FIC: Forge-Heat

[Mad-Hamlet@xxxxxxx]

Disclaimer: All this belongs to Joss Whedon and Mutant 
Enemy(Rarr..grr.)



Drain Brameged Inc. Proudly Presents
A Mad-Hamlet Production




Forge-Heat


No she is definetly not happy to see me. The way my back teeth 
are rattling in my skull tells me so. She pulled me off the bed like a 
pro, didn't have a chance to really react. I'm out of practice I 
guess. Course lugging greasy males down a catwalk and watching them 
fly don't make much of a challenge for a Slayer..rouge or otherwise. 

"Well B," I say as she grabs my wrist, bends it behind my back 
and steps on the inside of my left knee forcing me down. "Good to see 
you?ouch..too."

She's got me cold. "Submission move B? How kinky." I try and 
tilt my head back so I can whisper in her ear. "If that's all you 
wanted, you just had to ask."

If this was the B I once knew she would have acted a little 
flustered, maybe rolled her eyes or even relaxed just enough for me to 
break free. She yanks my trapped arm higher and grinds my knee into 
the rug. 

"I know." She says. "But you're not who I want."

That's new. 

"Oh?" I try and smile around the pain I'm gonna feel for at 
least a day. "Who's the lucky victim?"

Twist. Ouch.

"No one you know." She purrs in my ear. 

B? Purring? In MY ear? That's my game! 

Gonna have to change my tactics. 

"Would you believe me if I said I come in peace?" I say, 
trying to relax my muscles, get a little slack, maybe overwhelm her 
with a burst of strength. No dice, she just yanks and grinds again. 
Not good.

"No." She says sweetly.

I clear my throat. Control..control..don't lose control?never 
let them see you bleed. Okay..I'm okay..walls are up, walls are 
strong..I've been in worse. 

"Fine?fine way to treat someone who helped you beat 
Mayor-Demon." I try.

"Yup." She says.

No no no no no no no?control..control..control?

"Don't you want to know..why..I'm here?" I say.

Her voice is still sweet, her tone warm. "No."

One last try..

"Spike sent me."

She doesn't relax her grip in the slightest. 

"Why?" She asks. 

So much said in such a little word. I hate you, I don't trust you, 
give me an excuse and I'll kill you. Or so I think; she already has 
tried. I can't say I know B that well, or if I did something has 
changed. Something critical, I'm missing something an element that I 
don't understand. Damn, this is dangerous territory.

"He said," I wince as the strain on my arm beging to really 
kick up a fuss. "He said something about me and Red there having 
something in common."

I hear B give a derisive snort. 

"And what on earth makes you think that you could have 
anything in common," And she uses her freed hand to force my head so 
I'm now looking at the sleeping form of Red. "With someone like her?"

They're right behind my eyes..the water. Not tears..water and 
if they come it's just because of the physcial pain, no other reason. 
Just physical pain not any other God Damned THING! I open my mouth to 
speak but I know before I do that it'll sound like a croak. A weak, 
pathetic whine and I will not be weak, not ever gonna cave into the 
weakness. Not for B, not for Red and not ever, ever, for me!

I work what little salvia I have around and swallow. It'll 
have to do.

"I don't," Not bad, a little creaky but I'll take what I can 
get. "I don't know."


There's a short scream of metal being forced and the doorknob 
drops to the ground. The door swings open and Spike walks inside, 
ignoring the two of us completely, settles down comfortably in the 
nearest chair. He glances at us, B holding my arm behind my back with 
one hand, her other wrapped around me hair forcing my head around with 
one foot resting on my instep.

"Carry on." He says.

Then reaches into his jacket, pulls out pack of smokes and 
lights one up.

"I didn't invite you Spike." B says.

"Didn't univite me either. Sloppy." Spike retorts.

"Don't smoke in here." B says.

"Or what? You'll stake me? Hell, I can't do anything without 
getting a threat of a woody. 'Don't do this Spike, don't do that 
Spike. Don't breathe that way Spike.'" He snaps his fingers. "No, 
wait..I don't breathe so I guess I can do that."

Him and B glare at each other for a bit. She still hasn't let 
up on the pressure one bit and it's really starting to hurt. My 
muscles start to shake against my will.

"You're hurting her." He says matter-of-factly.

"Why'd you bring her?" B says.

"Figured she and Red might have something in common." 

"She said as much but I find that hard to believe." B says. 

