Fic: Graile - Intermission

[Jack Xavier Warriner <connor_macbeth@xxxxxxxxx>]

Graile - Intermission
By, Macbeth

Disclaimers: I own Jack and a few others. The ones I
don?t own are easily recognized as belonging to
Joss/Davis & Panzer/Universal.
Author?s Note: Casper Van Dien as Jack, Alicia Keys as
Aki.
Summary: A series of letters between Sunnydale and New
York set between the time in Hemry and Season One.
Just a little something to tide you over between
chapters.
Feedback: Feedback = food. Feed the Bards.

Dear B,
The drive to New York was long and dull; and after
that night in Ord?s tower, it was a welcome change.
Though I could have done without the endless highway
in Texas. That got very boring very quickly. Stopped
in New Orleans for lunch with an old acquaintance of
mine, and was stopped by the police outside of
Memphis. Otherwise the drive was uneventful. 
Now I?m back in New York, Sitting in my Townhouse
and waiting for something to do. Guess I?ll head over
to Murphy?s for a drink. If you need help, drop me a
line.

JC

Jack Covington slipped the paper into a stamped
envelope and stepped out his front door. Taking a
moment, he stood on the landing and basked in the
early morning sunlight. ?Hey Jack.? His eyes snapped
open as a voice sounded to his left. A slim mocha
skinned girl of about fifteen years sat on the stone
banister of his front steps her knees drawn up to her
chest and her arms wrapped around her shins. Standing,
she brushed off her black Levis and thrust her hands
into the pockets of her bomber jacket, pulling it
tighter over her white tank top, before stepping off
and moving closer to Jack. ?Was wonderin? when you?d
be back.? she said and shook her head, causing her
shoulder length dreadlocks to fly around her head.
Jack grinned and set his left arm over the young
girl?s shoulders. 
?Right. Admit it, you never even noticed I was
gone.? He laughed and pulled her close for a short
hug. Leaning his head down he whispered in her ear.
?Missed you too Aki.? Standing straight, they both
headed down the street, Jack?s arm around her
shoulders, Aki?s hands thrust deep into the pockets of
her jacket.
?Let?s get some coffee and you can tell me about
Her again.? she said, nodding to the nearby Starbucks.
?Let me guess who?s paying.? He said with a mock
glare.
?What? I?m broke.? Aki said, suddenly fascinated by
a silver ring on her finger.
?You are the reincarnation of one of the oldest
sorceresses on Earth, and you spend money faster than
Scotland Yard. You?d think in four thousand years
you?d learn the merits of thrift,? he said with a soft
poke to her shoulder
?Yeah... Well... CDs aren?t cheap,? she said,
tucking her lip down like a child ten years younger.
?Besides, I can always hop over to the book shop and
raid the till.?
?Stealing from your own business. You are Evil.? He
muttered, shaking his head.
?Your point?? she grinned, flashing him her pearly
whites. ?C?mon, I?ll get the table, you get the Java.?
she said, opening the door to the coffee shop.
* * *

Dear Jack,
Thanks for the letter. I for one am in complete
agreement. After that night in the bell tower, tedious
repetitive Slaying IS a welcome change. Merrick has
taken to training me during every free moment I have
and it?s driving me INSANE! The tower?s been closed
and plans have been drawn up for its demolition.
Merrick managed to return later and salvage what he
could. A couple books he overlooked, an Axe, and for
some reason, he had me lug that anvil Ordiniconii used
to summon Soil Boy. Some vampire must have snuck in
after we left, because Lucius? body is gone.
Bad news, I?m afraid. When that dirt thingy
released my arms, it pulled off that bracelet you gave
me. I can?t believe it; I was robbed by a nine-foot
man of dirt. I?m very sorry. I really appreciated it
and I?ve asked Merrick to look into finding it but he
just looked at me strangely and said it?d be a
challenge. The vampire population around here has
vacated slowly. Pike and I?ve actually had time to do
date type things. 
Pike has been bugging me to go to Caritas. It was
embarrassing enough when I went there with Merrick,
but to go there with Pike? No chance in hell. Tell me
something, have YOU ever gone and performed there? 
Well, I?m getting the evil eye from a spear
wielding Brit, so I?ll wait patiently for a reply.

B.

P.s. Settle an argument between Merrick and Me. Is
your car a Cadillac or not?

Buffy opened the mail slot and slipped the envelope
in. ?Well, that?s that.? turning, she loped back into
Merrick?s mansion and grabbed her jacket. Not seeing
Merrick, she started moving calmly to the front door.
?Buffy? Where are you going?? came a voice from
across the hall. Buffy turned to see Merrick carrying
padding and a wood tipped spear.
?Home. Where I have not been in forty-eight hours.
My mother has actually called about putting my face on
the milk carton.?
?Yes, yes, very droll. However, perhaps you could
use a break. Take the night off. But be here an hour
before school tomorrow.?
?Um... Merrick? It?s Friday. No school tomorrow.?
She said, instantly regretting it. 
?Well, good. Be here at eight a.m. sharp,? he said,
retreating back into the Ballroom turned Gymnasium.
Walking through a door on the opposing wall, he
slipped over to the phone and began dialing. Buffy
exhaled in relief and headed out the door.
Waiting with typical British stoic patience, he
absently prepped a pot of tea set up on a portable
burner as the operator connected him overseas. ?Hello,
Ms. Andrews? This is Leland Merrick. Merrick. M E R
R... Yes, In Los Angeles. I?d like to speak with Mr.
Travers please. Yes, I?ll wait.? His eyes closed and
his hand began rubbing the bridge of his nose as his
head moved slowly to the badly recorded classical
music the secretary switched on. ?Virtually infinite
finances and they can?t find a decent copy of Chopin.?
?Travers.? Came an elderly male voice over the
line.
?Quentin, It?s Merrick.?
?So Ms. Andrews said. What can I do for you?? The
Head of the Watcher?s Council asked in a blatantly
bored tone.
?What did the prophecy say after the Night Tower
segment?? Merrick asked glaring at the teapot, willing
it to boil faster.
?I have it right here, a bit of light reading over
tea.... Ahem, and I quote: ?Night falls on the Tower
of the Summoner. As the arena burns He shall die and
The Chosen shall journey to the Mouth of Hell and
there reside, maintaining the Balance.? Was that what
you wanted to hear? I thought you had a copy.? Quentin
asked.
?I do. I was double-checking. The ?He shall die?
segment disturbs me slightly.? Merrick muttered.
?Yes, I can see how being told of your imminent
death would be a tad disturbing. Good night.? Travers
managed to sound almost sincere before he terminated
the signal.
?Sanctimonious bastard.? Merrick muttered to the
now hissing teapot.
* * *

