His Worth

Spike woke with a freight train pounding in his head. He sat up groaning and tried to shake the cobwebs out of his eyes.
He heard the soft sounds of the TV and noticed Xander dozing on the recliner. He must’ve slept there all night, Spike thought.
He slowly made his way to a dresser against the far wall and grabbed a bottle of aspirin off it, then moved to the table and grabbed bottled water that was still half full. Spike downed about 5 pills and the rest of the water.
He grabbed a towel and left the room to go shower down the hall.
Upon returning, Xander was awakening.
“Morning, whelp” Spike greeted him.
“Hey evil dead” Xander responded. “How’s that head of yours this morning?” Xander couldn’t resist saying.
“You’re right bloody funny aren’t you?” Spike sneered.
“Let’s go get some breakfast” Xander stated as he got up and put his jacket on.
“Is food all you ever think about?” Spike inquired.
“Come on man…if we get there by 9, we get the early bird special, and all you can eat pancakes” Xander grinned excitedly and was out the door.

10 pancakes later and Xander was still shoveling it in.
“So, Spike...gonna tell me about that Buffy chick you babbled about all last night? I wondered where you been lately. I never see you out working and some of my regulars who used to be your regulars have been asking about you.”
“She’s just a girl.” Spike answered.
“Yeah, uh huh. Just a girl who hurt poor widdle Spikey’s heart.” Xander mimicked him.
“Sod off you ponce” Spike spat back at him.
“Sheesh…Spike. I’m just teasing you. Don’t get all freaking violent and shit on me” Xander said.
“It’s cool, Spike. You know that, right? It’s O.K. if you got something going with her. I’m sure Dru would want you to be happy”
“Yeah right, she sure wanted me to be happy when she was alive, didn’t she?” Spike demanded.
“Ok, so she was crazy and did some wacked out shit but man you gotta let it go...she has been gone for 5 years now.” Xander pressed on.
“I can’t go through that again, Xan.” Spike averted his eyes.
“That Buffy chick seemed pretty high class, from what I saw of her. Somehow I don’t think the same is going to happen, Spike.” Xander tried comforting him.
“Yeah, because rich people don’t cheat or lie or steal or do drugs...right...sing me another tune. That bit’s gone stale” Spike countered.
“It’s just all so bloody confusing. I don’t know if I can be what she…who she wants me to be and it’s killing me”
“Maybe she just wants you to be you, Spike?” Xander pointed out. ‘There are still good people out there”
“After all the shit you been through Xan, and you can still say that? When did you go and become so wise?” Spike teased him.
“It’s a gift” Xander grinned. “Look, Spike, seriously. I know I ain’t ever gonna make it out of here but I look at you and how smart you are no matter how you pretend not to be and now you got this chance with this girl and you know, if you can get out of here, why not take that chance? Seems to me if I had that chance, I’d go and never lookk. 1k. 10 years from now, I’m still going to be here and that pisses me off but what would piss me off more is if you had the chance to have something better, make something of yourself and you were still here too then. You get what I’m saying, man?”
“Yeah, whelp. I get it.” Spike stood up.
“Where you going?” Xander asked.
“Got to go see about a girl, mate” Spike gave a half wave and with that was out the door.

Rupert Giles was busy organizing his office and trying to get the new shipment of books into their proper places. He went to place one he was keeping for his own personal collection on his bookcase and noticed the frame he had left there yesterday. Giles picked it up and turned it over and sighed as he stared into his son’s face. 11 years it had been since he had seen him. He didn’t know whether he was dead or alive. Nothing. It was his own fault. He should’ve tried harder with the boy but after his wife Jenny’s death, William’s mother, things had been so hard and he couldn’t control William anymore. He started hanging out with that dreadful Drusilla and was smoking and drinking, stealing and all sorts of nonsense. Then there was that horrible night where it all came to a head and they had fought and hit each other, accusations about who was responsible for Jenny’s death were screamed at each other. He had kicked his own flesh and blood out of his home and told him to never come back... He hadn’t really meant it of course but unfortunately for the first time in a long while, it was the one thing he said that William actually heeded. He told him to never come back and he never did.
Giles sat down in his office chair, picture in hand, as memories flooded him, a single tear running down his cheek.