"Oh come now Summers, you're far too smart to be this stupid." 
Spike says. 

People think I'm stupid, or they think I'm a slut. I'm not 
though. I'm not either of those things. For example Spike's been 
referring to my past a little too far often and this cryptic shit, 
'something in common', you don't have to be a rocket scientist, hell, 
you can even be a twisted wreck of a slayer and still figure that out. 
But I don't say anything, just..turn my head back and look at Red, 
asleep. 

She twitches a bit. I can see her eyes rolling behind her 
lids. Slayer vision, sometimes it really kicks ass. Whatever she1s 
dreaming though it must be a doozy. She's rolled over on her side, her 
head using the upper part of one arm as a pillow. The outstreched hand 
is clenching into a fist and relaxing..clench, relax, clench, relax?

Yeah, I recogonise that nightmare. Don't ask me how, but I do.

I turn my head as best I can, under the circumstances, and try 
to catch B's eyes with me own. "Let me go." I say. 

She stops glaring at Spike and turns to face me. She's cold. 
Very cold, I'm pretty sure I know what happened here, some of it at 
least. B's protective yeah sure, but this.. Never seen anything like 
this. 

I meet her gaze for a second and then, against my will I find 
myself looking at her feet. I?I can't meet her eyes! I..I never back 
down from a challenge and..never..but I can't look her in the eyes.. 
The..accusation there it just cuts..cuts cuts cuts.. Can't ignore 
it..can't..escape..

Heh..'Denial ain't just a river in Egypt'.

"Let me go." I say again. "Please." 

Wordlessly she does.
	
I stand slowly, I can hear the chair creak as Spike tenses his 
muscles. Is he being protective too? Or just cautious? I did nearly 
dust him a few days ago. His action, willing or not, seems to confirm 
my belief. Stretching my arm I hiss as the muscles protest their 
recent treatment..loudly. 

I look again into B's face. She looks all relaxed no real 
threat. But the relaxation doesn't reach her eyes. Those are dangerous 
eyes. I used to stare into the mirror, in that crappy hellhole I call 
home, all the time. Watching my eyes..thinking they were 
dangerous..trying to 'practice' being scary looking. 

B beats me hands down. Doesn't even know she's doing it I bet. 
Just knows she's letting me know she'll kill me if I try anything. I 
believe her. 

Red jumps a little in her sleep again then starts to whine a 
bit. It's..a bad sound. B breaks the eyelock we're sharing to take a 
step toward the bed. Involuntarily I do the same but freeze.

"Don't." 

Spike said it. Not B. She's kneeling beside Red, trying to be 
soothing, to be comforting. I can hear her crooning, like she's trying 
to sing some sort of song. I look back at Spike.

"Don't." He says again. "It would be?unhealthy." I don't think 
he's talking about B either.

I nod slowly. I know what's going on now, I figured it out. 
'Something in common'. Yeah, sure..what else could we have in common? 
Now all I have to do is be willing to say it. I'm really tired.

I lean against the wall and then, not really caring, let my 
legs slide out underneath me so I'm now sitting on the floor. I pull 
me knees up, wrap my arms around them and rest my head. Won't let them 
see me cry, won't let anyone see me cry. 

"When?" I ask. Who gives a shit if it's muffled. Fang boy has 
vamp ears, if he can't hear me..

"Not long enough." He says.

"Who?" I ask.

"Does it matter?" He answers.

Not really I guess. One last question. 

"They dead?"

Spike doesn't answer. 

It's over. Too much, too fast. I've used the 'net some, I 
think I got some of the lingo down. 'TMFI' they call it. Too Much 
Fucking Information. Oh..Oh can I relate to that.. It's not bad enough 
I allowed myself to get dragged from LA, it's not enough that I just 
got my ass handed to me by someone I should have been able to at least 
fight to a standstill, it's not enough that they tell me 
..indirectly..all this other shit tearing what walls I have down 
around me, now he has to play fucking 'Mr. Fucking Mystery'!

"Are they DEAD?" I whip my head around daring Spike not to 
answer me. 

Oops. Must have screamed the question too cause I see Red sit 
bolt upright out of the coner of my eye. She lets out a startled 
squack and Buffy's right there beside her to sooth the fears. I never 
had anyone to sooth my fears, to keep them from eating me. Doesn't 
matter much. Just want to know they're dead..that someone, somwhere, 
even if they are a someone who hates my guts, got justice. No.

