took a while… Erm, there was a demonic cyborg, he was tough… and a giant snake… oh, and just wait till I tell you what happened with Dracula…”

“Ha! Dracula! Good one!”

Gayle laughed heartily until she noticed the serious look on her sister slayer’s face.

Her mouth gaped. “Seriously? Shut up! He’s real?”

“Yep.”

“And you met him?”

Buffy couldn’t help but feel a little smug. “Yu-huh, sure did.”

“Get out!”

“That’s what I said!”

“This is so immensely awesome! A-and the fact that you have a team: way-cool! I mean, you have like witches, demons, and a supervamp? Can’t wait to hear all about THAT happened!”

“Okay, well then, you may want to sit down and hold on to your chair, ‘cos this is gonna be one hellish rollercoaster.”

“Oh, don’t worry, honey!” she pointed at herself: “Slayer who did her clinical year at a West Phily E.R. here! Nothing can surprise me anymore.”

About an hour later, when the history of the past six years had been replayed for her, Gayle was staring at them in disbelief.

“Okay… erm… you know when I said nothing could surprise me anymore?”

“Yeah?”

“I was hugely mistaken.”

End of chapter two.

Okay, let’s do the right thing : Spike and Gayle are singing “Blitzkrieg Bop” by the Ramones, one of my (and Spike’s) favorite bands. For the Star Trek bits: all characters created by the genius mind of Gene Rodenberry.

I am not making any publicity for any kind of phone, I made up the one Willow and Gayle were talking about.

I know I said Willow and Tara are getting married and some of you are screaming about this being California, etc… Wiccans have a marriage ceremony called a Handfasting, it requires no legal documentation. OK?

See you for chapter three…