The Taken Care Of Series

Hank's Letter

Taken Care Of Series – Part 7


Title: Taken Care Of Series – Hank's Letter

Author: Bek Allen

Chapter: 7/16

Feedback: Yes please. Although, flames will be given to my cat to play with as she sees fit.


~*~*~*~

He cringed as the sound of screaming rubber assaulted his ears. Mentally, he didn't care if, in his rage, he abused his tyres, resulting in the need to replace them, he'd just figure out how to claim it on his tax form as part of a business venture. The IRS would never know if he'd been on a business trip or at the reading of a will, he smiled as he remembered his past returns; some of them clear above five thousand dollars. It was amazing how many luxuries and necessities could be claimed as ‘business ventures' on a tax form.

Hank looked out across the lush, green lawns of Sunnydale as he sped away from Revello Drive, heading for the main street that would lead him back to Los Angeles and his new, devoted wife. It wasn't until he looked down at the steering wheel that he noticed he still had the white envelope the lawyer had handed him.

“Who the hell does she think she is?” He said aloud to no one in particular. “Making me look bad in front of my own daughter, her and her family .” He grunted as he threw the letter on the passenger seat next to him. “The Summers' family is not made up of Brits, Tramps and Whores.”

He glanced down at the envelope again, trying to decipher its contents without having to actually open it. He had divorced Joyce six almost seven years ago because she had been too strong willed and stubborn. He had told her that she wouldn't fit in at a place of work, or an office, that it wasn't right for a woman with two children to neglect the children for the sake of a weekly paycheck.

Hank sighed and pulled over in front of The Sun Cinema. Leaving the motor running, he reached open and tore open the envelope to see what kind of game it was exactly that Joyce was playing.

“Hank,

I understand you're furious with Buffy and myself at the moment. However, you have no right to be. What I have organised in my will, is for the happiness of our two wonderful daughters. I needed to know that Dawn would be well looked after in an environment that is good for her well being, and only her sister and the friends they have made – their family – can provide that sort of environment.

I don't want Dawn to have to go through the next few years living with forgotten birthdays, and nights alone in your apartment. I've seen what it has already done to both Buffy and Dawn in the last five years, and it breaks my heart. I think Dawn and Buffy both deserve at least some kind of happiness before they both grow up and get married and have families of their own, don't you?

You've missed such an integral part of each of their lives. You missed Buffy's graduation; you missed her prom and her first day of college. You missed Dawn's first day of life as a high school freshman. You have missed first loves and first kisses and first dates and first dances. I feel, in my heart of hearts, that it is only fair, that, as you showed no interest in their lives in the last five years that you continue to do so. Neither of them will miss you for it. I used to feel that, it was Buffy's boyfriend, Angel, that caused her the most pain, now, as I write this, I realise that it wasn't Angel, it was the lack of a father figure.

People often mistook Rupert for that kind of role model. The girl you met today, Belinda, my assistant, often made that very mistake. I was often correcting people. Rupert is a dear, dear family friend. He has been there for all of us, in some way or another when tragedy has struck our little family of misfits. And, he will continue to be there for Buffy and Dawn long after I am gone.

However, his role among us is not that of father figure. It is of devoted friend and ally. The role of father has always been a responsibility, which you have avoided with both arguments and silence. I believe that it is now time, for you to finally, take that last step and quietly surrender that what you had lost six years ago.

Dawn will never call you again, she fears you now, afraid that you will take her away from what she loves, that you will remove her from the only other person who can relate to what it is she is going through, her sister.

Buffy will continue to go on living as though her father doesn't exist, because, to her, he doesn't anymore. To her, the man she used to cry for in the midst of terrible nightmares, the man she used to play hide and seek with, is gone. He has faded from her life as quietly and as easily as clouds on a warm summer's day.

These, children, that you saw today, are wiser and braver then anyone I have ever met. They have faced the most trying times, they have faced prosecution by their peers and families for life choices that other's do not agree with. Each one of them is incredibly special and unique, and each one of them will help to raise Dawn into the wonderfully talented young woman I know she can be. And all you have to do is just drive out of Sunnydale, and never look back.

I understand if this upsets you Hank, but, you are just going to have to realise that, you can not just come walking back into the lives of my daughters, whenever you feel that you can play the hero and expect them to fall at your feet because you helped give them life. You may have had a part in giving them life, but it was I who has helped mould them into the beautiful people they are today.

Goodbye Hank,

Joyce.”

Hank finished reading and balled the letter in his fist before throwing it out onto the sidewalk and pulling back out into the street and screaming down Main street and out on the freeway to Los Angeles and Mary-Anne.

~*~*~*~

Anya and Xander watched as the sleek BMW pulled away from the curve and headed in the direction of the freeway.

“Should we see what he threw out?” Anya looked towards her fiancé.

