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Bring on the Green Stuff
 
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REPLAY



I’m planning a sequel after this called Second the First. It’ll be a revised season seven. But no need to worry about that yet, there is still lots of Replay to deal with beforehand. Enjoy.







Chapter 7- Bring on the Green Stuff



Buffy lurked in the dark. She surveyed her surroundings with caution. She passed the stairs to face a leaking pipe. She looked up at it with disdain.



“So we meet again Mr. Drippy,” she said.



The stairs creaked. Buffy turned to see Dawn.



“You aren’t going to try and fix it again, are you?”



“I’ve learned my lesson.”



“Good.” The brunette held up a cordless phone. “I’ve got the number for the plumber. Want me to call?”



A sigh escaped the slayer. “Please do.”



She heard Dawn dial the number and request for assistance. What was that they had needed? Full copper re-pipe. That was it. She shut her eyes. We can’t pay for it. She wished the new high school was done being built. Then she could go hang around it until she met up with Principal Wood.



A couple hours later Buffy leaned against the kitchen island. She sipped at a cup of coffee. Dawn sat across from her, munching on a bowl of Captain Crunch cereal. Willow and Tara giggled, popping marshmallows from a Lucky Charms box into each others mouth. Occasionally the sisters would shoot amused smiles to the other over the display.

The basement door opened. Xander and a man emerged. The man carried a toolbox.



“And a big Sunnydale round of applause for Tito the Amazing plumber extraordinaire,” Xander said.



“So, how’s everything looking down there?” Tara questioned.



“Tito says that if you waited any longer it would have flooded. Then we would have had to start gathering up two of every animal.”



“Basically the pipes are shot,” Tito said. “I mean the whole system’s gonna have to be replaced. What you need is a full copper re-pipe job.”



Willow came over. “Full copper re-pipe? That sounds potentially pricey.”



Tito handed her a piece of paper. She scanned it, her eyes getting large.



“Well, if you have any questions our number’s on the invoice,” Tito informed. He patted Xander on the shoulder and then left.



Dawn hopped down from her stool. She went over to peek at the invoice. Willow pulled it away.

“Tell me that’s the phone number at the bottom,” Dawn said.

“Hey, Tito cut you a good deal down there. Those are bargain prices.” He glanced at Buffy. “I did a little haggling for you.”

Buffy smiled. “Thank you.” She bit her lip. “We’ll have to pay him. No big. I’ll just get a job.”

All eyes fell on her.

“What?”

Dawn looked sympathetic. “Don’t work at The Doublemeat,” she begged.

“I hear Burger Hut is hiring,” Xander said.

“Hey, Buffy can do better than that,” Tara protested.

“Money’s an issue. If Buffy has to get a temporary -,” Willow began.

“Willow’s right,” Buffy interrupted. “I’ll do what I have to do.” She looked at Dawn. “Even employ myself at The Doublemeat hell.”

+ + +

Filling out job applications sucked. Every one was the exact same. Name, education history, address, phone number, age, past employment (not that she had any. Not in this time anyway). . .

She steered clear of the fast food joints. She wouldn’t go there until she found it necessary.

The Expresso Pump was particularly rude. The cashier gave her a disapproving glare before practically throwing the application in her face. She almost hoped they wouldn’t call.

The bookstore guy was nice enough. He handed the form to her let her sit in one of the reading chairs to fill it out. When she returned it, however, he wanted to chat.

“It is always nice to meet another bookworm,” he said. He pushed his wire rim glasses further up his nose.

She let out a nervous laugh.

“Ever read The Time Machine? It’s my favorite book.”

She made the mistake of saying, “I saw that one. Didn’t know they made a novelization from the film.”

He frowned at her.

Buffy realized too late that The Time Machine must have been based off a book instead of the other way around. I didn’t stay in college long enough, she thought. This was Giles’s ideal job, not hers. She left, not holding her breath about getting hired.

