Back to Fan Fiction**This story is Rated R**
Please don't read any farther if that bothers you.
by
IvanaBgood
(IvanaBgood@aol.com)
Gabriel, the Archangel, glared at the two figures that lolled on the settee. "Sit up! You two try my patience."
The bleached blond, who bore a slight resemblance to Billy Idol, smirked, "I don't want to try it, you try it." He pushed an imaginary bowl towards his accomplice.
The brunette with spiky blue tipped hair grinned back. "I don't want to try it." His head snapped up exaggeratedly, "Let's get Mikey!"
The Archangel grabbed his head. "Aargh! Haven't I shown my worth to you yet?" He looked up to the heavens. "Why do I have to deal with these two. How in Heaven did you two make it up here anyway?"
"Nepotism," Spike answered slyly, his hand scratched the back of his blond head.
"Yeah," Xander concurred. "Our great-great-great-great granduncle was the cousin of Cain and Abel. Good thing he wasn't a brother, huh?" His dark brown puppy dog eyes and lopsided grin always endeared him to the many he met, but it only served to irk Gabriel some more.
"This is your last chance. The both of you. If you want to earn that great table by the band, you have to work for it."
Spike eyed him warily. "Well, what do we have to do? I'm sick of being in the back. Can't even hear the bass guitar properly from there."
"Thirty years ago you were suppose to get John to rediscover his love for his wife, Cynthia. But instead, what do you do?" Gabriel glared at him.
"You're throwing that in my face again?! Not my fault that Yoko woman stepped into the picture. It was a fluke." Spike glowered.
"And you!" Gabriel tried to calm himself down.
Xander squirmed in his seat.
"It was suppose to be platonic. Lisa Marie was suppose to fall in love with a family friend."
"Miguel Jacobson…Michael Jackson – they're so very close. What difference did it make?"
"May I remind you that it ended in divorce, not to mention making the general population ill. Now you two listen and watch carefully. Here is your next assignment." Gabriel waved his hand and the clouds below parted in the sky, revealing the interior of a room filled with four people. One sat behind a desk, one perched on the corner of it, one dusted a statue near a couch and the last one sat nearby on the couch.
"Noooo!" the two angels exclaimed in horror.
"Not them! Angel after angel have tried to get them together with no luck whatsoever." Xander complained.
"That's right," Spike retorted. "That sexy brunette finds him in his birthday suit in the shower, you would think it would lead to some good, healthy bopping, but no, nothing happened. He catches her in her room with just her bra on kissing a guy that's supposed to be gay – and nothing. Not to mention getting stuck in an elevator together, a King Kong size valentine, and a killer hurricane that should have made them both fall into each other's arms when she came home safely. And what happened?"
"Nothing," Xander replied in exasperation. "And what about the other two? Innuendo after innuendo those two exchange, they must be blind and deaf. She catches him shaking his groove thing, in his boxers no less, something that would have made a television audience whoop and holler – and what did she do?" Xander tipped his head towards Spike.
"Well, she did give him a bit of a Cheshire grin. For those two that's pretty significant."
"You're not helping. Standard reply please." Xander glowered.
"Sorry mate." Spike drew himself up a bit and said to Gabriel. "She did nothing."
Xander nodded and smiled before going on. "She's enchanted by his singing, they end up," he pantomimes quotes, "accidentally" at the same vacation island, he catches her kissing that French tutor, not to mention sharing a toe-curling kiss themselves and what happened afterwards?" He turns to Spike.
"Not a blasted thing. I'm beginning to think those two men down there are a couple of wankers who wouldn't know a beautiful woman if she sat on their lap and bit 'em," Spike answered irritatedly. "Ahhh, the good ol' days," he smiled fondly.
"Nevertheless, those four are your assignments," Gabriel responded.
"But…but…" Xander sputtered looking at Spike for some help.
"Yeah, what he said. But…but…"
Xander rolled his eyes.
Gabriel held his hand up. "My mind is made up. Spike you get CC and Niles. Xander you get Fran and Maxwell. If you two should fail, it's the yodel room for you."
"Yodeling!" Spike and Xander jumped up onto their feet.
