Part Twenty-Three

Giles plods into the garage and unlocks the door to the Citroen. What is he going to do? Ripper’s never been violent without purpose but his brash teenage personality is not going to mesh well with a frightened Xander. He hopes Ripper leaves just as silently as he appeared. He’s so lost in thought he’s driving on autopilot. He parks in the underground garage and leans his head on the steering wheel for awhile. He comes abruptly out of his funk when the car horn sounds. Right, time to go. The Watcher climbs out of the care, shrugs his shoulders and resolutely heads for the glass doors. As he walks his steps turn into a swagger, the despair turns into a smirk and the world weary Giles becomes Ripper. Ripper shoves open the doors so hard they slam into the opposite walls with a resounding crack. Sandy stands up.

"Hello, Uncle Rupert! Uncle Alex said to go on in," and she points down the hall.

"Hello, luv, not yer uncle but give me a snog and I’ll be anyone you bloody want," and Ripper hops up on Sandy’s desk with a leer.

"Ew, I don’t think so! You are cute for an old guy but you changed my diapers! Ewww!" Sandy makes a face and pushes him off her desk.

The crash of the doors didn’t rouse Alex but a body hitting the floor had him racing out of his office. He saw Giles on the floor and Sandy glaring over her desk at him.

"What is going on here!"

"Alex, been a long time. Was just telling ducks here all about moi," Ripper brags.

"Uncle Alex, I am so gonna hurl. Uncle Giles was hitting on me!" Sandy scowls in disgust.

"Ripper, I see. I’ll take care of this Sandy."

"But, Uncle Alex!"

"This isn’t Giles, sweetie. I’ll explain later. Ripper, come with me and keep your mitts off my niece," Alex snarls protectively.

Sandy stares after the two men in confusion as Alex pulls Ripper off the floor and tugs him down the hall by one ear.

"Alex, Alex, wot a way to treat an old mate. No hello, how are ya," Ripper snickers despite the intense pain in his ear.

Alex grits his teeth but refuses to be baited. He pushes the other man down on the sofa and trembles as he furiously lights two cigarettes.

Sandy is standing outside the door and bursts in at the snick of a lighter.

"You said you quit smoking, Uncle Alex!" she yells.

"Sandy, out! I said I’ll explain later," Alex gets out as he shoves her out the door and locks it.

"Want me all to yourself, mate?" Ripper grins.

Sandy stomps back to her desk.

"Shut up, Ripper," Alex spits out as he hands him one of the cigarettes.

"Ta."

"Talk. Why are you here Ripper," Alex frowns.

"Don’t know. Rupert-," and Ripper says the name with revulsion," He’s been shutting me out. Bloody secrets," he scowls.

"You don’t know about Xander?" Alex asks reluctantly.

"Wussy kid? Know bout the brat. Guess stuffy Giles can’t handle it," Ripper says with false drama.

Alex wants to slap the smugness off this man’s face.

"I see," Alex says through anger clenched teeth," What will it take to make you leave?"

"But I just got here," Ripper says with mock innocence.

"You aren’t supposed to be here, Ripper. I want to talk to Rupert," Alex demands.

"What’s in it for me?" Ripper smirks.

"How about I find a spell to get rid of you permanently?" a pissy Alex says.

"Oi, not necessary, mate. Just a little question. Already know the old man loses it under stress," Ripper reminds him sullenly.

"Oh stop sulking. You can stay in your little room in Giles’ brain but right now we need Rupert Giles. We do not need an obnoxious London teen who has overstayed his time period. Now go back to your room, you’re grounded, Ripper," Alex says firmly.

"Kid needs some fun, not ole button down. Ripper fun," Ripper grins.

"Ripper…" Alex says warningly.

"All right, all right, one ex-Watcher, boring book minder, one anorak comin’ up," Ripper sulks. He closes his eyes then opens them abruptly.

"Could show the Xander brat a real good time, Alex," Ripper tries.

"Go!"

"Don’t haveta yell, mate," and Ripper closes his eyes again. He finds himself in a little hallway. He stalks over to an unmarked door and opens it without knocking.

"Hi honey, I’m home," he says in falsetto.

He gives a satisfied smirk as Rupert tears the page of the demonology book he was reading.

"Ripper, I don’t know why you feel the urge to sneak up on one’s person. Please leave," Giles says with exasperation.

"Don’t get yer knickers in a twist. Alex said I have to give you back your body," Ripper scowls.

"If you have done anything I shall regret..." Giles starts.

"Relax, nobody let me have any fun. Wouldn’t even let me play with Xander," he complains.

"Quite, well do try not to clutter up my mind too much," Giles says dryly as he gets up. He heads out the door and closes it behind him. When the Watcher was in the room it resembled the old school library. As he opened the door again an observer would see piles of dirty laundry, several fag butts on the nightstand, Sex Pistols posters and the like all over grimy walls. Ripper is lying back on the bed. The sheets and blankets on the floor.

"Miss me already?" Ripper snickers.

"Hardly. Nice move with Spike and the picture... I shall decide later whether it will be sent. And, Ripper? Do some laundry," Giles says, closes the door and walks down to the end of the hall.

Alex waits anxiously as he sees the man across from him open his eyes.

"I do believe the laundry on his floor is the same dirty clothes I saw quite some years ago," is the first thing Giles says and Alex starts laughing.

"How did a brat like you were ever grow up to be the man you are now Rupert?"

"I have often asked the same question of myself," Giles responds with a small smile.

Spike wakes up with soft brown hair tickling his nose. Xander’s gentle even breathing lets the vampire know his Mate is still asleep. He carefully pulls his arm out from under Xander and strokes the whelp’s head. Xander stretches on top of Spike then opens his chocolate orbs.

"Morning?" he mumbles sleepily.

"Still afternoon, luv," Spike chuckles.

"Ooh, lunchtime blondie," Xander says eagerly.

"Hungry, pet?" Spike asks.

"Feed me?" Xander says pitifully as Spike chuckles.

"Know the way to yer heart," Spike smirks.

Xander lifts off of Spike’s chest and straddles the vampire’s hips. He pokes the leftover baby fat on his stomach and sucks in his gut.

"I’m wasting away, Spike," he claims.

Spike raises an eyebrow as Xander gives him a pathetic look.

"Right, luv, doc’d be mad if I starve ya," Spike smirks. Then he uses vamp strength to get Xander off his hips and sets him on the couch. Xander stares as Spike prowls unselfconsciously into the kitchen.

"Sp-Spike!"

"Wot, whelp?" Spike responds from the kitchen.

"You are naked!" Xander hollers.

"Oi, so I am," Spike replies sarcastically, "S’okay, luv, just you an me."

"But..." Xander gives in.

"Spike smirks at the exchange as he makes his Mate a club sandwich.