This chapter beta'd by epd4. I'd like to thank her for all her help. Any mistakes that still exist are mine and mine alone.

Bruises

Chapter 9 – Dinner

They stepped off the stairs into the dining room with their fingers entwined, both grinning like a couple of loons. Giles pushed through the kitchen door into the dining room carrying several plates and his eyes flew immediately to their joined hands. He lifted an eyebrow and Spike dropped Buffy's hand like it had just caught fire and stepped backwards, jamming his hands into his pockets as he dropped his head.

Buffy turned and looked at him and was about to say something when Joyce stepped into the dining room carrying silverware and napkins. "Come and sit down, Spike. Buffy, could you please set the table?"

Buffy nodded and took the plates from Giles as Spike stepped toward the table, eyeing it warily. Buffy set the plates out then moved next to where Spike stood frozen; staring at the table like it was possibly going to bite him. She wrapped her arm around his waist. "What's wrong?"

He glanced at her then looked back at the table and whispered, "Da didn't allow me to sit and eat at the table. I ate standing next to his chair… far enough away that he could admire his marks on me, but close enough that he could reach me with one of his tools when he wanted to make more…" He closed his eyes and clenched his hands into fists. "I know that he's not here. I know that I'm allowed to sit at your table… I just…" He opened his eyes and looked imploringly at Buffy. "Will you help me?"

Buffy nodded, "Of course I will. What do you need me to do?"

He ducked his head close to hers and spoke in a voice filled with shame. "Could you ask your Da to tell me to sit? If he orders me to… I'll obey."

Buffy closed her eyes and pressed her forehead to Spike's. "God, Spike. If that… that… vile and completely disgusting fuckhead was here, I'd tear his arm off and beat him to death with it for making you feel this way." She squeezed him lightly with the arm still draped around his waist, then let him go and walked over to Giles, speaking in a low, quiet voice. "Dad, Spike needs you to order him to sit at the table."

Rupert glanced at Joyce and she nodded slightly then disappeared back into the kitchen. Giles stepped around Buffy and pulled out a chair from the table then started laying out the silverware. "You may sit, Spike."

Spike nodded quickly and mumbled, "Yes, sir. Thank you, sir." He stepped forward and sat carefully in the chair, keeping his hands in his lap and his head bowed.

Buffy pulled out the chair next to him and plopped down, then started pulling boxes of Chinese food out of the several bags on the table. "You had the beef with broccoli…" She set a box down next to Spike's plate. "And here's the rice…" Another box. "And last but not least, three pork egg rolls." She opened the Styrofoam container and tipped the egg rolls onto his plate. Spike flicked his eyes up toward the food, but otherwise didn't move as Buffy started handing out the rest of the boxes and containers.

Joyce walked into the dining room carrying a tray with a steaming pot of tea and several cans of soda. She set a teacup in front of Rupert then looked at Spike. "Spike? Would you like some tea? Or there's Pepsi, Coke, and 7-up. I think we might even have some Mountain Dew in the kitchen."

Buffy saw Spike tense up out of the corner of her eye and leaned close. "Spike?" He flicked his eyes at the drink tray and his brow furrowed. Buffy laid her hand on his thigh. "Do you like tea?" He nodded almost imperceptibly and she laughed quietly, "You're English, of course you like tea. Do you want some?" Another small nod.

Buffy leaned in and snagged a teacup off the tray then poured a cup of tea and set it next to Spike's plate. When he made no move to touch the food or the tea, she looked across the table at Giles and nodded toward Spike. He nodded back then said quietly. "You may eat, Spike."

Spike looked up and met Rupert's eyes for just a second then bowed his head. "Thank you, sir." He reached tentatively for the box of chicken fried rice and picked up his fork.

Buffy held up a set of chopsticks, "You want these or are you as completely hopeless with them as I am?" Spike put down the fork and took the chopsticks with a smile. He popped open the lid of the box and dug in with gusto, wielding the chopsticks like a pro. Buffy watched him for a moment then smiled, "Ok, mister. Make with the splainy. You look like you've been doing that your whole life! With rice even!"