"How about just pushing our table closer to the restroom?" Spike suggested hopefully.
The archangel crossed his arms in front of himself and sang sternly, "Yo-da-lay-he-whoo."
Spike and Xander dropped their heads resignedly.
~~~~
His pencil tapped on the desk as he drummed rhythmically to the 'Music Man' CD that played in the background. "Seventy-six trombones led the big parade…" he softly sang to himself.
CC threw her partner another exasperated glare as she looked up from the paperwork balanced on her lap. "Maxwell."
"With a hundred and ten cornets close at hand…"
"Maxwell!"
The millionaire glanced at her vaguely. "What?"
"Are you done being part of Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club band? You're suppose to read over that contract so that we can sign it. If you don't want to do it, I will."
A long sigh escaped. "It's all in order. I think I'll go get myself a drink."
"Why don't you just ask Niles for it?"
"What would you like, sir?" Niles' voice cut in through the intercom.
Maxwell smiled. "I'm not sure. I really wanted to stretch my legs."
CC watched him, perturbed at his unusual demeanor.
He walked into the living room and his face lit up as he watched his oldest child walk down the stairs. "Margaret!"
"Yes Dad? Is something wrong?" Her blue eyes looked fretful. "I know I was a little late with curfew last night, but it was only by five minutes. Scott and I were in the vestibule…talking."
His long strides brought him to his daughter in seconds. "I wanted to know how your day went. How was school?"
"School?" She shrugged. "The usual. No big deal." She began to walk away.
"Wait a moment. Just how long did you two…talk in the vestibule?"
Margaret's eyes shifted before looking down at her feet.
Maxwell sighed. "Never mind. I trust that you wouldn't let that boy…talk too much."
His daughter flashed a surprised smile at her father, before walking away quickly.
"Maybe Grace was right, maybe we do need a dog in this house. Not a puppy though, I'm thinking a pit bull who enjoys snacking on boyfriends."
"Good one dad," Brighton cracked as his fingers deftly worked the buttons on his gray Gameboy, his body slunk into the thick padded chair, his legs drooped over the armrest.
Maxwell turned around, noticing his son there. "Hello Brighton. Having fun saving the world from cosmic invaders?"
The blond boy concentrated hard on the small screen, as little blips and bleeps were heard. "Hmm?"
"Are you getting the high score?"
"Uh huh," he answered noncommitingly, his eyes never wavered.
Maxwell stood there, trying to think of something else to say before finally giving up with a sigh. "Right. Carry on." His hand slid across the back of the couch. The slight squeak of the bathroom door caught his attention and he saw his youngest in the hallway. "Grace!" he called out happily.
"Yes Daddy?" Her eyes looked at him curiously as she approached him.
"What have you been up to?" he rocked on his heels as he smiled engagingly down at her.
"I recently finished this book entitled 'Transcendental Phases and Aspects of the Behavioral Patterns of the Anthropomorphic Female.' I found it very riveting." Her smile widened on her small heart-shaped face.
His smile faltered. "That's very good sweetheart. I'm glad."
Gracie smiled at him some more before walking away. She was followed moments later by her brother who seemed able to play his game and not walk into walls at the same time.
"She's nine," Maxwell muttered to himself under his breath as he made his way up the stairs to his room. The bed looked inviting and he flopped down upon it quickly. He felt out of sorts. He felt out of touch with his life, his family. "They're children, it's not their fault. Business has been very productive of late and they have children-type things to do. I know I wasn't one to tell my mum and dad everything that was going on in my life either. Of course if I did have something to tell them, by the time I walked through the various hallways and rooms, I usually forgot what I was going to say anyway."
~~~~
"Away foul demon!" Niles dangled a string of garlic in front of him.
CC scowled at him, "Can't I ever come in here without some insipid comment from you?"
"I'll stop if you pass the reflection test," Niles reached over and held a box of Kellogg's Corn Flakes in front of her face. "Okay, now crow."
CC smiled as she opened her bottle of water. "Dear Niles. Dear sweet adorable uses-a-rolled-up-sock Niles."
