Dance With the Dead (BTVS, Book Six)

chapter 4 - Flooded

Buffy had a leaking pipe in the basement that they couldn't fix.

I looked at the dripping faucet in the kitchen sink, the water running and draining out normally. I felt like I was mesmerized, unable to look away.

Willow, Tara and Buffy were sitting at the table.

"Man," Buffy told us. "How much water can they fit in one set of pipes?"

"If I understand right, the entire city water supply," Tara answered.

"It's like little clown cars in the circus," Willow told us. She looked at Buffy. "Told you we should have called the plumber."

"You were right," Buffy told her. "The plumber will make everything good."

I continued to watch the water flow.

"Zoey, you're not eating breakfast?" Tara asked.

"Zo, breakfast is the most important meal of the day," Willow told me. "It's unbelievably important. You should eat breakfast at least three times a day."

Buffy walked over to turn the faucet off, looking at me in concern.

I looked between them. "I, uh, ate before I left home."

They nodded.

Xander, Anya and another guy walked in.

"And a big Sunnydale round of applause for Tito the amazing, plumber extraordinaire," Xander told us.

"So how's everything looking down there?" Buffy asked.

"Like we should start gathering up two of every animal," Anya answered.

"Basically, your pipes are shot," Tito explained. "I mean, the whole system's gonna have to be replaced. What you need is a full copper re-pipe job."

Buffy walked closer.

Tito gave her a piece of paper.

"Full copper re-pipe?" Buffy repeated. "That sounds potentially pricey."

"Well, if you have any questions, our number's on the invoice," Tito told her, patting Xander on the shoulder, walking out, leaving.

Buffy looked at the invoice. "That's a weird phone number. Oh, wait." She looked at Xander. "Is that the bill?"

"Yeah," Xander answered. "Tito cut you a good deal down there. Those are his bargain prices. I did a little haggling for you."

"Thank you," Buffy told her.

"So, you'll pay him," I told her. "What's the big deal?"

"I've been having money issues," Buffy explained. "I'm pretty much broke. I mean, not yet, but... Money's definitely becoming an issue. As in my being almost out of it. My mom prepared everything really well. She had insurance... life insurance. Which should have left me covered, but... hospital bills pretty much sucked up all the money. Which I'm still hemorrhaging, by the way."

I frowned in confusion. "How are you doing that?"

"No, not me, the house," Buffy told me. "Uh, see, this house, just sitting here, doing nothing, um, by itself costs money."

"So what are you gonna do?" Anya asked.

"Easy," I told them. "We burn the house to the ground and collect the insurance. Plus, fire? Pretty." They looked at me worriedly. "You guys, I'm kidding."

"Okay, it's--it's bills, it's money," Tara told us. "It's pieces of paper sent by bureaucrats that we've never even met. It's not like it's the end of the world."