“Nah, just leave it An. It was meant for his eyes and his eyes only. Besides, if it were really important, he would of kept it.” Xander cut the engine of his car and opened the door, stepping out on to the sidewalk.

“Exactly, if it's not important, then, we can read it.” She opened the door and was across the street before Xander even had a chance to respond.

“An, honey, c'mon, just leave it. We shouldn't be reading it.” Xander unlocked and opened the door to the store.

Pushing past him, Anya did her best to smooth out the letter. “Nine tenths of the law Xander. Isn't that how it works?” She sat down at the tarot table and began to read silently.

“An, shouldn't you be getting things ready? You know, we put the sign on the door that says ‘Open.' People come in, they look at stuff, they buy stuff, and they give you the money?”

“Xander, be quiet. Read this.” She shoved the letter into his hand and began going about the shop. “Do you really think Dawn and Buffy will never have anything to do with Mr. Summers again?”

“Shh.” Xander continued reading.

Anya shook her head and moved to the front of the store as the bell above the door chimed. “Would you like help with your purchase?”

The customer smiled and took Anya on a whirlwind spree through the store, buying herbs and candles and books and amulets.

“We value your patronage, please come again.” She grinned as she put away the receipt book and pen, closing the drawer of the register.

“Wow.” Xander whispered as he finished reading the letter. “Mrs Summers was… harsh.”

“I don't know,” Anya began, “I rather think she was justified. If I had of been in America seventeen years ago when all her problems started, I would have had him eviscerated. He scorned not only her, but Buffy and Dawn as well.” She sat down at the tarot table as Willow and Tara walked in to the store.

“Who scorned who?” Willow asked curiously before setting her parcels down on top of the table.

“Mr Summers scorned Buffy's mom and Buffy and Dawn.” Anya supplied.

“Oh.” She looked confused. “You didn't… did you?” She looked at Anya.

“What? Oh, no. I wasn't here when he began scorning them. I was in Australia.” She smiled happily at the memories. “A young girl had been scorned by her boyfriend. It really was quiet amazing. She wished that his farm would become dry and sparse and that his cows would all die with heat exhaustion, causing them to bloat and implode. The smell is just… incredible. Foul, but incredible.' She shrugged her shoulders as both Willow and Tara turned slightly green.

“How do you deal with this Xander?” Willow asked as she sat down.

“I, uh, I turn off.” He smiled at his oldest friend. “It's something I learnt to do during our time at High School. All those long winded, boring Giles speeches.”

“Oh.” She reached over and sild the piece of paper away from him. “Whatchya reading?”

“The letter from Mrs. Summers to Mr. Summers.”

“D-do you really think w-we should be reading that?” Tara asked softly, sliding into a seat beside Willow.

“How did you get it?” Willow asked as she moved to share the paper with Tara.

“We watched him read it then toss it out on the street.” Anya surmised, “Xander didn't want to get it, but, I just went to get it anyway. He threw it out.”

“Yeah,” Xander began. “He didn't look too impressed after he finished reading it either. Screamed right on out of town, and, after reading that, I can sorta understand why.”

“Harsh.” Willow nodded. “Do you think Mrs. Summers really means all of this?”

“I-I think she d-did.” Tara nodded. “I mean I-it's all true. He hasn't been there for either of the girls. And, h-he only came after Joyce died because he w-w-want to take Dawn away.”

“I think we should get rid of it.” Xander spoke up. “I don't think Buffy and Dawn would want to know, that, even after all this time, there is still a heap of unspoken hostility between them. They don't need this, not now. Not when things are finally looking up for them.”

The girls all nodded and Anya took the letter across to the trashcan behind the counter.

“What I don't get is what she meant about Giles.” Willow looked to Xander. “He's always been like my dad. Since that first day I met him in the library. I mean, besides me having that whole crush on him and me thinking he's sexy.”

“Me too Will,” Xander scratched his head and shrugged. “I always though of Giles as being the Dad, you know, strong, solid figure, the guy we all want to be like. The earring, the singing, the guitar playing, the clothes, the knowledge.” When he realised he'd been rambling, Xander just grinned sheepishly, “What? I can't have a role model?”

“I-I don't know. Maybe we all see him in a different light?” Tara suggested. “Maybe, Buffy and Dawn see him in a different light to us.” She looked around.

“I don't think I wanna know.” Xander gave Tara a puzzled look. “Okay, So, moving on before this starts to get into creepy, Giles singing in the Espresso Pump territory. The Party?”

“Ooh my God!” Willow exclaimed excitedly, “You've got to see what we bought for the party, and the cake!”

They stayed like that, deep in conversation, only to stop every so often when a customer came in to the store, waiting for Buffy, Dawn, Giles and Spike to arrive so they could go home and begin the festivities.