The butler sent her a grimace. "Do I have to set up a weathervane in the office so you have a place to roost? Why are you in here anyway? I put a trough in the office to avoid these little meetings."
"I wanted to tell you that Maxwell won't be here Wednesday for dinner. I'm going to cook for him at my place."
"Didn't he suffer enough last time? He almost died."
"That wasn't my fault!" CC reached for a fresh cinnamon roll, cooling off on a wire rack.
"Sure, blame it on his appendix bursting. I hate to break it to you Babcock, but he faked it."
"He has a scar from the operation, explain that," CC replied smugly.
"It was the only way the doctor could scrape your gravy off his liver."
"Niles?"
"Hmm?"
"Shut up!"
Niles smirked.
"You're just jealous anyway."
"Of your cooking? Be serious! Your lime Jell-O is so rubbery it could be mistaken for a tennis ball."
"Oh yeah?" CC walked over and stood almost nose to nose with him.
"Yeah!" Niles stepped even closer, his breath fanned her face as he backed her up to the kitchen counter.
"That's it! You're really asking for it now Niles." CC's chest rubbed lightly against his, as she stood straighter. "You and me. Here. Wednesday night." Her eyes blazed with challenge.
Niles could practically feel the heat emanating from her as his arm reached over next to her hip and gripped the counter tightly. "May the best recipe win. Mine!" He drew himself up to his full height, trying to stare her down and ignore the enticing flush of her cheeks.
"Ha!" CC stepped around him and walked quickly away. As the kitchen door closed behind her, she fanned herself rapidly and rubbed the cool water bottle against the side of her face.
"What was all that yelling about?" Fran asked as she walked down the backstairs.
"Yelling?" Niles asked puzzled, as he opened the freezer and dropped a couple ice cubes down his pants. "I think I'll go check to see if the cold water pipes are working in the shower."
Fran watched him leave, as he left an ice cube trail. "What was that all about? I should go badger him and find out - ooh, cinnamon rolls! And they're still warm!"
~~~~
As he made his way down the hallway, Niles heard mumbling coming from his employer's bedroom. He poked his head around the open door, "Something troubling you sir?"
Maxwell sat up. "No, everything is fine Niles." As the butler turned his head, "It's just…"
Niles looked at him in concern as he stepped into the room. "Yes sir?"
"I don't seem to be needed Niles."
"Whatever do you mean?" He walked over.
"The children. They seem to be getting along famously without any help from me," Maxwell replied more than a touch forlornly.
"That's not true sir. The children will always need you," Niles assured.
"Yes, if Margaret wants money for a trip to the mall or if Brighton needs another video game to add to his extensive collection of mind numbing fun."
Niles smiled. "They're getting older and being influenced more by their peers. Young Grace still needs you."
"She may be young, but she acts more mature than Margaret and Brighton put together." Maxwell glowered.
His old friend looked down at him, strong concern clearly written in his face as he tried to understand the anxiety that seemed to branch out in waves from the sullen man before him. "I'm sure you're wrong sir. The children do seem to be growing up quickly, but they will always need you. I hear them downstairs right now with Miss Fine having a snack. Why don't you join them?"
Maxwell's mood seemed to lighten at the thought. "That's a good idea!" He walked out of the room quickly and down the back stairs. There was Fran leaning on the island as she French braided Gracie's hair. Brighton and Maggie sat around the table, a steaming baked good sat in front of each of them.
"How was school today Maggie?" Fran combed a part in Gracie's hair.
"Fabulous! Scott met me after each class and carried my books for me. And Sheila heard from Trish who heard from Allison that he told Darryl that he thought I was cute!" Maggie dreamily took a bite.
"How exciting!" Fran grinned.
"And then Mr. Hopple said that my history report on the War of the Pacific was the best one he has read in a long time."
"Sweetie, that's great news."
Maxwell scowled. "I asked her the same thing just awhile ago."
"Did you say something Mr. Sheffield?"
"No, nothing of importance." He opened the refrigerator.
Fran noticed Brighton having a hard time gripping his fork. "What's wrong B?"
"My thumbs hurt."
"I told you to take a break every twenty minutes from that Turbo Racer game or you were going to get Car pool tunnel syndrome."
