Subject: [BA_Gutter] Dream Once More part 2 Date: Wed, 03 Dec 2003 23:49:31 -0000 From: "Tracy" Dream Once More Part 2 Author T, Claybourne Disclaimer, Fox ME, Joss and the others they do not endorse this but it's only for entertainment so please no suing guys. Spoiler of Angel up to Destiny Buffy comes to LA but it may be too late Spike is with some one else, and Angel he is not the same as she remembers. NC-17 eventually but mostly less Feed Back- It is so good when you do. Part 2 Buffy nervously dialed the number. A strangely familiar voice she couldn't place answered. "Angel's office, how may I help you?" "Angel please." "He's in a meeting. If you give me your name and number, he'll call you back." "Are you screening his calls? If so, tell him it's Buffy." She heard a choking and coughing sound, then Angel picked up. "Buffy, everything all right, no..." "Everything is really good, Angel. Just wanted to call and let you know I'll be attending UCLA next semester. The job Robin- did I mention him?- gave me got me thinking. I liked helping the kids and, well, I'm headed to college to get a degree so I can get a real job doing that." "That's wonderful. Seems you made a lot of decisions. When should I expect you? I'll have a car waiting if I can't make it." "January. I'll have Willow email you the flight info. I'll be staying with my dad. Well, at least in his often vacant condo. I'll be excited to see you. This time here in Europe is fantastic. I went to some of the places you suggested. Any news of Cordy?" "No, but there is hope. We have the best doctors working on it Dawn and the others, they having fun too?" "I think, I mean they aren't with me. They're doing some organizing, finding all the slayers and helping them deal with their powers. Giles sounds like he's in heaven." "Dawn is quite the junior watcher then?" Buffy laughed, "Yeah, to think I tried to keep her from the whole slay thing and now, well..." "Sorry to cut this short Buff, but..." "Yeah, the phone bill will be horrendous on this end. Giles will gripe. Bye, and see you in a few months." * * Spike barged in on Angel in his company apartment that first night, but then Angel gave him some keys and he had most of the Hyperion to himself. Emma had shown up the very next day following her classes.. Spike had gotten the money from Angel by just telling him not to worry, he'd nick it. Next thing Spike knew he had an office and a paycheck. Emma wheedled him until he bought her some coffee at the stand in the lobby. The next day, very early in the morning, he had surprised Fred in the lab with a big hug, reflecting that Fred may look skinny but she had everything in the right place, just small amounts of it. Emma tended to hound him for stories and such, but his missing Buffy was offset by his budding friendship with the young girl and of course Fred Three weeks after meeting him, Emma had convinced Spike to train her in her "calling," as she referred to it. The girl had so much energy and was so eager to learn. It was different than with the SITs. Emma was a history major, and they often discussed the different times Spike had seen. He made sure to leave out his actions as the scourge of Europe, though. Emma had a way about her that kept Spike laughing. It felt good; it had been a long time since he had laughed so easily. Andrew had done that once or twice for Spike last year, but all in all that was a very dark year for him. This year was already different. Working with Angel was a pain in his ass. Angel was so sure he was redeeming himself every day. Spike saw how the firm was sucking Angel in. He was always testy, trying to make sure Spike knew he was the alpha male. Except for the good verbal jabs Spike pretty much left Angel alone. Angel was happy to say that Spike was training a slayer and deserved the paycheck. Eve had looked vexed at that but Spike kept tabs on that one; her motives were suspicious. *** Sitting at his desk, headphones on, Spike didn't see Harmony come in. She came around the desk and lifted his earphones, "Spike, Emma LINE 1, and quit having her call my- I mean Angel's- line!" He smirked. He did that just to piss Harmony off. His office was a ways from Angel's and she had to walk all the way there every time someone called. Poor Harmony, just so dense. "Thank you, Harm, I did give them the number to this office but..." "Whatever, I like seeing how stupid you look behind that desk anyway." An eyebrow went up but he ignored her and answered the phone. "Hey, I just finished three midterms. Could we do some hand to mouth training as in I could use a good drunk tonight?" "You got it, my treat this time. How about a little dinner before?" "Are you asking me out on a date, Spike? Because..." "Bloody hell no, just wanted to get me one of those Bloomin' Onions and wanted some company." "Oh, well then sure. Free meal at the Outback sounds great." "Sundown. I can pick you up" "Which car you going to steal, oh, sorry, I mean borrow tonight?" " 'S a surprise." "Goody. I love surprises. See ya after sunset." Spike hung up and put his earphones back on, humming along with the music. He smelled the bugger when he walked in. With out looking up he said, "Angel, boss, what can I do you for?" "I need you to..." "If it's tonight, can't. I'm taking the little newly powered one on a field trip for training. It'll break her heart if I cancel; she was looking forward to taking in a few demon species tonight." "No, I was going to ask if you could work this weekend. Wesley and Fred have something going on and last time Fred..." "Oh, right. Head Boy got her shot. Sure, I'll watch after the brainy gal; be my pleasure." "How's the training going?" "Good. She's a fast learner, got a bit of attitude- well, a lot of an attitude- but, takes it seriously and totally idolizes me." "Well, I'll have to talk to her about that. Ask her if she'd like to intern, for salary, with Wes?" Spike cocked his head. "Having a slayer in LA is good. I was thinking maybe we should find any others, help Giles and the others out. Would you like that as a project? You could train them until one of the others can get with them. I heard you have some experience in that area. Emma could help, be your assistant or..." "Angel, do my ears deceive me? You trusting me with a true project to train slayers here at the firm?" "No, well yes, you heard right, but we need to train them elsewhere. The hotel- you could put them up there. Be good to change the atmosphere there from what it was." Spike was too shocked to say much. "But Spike, please get some different clothes for here at the office. This is a major corporation and, well, as a ghost it was fine but..." "Right, I get it, I'll take care of that this weekend after the Fred and Wes thing." Angel left and Spike got on the net to do a little clothes shopping. Surfing and searching, he realized he could probably find that newly powered slayer site of Willow's but decided to let Emma take care of it. No contact would be best. He'd have Emma say Wes was running the project. Thinking of Wes, Spike decided to have him help too; Wes had some experience training slayers. TBC