Part Twenty-Six:

Spike hated it when time stopped. Anxiety was building up inside him urging him to shake the clock hard enough to move the arrows. He knew better than to show his real feelings. He glanced at his father making tea for the police officers, noting how ungraceful his movements were. They were both consumed with private thoughts, trying hard to keep their fear inside and wear a calm facade to reassure the other.

Rupert placed the tea cups on the tray, and for a moment stood there frowning at it in thought. Spike's chest tightened at the way his father struggled to remember if there was something missing. Silently, he walked past Rupert and took the teapot that was resting next to the oven, setting it gently on the tray.

Rupert blinked and then rubbed his forehead tiredly.

Spike, not waiting for his father's orders, picked up the tray and took it outside.

He squinted his eyes when a sudden gust of wind passed his face. His eyes fell on the tree leaves that had started turning yellow; the cold breeze made them rustle slightly. He noticed Kate sitting on the bench, her hair stringing along with the wind. She turned around when he stepped toward her and the side of her lips curved up into a lopsided smile.

He sat next to her and poured some tea in her cup. Her blonde eyebrow arched up. "Tea?"

"We're living to the stereotype." He offered her the cup and looked around the yard. "Where's your partner?"

"Sleeping in the car. He took the whole night shift." She accepted the cup and took a small sip before recoiling when the hot liquid stung her tongue.

"Won't it be better if he slept inside?"

"Better stay outside in case something happens." She blew on her tea, taking another sip. "Oh, I've been meaning to ask you. Don't you have a brother?"

"Yeah." There would be no use getting into detail about how Xander wasn't really his brother. Thinking about Xander made his toes curl in frustration. He knew Parker well enough to know he wouldn't leave Xander alone. His hands clutched the tray tightly wanting to smack it against the wall.

"I haven't seen him around. Is he inside?"

Spike rubbed his forehead in an imitation of his father. "He's in his room. Asleep."

She narrowed her eyes at him. "Til this hour?"

Something tight was swelling in his chest. He really didn't feel like having this conversation, didn't want to talk about Xander at all. "You know kids. All night on the net, all morning in bed," he said weakly and then turned his gaze to the entrance. "It's taking them long to come, huh?"

"We were informed to pick up Mr. Osbourne at eleven sharp. They're gonna be here any minute." She went back to drink her tea, leaving Spike lost in his thoughts.

The breeze grew stronger, sending shivers down his spine. The air smelt of rain and cement; it would probably start pouring soon. Spike blew on his freezing hands when Kate held up her empty cup for him. He poured her more tea when a thought struck him. "Isn't it odd that the police didn't investigate properly after Devon's murder?"

She looked a bit taken back by his question before a small smile formed on her lips. "I asked the same question when they handed me the case." She started warming her nose with the hot smoke rising up from the cup. "They said the MacLeish family has a lot of enemies. The LA police never thought that it'd be a former high school friend."

"It's always those you least suspect," Spike muttered absentmindedly, noticing a police car driving into the yard.

"Something you learn from movies," Kate added, smiling when the awaited police car arrived. Her smile vanished when there was no one inside but a police officer.

She strode toward him in anger and banged on his car window. "Where's Mr. Osbourne?"

The man pushed the car door open and looked at her apologetically. "A woman thought it would be too suspicious if I took him in a police car. She said she'd swing him by in her car."

Kate's eyes widened. "Woman? What woman?"

On cue, a black car showed up and stopped in front of the house. Spike felt the first real smile on his lips when he saw Tara and Oz inside the car.

Kate grimaced and marched toward them. Tara was just climbing out of her car when Kate pointed a demanding finger at her face. "Who are you?"

Spike walked to stand beside Kate. "She's a friend."

Kate turned disbelieving eyes at him. "She shouldn't be involved in this."

"Spike and Oz are dear friends of mine," Tara said gently. "I wanna make sure they're okay."

Kate was about to protest when all three started at her in determination. She squeezed her eyes shut and sighed in defeat, nodding her head in understanding.

"So, what do you think?"