"That's Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Miss Fine," Maxwell corrected.
"Carpal? B, I didn't know you had a fishing game. My dad would love to borrow that. The Reader's Digest is too condensed for his long trips to his favorite room."
Maxwell rolled his eyes as he pulled the tab up on his can of V-8.
"But Fran I have to practice. I beat both Kenny and George's high score today and I need to keep in shape." Brighton swallowed a big heaping forkful.
"Well then before you go to bed remind me to make you soak them in a big bowl of warm water and Epsom salt. We wouldn't want you losing the crown," Fran winked.
Brighton grinned. Maxwell sulked.
Fran caught the slight heaving of his shoulders. "Are you okay Mr. Sheffield?"
"Yes Miss Fine," he replied off-handedly as he watched her style his daughter's hair. "You look very pretty."
"Thank you. This really annoying lady tried to grab this blouse from me at Loehmann's…and you were talking to Gracie." Fran realized as her fingers deftly braided the child's hair.
"Thanks Daddy. There's a dance tomorrow and I want to look really nice."
"A dance? You're much too young for dances." His eyebrows furrowed.
"It's actually a hoe-down. They're learning how to dosey-do in her physical education class." Fran explained. "I wish we had that. I hated playing Dodge Ball. One time a ball whizzed so close to me that it almost knocked the nail polish right out of my hand."
Maxwell shook his head slightly. "I see. Well, I'm sure you'll have a good time sweetheart. I better get back to work."
Fran looked at him as he left. "What's wrong with your father. He seemed glum."
The kids shrugged and went up to their rooms. Niles waited until he heard their respective doors close before he explained. "Mr. Sheffield thinks that the children don't need him anymore."
"That's crazy!" Fran retorted as she squirted a dollop of whip cream into her mouth. "Of course they need him. We'll just have to prove it to him."
Niles grinned. He knew that Miss Fine would come up with something to solve the newest problem in the Sheffield household. Of course her ideas for solving dilemmas were of the unusual nature. His grin widened. He couldn't wait. At least it was something to take his mind off of his complicated life.
Rewind to a week before…
"How could he say I was suffocating him?!" CC exclaimed in frustration.
"One boyfriend out of the picture," Spike did a little happy hip dance.
"Not bad buddy, but that's still small potatoes compared to what I have planned," Xander gloated.
"I ain't done yet." Spike vanished.
Xander looked down and inside the Sheffield mansion, as he absentmindedly propped a cloud pillow behind his back and began munching on a tub of hot buttered popcorn.
Oh my god, I don't have a date! CC's eyes widened in terrified comprehension. I'm dateless for my own award night. The thought made her reel.
"Oh you poor dear, I can't imagine anything more humiliating," Niles cracked.
Spike whispered into CC's ear.
"Oh yeah, how's this? What are you doing Saturday night?" Wait a minute that's not what I was going to say!
Xander snickered at Spike's latest caper.
~~~~
Fast forwarding back to present…
Niles groaned in his sleep as he rolled over…
Once the dishwasher was churning away, Niles caught CC's hand casually in his and led her back to the living room as though nobody else was around. As though they had all the time in the world.
"Maybe we shouldn't-" she sputtered, lifting his hand so that she could peer at the watch on her own wrist. "It's getting late-"
Niles sat down on one of the big floor pillows facing the fireplace and pulled CC after him. She tumbled against him and her heart lurched into her throat at even that small contact, driving the breath out of her lungs.
She set herself on the other pillow, careful not to look at him. She knew that she would see the familiar, amusement shining in his ocean blue eyes.
"CC."
She swallowed, knotting her hands together in her lap. Fighting the urge to touch him. "What?"
"Look at me."
She looked at him because doing otherwise would have been foolish and petulant. And give him the upper hand. "So, I'm looking already," she said.
He laughed and the sound was in discord with the look in his eyes, which, instead of humor, betrayed a reluctance of some kind. A hurtful reluctance.
CC was stung. Niles wanted to resist her as badly as she wanted to resist him! Wasn't she attractive? Didn't he find her- Niles bent his head and kissed her, and an almost inaudible groan rumbled up through his chest and brushed her lips.