She also applied at the video store. The gang would be pleased if she got that one. Free rentals. Her last stop was the 24 hour coffee shop. Buffy liked coffee, and she knew how to make, it so why not? True, she wasn’t familiar with the fancy cappuccino, lattes, etcetera, but she could learn.

Buffy remembered going into the place once when it used to be a bookstore. Giles had dragged her in when it first opened up. It sure had changed since then. It was bright, with red booths, checkered floor, and a counter with stools. There was a jukebox near the entrance.

Buffy swept her eyes over the menu. Ooo, frozen coffees! There was a picture of the banana one with whipped cream. She wondered if they gave employees free drinks.

“Can I help you?” a young woman asked. Her nametag said Amie.

Relief ran through Buffy. No cow uniform. Instead Amie was wearing an apron.

“Yes, I’d like an application,” Buffy said with a smile.

“Oh, sure.”

Amie reached down below the cash register. She was about to hand over the application when there was a scream. Buffy turned just in time to see a man get tossed through the window. Glass went everywhere.

The door flew open to reveal a large demon. He had ridges and fins on his head. He let out a loud roar.

Buffy groaned. “Oh, look, it’s the mmmm cookie monster,” she grumbled.

“Slayer,” he growled.

She took in his clothing. He had on a black shirt beneath a red one, with grey slacks and a belt. “Are you trying to blend in? Sorry, I don’t think it’s work.”

She looked around for a weapon. They must have a knife somewhere.

Suddenly Buffy felt herself being grabbed. She was shoved behind the counter.

“Hey!” she protested.

“You seriously aren’t going to fight him?” a male voice said.

She squirmed in his grasp. “You think I can’t take him?”

She broke away to see the guy who was trying to act as her savior. He was cute in the boy-next-door way. His nametag read Rick.

She stood up. “I know you mean well, Rick, but I can-“

The demon was gone. She let out a sigh of frustration.

Buffy found Amie. “About my application . . .”

Amie blinked.

“What happened to my shop?” boomed a man.

Buffy lifted her head to see what must be the owner.

“Who made this mess?”

Amie pointed at Buffy.

“Get out!”

+ + +

“They kicked you out? That’s crazy!” Willow was shocked.

“Yeah, that’s what happened all right,” Buffy said.

The slayer punched at the punching bag wildly.

“I can’t believe it,” Willow went on. “It isn’t fair.”

Buffy kept hitting the swinging bag.

“You weren’t responsible for the demon raiding the shop.”

Buffy stopped and steadied the punching bag. She closed her eyes. “I wish the council would pay me.”

“Kinda hard when you keep telling them off. Not that that isn’t a good thing. Because it is. They need to be put in their place.”

“Yeah.”

Talking about the council made Buffy realize something. Her eyes popped back open. Giles would show up in a few moments. She smiled.

+ + +



“Here he is,” Dawn declared as Buffy came out of the training room. She propped up an old book. “He’s called Mmm-Fashnik.”

“Or ‘Muh’-Fashnik,” Xander commented.

Buffy sneaked a grin at her sister. “I’m with Dawn. Like Mmm cookies, right?”

“That’s him,” Buffy continued. “Big bad. This thing was strong, guys. No weapons that I could see, but . . .”

She sensed something and lifted her head. “Still . . . real . . . dangerous.”

Giles stared at his thought-of daughter. He dropped his bags near the entrance. Then he started toward her.

“Oh God, Buffy,” he said. A giant smile formed on his lips.

Buffy smiled back. She was ready for his hug. She closed her eyes with emotion.

“You’re alive. You’re here. And you’re still . . . remarkably strong.”

A laugh escaped Buffy. She let go. “Sorry.”

Giles studied her face. “Willow told me, but I didn’t really let myself believe.”

“Seeing is believing.”

“Yes, well, I’m still having difficulty believing what my eyes are telling me.”

“There’s no need to clean your glasses. I’m real.”

“It’s uh . . . you’re a . . .”

“Miracle,” Buffy inserted.