Vengence. 

"Faith?" That's Red, always commenting on the incredibly 
obvious. "What are you doing here?"

"Tell you later." B says. She turns to Spike. "Well Spike, you 
going to answer her question?"

Spike gets a disgusted look on his face before rubbing out his 
cigarette on the sole of one of his boots. 

"You people have no appreciation for Drama." He says. "Yeah 
luv, they're dead." He pauses and looks as if he's remembering 
something. He shoots a really nasty smile at me.

"Twice over dead."

I nod. Then feel the hand on my shoulder. 

Damn, I'm really messed up, if someone as clutzy as Red can 
get off her bed, walk over to me and put her arm on my shoulder 
without me noticing?

"Faith, are you alright?" She says.

I must look like a mess. I like a lot of mascara, the few 
people who I listen to long enough, or just want to fuck, have always 
told me I have 'nice dark eyes'. Is that so me bucko? Well, my soul is 
also dark, just not that nice. Chomp chomp! Anyway, I always use a lot 
of mascara to ..accentuate my 'nice dark eyes'.
What with these stupid tears it's probably running down my face. Long 
black streaks, hey I'm the Crow! 

'It's a Raymond Chandler evening, and the pavement is all wet, 
and I'm standing in the shadows, cause it hasn't happened..yet.' 

I love that comic.

Ah..if life could only be that simple.

"Faith." Red repeats, got lost in thought I did. "Are you 
alright?"

The words slip out before I can gather the wits to lie. 

"No Red, I'm not." I look at her, crouched next to me. B's 
standing right behind her ready to protect. Heh, B, the Big Bad 
Slayer, to Serve and Protect. And me? Why to 'Rend and Dismember' of 
course.

"I'm not okay." I say again and look her dead in the eyes. 
"And neither are you."

She reacts as if I shot her. Tries to stand up, can't quite 
make it and falls back where B grabs her, spins her around and 
enevelops her in a hug. She's whispering something in Red's ear, 
something I can't hear but I can see her nod and she turns and gives B 
a kiss on the cheek. 

Oh. Oh oh oh oh..oh..I ..I..

It's not fair! It's not fair, it's not fair, it's not fair! 
Why couldn't I have someone like that when I needed it? What did I do? 
Wasn't I good enough? I wasn't always like this..this.. thing! Why 
couldn't I have had someone? 

I guess I'm about to start crying again because next thing I 
know Spike is now crouched next to me. Great. First a complete goob 
sneaks up on me and now an actual Vampire. I'm so dead.

"This was a mistake." Spike says. "I'll get her out of here, 
back to LA." And he reaches out to grab my arm. 

"DON'T TOUCH ME!" I scream. My arm shoots out, slams into his 
breast bone, and Spike is sent across the room. He hits the wall with 
a crunch and slides down to the floor. He gingerly touches his chest 
and winces.

"On second thought, I'll just sit right here. Maybe have 
another cigarette, you don't mind do you Summers? No of course you 
don't."

It's weird, emotionally I'm going to pieces but at the same 
time I'm seeing everything, remembering everything..of two minds. 
Maybe it's a Slayer thing, maybe it's just a me thing. Red and B 
finish up their whispering conversation and Red moves back to crouch 
beside me. 

Ha! I saw her coming that time, goob couldn't sneak up on me a 
second time, yay me.

"No." Red says. "I'm not alright. But I'm getting better. I 
think we should have lunch tommorow."

I jerk away from her. 

"Nu uh." I shake my head. "Not happening. We have nothing to 
talk about."

Red puts her hand on my shoulder again, it's a soft gesture, 
something I needed a long time ago but don't want now. "I disagree." 
She says. "I think we do. I also think you'll be there."

I grab her hand off my shoulder. "Well I say we don't."

I pull myself to my feet. A little wobbly, a little shakey, 
have to lean on the wall for support. Another weakness. Fuck.

"You were right the first time Fangy." I say to Spike. "This 
was a mistake. Let's go. Leave the lovebirds together, you're paying 
for the bus ticket back to LA."

I walk to the door ready to fling it open and march out into 
the dark. How's that for Drama Spike?

"Faith." Damn you Red.

"You're wrong." She continues. "It'll never be over if you 
go."

I turn around and give a weary sigh. I am going to beat Spike 
into the ground like a tent peg for all this shit.

"I know that." I say. "I've known that for years, I've known 
that forever. Doesn't change anything though."