CC moaned in her sleep, the sheets tangled around her body as she dreamed…
He was only nibbling at her mouth, tasting it as if it were a delicacy to be savored. He muttered something and to a dazed CC it sounded as though he said, "Why?"
She couldn't think of that now. She couldn't think of anything except the havoc that reluctant kiss was causing inside her. She shivered and placed her hands on his strong shoulders, where they moved of their own accord to caress his neck.
Niles' turned over in his sleep again, "CC…" he muttered into his pillow.
He kissed her in earnest then, his tongue exploring the sweet depths of her mouth, enlisting her own to respond in quick, fevered parries. His hand moving gently up and down the length of her thigh caused the flesh hidden beneath to quiver.
CC wanted to die and she wanted to live forever. She wanted to stop and she drew him nearer, allowing him to shift her body and his own so that they were both prone before the crackling fire.
His hand left her thigh to move up over her hip, underneath her soft black dress as it bunched around his wrist. His fingers traveled over the flesh at her waist, over her rib cage. He freed her from his kiss to nibble gently, provocatively, at her earlobe and her neck.
Her fingers grasped the sheet tightly, she stretched her blond head back as she moaned his name into the quietness of her bedroom, "Niles…"
"I want you Babcock," he said in a forthright tone, no more kidding around. His voice was a gruff caress against the base of her neck.
CC shivered, even though there was a heat pulsing inside her that made her want to fling off her dress. "Niles, are you sure…we…"
"I know," he chuckled, and his hand had found the zipper at the back. There was a feeling of sweet, wanton freedom as her breasts were released, and then his fingers were soothing her, searching out for something that awaited his touch. "Tell me to stop."
If CC hadn't been bedazzled, she would have slapped him. "I can't…" she admitted, her words falling away to a groan as he found that arching ache and he rolled it gently between his fingers.
He pulled her dress completely off, his hand cupping what he captured, shaping it for conquering. When he bent his head to lave the throbbing peak softly with his tongue, CC gasped with pleasure and arched her back in reflexive surrender.
"Sweet…so sweet," Niles mumbled in his sleep as his legs kicked the covers off of himself.
"We…can't…do…this…:" he managed to say as his mouth blazed a path from the conquered breast to the one that awaited sweet defeat. "We can't…"
"I know," CC agreed. But when his tongue touched her again with more loving attention, she knotted her hands in Niles' rich, mink soft hair and held him close.
He pulled gently away and stared deeply into her eyes, "Do you…"
The question was left to float, unfinished, like some crazy Mad Lib.
His body tensed, afraid of the answer.
CC matched his unwavering look with her own, "Yes, do you?"
He smiled in return, not answering but not refuting either as he buried his face into her neck, his lips making tantalizing forays along its pulsating length.
"Niles you better answer or so help me I'll brain you." She managed to say before releasing a soft moan.
"Woman," he groaned and the word was at once a reprimand and the most flagrant praise. "You argue about everything." His mouth followed the tasty path to her belly button. Heat so intense that it bordered on pain, surged through CC, as he followed the path back up to the rounded side of one breast and then nuzzled the other.
CC moaned as he took brazen nips. All her doubts fled before the flames of his passion and hers. Her eyelashes swept up at his delay.
He clasped her shoulders gently, almost reverently. "I thought that I was in love once," he said slowly, "but what I felt for Katherine I understand now wasn't love because it doesn't come close to how I feel for you." He took her hand and placed it on his rapidly beating heart, "It hurts to be apart from you and it hurts to be with you because I could never express what is bursting to be released. I love you CC Babcock." He bent and kissed her tenderly.
CC smiled, a sigh of pure happiness escaped from her lips, her body snuggled deeper into her covers as she welcomed the kisses of her dream Niles.
Niles wanted to love her gently, but his body and hers had other ideas. He entered her with a thrust that was fiercely pleasurable. CC couldn't have recited her own name if someone had asked her for it at that moment. Her hands moved wildly over his tanned bare back, pleading, urging.