Spike swallowed the food in his mouth and glanced at Rupert who gave him a nod. He turned to Buffy and grinned, "My parents and I spent three years in China when I was young. I can even speak a little Mandarin."

Buffy grinned, "You've been to China? Wow, what was it like?"

Spike shrugged, "Don't remember much, I was only four or five when we left, but I never forgot how to eat properly with chopsticks." He set down the box and picked up his teacup, taking a long sip. His eyes widened then drifted shut as he took another sip. He opened his eyes and smiled at Joyce. "This is marvelous! It tastes just like Mum's tea."

Joyce laughed. "Thank you, Spike." She nudged Giles. "One of Rupert's conditions for marrying me was that I learn to make 'proper' tea. I think he would've put that in our vows if I'd let him."

Spike laughed, an honest to goodness laugh, not nervous or forced, just relaxed and happy. "I wish Mum could taste this. She's not had proper tea since she went to hospital. Their tea is passable, but compared to this, its bland dishwater."

Joyce smiled warmly, "We'll take her some tomorrow. I have a thermos that I use when Rupert has to go in early and doesn't have time for breakfast. He says it keeps the tea at a 'tolerable' temperature."

Spike blinked and swallowed a sudden lump in his throat. "That would be lovely, Joyce. Thank you."

The rest of the meal was eaten in companionable chatter as Joyce filled them all in about a new shipment at the Gallery and Giles and Spike asked intelligent, informed questions about the pieces. Buffy had been eating quietly, watching Spike and refilling his tea cup whenever she noticed it getting empty, but her hand stilled over the pot at a stern glance from Giles. She picked up a can of soda instead and popped the top, taking a long drink. Spike lifted his tea cup, drained the last of the tea, and set it gently back on the table. He looked longingly at the cans of soda on the tray and Buffy nudged him gently then smiled and nodded at the soda. He took a deep breath and she saw his hand clench into a fist under the table as he gathered his courage. "Mr. Giles, may I have a Pepsi?"

Giles nodded without looking up from his dinner plate. "Of course, Spike. Help yourself."

Spike picked up a can of Pepsi and popped the top, drinking down half the can in one go. He turned his head and discreetly belched into his sleeve then turned back to the table wearing a wide grin. "That's brilliant. Haven't had this in ages."

Joyce smiled and nodded toward the kitchen. "You can have some any time you want, Spike, there's always a few cans in the fridge."

Buffy winked at Spike, "But just make sure you replace a cold can with one from the boxes on the floor or Mom gets cranky."

Joyce threw a playful glare at Buffy, "So what are your plans for tomorrow? We're going to go see Anne first thing, then I have to go to the Gallery to finish unpacking that shipment so I can be at the courthouse by three to meet with Spike's social worker."

Buffy smiled at Spike, "Well, after we see Anne… if Spike's up for it… I'm gonna take him on a mall crawl and spend some of Hank's money." Spike's eyes went wide and he started to shake his head. Buffy laid her hand gently on his thigh. "You need some new clothes, Spike."

He mumbled, "I don't want you to waste your money buyin' me things, Buffy. What I have is sufficient."

Buffy shook her head, "First off, it's not my money… its Hank's. He's the one that gave me a credit card with a $5000 limit, so I might as well use it for something besides gas and my car insurance. And second, the clothes you have don't fit and they're full of holes, so buying you new ones isn't wasting money. And third, it's been a while since I had a little retail therapy and I don't need any more clothes right now."

Giles snorted and muttered, "No. Clothing is definitely something you do not require… second only to shoes."

Buffy yelped, "Dad!" Spike burst out laughing at Buffy's indignant expression and Buffy couldn't help but laugh right along with him. She threw a glare at Giles then turned back to Spike. "I don't have that many clothes…" Giles snorted. "And I only have a few pairs of shoes…" Giles snorted again.

Joyce laughed, "You have enough to cover every teenage girl in this town, Buffy… twice over." She stood and started gathering up empty food containers. "It's late and Rupert has to be up early, so we should all get to bed."

Buffy nodded and stood also, gathering the plates. "Dad, can Spike borrow a pair of your lounge pants? He doesn't have any pajamas."

