Chapter Four

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Some nights later, she was in Restfield and made her way to Spike’s crypt. She knocked on the door and went in, scanning the room for the vampire.

“Spike?”

There was nothing for a moment, but then he appeared from the lower level, pulling a T-shirt over his head.

“Slayer, what do you want?”

She cocked an eyebrow at his sharp tone and moved to lean against the sarcophagus.

“Thought you’d be up for a bit of patrol,” she answered with a shrug as he moved around the crypt, glancing at her only about once as he fished out a bottle of something and took a swig.

“Maybe I’ve got other plans,” he answered, flopping down into his armchair.

Well, that was definitely not like Spike - passing up a chance for violence.

“Have you?” she asked.

“S’none of your business.”

She frowned at him, studying him as he ignored her, his eyes on the wall in front of him.

“What’s up with you? You’re all bad moody.”

“I’m fine.”

She said nothing and he rose to his feet, going to the door and opening it.

“That all?” he asked pointedly, nodding to the door.

She pushed herself upright and went to him, frowning.

“Fine. I’ll leave you to mope,” she bit out, pushing past him and leaving the crypt. What was his problem anyway?


She walked along, biting her lip pensively. If it had been anyone else, she would have thought Spike was depressed. She laughed a little and shook her head. This was Spike – he was probably faking it. Not that she could figure out why he would. Why was she even bothered if he was acting weird anyway? At least she got some time to herself on patrol.


But then, with everything that had been going on lately, she had wanted a distraction. She really didn’t want to think about Giles being gone, or Dawn being a typical teenager and she definitely didn’t want to think about the mountain of unpaid bills that seemed to be growing on a daily basis. So yeah, bickering with Spike would have been a pleasant distraction from everyday life. She frowned again but suddenly picked up on the tingling at the back of her neck and stopped, crossing her arms.

“Thought you had other plans?” she got out.

“Apparently not. After all, what could I possibly have that’s more important than following the Slayer like a - what was it you said? - puppy.”

She sighed as he came to her side, blowing out a cloud of smoke.

“If you’ve come out just to annoy me by being in a bad mood, please go home again,” she told him, “I’ve got enough to worry about as it is.”

She had already moved off but his low voice stopped her.

“Anything I can help with?”

She sighed and turned to him, shaking her head.

“’Fraid not. Non-supernatural problems.”

“Want to talk about it?” he asked softly, head tilted to one side as he watched her with concern.


She shook her head and began to walk slowly, feeling him fall in beside her.

“I’m trying to live in denial right now,” she commented with a slight grimace.

“Not always a good plan.”

“I know, really. But it’s stressing me out and I just…”

She trailed off with a sigh and flashed him a weak smile.

“Come on, you’re halfway to telling me already. What’s wrong?”

She smiled again and moved to lean against a nearby grave, feeling his eyes on her.

“It’s money stuff mainly. After Mom...she left us money but once the hospital bills got paid off...well, there wasn’t exactly much left. And what was left is disappearing fast.”

“You talked to any of the others ‘bout this?”

“I spoke to Giles, before he left. But I don’t want Dawn to worry. I’ll look after her, just like I always have... Okay, so this is a little different from a hell god after her, but...”

He was silent and she sighed, crossing her arms.

“How ‘bout we make you some easy money?”

She raised her eyes to his and raised an eyebrow, sure he was about to suggest stealing – and ready to shoot him down.

“Come on,” he murmured, holding out a hand, “Trust me.”

She twitched an eyebrow but seeing that he wouldn’t let up, she sighed and put her hand in his, letting him pull her to her feet.

“Now, pet, do you know the rules of poker?” he asked with a smile as she fell into step beside him.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~



“You play for kittens?!” she whispered sharply, amazed as the three demons around the table pulled out a kitten each and placed it in the bowl in the centre of the table. She was perched at Spike’s side and he leant in close to her.

“Each one of these tiny tabbies is worth a hundred bucks easy,” he murmured, pulling back slightly to smile at her, “So let’s win you some money.”

She shook her head in disbelief and scooted her chair closer to the table.

“Okay, who’s going to stake me a kitten?” Spike asked the table.

The other demons were silent for a moment but then one to Spike’s left - a floppy-eared demon – sighed and retrieved another kitten from his stash.

“Thanks, Clem. I owe you, mate.”

The kitten was placed in the bowl and she peered over Spike’s shoulder as he glanced at the cards in front of him, careful to hide them from the others.


The game was soon underway and she watched avidly for some time, before finally growing bored and starting to fidget. She had never been good at sitting still for long periods and she was getting antsy now, especially surrounded with so many demons – even if they did seem fairly harmless. She sighed and shifted her legs, bouncing one leg as it rested over the other as she played with the fabric of her skirt. Suddenly, a long pale hand reached back and rested on her knee and she stopped. Spike glanced back at her with a smile.

“You’re distractin’ me with your fidgetin’, love.”

She was about to make a sharp comment back but then, remembering that he was trying to win money for her, she sighed and bit her lip.

“Sorry,” she whispered, glancing at the other demons as she tried to stay as still as possible.

Spike chuckled lowly and then removed his hand from her knee, going back to the game. She sighed and began to look around the dingy room, searching for something to keep her mind occupied.

“Royal flush,” Spike announced suddenly and she heard the other demons groan as he rose to his feet. She jumped to her feet beside him and looked at him questioningly.

“Did you win?” she asked, going to his side as he began to put the kittens into a basket.

“’Course I did,” he answered with a smile, “Won us a nice little collection of tabbies.”

She smiled and helped him place the kittens in the basket. They bade goodbye to the demons and left the bar quickly, just in case they decided not to part with their kittens without a fight.


They finally came to a stop outside her house and she smiled as the kittens continued to mewl inside the basket.

“Be glad to get rid of them,” Spike huffed, shifting the basket to his other arm, possibly in some attempt at making himself not look so ridiculous, “Know a demon who’ll change them into ready cash. I’ll get to him soon as I can and get you your money. Should be at least six hundred’s worth here, I reckon.”

“You really don’t have to give it all to me. I mean, you won it. All I did was sit there.”

“You were my good luck charm,” he answered, smiling softly, “’Sides, I’d just waste it on booze and smokes.”

“I really can’t-“

“Slayer, shut up and accept it, okay?” he said firmly.

“Okay,” she agreed, a smile spreading across her features, “Thank you so much, Spike. I really...Thanks.”

He smiled, his eyes shining as he looked down at her.

“No problem, Slayer.”

“I should get back in,” she murmured after a pause.

“Yeah.”

She turned to go but paused, turning back to Spike. She stepped forward and reached up to press a kiss to his cheek.

“Thank you again.”

Avoiding his gaze – even though she could feel it burning into her – she turned and skipped up the steps, letting herself into the house.