There was something sweetly wicked about making love on the floor of the living room in front of a blazing fire. CC's passion was heightened by it, as she sensed, so was Niles'. When the moment of scalding release came, it enfolded them both. Niles kissed CC as they moved together, his moans of tender defeat echoed inside her mouth, mingled with her own fervent cries.
They lay entwined for some time afterward, their breathing ragged, their hearts pounding as one. Neither wanted to break the bond.
As CC slowly woke up, her hand reached next to her for Niles, hoping. A tear escaped from beneath her lashes as she tried to will the dream to come back.
Niles shoved the alarm clock across his room violently. It's cold, jarring jangle made him sit up in fury, stung and shaken with need. The need to hold her again.
"How did you like that?" Spike's eyebrows danced on his forehead as he waited for Xander's reaction.
"You're overstepping your bounds Spike. Don't forget, you are an angel," Gabriel reprimanded as he appeared before them.
"That's the only thing that will work with those two. You want them together? This will do the trick," he replied confidently.
"For your sake, I hope you're right," Gabriel replied before leaving.
~~~~
Her slippers made a shushing sound on the tile floor, still too tired to move, but knowing she had to make the effort. They make elevators for mansions, why not moving sidewalks, she thought wearily. "Niles, there you are," Fran said just as her yawn ended.
"Is that suppose to be a surprise? I'm always in the kitchen at seven in the morning. You on the other hand are never here at this hour. Something wrong Miss Fine?"
"I'll say. Just as Antonio Banderas was going to swoop down and show me how to do the horizontal tango, the vision of you and Miss Babcock interrupted. I saw you and her the other night Niles. You were dancing and then you dipped her. If the sexual tension in that room were a rubberband it would have taken someone's eye out." And I'm not forgetting what Mr. Sheffield and I witnessed last year. You two were, as Maggie would put it, sucking face."
"Yes, very romantically put Miss Fine." He replied as he cut the peeled potatoes.
Fran practically dropped her drinking glass. "Romance?! There's romance? How come all of a sudden, me, your best friend is out of the loop?"
"I can assure you there is no romance," Niles replied calmly as his cutting became quicker and louder.
She stepped back as pieces flew around the room. "Were you drunk?"
"Mmph."
"Was she drunk?"
"No! We drank, but…" He looked down at the pulpy mess, the remains of what was suppose to become hash browns.
"That dance really did a number on you, huh?"
"You think you had problems in dreamland last night?" Niles sighed.
"Was it Three Dimensional, Dolby Digital with Surround Sound?"
Niles nodded wearily, with a smile on his face, "Complete with Feel-A-Vision."
Fran touched his shoulder and squeezed as she walked pass, on her way to get juice. "I think I had a similar dream the other night, only a certain millionaire co-starred in it with me."
"But it was just that…a dream."
"Only a dream, not a reality," Fran agreed with a sad grimace just before sipping her juice.
Two angels groaned in frustration.
~~~~
"CC! Earth to CC!"
"Hmmm?"
"What is the matter with you? You haven't been yourself since you walked in here." Maxwell inquired as he shuffled papers on his desk. "And you were irate at me yesterday.
"Your mind was on vacation," she pointed out.
"Yes, well it would seem yours has traveled to Barbados or some other far off place." He watched his butler slowly bring in a tray, steaming croissants with melted butter upon it.
"Hello Niles." Maxwell peered closer at his friend and noticed the dark shadows underneath his eyes. "Are you well?"
Fran waltzed in, her eyes twinkled at the sight of the light, flaky bread.
"Yes sir, just a bit tired."
"Mmm…Miss Babcock, want some? Niles dipped it in butter. Isn't Niles a good dipper?" Fran teased as she held the plate out.
CC stood up, gave Nanny Fine a haughty look and walked out of the room. Her footsteps could be heard down the hallway to the kitchen.
Niles closed his eyes as he caught the fiery look CC threw at him.
"Now that she's gone, we have a few minutes. C'mon Niles, spill." Fran urged as she hopped on the desk.
"Yes, old man – I heard music playing downstairs the other night. And something that sounded like your chuckles and CC's light laughter. What happened?" Maxwell couldn't help asking.
