New Beginnings: Joyce and Hank
by Javian
Chapter 4: Joyce and Hank

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, etc, etc...

Summary: Back to the Summers home, present. This is what’s happening at the house as Buffy walks to the park. It’s becoming apparent that through these arguments, there is some other force at work, something that’s trying to break up the Summers (not that they need to do too much). Several things happen at once, and it seems like this strange force has accomplished it’s first task.

Joyce heard the door slam as Buffy ran out, and spared a half-moment of worry on what could happen to her alone outside at this time of night. But her attention returned to her raving husband as he began yelling again.

“You don’t do anything around here, so how can you expect me to spend more time with you two, huh? I have to WORK, unlike you useless—“
“Don’t even try that. There was a time when I believed you, but that was before you went off and thought spent some real quality time with beers and whores!”
“You’re lucky I even stick around, you, both of you, could make anyone so goddamn depressed that they have to turn to beer for a little bit of comfort…”
Hank obviously hadn’t yet noticed that Buffy wasn’t there anymore.
“You two, this is my house, and you can get out! I couldn’t care less!’

Suddenly, the scene froze. Neither parent seemed to be aware that everything dimmed and a strange, glowing creature was chanting in the corner. There was a flash, and the scene returned to normal, but it was as if the fighting was speeding up and someone was fiddling with a volume control—

“That’s what I’ve planned on doing for the past MONTH!” Joyce shrieked “and now you’ve FINALLY given me the chance to tell you! You’ve been such a blind fool; you think you’re the one who can boss US around?!”
Hank’s bloodshot eyes narrowed even more. “You whore, you’ve just creeped around the house all month trying your best to screw around with everyone’s heads! I’ll THROW you out now if you don’t get out of my FACE!”
Joyce already had a bag in her hands and was tossing in random belongings.
Hank continued ranting. “I’m SICK of this town, I’m sick of this house and everything in it, and I’m sick of you and you bitchy WHINING!”
“Hah!” Joyce looked at him, laughing a little hysterically. “I’VE been whining?! Look at you! You can’t do anything yourself, and all you do is whine, whine, WHINE!”
Joyce made her way to the door, holding two hastily packed bags. “Well, enjoy your life, Hank, and find someone else to whine to.”

Hank stood and watched her leave, for the first time looking a little uncertain of himself. Suddenly, the phone rang. Hank picked up the phone.
“Hank?”
Hank recognized the voice of Alice, whom he had run into at the bar two months ago. They had both been drunk and exchanged miserable life stories before suddenly realizing how well they understood each other. For the past month their relationship had become progressively more romantic, and he had come to depend on her being at the bar on weeknights. However, he hadn’t seen her at all the past week, and to cover up a sudden panic that had overtaken him, he had been drinking more and more.
“Alice! Where’ve you been? I–“
Alice interrupted him. “Hank, I got a job. I need the money and the closest I could get was a secretary position in some weird little town. I moved here a couple days ago.”
“You moved? Where are you?”
“The town’s name is Sunnydale. It’s almost depressing how not-cheerful this town is, when it has a name that just screams “happy people”. There are some real creeps around here, and I’m really starting to miss the old—“
Hank cut in, a rash thought entering his mind. “How long are you planning to stay there?”
There was a brief pause at the other end.
“I—Well, I’ll be here…for a while. I really need this job, Hank. If things get better, I think I might just stay around here, but maybe I can still visit…”
“Listen, Alice, it’s okay, this might sound crazy, but maybe I should move over there too. “
Alice sounded like she was about to say something, but Hank continued.
“You’re the only person I know anymore, and the only person I care about. Joyce is gone, Alice. For real. She left; permanently. It’s just me, and I’m sick of this town anyway. Even a creepy little town I’ve never heard of sounds a thousand times better than staying here.”
There was a pause, and Hank took a deep breath, not letting himself think too much about his on-the-spot decision. He wasn’t going to screw this up.
“That way, we can both still be near each other. It may take a few days, but I plan on moving anyway, so this is perfect.”
This time Alice spoke up. “Hank…” She seemed unsure of what to say. “Wow, I mean, of course, I didn’t think that, well, I mean, that’s wonderful! Even if it’s…really, really sudden, I mean since you’re going to move anyway, so, well I really really miss you, and… I’ll see you soon then?”
Hank replied instantly “Yes, as soon as I can. I’ll keep in touch.”
They exchanged goodbyes, and Hank hung up the phone just as Buffy walked in, looking a little pale.


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