By Moadine
For the Disclaimer and the Author's Notes, see the Prologue.
Spike had been walking for far too long. In fact, as he started to remember why humans drank so much water while in the sun, he began to regret not taking the Winfield’s up on their offer of a pre-paid taxi. However, his pride- finally making a long-awaited reappearance after years being the Slayer’s willing slave- had balked at the idea and he had refused. Now, he was walking along the side of the road that led out of idiocy and ended up smack dab in the middle of desperate loneliness.
In a way, he almost regretted going- for a reason other than the fact that he was currently in the middle of nowhere. He had started entertaining ideas of babysitting the littlest Winfield when he or she was born, but when he had been there, he had felt he was more of a third wheel than a helping hand, no matter what either of the Winfield’s had to say about it. At least he felt like he could contribute some actual help when he was with Buffy. Still, it hurt him to leave. It hurt deep down in a part of him that hadn’t seen daylight in over a hundred years.
Sighing, he sat under the shade of a tree by the side of the road. He had tried hitch-hiking. Hadn’t worked. It seemed as if you couldn’t get a ride unless you showed a little leg and he wasn’t that desperate… yet, anyway. More than a little tired, he squeezed his eyelids shut and tried to think of what Cleveland would be like.
He must have drifted off because the next thing he was aware of was the sound of horns honking. Instantly aware, he leapt to his feet in one graceful movement and looked around.
“This isn’t the middle of nowhere,” he muttered to himself.
He seemed to be in the middle of a small park. Still daylight, still a slight breeze, just a completely different location.
The sound of girls laughing caught his attention and, for a brief moment, he thought he spotted Red in the group of giggling females walking in the other direction. It turned out that it was only a trick that his mind played on himself though and he turned his attention back to finding out where “here” was.
After twenty minutes of searching, he found a tree in the middle of a clearing, with a small plaque sitting on a rock before it. Curious, he knelt down to read the small print.
‘The land used to build this park was donated to the city of Cleveland in…’
“Cleveland? Bloody hell! I must be dreaming.” Quickly, Spike did the only thing his confused mind could come up with. He punched himself in the face. “Ahh! Bloody hell!” He was so engrossed in his pain and confusion that he didn’t noticed the people begin to shy away from him. Finally, he calmed down enough to think about his problem rationally. “Okay. We’ve eliminated dreaming. That leaves bonkers. I’ve gone the way of Dru!” He paused. “Wait a minute… If I’m like Dru, why don’t I feel like talking about tears from the moon or the little fish swimming in my head?” He considered his own thoughts for a moment. Then, with an eloquent shrug, he answered his own question. “Oh well. Let’s off and find Buffy then. Now… where to start? Hmm.” He looked around for inspiration, his eyes quickly latching onto a couple of kids who were obviously skipping school. That was it! If Buffy and her friends had indeed moved here, then Dawn had to be enrolled in the school district!
Feeling immensely proud of his own intellect, Spike headed off to what he hoped would be the last stop before going home. However, he soon discovered he needed directions. He growled softly under his breath. He loathed asking for directions.
On to Chapter 8
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