It was not yet full dark, but it was after sunset, and stickin' to walking under overhangs and groovin' on the sewer system for the next quarter hour would work just fine. He'd gotten hungry; apparently, gut-gnawing hunger went with the lack of human blood bit. Who knew? A trip to the butcher and back to his apartment, bag with containers of blood in it in one hand, put him back where he'd started. Outside his building.
What is thy bidding, my master?
Spike knew that voice. He'd know that voice anywhere. That was the voice what went with the little blond bit that pulled out the chip! The vampire smiled, slightly, and turned his head over his shoulder.
Bloody hell.
Woman was bowing to a sodding street lamp.
Spike sight, shook his head and pursed his lips, opening the front door of the building and sticking the bag in his hand just beside the door before shutting it again. Then he turned, hopped down the steps, and walked over to the girl, wincing slightly against the dying daylight, which faded even as he scowled at it. What was her name? Jenny? Ginny? Jeannie! That was the one!
She was still bowed there. Spike chuckled, and smiled.
"Up you get, love," he said. "Streetlamp's nobody's master, and it will not do for you to be bowin' to inanimate objects."