"I'm trying to solve that puzzle myself sir," Niles sighed as he left the room.
~~~~
The scent of her perfume still filled the air as he watched her sweep out of the mansion.
Fran sadly watched as her friend trudged upstairs, a melancholy droop to his shoulders. "Looks like it's time to help Niles snap out of this blue mood of his." She quickly picked up the phone and dialed a familiar number.
~~~~
"Wow, will you look at this place!" Val's eyes widened as she looked at her surroundings.
Fran's eyes scanned the small room and its rows of folded metal chairs. "Reminds me of my Weight Watcher's club."
"Does your meeting place have snack machines with…" Val pointed toward a back hallway.
"Oh my god, spicy beef sticks!" Fran gushed. "And so close to the bathrooms, smart move."
"Miss Fine why did you drag me here?" Niles grumbled as he allowed himself to be led to the front row.
"To have a good time Niles. You've been mopey for far too long. You need to have some fun."
He looked around, "I don't see another man in the whole building."
"That's because they're all next door gambling at some charity thing."
"Gambling?" Niles began to turn away.
Fran grabbed his hand. "No way mister. No wagering for you. Come on, you'll like this, trust me."
Val smiled, "This guy is suppose to be really good Niles. He was in Vegas."
Niles removed his blazer and draped it on the back of his seat before he sat down. "Really - Caesar's Palace?"
"Close. Saul's Little Sahara," Val said reverently.
Fran smiled at her friends. "He's a great magician and…" She turned towards the stage as intro music drowned out the rest of her comment.
"Ladies and Gentleman, please welcome the Fabulous Spikenaldo!"
The audience applauded as an average size man with a shock of blond hair, dressed in tight black denims and a T-shirt designed to look like a tuxedo, stepped into the spotlight.
"Thank you for coming. I'm not one for patter so how about we start the show! I'd like a volunteer from the audience."
Niles felt a hand under his arm. Fran waved her other one at the magician. "Spikenaldo, pick him! Pick him! Fabby, honey!" her voice cut through the background music.
"Miss Fine," Niles grumped as he tried to put her waving arm down.
"Ahh, perfect! Will the man in the blue tie please come up on the stage?"
The audience clapped, Niles shook his head in protest, and the clapping became louder, urging him on. As soon as his shoulders sagged, Fran gave him a nudge and a smile of encouragement.
Spike shook his hand as he walked across the stage. "Hello, and what is your name?"
"Niles."
"Nice to meet you Niles and thank you for volunteering. I'm going to try a new trick this time, one I haven't done in front of the audience before if you don't mind."
"As long as no chainsaws or other sharp implements are involved, it's fine with me," Niles quipped.
"What a trooper! The only thing I'll need is this chair," he gestured for Niles to sit down, "and your cooperation. Have you ever been hypnotized before Niles?"
"No and I'm sorry but I don't believe that it can be done."
"Perfectly understandable Niles. Any other non-believers in the audience?"
A generous amount of clapping ensued.
Spike smiled. "Prepare to be amazed…and to believe…"
With those words the music slowed and then stopped. A hush fell over the audience.
In a soothing, pleasant voice Spike continued. "Niles please close your eyes and sit back. Relax, everything will be fine. Isn't this chair comfy, almost like your warm, cozy bed at home?"
Niles nodded.
"Good," his voice continued gently. Somehow the audience heard him loud and clear, but to Niles his voice seemed balmy, like the whispery wind on a sunny, lazy day. "I want you to concentrate on your breathing. Mouth closed, through your nose and out. Very good. Place your troubles on the back shelf of your mind. They're inconsequential right now. All I want you to do is relax…that's right relax and just breathe. I'm going to count backwards from five, Niles. When I get to one you will feel so comfortable, so at one with your body and mind. And then you will fall into a deep and dreamless sleep. …5…4…3…2…1…"
Fran and Val exchanged surprised glances as they watched Niles' body slacken, his chin dropped to his chest, and his hands slid down from his knees.
"Niles, can you hear me?" Spike asked.
The volunteer gave a slight nod.
Spike gave a big grin and faced the audience. "He is now under my hypnotic spell. Any suggestions on what we should make him do to entertain us?"
