For Red Wolf

[moonbeamsfanfic]

A little THANK YOU to redwolfoz for helping me with my computer issues. It's all better now! I'm so happy! :D

~*~*~*~

Slow and steady, that's it. Just a little more...

He moved with exaggerated slowness as he worked, every motion planned and controlled. The slightest mistep might prove irreparably disastrous. He had to be careful. He would only have one shot at this; he had to get it right.

Easy, now. Alright, that's one. Now the other...

His muscles straining with the effort to hold himself still, he reached carefully with his left hand. He had only his left arm to work with. His right was busy keeping a firm but gentle grasp on the source of his full attention, while his legs fought to hold him in position. He bit his lip in concentration, narrowing his eyes for focus. He had to time his movements with precision. Twice now he'd already come dangerously close to failure. He couldn’t afford to make a mistake.

Almost got it...

A twitch of his fingers brought the final desired results. Mission successfully accomplished, Spike cradled his freed prize close to his chest and dropped the ten feet down to the ground. His grin was triumphant; his eyes alight with the pleasure of a job well done. He'd done it! He was damned proud of himself.

Oh, yeah... I’m goooood.

He was still mentally patting himself on the back when he turned around to find himself face-to-face with a highly amused Dawn.

"Spike," she asked, laughter audible in her tone, "did you just rescue a kitten from a tree?"

Spike froze. "Uh..."

The incriminating tiny white ball of fluff curled protectively into the nook of his arm had the audacity to mew in response. Spike glared at it AND at Dawn as he set the kitten (carefully) on the ground.

Looking between the trusting wide-eyed gaze of the innocent animal and the crinkly-eyed gaze a not-so-innocent giggling teenager, Spike barely repressed the urge to growl. At this point, it would do him no good anyway. Neither one of his tormenters would believe it after what they'd just seen.

He settled for a wordless snarl.

Dawn laughed outright. She bent down to pick up the kitten. "Come on, Spike," she smiled kindly, wrapping her free hand around his elbow to tug him along. "Why don't we take our new friend here to Willow and Tara's. I bet Miss Kitty would love a new playmate."

Automatically falling in step with the girl, Spike stayed silent. His bad-boy reputation had taken a healthy beating tonight. Any protests on his part would only encourage Dawn more. With luck, she wouldn't tell the witches where the kitten came from.

With luck, and the promise of retribution most foul, he thought to himself with anticipation.

Spike smiled. The night was looking better already.

~*~*~*~

Thanks a million, Wolf! You really are the best! ::hugs::

Comments

[redwolf]

And he missed the perfect comeback that the little ball of fuzz was for use in a game of kitten poker.

Loved it. Will have to add it to my site when I get my finger out.

[moonbeamsfanfic.livejournal.com]

Aw, nuts! Er, well I guess my Spike just doesn't think as fast as yours. :D

BTW, it's called "Caught in the Act" if you're looking for the title. Thanks again for the tech-savvy help!

[redwolf]

Caught in the Act has been archived on my site.

[dknightshade.livejournal.com]

Hee hee hee. That's so cute. Spike rescuing a kitten. Awwwwww. *g*

Although, you've reminded me that I was supposed to send Joss Whedon/Mutant Enemy/Whomever hate mail over the issue of Miss Kitty. But I digress.

Well written, I like the mystery at the beginning, and it was very cute.

-Shady
(who's surprised she can put two sentences together at this point)

[moonbeamsfanfic.livejournal.com]

Although, you've reminded me that I was supposed to send Joss Whedon/Mutant Enemy/Whomever hate mail over the issue of Miss Kitty. But I digress.

Why? What did they do to Miss Kitty Fantastico?! Shady, tell me! I only saw sporadic episodes of Buffy after season four, I don't know what happened. Spill!

(Also, thanks! Good to know I didn't inadvertently give away the punchline as much as I thought I had. :P)

[dknightshade.livejournal.com]

Sorry, they didn't actually do anything to her. The whole thing was just irresponsible and they never addressed that. I could turn this into a whole giant rant, but I'll try to contain myself. You're talking to someone who volunteers at a shelter, so I can get carried away sometimes -- a lot of people just don't know how things are. If I remember right they even said they weren't allowed to have pets in the dorm (and if they didn't say it, it's common knowledge that you usually aren't). And the thing is, in real life, we get so many people who get pets when they know they aren't allowed to have them where they live. And they get caught and either bring their pet to us or dump them. There are so many college kids who bring us cute puppies and kittens who they bought at pet stores and are giving up because their parents won't let them bring the animal home for the summer. And somehow we (and all other shelters) are the bad guys because we don't have space. We can't take in all the animals we want to (we're animal people we don't like to see them in bad situation or to see them put down) and there's no place for those animals to go. There are people out there who really have valid reasons for needing to find their pets a new home. People fall on hard times, they end up in nursing homes, and a whole bunch of other good reasons. And there's no room to help these people because of all the stupid people.

Animals are viewed as disposible and Miss Kitty was that completely. She was disposed of when the writers lost interest in her (she was just wasn't included in many eps and faded away, nothing happened -- at least not that I remember). I thought that as characters, Willow and Tara were more responsible and aware than that. Maybe they did explain where she went at some point, but if so, I missed it.

Sorry, and believe or not, this is still the scaled back version of the rant. ;-)

[moonbeamsfanfic.livejournal.com]

Oh. Well, yes, I see what you mean. I hadn't realized they'd neglected Miss Kitty in the show. In reading the fanfic, she's almost always mentioned living with Willow and Tara. Or Willow and whomever, after Tara's killed off. (Grr!) She's not just a cat, after all. She's a Witch's Familiar. (Or two, in my world. ;P)

And I can totally understand you're feelings on this issue. Although now I'm sorta feeling guilt, too. ::winces:: I mean, you know about Tinkerbell, right? But I don't remember if I told you our current apartment doesn't allow pets. So if we get caught with a cat, we either have to get rid of her or move out. Thankfully, she won't go to a shelter. We made contingency arrangements with a friend to take her in if the worst should happen. Then we'd find a new place to live once the lease is up and bring Tinky home.

We love our kitty; we couldn't imagine living without her. ::runs off to cuddle a sleepy Tinky::

[dknightshade.livejournal.com]

Well, but see, you have a plan. You thought about her well-being and aren't going to dump her or leave her at a shelter. And I assume your roommate didn't expect to get you and a pet, and you didn't expect to be living there when she originally moved it (if not, ::wacks your knuckles with a ruler::). So that's different.

[nihilistbear.livejournal.com]

Awwww... Spike! Dawn! Kittens!

What's not to love?

[but_can_i_be_trusted]

Awwww, he's got a sweet side. :)

[moonbeamsfanfic.livejournal.com]

Thanks again!

I love getting comments on old stories... ;)