Dear B,
My condolences for your loss. I?d have sent this
earlier, but I just now found out. A full week after
the fact. I?ll be there for the funeral. Merrick was a
good man. I know several Watchers, and rarely do they
have as much personality and wit as he did. I pray you
believe that I wish I had been there. I?m here Buffy.
If you need help, a hand, or simply a shoulder to lean
on, I?m here. Give me a call.
I have to go. 
Remember, Time passes, wounds heal, scars fade, but
memories are forever.

JC

P.s. It?s a 1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass ragtop convertable

Jack signed his name to the paper and slid it
neatly into the stamped envelope. Standing up, he
walked to the brass drop tube and opened the slot. He
popped the letter in and returned to the windowsill to
watch the Saturday morning traffic, three stories
below.
?Jack? You up here mate?? Aki?s voice echoed form
the ground floor.
?Aye. Up here.? He replied.
The mechanical sounds of the lift rumbled through
the building followed by the shifting of the metal
grate being lifted. A moment passed and Aki sat across
from the Irishman on the open windowsill. ?How?s the
bookstore?? he asked, not taking his eyes from the
civilized chaos below.
?Still open.?
?Funny.?
?So it happened? He?s dead?? she asked as casually
as though she was asking about the Yankees. Aki pulled
a butterfly knife from her left boot and absently
manipulated the weapon with practiced ease.
?Yes, you morbid little girl. Merrick was killed by
a Vampire seven days ago. Please show a modicum of
respect for the man.? He leaned back against the brick
sill and closed his eyes. ?I knew him. He was a good
man.?
?So... When is she moving?? she asked, cleaning her
nails with the tip of her double edged blade.
?In roughly a month.? he answered. 
?When do you leave?? she asked in a disappointed
tone.
?Tonight.? he turned to see her pouted lip. ?Hey,
As soon as I get back we?ll go somewhere. Paris,
Sydney, Cairo, You name it. Even I need a change of
pace after this.?
?Dublin??
?What is it with you and Irish girls?? He said
grinning wide.
She shrugged and adjusted the waistband of her
cargo pants. ?Can I help it if they find me
irresistible?? she batted her amber eyes seductively
Jack shook his head in amusement, ?Uh huh, I
believe you.?
* * *

Jack,
Thanks for the letter. I really needed to hear
support from someone who knows what?s going on. Thanks
for coming to the funeral. Though only the four of us
were there. I thought it was nice of the Host to sing
?Amazing Grace? after the Priest?s eulogy. 
Pike and I aren?t as tight as we used to be. I
don?t know what?s wrong, if it?s something I did, or
if this has been coming for a while. I feel kind of
guilty, what I felt for him has slowly faded. You know
things. Tell me something; does this come with the
job? Slayer, I mean. Am I doomed to be alone? Merrick
said that once. ?The Slayer stands alone against the
Evil. The one beacon of Light against the Darkness.?
Depressing, but did he have a point? Am I supposed to
do this alone? I?ve lost track of how many times Pike
was placed danger. And me? I?m fifteen. Will I live
past sixteen?
That felt good. Just venting like that. Thanks.
Mom and Dad have done it, like you said they would.
Though how you knew after meeting them for five
minutes is more than a little odd. The divorce is
final next week. Mom and I are moving to some dirt
hole about three hours away. I?ll give you the address
at the end. 
Jot me a reply.

B,
P.s. 1630 Revello Drive, Sunnydale Ca. 90017

Buffy dropped the sealed envelope on the kitchen
counter and pulled her leather jacket on tighter
before opening the front door and heading out in a
dead run. Joyce walked into the kitchen just as Buffy
started to run. ?Buffy? I swear that girl is never
home anymore...? she mumbled to herself as her husband
Hank walked into the kitchen and set down his
briefcase on the counter. ?Late night again Hank?? she
asked without a hint of emotion.
?Yes, Joyce. One of us has to work, so it might as
well be me. Besides, Wolfram and Hart doesn?t hire the
best without expecting a sacrifice or two.? Hank said,
managing to sound proud of himself as he filled a mug
with coffee and drank slowly. ?I was hoping for a
little support from you on this.? he muttered loud
enough for her to hear as he headed out the front
door. 
Joyce waited until she heard her soon to be
ex-husband?s BMW pull out of the driveway before
laughing. ?Forgot your briefcase again... Asshole.?
Filling a glass with a dark red wine, she moved into
the living room and settled down for a night of Cary
Grant movies.

Fin

MacBeth
The Kamikazi Scotsman
The Kilted Moogle


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