Title: A Boy's Toys
Author: Jen
Email: supermom11200@yahoo.com
Rating: G
Pairing: G/?
Setting: Let's say summer after season four
Summary: The story behind Giles and his cars.
Spoilers: A New Man, to be safe
Distribution: WatcherGirls, GRB, Headquarters, ODD, wherever I post it. Anyone else, ask. After I pass out from laughter, I'll say yes. Feedback: Feed the beast! Feed the beast! (Sorry, I was channeling Rick & Bubba for a minute.)
Disclaimer: I don't own them. Wish I did. Joss & the usual suspects do.
For: Da Wench, it's her idea and Kim, my partner in all things evil. You rock, babe!!

An answer to Da Wench's Mini challenge # 8 on GRB

Anyway, here's this week's mini-challenge:

Why the Citroen? Then why the red, convertible BMW?
Who can answer this burning question?
As always, rating and ship are open.

Have fun!

London, England – Nov. 1997

Rupert Giles sat in his superior's office trying to look interested. Not about his new appointment as active Watcher to the Slayer, but the man's incessant prattle about what was expected of him and his duties. `For God's sake man,' he wanted to shout, `I've trained almost my entire adult life. I know what needs to be done.'

Quinton Travers wound down his speech and watched Giles bring himself back to the conversation.

"When you arrive, there will be a car in the long term parking area. The address of your new flat, assorted papers and the like are here," Travers said, handing over a large envelope. "Your flight leaves in three hours. Have a safe journey, Rupert."

Giles took the envelope and placed it in his briefcase. He inclined his head at the dismissal and left the room.

*******

Giles left the airplane and stretched his aching muscles. Transatlantic flights in coach and a tall man were a bad combination.

He slipped through Customs, thanks to his Council issued visa, retrieved his luggage, and headed toward a map to find his way to the car park.

--------

He extracted the parking receipt and walked through the concrete structure. His step faltered when he saw the car in the space written on the slip of paper.

"Oh bloody Hell," he sighed. "Perfect, just wonderful."

He opened the door to the small, old grey car. "I really should have had my Triumph shipped over."

=====================

Sunnydale, California - Spring, 2000

`Thank you, Spike. I may just buy you a bottle for this.' Rupert Giles was thrilled. The car was gone. Oh yes, it had been a fine car, appearance not withstanding, but still, not him. Now, he could have the car he wanted. Now, he could have a car that suited him.

His car shopping had begun when Buffy started university, as an exercise to wile away the hours. By this point, he had narrowed his list of choices to two.

The salesperson, anticipating a big sale, had the cars waiting, side by side. Giles looked over them and sighed.

"Mr. Giles, have you made a decision?" the salesperson asked.

"Which would you choose if it were up to you?" he asked in reply. "Well, the sedan is larger and more comfortable, for a person of your height. But, I think you would look wonderful behind the wheel of the convertible."

Giles slid a sly glance at the salesperson and grinned. "I'll take the red one," he said, pointing to the convertible. "By the way, Ms. Banks, would you happen to be free for dinner this evening?"

The End