"It could." B steps into the converstion. Great. The Witch and 
the Slayer want to play Dr. Freud Ping Pong with my brains. "I can't 
understand what's happened to her Faith. I can't understand what 
happened to you either but..I dunno..maybe you two.."

And I'm in her face. Phew, still got the speed. That's good.

"We could WHAT?" I hiss. "Bond, become 'bosom buddies'? 
Somehow, 'lean on each other' and then put this behind us? I _had_ 
this all behind me until Fangy back there, in a fit of samaratism, 
decided to drag it all back out and now I don't know how to put it 
back! You're right though, you don't understand. You could never 
understand!"

I think I give this strangled laugh, sob combo. My ears aren't exactly 
working right though so I can't be sure.

"You know what the absolute kicker is? Huh? Do you wanna know? Hm?" 
I'm right in B's face, I can see her great big blue eyes now and this 
time, this time, I'm in control. Finally. It feels good too, and it'll 
only cost me my soul. A bargin.

"The kicker is, I don't understand it either! Neither does your 
precious little wiccan bed-warmer!" 

Red gives a little wimper but I ignore it. I kinda get distracted by 
the fact that B just backhanded me hard enough to spin me in a cool 
seven-twenty and I'm down again. Still in control though. I win..hee 
hee.

B's standing over me, fists clenched. Oh God, she's going to give me a 
speech. I'd rather she hit me again even though I think she loosened a 
tooth. 

But she doesn't give me a speech, just a title. One I've had for a 
very long time.

"Coward." 

Been called worse. 

I crawl to my feet, now when the room wobbles it's not 'cause of my 
weakness. Another victory. 

"C'mon Spike." I say. "You owe me a ticket back to LA."

"Spike stays." B again. I'm in to condition to argue so I settle for a 
shrug.

"Fine then." I say. "I'll walk, hitchhike, use my body to pay for the 
way if I have too and go on with my merry life." Ha, and these people 
don't think I plan ahead.

"Don't let the door ..never mind." B says. "Just go."

"Faith." Red again. Doesn't she ever let people just leave?

"I'm sorry." She says. Cheap shot.

I look at her.

"Why?" I ask. "I'm not." 

And I'm going to keep believing that until the day I die. Which, with 
any luck, will be tommorow.

**

I take one last drag of my fag and then grind it out on my 
boot like I did it's mate. Ouch, Darkie sure can pack a punch. Sorta 
glad she just stalked out the door means I only have one Slayer to 
worry about. My life, un-dead or otherwise, sucks.

Speaking of only having one Slayer to worry about..

"Why.."

"The.."

"Hell.."

"Did.."

"You.."

"Bring.."

"Her.."

"HERE?"

Summers accentuates each part of her sentence by bouncing my 
head off the wall. If I'd known she'd be that upset about cigarrete 
ashes on the carpet?

I manage to get one hand up and stop another head slamming. 
I'm a Jethro Tull man, not into metal. 
"I can't bloody well answer your question while being brained 
against a WALL!" I shout.

She lets me go. I just had a cigarrete and I really want 
another but without Darkie to distract her I'd be pressing my luck.

"Why." Buffy says again. 

Red's behind her, looking a little overwhelmed. Ah, wake up 
from a nightmare into another. Yes indeed, life does suck!

"Told you why." I say.

"Yeah..but..but what were you thinking?" Red says. "She hates 
us, we hate her well..maybe hate is too strong a word but we definetly 
don't trust her, just cause..I mean..yeah..okay. Just cause she had a 
'bad something' in the past doesn't mean she's not dangerous! That was 
really stupid Spike, not that I'm saying you yourself are stupid, what 
with having survived over a hundred years with Dru and Angelus, 
couldn't do that and be stupid but I am saying?"

Maybe the other 'Scoobs' find this..tirade habit of her 'cute 
and adorable' but in my case it just drives me up the soddin' wall. 

"Shut." I say. "Up."

She does and while she's doing that Summers richochets my head 
off the wall again!

"Don't talk to Willow that way!" She snarls.

"Yes Mum. I'm sorry Mum, can I go outside and play Mum?" I 
mumble holding my head to stop the ringing bells of Notra Damme.

"Wait till the sun comes up." Ooo. Nice one Red. I just glare 
at her, not gonna let her know she actaully got a zing.

"So..um..you gonna answer my..er..Buffy's question? About, why 
you brought Faith all the way from LA and all that?" Red says. 

