Having nowhere else to go, the gang felt lost and exhausted. They had been running from cold-blooded killers the whole day and nowhere felt safe.

“I might have a place we can go,” Spike said, apprehensively. The rest of the group looked at him with hopeful eyes. They were all in need of rest... and possibly something to eat. 

And so, making them promise not to ever tell anyone about this, Spike let his friends follow him through the city. All the way to a little house on the outskirts of town. He knocked four times in a very specific manner, indicating to you that it was him. 

“Spike- oh, hello.” your smile faded as you saw the four strangers behind your friend. They all looked like they had all just come from their personal hell. He looked at you apologetically, but you just smiled back and let them all into your home. It wasn’t much. There was barely space for your bed, but you made it work. 

“Please, make yourself comfortable,” you told them, “I was just making some tea.” You picked up your kettle and started the fire. The whole group just sat there, looking bewildered, as you made your tea, which certainly put you on edge. As the water got to cooking, you called Spike over and walked a bit outside. 

“What is happening?” 

“I’m so sorry, y/n. You know I wouldn’t have brought them here if I-” 

“I don’t care about that, Spike. You could have brought them here just for tea any day you wanted to. I just... you all look like you just died. What happened to you?” And so he told you about this strange “doctor” living on Baker Street, and that he had recruited them all to help him solve cases. 

“And you just accepted? Are you crazy?” 

“We’re poor, y/n.” Spike sighed. “We had no other choice.” At his words, you looked back into the room, specifically at the more frail-looking blonde. 

“What about blondie? You’ve never told me about him before.”  Spike followed your gaze. 

“Oh, that’s Leo, he’s just some bloke. Pretty smart so we let him tag along. He‘s been pretty useful. Knows a lot about birds.” She shrugged in addition, giving you a sign not to ask more about it. In the meantime, the water had started boiling, but by the time you got there, one of the girls was already pouring it out into the set of cups you had put out. 

“I’m sorry, I just didn’t want it to get cold.” She said, with a sweet smile. From what Spike had told you, you assumed that that was Jessie. That boy was all kinds of in love with her. You had to admit, it was cute, but you would have wished he would just admit his feelings to that girl. Especially after you saw how she kept glancing back at him. 

“So, y/n,” it was the Leo guy that spoke up, “how do you know Spike?” 

“We’ve known each other for ages, grew up together actually,” you let your tea cool down a little, but in the corner of your eye, you saw Spike try and drink it at once, burning his tongue, of course. “We are basically family.” 

“So why haven’t we ever heard of you?” Asked the one that must have been Billy. 

Spike took that question upon himself to answer. 

“Well, it’s really nice to meet you, y/n,” Bea said after Spike’s story.