Spike looked between the grim faces in front of him, having just explained his plan. The grudging acceptance on his father's face was a relief. Spike had spent the whole night trying to convince him to stay in the house guarded and safe. He also anticipated the displeasure in Oz' expression, watching as he entangled his fingers together forming a big tight fist.

"I can't stay here while you and Tara are risking your lives out there," Oz objected.

Rupert nodded. "I share the same feelings."

Spike looked fiercely at his father and then turned to face Oz. "You two are targets. The second he sees both of you, he'll shoot you without a second pause."

Both men glared at the table silently.

Spike's features softened into consideration. "I know it's frustrating. But you have to understand."

"I do," Oz gritted out. "I don't like it but I do understand." He looked at Tara. "Are you sure about this?"

Tara nodded, her eyes reflecting her sympathy.

Oz swallowed. "But he's never been fond of you, what if…"

"Tara's only there for backup," Spike interrupted. "He won't see her."

Oz shot him a glare. "What if he does?"

Tara touched Oz' arm, rubbing it gently. "I'll be careful, Oz. Don't worry." They shared a meaningful stare

Oz sighed and looked at Spike. "Now, how are you going to escape?" He nodded his head at the window where Kate was visible.

"One of them is asleep in the car. I think Tara can distract Kate, and I'll escape from the back."

Tara caught the policewoman's attention when she slammed the front door close. The blonde officer, whose name escaped Tara, regarded her with a sharp stare. Tara walked straight to the woman, wearing a concerned expression. She stood face to face with her and hugged herself pathetically. "Keep them safe. Please," she said in hushed tones.

The woman's angry gaze melted into empathy. "You don't have to worry."

Tara shook her head. "I can't believe someone could do this. Those people are some of the best I know. The thought that someone wants to murder them…"

"Psychopathic murderers could care less about how good these people are," the woman interrupted her with a confident voice. "And in this case, the murderer wants revenge. People will do anything to have their revenge."

Tara could see from the corner of her eye Oz giving her the signal from the window.

Tara smiled at the woman with appreciation. "Thank you so much for your protection and efforts."

"That's our job, Miss."

Tara walked past her toward her car, feeling her heartbeat going faster, fearing that the officer would suspect something. She couldn't help stopping midway and turning around to face the woman again. "Oh, and don't forget the back yard. He could get in from the kitchen."

The woman nodded. "The kitchen door is locked from the inside, but you're right. Someone needs to guard the house from the back." She started moving toward the police car. "It's time Jerald wakes up from his nap."

Tara didn't waste time as she hurried to her car and drove away. She could see the policewoman dragging her partner out of the car through the rear view mirror, something that would have made her giggle if the circumstances were different. She turned around the house, driving at a slow speed.

Suddenly, the passenger's door swung open and Spike jumped into the car, slamming the door shut. Tara pressed her foot hard on the accelerator pedal and the car shot forward.

The back of Willy's bar smelt like vomit and was as filthy as the city dump. Every inch of the place was wet and sticky, filled with muck and grime. Spike rubbed his nose in disgust and thought he wouldn't have stepped a foot in there if it weren't for Xander. He heard a rustling sound in the back and walked around the building cautiously.

He'd prepared himself for all the possibilities that awaited him, had pictured all the different and disturbing images about Xander that he might see. The sight that greeted him wasn't practically the worst but it still managed to make his chest tighten painfully.

Parker was standing in the corner pressed against the wall, holding Xander firmly against his chest with a gun pointed to his head. Spike's gaze darted to Xander's face which was expressionless, his hazel eyes staring at nothing.

"Xander," Spike whispered, and without thinking took a step forward.

Parker held Xander harder against him. "Stay where you are or I'll shoot."

Spike reluctantly stopped, looking helplessly at Xander who didn't seem to notice that Spike was here. He just stood there, his eyes lifeless, and his face blank.

"Where's Oz?" Parker demanded.

Spike's lips were set in a thin line. "I don't know."

Parker pressed the gun's muzzle against Xander's temple. "I'm pointing a gun at your brother's head. So, you better talk now."

Panic shot inside of Spike. "I'll do anything…" he said desperately. "Let him go."