"And don't give me that 'Something in common' load again." The 
Slayer adds.

"Fine." I say. "Right, well and good. I'll tell. But you won't 
like it. Sit, sit children, Uncle William has a story to tell."

I move back to the seat I had taken earlier and slump into it. 
The two sit on the bed, Red puts her head on Summers shoulder. I try 
very, very hard not to roll my eyes. 

"Do you remember," I begin. "Angelus's 'modus operandai' when 
it came to hunting?" 

Both the girls shudder. Obviously they do but I feel the need 
to live a little vicariously off 'the good old days'. 

"Re-runs are a bitch but what the hell." I say. "When Angelus 
spotted a girl he fancied he'd go out of his way to learn everything 
there was about her. Her family, her friends, her favorite places and 
favorite people. Even her favorite pets and animals."

I take a chance and light up another fag. No one says anything 
and I exhale deeply. Just to keep in practice.

"After he was satisifed with what he knew he would then go 
about systematically destroying her world. Friends would be slain, 
pets butchered, if she had a favorite spot in the garden he'd burn it, 
a special book, or momento that she treasured, he'd destroy it. He 
would do anything and everything to hurt her."

I pause.

"He liked to watch people hurt." I take another drag before 
continuing. "When he was satisfied with his victims performance he'd 
feed. Of course eliciting a few more thrills by doing the regualar 
hunt, chase, terrorise thing. If they had..performed..well enough he'd 
kill them. If they didn't?well..then he'd use them for his 'Art'."

I shake my head in disgust. "Stupid poofer." I mumble.

They're both sitting there, staring at me. Funny, I thought 
they knew all this already about dear, dead Angel. Maybe I went a 
little overboard. Oh well, thems the breaks.

"What?what does this have to do with anything?" Red stammers. 

Guess Summers can't say much, looking as she is, like she 
swallowed a truck. 

He shoots, he scores! Yes, yes..I am The Man.

"Oh not that much Red." I say. "But there is a point which I am 
reaching even as we speak." 

For a little divirsity I put this cigarette out on my hand. 
Ouch..yes..but..well..Red's eyes just got real big. Piffle, that was 
nothing.

"Once." I pick up the story. "Just once, my dear GrandSire convinced 
me to try his game. I was bored, Dru had gone off to ..do something or 
other..raid an orphanage I think. So I gave it a go. I found a most 
stunning young woman a few nights later. She was a beauty I can tell 
you? long brown hair, big blue eyes..belonged to a family of wealth 
and stature. Just the kind of people I hated. I followed her, watched 
her..got to know her family and friends..her..world."

"And?" Red demands.

"And I set about destroying it. The first to go was her father. Ripped 
his throat clean out I did and listened to him burble. A few hours 
later I took my perch outside her room. I expected to find her sobbing 
or just staring into space. I mean..something! But..get this..she was 
dancing! In her room, long night gown flapping. I know she'd just been 
told about her fathers death. I had heard the servent deliver the news 
but she was dancing. Laughing too. A real scary laugh."

Summers is just staring at me, puts an arm around Red, pulls her 
tighter, pulls her closer. Oh, I am doing well tonight. 

"So I was a wee bit upset at that and I go ballistic." I 
continue my story. "Over the next three nights I quickly and in a very 
brutal manner, destroy everything I though she cared about. Her 
friends are found garroted in an alleyway, her mother winds up with a 
slit throat and dumped off a church tower, dear elder sis accidenty 
falls in front of a horse and buggy while her little doggie is found 
the next morning gutted." 

With every sentence, with every word I say Red moves closer 
and closer to the Slayer. The Slayer on the other hand seems to be 
getting pretty relaxed. She's just lazily holding Red, swinging her 
legs, idly kicking the floor.

I'm not fooled. She's ready to jump out of her skin..or break down 
and cry. Whatever..either works for me.

I lean forward and rest my elbows on my knees. 

"Here's the funny bit." I say. "After my every night making 
her personal abbitior I'd stop by her room and see what effect I was 
having. And I'll be damned if.."

"You are." Summers interupts.

"Well duh," I say. "Don't interupt, didn't your mother teach 
you any manner? Now..as I was saying. No matter what I did I'd find 
her dancing around her room, laughing her spooky laugh. And this is a 
laugh I found disturbing after spending twenty years with Dru! But..I 
was curious. I hadn't touched her before, none of my kind had. Before 
me she had seemed to be a perfectly normal, happily living, meal on 
wheels. So I did a little digging."