“Yes. But then I always thought so.”

He put a hand to her cheek. The others watched the scene happily.

+ + +

Giles watched her as she made up the small couch. The sheets and pillow case had bright kiddie patterns all over them. She looked over apologetically after tucking in the sheets.

“I know they’re so cute you could die. Sorry. Mom used to handle this stuff. I have no idea where she hid the guest sheets,” Buffy said.

“Quite all right.” He added the pillow to the bed-substitute.

“I blame the sofa. We need one of those pull-out kinds.” She sighed. “Maybe after I get a job. I’ve been looking.”

He eyed her in surprise. “Really?”

Buffy sat down. “Yeah. I don’t qualify for an office job, but I’ve been filling applications out.”

Squeezing her hand, he said, “I wish you the best of luck.”

There was a span of silence. She shifted in her seat under his scrutiny.

“What is it?” she asked.

“Oh, uh . . .” He cleared his throat.

“The others told you, didn’t they?”

He snatched off his glasses. He continued to clean them. “Considering the circumstances I find your adjustment quite remarkable.”

Buffy stared across the room. “I’m like that. Wonder girl.”

“Yes, you certainly are.”

“I’m all right,” she assured him.

+ + +

Later that night Giles ventured into the kitchen. He found Willow at the island. A box of cookies sat on the surface but she paid no attention to them. It was dark, but if the light had been on Giles would have caught her bloodshot eyes.

“You have a good talk with Buffy?” Willow managed to get out.

“Yes, now that she is back,” Giles replied.

The witch glanced down at her hands.

“Tell me about this spell you performed.”

“I’d rather not.”

He turned toward her sternly. “You can’t do something of this notion and . . .! You are a very stupid girl!”

“Don’t you think I know that!?” Tears formed in her eyes. It wasn’t long before they slid down her face. “I sucked my best friend out of heaven.”

Giles stood there a moment. Finally he reached out and put a comforting arm around the young woman, yet still a little girl in many ways.

+ + +

Buffy stood at the front porch. In her right hand was a large sward. She seemed a tad bored.

“M is for cookies, and cookies are for me,” she sang absently.

“That’s C. I don’t get you, Summers,” came a voice.

Buffy’s head shot up. She took in Spike. His dark form merged into the night, but his bright hair set him aside.

“Hello, Spike.”

He gestured to her weapon. “And what is that for exactly?”

She held up the sward. “I’m waiting for the cookie monster.” She burst out laughing.

He raised an eyebrow. “You know, the bit and you get weirder everyday.”

Spike took a step forward. He nodded toward the house. “You hear that?”

She followed his gaze. “No. Are Willow and Giles fighting?”

“No, but I think the witch feels a bit guilty.”

With a sigh, Buffy sat down on the top step. “Am I a horrible person if I say she should be?”

Spike sat down next to her. “Wrong person to ask.”

The two sat together in silence for a few moments. She was greatly aware of his presence. Too aware. He was so close. He shifted, brushing against her hand. Oh God.

Would it be too soon to kiss him?

She had always had a weak spot for him when he was like this. He was so open and concerned. This was Spike as his truest self.

All of a sudden Buffy’s slayer senses set off the alarms. She scanned the darkness and then hopped to her feet. She clutched her sword tightly.

“Just a sec,” she told Spike.

The demon rushed at her. She leveled her sword and swung. The blade passed through his neck like butter. His head fell from his body and hit the ground. The rest of him followed. She let her bloody sword slip from her hands.

She spun around.

“Do I have demon goo on me?”

Spike smirked. “Not that I can see. Was that the cookie monster, pet?”

“Yep. No more cookies for him,” she said. She made her way back over to the steps.

“Looks different from what I remember the kiddies watchin.”

“It’s like they say,” Buffy said. “You always look different on TV.”

With that, Buffy sat back down beside her vampire, very pleased with herself.



He he, couldn’t help but include some reference to Sesame Street.
 
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