"I'll trade him for Oz."

Spike bit his lip weakly. "Oz was your friend. Doesn't that matter anymore?"

"Lie," Parker snapped. "I never had friends."

Spike's face hardened. "You did. Me."

Parker scoffed. "And where have you been all these years?"

"In England. No one told you that," Spike spat out. The smell was getting to him, making him sick to his stomach, but not as much as a gun pointed to Xander's head. His heartbeat was raging, the thought that Parker could just drive a bullet through Xander's head almost made him faint.

The hate and betrayal reflected on Parker's expression was exactly how Spike felt about him. He'd never thought he'd hate Parker like this. Never thought that Parker would do these things to him.

"You never visited. You never tried to get me out," Parker said furiously. "My old man got killed in prison and you did nothing about it."

Spike's lips curled in disgust and indifference. "Yeah, well, I would have sympathized if you weren't going off killing my family and friends."

Parker's eyes shot red with fury. "You shouldn't make me angry. I've got your boy right here and I can finish him with a light pull of the trigger." To confirm, he pressed the muzzle hard on Xander's temple tilting Xander's head further towards his shoulder.

Spike flinched with fear, his fingers trembling desperately.

Noticing his distress, a smirk rose to Parker's lips. "But that wouldn't be fun, would it?"

Spike stared at him in confusion.

Parker started to nuzzle Xander's hair with his nose. "I hear you're a pansy now," he said, moving his nose to Xander's ear. "And this piece of trash gets you going, doesn't he?" He turned his head to Spike, his expression was evil. "Tell me, English, does this make you hot?" The hand that was holding Xander to his chest moved downward and slipped into Xander's pants.

Spike's eyes widened with horror. What disturbed him more than what Parker was doing was Xander's numb expression, there was no reaction at all in his face. "Parker, stop!"

"Tell me, where's Oz or I'll rip his penis off," Parker barked.

Spike was about to drop on his knees and plead. "I'll do whatever you want, just stop!"

"What I want is Oz."

Spike's lower lip fluttered helplessly, he couldn't hand Oz to the wanker and he couldn't leave Xander under his mercy. "What about me?" he blurted out urgently.

Parker arched an eyebrow. "What about you?"

"You weren't really close to Oz and Devon. I was your best mate. I was the one who let you down. You should kill me."

A flicker of emotion sparked in Xander's face. He looked up at Spike with fear as if he just heard Spike offering himself to Parker.

Spike took a confident step forward. "I'm the one who betrayed you, Parker. Not them."

There were a range of mixed emotions on Parker's face that would have made Spike pity him if it weren't for the dire circumstances. "If it were you in prison I would have gotten you out," Parker said bitterly.

"You would, but I didn't," Spike said, feeling the hate and anger inside getting the best of him. "I knew you were rotting in jail and I did nothing. I left you there. Never even thought about you." Spike smirked, enjoying the hurt and resentment on Parker's face. "In fact, I think you deserved it, and your father? Good riddance."

Parker shook with rage. "Son of a bitch!" He aimed the gun at Spike, and instinctively Spike shut his eyes, waiting for the pain.

He heard Xander shouting his name and two gun shots. He felt nothing, though. He was trembling all over, but there was no pain. He wasn't shot.

At the sound of something metal dropping down, Spike slowly opened his eyes and gasped when he saw Parker lying on the ground, a tiny bleeding hole on his forehead. Xander was inching away from Parker, his wide eyes staring at something behind Spike.

Turning around with dread, he saw Tara standing behind him. Her eyes were a picture of shock and horror and her arms were extended forward like she'd been holding something. His gaze fell to the gun resting on the ground in front of her feet, and his stomach churned.

"Oh God…"

Spike whipped his head toward Xander after he heard his whisper. Xander was shaking badly on the ground, repeating, "Oh God," over and over.

Spike hurried toward him and held him close to his chest, murmuring in his ear, "I've got you. I've got you." His eyes went from Xander's shaking form to Parker's lifeless body and stopped at Tara's frozen expression.

Nothing was ever going to be all right.