Spike looked mortified and ducked his head, his face turning a bright crimson as he muttered, "Mr. Giles, sir… that's not necessary. I can just sleep in my trousers."

Giles gave him a reassuring smile, "It's quite all right. I have several pair that the clothes dryer seems to have shrunk, and I'm sure they'll be just your size."

Now it was Buffy's turn to snort. "Yeah, Dad. Your pants don't fit because of the dryer and not the huge cream cheese Danish you've eaten at your desk every morning for the last three years. Riiight."

Giles got to his feet with a chuckle, "I stand by my assertion that the dryer is the culprit. I'll gather them and leave them in your room, Spike. You're welcome to them."

As soon as Giles had stood up, Spike had also jumped to his feet. He stared down at the table as Giles moved around it and quietly said, "Thank you, sir." Giles reached out and lightly squeezed his shoulder then moved through the dining room toward the stairs. Spike started clearing the rest of the detritus from dinner off the table then followed Buffy into the kitchen and deposited his armload on the island where Joyce indicated.

"Thank you, Spike. I've got it from here. Why don't you head upstairs and take a shower if you like." She winked, "But you'd better get in there before Buffy does or your shower will be cold. Scoot now and I'll see you in the morning." She stepped close and pulled Spike into a hug. "Good night, Spike."

Spike wrapped his arms lightly around Joyce and laid his head on her shoulder. "Good night, Joyce, and thanks again for letting me stay."

Joyce stepped back and lifted a hand to brush his hair out of his face. "You're very welcome, Spike. Now you'd better run… Buffy just snuck out of here."

Spike glanced over his shoulder and saw Buffy's blonde hair flying behind her as she jogged for the stairs. "I'm gonna get the hot water first! Night Mom!"

Spike spun and walked quickly through the house then pounded up the stairs after her, laughing as he burst through the door to his room and slid to a halt. His room was empty, but apparently Giles had already been in because there were three pairs of soft, flannel sleep pants stacked on his bed. His door suddenly closed with a sharp not-quite-slam, and he spun around, right into Buffy's arms. Her mouth quickly found his and his hands slid up her arms to tangle in her hair as the kiss deepened.

She pulled away when they both needed to breathe and nibbled on his neck as she murmured against his skin. "Mmmm… Spike smoochies. Best dessert ever. Even better than chocolate." She raised her head and smiled, "I'll let you have the shower first and I'll go figure out what I'm going to wear tomorrow."

Spike smiled down at her and pulled her into another kiss, mumbling against her lips, "You can have it first, kitten."

She nipped at his bottom lip carefully then shook her head, "Nope. You go first. Mom wasn't kidding about the hot water thing. Once I get in there, I can't get out until the water's cold." She kissed him quickly and pulled open his door. "My room's right next door. Let me know when you're done, okay?"

Spike nodded as she pulled the door shut then shuddered as the image of a naked, wet Buffy flashed in his mind. He muttered under his breath as he turned toward the bathroom. "Might be takin' a cold shower after all."

He stripped out of his clothes quickly, running on autopilot as he folded them neatly and stacked them in the corner of the room, idly thinking that he'd pick them up on the way up to his room after the session. He stopped suddenly, one foot on the cold bathroom tile, and his eyes widened. He growled angrily at himself and stalked back over to the clothes then jerked them off the floor and flung them across the room. His heavy boots thudded loudly against the opposite wall as the clothing landed in two untidy heaps, one leg of his jeans draped over the chest at the end of the bed.

He left them where they lay and snatched a pair of sleep pants off the bed then stomped into the bathroom. It had been a while since he'd been allowed to shower in anything but freezing water, so he turned the taps on as hot as he could stand and stepped under the spray with a groan of satisfaction. The hot water felt good… really good… except for where it stung the freshest wounds scattered around his battered and extremely sore body… but for the most part it felt… heavenly. He tipped his head back and sighed loudly then whispered, "Fuck you, Da. Just… fuck… you."

He stood under the spray, letting it sluice over him as it washed away the blood, and some of the soreness, and the feel of his father's tools hitting, slicing, and whipping. He let his mind go blank as the water beat down on his head and it wandered to before… before his Mum got sick… before California… just before.