"She had been raped hadn't she." Red says quietly. 

I cock my finger like a gun and shoot her. "Bang." I say.

"And, you must realise, this was before all the 'lovey dovey' 
understanding stuff was so prevelent. This was the heyday when public 
image was more important then people. Her entire family had 
practically disowned her in every way save in name. Her 'friends' had 
turned on her, her father wouldn't talk to her, sis refused to even 
aknowledge her exisitance and her mother.." 

I pause again, hey I at least appreciate drama. 

"Her loving mother was making arrangements to have her sent to a 
convent."

"Bet that pissed you off." Summers says.

"You have no idea." I answer. "Here I was trying to have a little fun, 
follow in the footsteps of my 'elders' and in fact it turns out I was 
doing her a favor! I was truly disgusted."

"So what did you do?" Red asks.

"Oh, I ate her." I say. "Figured maybe I could get her to scream once, 
get at least a little something out of all this effort. I burst 
through her window in the middle of the night, balls to the wall demon 
and did that..y'know..menacing stalker advancing thing kind of walk. 
Licking my lips, baring my fangs..the whole deal."

"Didn't work did it." Red says. I get up out of my chair and 
start to pace.

"No it certainly bloody well didn't!" I exclaim. This little 
stint down memory lane has just gotten me angry. 

"You know what she said?" I ask rhetorically. "She said, and 
I quote, 'Of course, I was avenged by a devil' and then just bared her 
throat. Tweaked me right off she did and I went to town, by the time I 
was done..well?she had a closed casket service. Let's just leave it at 
that." 

I slump back in my seat. "The worst of it is..the absoulute 
worst..was the taste." 

"She tasted..blande, brackish..I barely could get down one 
mouthful it was so..plain." I shudder in recolection. "Like opening a 
fine bottle of wine and getting vinigar."

"That's why I'm doing this." I say. 

"Not for you Summers." And I point to the Slayer.

"And not for you Red," And I spear her on my finger. "Though 
you are a sweet lass and if I were living I might actually enjoy your 
company." 

"I'm doing this for me." And I stand up again. "I'm doing this 
so you can be happy Red. Because happy people..taste better."

And I head out the of their room. 

"Sorry about the door ladies. Have a nice evenin'." I say.

Behind me I think I hear Red start to cry. Feel a little ashamed of 
that. I didn't want to make her sad..but..they did ask. Curosity, 
cats..a lesson to be remembered.

I exit the building a few moments later. Not surprising Faith is 
waiting outside. She's hugging herself and seems cold despite the warm 
air and heavy leather coat she's wearing. 

"Got a cigarette?" She asks. 

I give her one. 

"It's too late for the bus." She continues after I light her up. "Got 
a place I can crash?"

"I got a crypt" I offer.

"Great." She mumbles.

"It's furnished." I say.

She shrugs.

"Right then, follow me. We can stay up all night, do each others toes 
and watch 'Passions'." I say.

We walk in silence for a few minutes and I weigh the pros and cons of 
asking. She could dust me..ah..what's life without risk?

"When?" I ask.

"What?" She responds. She's stopped walking so I do too.

"When?" I push the point home.

She shakes her head. "Not long enough."

"Who?" I demand.

"Does it matter?" She bites back.

"Are they dead?"

She just stares at me. Why..I don't know..who cares? This is fun.

"Are they dead?" I repeat, let just a touch of the demon out, make the 
old oculars glow a bit. Just for laughs. 

"?no." She says quietly.

"Want them to be?" I offer. "Gimmie the address. I can make a few 
calls." I could too. 

"I..that?uh.." She stutters.

"Look luv, it's a simple question." I say. 
"'Do.You.Want.Them.Dead?'" 

She ..just..looks at me. "No.." She finally mutters. "No. No I 
don't."

I smile, one of my, 'I'm such a sympathetic guy' smiles. 

"Of course you do." I say. "You just don't know it yet."

I resume my lazy gait in the direction of my 'home away from 
home'.

I guess she feels she has nowhere else to go and resumes 
following me a few seconds later.

This has been a really great night.



Authors Notes: 'Raymond Chandler Evening' I got from the Graphic Novel 
'The Crow' by J.O. Barr. If it's not his, then I don't know where it's 
from. It's not mine though.