Buffy was in the middle of heating up some frozen pizza and getting ready to watch Steel Magnolias and have a good cry when she heard the knock at her door.
Wiping her hands off on the kitchen towel, she went to answer the door. There stood Spike, bloodshot eyes, bags underneath, hair all askew with a weak little smile on his face. He looked like shit and he was the best thing she had ever seen in her life.
She grabbed him and pulled him into the house and hugged onto him for dear life.
“I was afraid you wouldn’t come back” she sobbed on his shoulder.
“Yeah, well, you still owe me for this week…” Spike began only meaning to tease her and then realized by the clouded look on her face that he had once again inserted foot into mouth.
“You jackass…” Buffy started to rant as she pulled away.
“No, pet. I was kidding, please. I’m sorry. Just a joke. Please baby.” He got her back in his arms to console her.
“Buffy, I decided that I’m not going to take your money anymore.” Spike stated.
“But…how will you get by? You’re not planning on going back to work are you?” she said obviously upset at the thought.
“No, luv. I’ll think of something. Maybe go back to school, get my GED or something. I ‘aven’t figured it all out yet. The only thing I do know is that I want to have sex with you without you having to pay me for it. I want to do it because I want it, not because it’s a job.” He gently kissed her lips.
“Oh, Spike” she sighed as she melted into him.
“I love you, Spike”. Green eyes met blue and she could see the fear in his eyes.
“It’s O.K. I don’t expect you to say it back to me but I just need you to know that.” Buffy smiled.
Buffy took his hand and led him to the bedroom.
”Are you here to stay, Spike?” she asked him.
“Yeah, pet, I’m here to stay. That is, if you still want me here?” he questioned her.
“Let me show you how much” she whispered into his ear and then proceeded to do just that.
There was no urgency or demands to their coupling this time. It was gentle and slow. Soft sighs and heady moans. Spike had never felt so loved before and he wept into the crook of Buffy’s neck as they came down from their climaxes. She held him and murmured low to him lulling him to sleep. She followed him soon after, a contented smile in place.

Giles was startled from his trip down memory lane.
“Mr. Giles? Mr. Giles? Rupert!” Willow called from the doorway.
“Oh, sorry Miss Rosenberg. I didn’t realize anyone was here.”
“I forgot something yesterday and was hoping you would be here. Are you O.K.?” Willow noticed his tear stained face and grasp of a picture frame.
“Yes, dear. Sorry, forgive and old man. Was just caught up in old memories.” Giles explained.
Willow walked over to him, “May I?” she asked holding her hand out.
“Yes, of course.” Giles handed her the picture.
“That is my son, William. I haven’t seen him in over 10 years though. I’m not sure where he is or if he is even…” Giles choked up “if he is even alive” he finished.
Willow looked down and gasped. The hair color and style had changed but there was no mistaking that face. Those eyes.
“Is something the matter? Miss Rosenberg?” Giles stood up and moved to her side.
“Oh Rupert, you will never believe this but I met your son yesterday. I’m sure it was him!”
“Oh dear Lord? Are you positive? Where? Where is he? Please…I need to tell him…” Giles was breaking down.
“I’m not sure where he is but I know who might. Come with me?” She asked him.
“Lead the way.” Giles followed Willow out of the office and after locking up the library, they made their way to Willow’s car.
“I’m not sure if she will be home but we’ll find out…it’s about a 20 minute drive.” Willow told him.
“I’ve waited over 10 years. I think 20 more minutes will be O.K.” Giles was elated. He had found his son.

Hank Summer’s sat in Mr. Wesley Wyndham Pryce’s waiting lobby. He had received the call from his private investigator earlier that day to set up a meeting. Wes had told him he had information for him.
Finally, the perky brunette secretary with a man’s name...what was it…Frank…Ford…Fred...Fred...that was it had told him Wes could see him now.
He walked into his office and shook hands with him.
“Mr. Summers, thank you for coming. I’m afraid I have some bad news for you. As you requested, we have been keeping tabs on your daughter, Buffy and it appears she is in cohorts with a fairly well-known prostitute and has been for some time. He goes by the name of Spike and incidentally, he was the one she was with when she was arrested a few months back.” Wes explained his findings.
“We had that arrest sealed. How did you find out?” Hank demanded.
“Mr. Summers, I’m a private detective. It’s my job to find these things out, no? That’s what you’re paying me for.” Wes handed him a manila envelope that when Hank opened it, he found it contained photos of his daughter with this Spike character. Some were explicit, taken through a motel window. His face was beet red with anger.
“Thank you, Mr. Wyndham Pryce. I will take care of this myself from here on out. You’ve been a great help to me.” He stood and the men shook hands again.
Hank left the P.I’s building with rage in his eyes. “How dare she? That stupid little slut. After everything he had done for her and given her and this was how she repaid him.” He fumed in his mind. Well, he would repay her in kind. Her and that scumbag Spike. Nobody lied to and humiliated Hank Summer’s and got away with it. Not even his own daughter. She would pay for this. He could be ruined if his business associates and colleagues knew of his daughter’s escapades. He wouldn’t allow that to happen. Ever.