Where’s the Doctor? – Chapter Eight

This entry is part 8 of 12 in the series Where's the Doctor
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Thanks to everyone who’s commented. I haven’t responded because I’m trying to get all this posted by midnight. Looks like there will be twelve chapters, with some fight scenes (what else) needing tweaking.

Title: Where’s the Doctor?
Rating: PG at most
Pairing: Spike/Buffy

Summary: Some time ago, I wrote a short fic called Who’s the Doctor?. It was an AU version of “As You Were” that involved some characters from the recent seasons of Doctor Who. I’m having problems categorizing the current fic, because it’s a prequel from the Doctor’s point of view and a sequel from Buffy and Spike’s. As far as BTVS is concerned, it’s during or after an AU Season 6 where Spuffy is a happy reality and all the characters get along, more or less. In the Whoverse, it takes place during Tom Baker’s reign, when he was traveling with Leela.

Chapter One is here.

Chapter 8

“Something’s coming.” Spike pulled the Doctor back into the dark alley where they had hidden when a commotion near the warehouse made them think their escape had been discovered. “Fyarl have no real sense of smell, so if we stay still there’s a good chance they’ll just walk by.”

The Doctor shook off his hand. “We can’t just lurk here.”

Spike shrugged. “Why not?”

The Doctor considered the question seriously. “Well, for one thing, I’m hungry.”

“Me too, but you don’t hear me whinging.”

“Which is odd.” He frowned at this unusual behavior in his companion.

Spike shrugged. “Well, I’m laying odds you’re not human, so there’s a good chance I can eat you if I get peckish enough.”

The Doctor drew back, not sure if he should be insulted. “I’d give you indigestion.”

A new voice entered the conversation. “You know, if you two whisper just a little louder, you can wake up the Fyarl demons and see if they want to eat you.”

Spike and the Doctor swung around to see Buffy standing at the end of the alley, an axe swinging from her hand and Leela peering over her shoulder.

The Doctor reached out to draw them into the alley. “Be careful, there are some very nasty creatures around here!”

“Lying around now. Leela and I took care of the Fyarls.” Buffy looked annoyed. “And whoever was giving them orders drove off. You wouldn’t have any idea who that is, would you?”

Before the Doctor could speak, Spike stepped forward and put his hands on her shoulders. “You’re not going to like this, love,” he said gently.

****

Buffy spoke into the public phone she’d found near the entrance to the IHOP. “Dawn, just stay put. Ethan Rayne is bad news. And how pissed am I that no one told me the news that he’d broken out of jail? But never mind that. I’ll catch him and get rid of Sheena Queen of the Jungle and her friend, and I’ll come get you in the morning. Promise.”

She hung up the phone and walked into the restaurant where the Doctor was eating a huge stack of blueberry pancakes and Leela was regarding a plate of waffles suspiciously.

Spike dug a fork into his own stack. “Eat up, Xena,” he urged.

“This is a very sticky food. And I suspect it lacks protein.” But Leela took a bite and chewed thoughtfully. “Also, I understand why this is called a House of Pancakes, but I observe nothing International about it.”

Buffy rolled her eyes. “You ordered her waffles? Without even some bacon on the side? Men.” She reached for her own order, cut her steak omelet in half, and dumped a slab of meat, cheese and eggs on Leela’s plate. Try that.”

Leela pronounced this selection much more satisfactory.

Buffy gulped down some coffee and took crayons away from the Doctor, who had been working the maze on his paper place mat. “I tracked down…” She carefully did not look at Spike. “…someone I used to know… and got him to tell me that Ethan escaped when they were transferring him to a new facility, which is why the little weasel is back on my territory and trying to find my…” She stopped to spear a slice of omelet, only to leave it dangling from her fork. “If he thinks he’s going to get away with destroying the world just because Giles is out of town…”

Spike stopped pouring gallons of syrup on his pancakes to take her hand. “We won’t let him, love.”

“No.” Buffy let loose a long breath and turned to the Doctor. “Tell me what you know.”

“I wish I knew more.” The Doctor looked very nearly serious. “There are legends about two Keys: one to time and the other to, well, space, infinite dimensions, whatever.”

“Whatever?” Buffy smiled in spite of herself.

“California always has an odd effect on me.” He leaned back in his chair. “The legends say the keys are kept in disguise at all times. So they could be anywhere, anything.”

“Anyone?” asked Leela, who had finished her half of the omelet and was looking meaningfully at Buffy’s.

“I hope not. It would be shocking to use a human being in such a way. I can’t imagine…” The Doctor stopped, struck by Buffy and Spike’s expressions.

Buffy pushed her plate away. “I need some fresh air.” She left the restaurant, followed by Spike. The Doctor watched them thoughtfully as Leela seized the remains of Buffy’s meal.

Chapter Nine

 

Originally posted at http://seasonal-spuffy.livejournal.com/299398.html

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missmurchison

missmurchison