Title: The Morning After
Fandom: Spooks (MI5)/Miss Marple
Rating: G
Length: 774 words
Summary: Miss Marple has been looking after the werewolf, but it is now past full moon.

Miss Marple went down to breakfast in the guest house shortly after eight o’clock.  She politely greeted the few guests who were already seated and then found her own table and sat down.

A middle-aged waitress came over and asked her what she would like to eat.

“Tea please, and just a boiled egg.  I’m hoping my nephew will be down soon, but you know what young men are like, reluctant to get up until they have to.”

“Of course, madam.”

When Miss Marple had booked into the guest house, she had taken the key for two rooms, explaining that the second was for her nephew, but he might be quite late as he was motoring down after some engagement, for which she was suitably vague.  In the evening she had gone into the second room and opened the window which looked onto the back of the guest house.  Shortly afterwards, the werewolf had crept up the fire escape and jumped in through the window.

“I’ve placed your clothes on the bed for tomorrow,” she said to the werewolf.  “If you chose to sleep on the bed and crumple them that is your own problem.  I’ll leave the window open in case there’s an emergency and you’ll find your door key on the little table by the bed.”

The werewolf looked at her, so she rubbed his head and said, “Good night, Ambrose, and I hope to see you downstairs for breakfast.”

Miss Marple had just begun to eat her egg, when a tall young man entered the dining room.  He looked around, smiled at her, and walked over to join her.

“Good morning, Aunt Jane,” Lucas said.  “I trust you slept well.”

“Yes, thank you, dear.  And you?”

“The sheets were a little screwed up this morning, but I’ve remade the bed, and swept some sand into the waste bin.”

The waitress came over.  “Good morning, sir.  Tea or coffee and what would you like for breakfast?”

“Coffee, please.  And the full cooked breakfast.  Would there be any chance of extra toast?” Lucas smiled appealingly.

The waitress laughed and said, “Of course, sir.”

“Adam did warn you I’m always very hungry following the change, didn’t he?” he said to Miss Marple after the waitress left.

“Yes, he did tell me that.  Will this breakfast be enough?”

“Oh yes.  I can always stop for something mid-morning.  Now, could you fill me in on what’s been happening over the past couple of days, since I didn’t expect to wake up in a guest house somewhere on the south coast this morning.”

“How much do you recall?”

“I remember your cottage, and then a train, and the sea, and something about a threat to Adam.  I could probably tell you what I’ve eaten but I doubt you need to know that.  If we were to go outside, I could retrace our route.”

The proprietor came over and said, “Miss Marple, there’s a Mr Carter on the phone.  He’s asked to speak to you.”

“Thank you.  That’s very kind of you.”

When Miss Marple returned to the table, Lucas was eating his breakfast with a great deal of enjoyment.

“This is very good,” he said.

“Yes, I’ve been coming here for years.  They always provide a nice breakfast.  Mr Carter has confirmed he will be here to pick us up in about an hour’s time.  He says everything is now sorted and we can all go home.”

“I’m sure you’ll be pleased.”

“Yes, although quite what I’m going to tell Dolly I’m not sure.”

“Dolly was the one who took us to the station?”

“That’s right.  So you remember people.”

“Sort of.  Generally I have an impression of them, but it’s not always very useful.  If I see someone I first encountered in my vulpine state I know if I thought they could be trusted, or if they were a potential danger.”  Lucas laughed.  “I can also unerringly lead you to any fish and chip shop I’ve seen.”

Miss Marple laughed as well.  “I’m sure that has its uses.  Now, if you’ve finished your breakfast, I suggest we make a move.  I told them last night you were motoring down, so, when I spoke to Mr Carter, I said you were parked in the main car park – in case anyone overheard – which means he’ll meet us there.”

“A very good idea.  You do seem to be very well organised.”

“I do try to be.  One never knows when one might need to put an emergency plan into action.”

Lucas laughed again.  “True.  The last few days have certainly tested your ability, and I must say you’ve come through with flying colours.”