"Make him squawk like a chicken!"
"Make him bark like a dog!"
"Make him dance!"
"Yes, dance!" More yells of agreement.
Spike put his hand up and the audience quieted. "Alright, dance it is. But what kind? Disco, rumba, tap?"
"Striptease!" yelled a curly-haired lady from mid-row. Niles' looks didn't escape her attention.
Clapping and laughing ensued.
Spike chuckled. He turned around and his voice became temperate again, soothing. "Niles, I want you to drop your inhibitions and go with the flow. Whatever your job was before doesn't exist now. Now you are Niles, the very popular headliner for Chippendales. You're confident. You're hot. The ladies want you Niles, satisfy their cravings at the count of 5…4…3…2…1…
Niles' head snapped up, his eyes opened. Spike cued the music and an upbeat melody ensued. The audience began to clap with the rhythm as Donna Summers' voice filled the room…
Looking for some hot stuff baby this evening,
I need some hot stuff baby tonight…
Fran's eyes widened as she watched her friend's face change. Same blonde hair, blue eyes and smiling mouth…but this mouth was not upturned because of amusement at a remark she had made. No, this one was feral, wild…and dare she think it – sexy.
Niles stood up and walked to the edge of the stage like he owned it. His left eyebrow raised as his voice drawled, "Do you ladies want to have some fun?"
"YES!"
"I can't hear you. I said, would you ladies like to have some fun?"
"YES!!" they roared.
"Right then, you'll get it!"
I want some hot stuff baby this evening,
Gotta have some loving,
Gotta have some love tonight…
Niles turned his back to his audience. The room darkened as all eyes eagerly watched the spot-lighted man on stage. His rear end began grinding to the music, his head snapped to the right in profile. He then turned his whole body around as his hips seductively moved to the music.
Hot, hot, hot…stuff
Val's jaw went slack, her eyes bulged.
"I don't know if I should be watching this," Fran mumbled, not being able to pull her eyes away as his fingers loosened his tie and then pulled it free from around his neck.
He beckoned a redhead from the front row to come closer. He knelt sexily down on the stage and wrapped it around her neck and pulled her even closer to him, until their lips touched and he kissed her quite expertly. When he pulled away and stood up, she stood there, immobile.
Niles circled the stage, casting looks at all the eager females.
Val gulped as he stopped center stage and his finger slowly unbuttoned his white long sleeve shirt, all the while his body moved to the beat. When he got halfway, he grasped the sides of his shirt and pulled, buttons flew as everything was revealed.
Women began pounding the ground with their feet, whooping and cheering.
"I knew he had to be in shape to lift all those wine cases up and down to the basement, plus that jogging kick he suddenly got into, but who knew he looked like that under those suits of his!" Fran loudly whispered to Val as they stared at his glistening chest.
Val nodded dazedly, "All I can say is, thank you for calling me." Then she pointed, "Look!"
Niles unzipped his pants and was about to step out of them when Spike stopped the show. The music ended.
"Boo!"
"Let him keep going!"
Niles looked at him in confusion as Spike led him to the chair and began to count…5…4…3…2…1…sleep.
Niles' eyes closed, his head fell to his chest, and his breathing slowed.
"Alright Niles. You're not a dancer from Chippendales anymore. You're employed at the same job you've always had. At the count of five you'll awaken, refreshed and with no remembrance of what just happened…5…4…3…2…1…"
Niles' eyes slowly opened to a vast sea of people watching him with curiosity.
"Let's have a big round of applause for Niles everybody!" Spike clapped as one of his assistants led Niles off stage.
~~~~
"What happened Miss Fine?" Niles asked all perplexed as he followed the rest of the audience out of the building. "And what exactly happened to my shirt?" he fingered the loose threads that had held buttons only moments ago.
"Well…"
"Hi Niles!" A sexy redhead bounced over. "Here's my number – call me." And she kissed him before walking away.
Dazedly he looked at the slip of paper as he walked to the Townecar. He turned to Fran, "Wasn't that my tie she had around her neck?"
Val and Fran giggled.
Go on to Part Two
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