Xander woke up much like yesterday, feeling extra comfy, cozy and safe. A feeling he hardly ever had unless Anya tired him out in all the ways and slept over.

Anya, aw did he miss her. He snuggled into the comfort and set his mind to go to the Magic box today. He heard a muffled noise, oh Spike, must be waking up.

The vampire rolled over from his belly to his back and rubbed a hand over his face and down to his chest, scratching his solar plexus a bit in a yawn. Xander couldn't help himself and edged in closer.

Upon feeling the dog's warm fur against him, Spike reached out a hand and pet his curled-up dog back, "Thanks for being here." He whispered.

Xanders little dog heart was breaking, Spike was like a sweet, honest vampire, with feelings! Maybe he could really love Buffy… maybe Xander had been foolish before, thinking he couldn't just because he didn't have a soul.

Anya was a demon for like a thousand years more than Spike and she loved him, sure she's a human now… but he actually never questioned if Anya has a soul or not… damn dog clarity over here. What if she doesn't?

Not like Xander could take back his feelings for her, nothing wrong with her either way, although her love for money certainly stirred up inadequacies in him. Urg a minor worry about his construction job sparked for a second. He hoped he still could go back once he was human again.

Spike had stopped petting him and was just resting his open palm against his dog shoulder. For the first time since becoming a dog, Xander wished Spike could really understand him, "I wana go see Anya." He whimpered.

"Aye, boy, I know. It's silly of me to mope." Spike answered and shifted to his back with his eyes closed.

Xander rolled his eyes, both of them were kinda in a mope state right now. He stood up on the bed and nudged Spike with his wet dog nose against the neck.

"Hey, relax." Spike didn't open his eyes so Xander just did it again, this time till he elicited a groan from the vampire.

Xander wasn't gonna let Spike just glower like stupid Angel all night, he nudged harder this time to move Spike's head to the side. "Get up, dude."

Spike just sighed this time, but did soon make a move to get up finally. Slipping out of the covers, Xander turned away at his nakedness and earned a laugh.

"You modest, Gus?" Spike laughed using Buffy's name for the poor dog and Xander let out a low rumble not liking the joke all around. Found himself watching a butt naked, incredibly pale, vamp walk around the crypt in a dim filtered light.

"Put some clothes on will ya!" he barked and Spike grinned when he gave him a look and he just whistled some kinda song in return and grabbed a towel out of the wardrobe that served as one of Xanders steps up to the top level.

OH, Spike was gonna shower? Xander jumped off the bed to follow him down a dark area of the crypt he never explored before. Ah, the sewers must open up farther back… he wondered why he couldn't smell them in here then, but look at all this custom piping.

Really nice work if he ever saw it on the job, he'd immediately ask to hire the plumber for more work. Did Spike do all this himself? The questions he needed to ask when he was human were definitely piling up.

He admired the plumbing until he heard the water rushing out of Spike's homemade pilfered off the town water system. Well, at least he wasn't being a gross brooding idiot like Angel, even if he did need Xander's prodding.

Spike and Xander had a nice late afternoon. Xander went outside to roll around and enjoy some sunlight, coming back to be fed by Spike and seeing his dog portrait hung up in a high place of honor on the wall of drawings.

Xander was feeling pretty good and now it was dusk, seeing Spike drag on his duster. Xander yipped in excitement, time to lead the vampire with him to the Magic Box!

He couldn't wait to see Anya any longer and hoped Willow was there to solve his doggie predicament. But before that, maybe Buffy would be around and smile kindly at Spike again over "Gus", he could do that for his new vampire buddy at least.

Xander guessed he was just planning on patrol, but his dog had another plan. Spike stalked out of the crypt grabbing a stake about to drop it in his coat pocket, but Gus popped up and snatched it from his hand.

Spike's eyebrows furrowed, "No, that's not a plaything, boy." Spike was about to kneel to try and wedge it out of the dog's mouth, but Gus just popped up and shook his head at him.

Spike remembered how Farro said there was something more to him than just a dog and tilted his head. Okay, he figured, I'll play along, "You want to lead me somewhere, Gus?"

And Xander yupped him with a yip and nod without dropping the stake. Firmly turning around and sensing the vampire following him all the way to the Magic Box.

"Ah, alright, boy. Dunno why you'd want to bring me here, into the fire for me probably, but… After you." Spike held open the front door for Gus.

Xander smiled around the stake in his mouth, bopping his head around proud that he got Spike to where he needed to be. They immediately saw Buffy and Willow at the table, Willow looked shocked at Spike and well a dog, but Buffy stood up smiling.

"Oh hey!" she said to Spike, kneeling down and giggling, taking the stake from his mouth and petting Xander's neck, "Vampire Slayer, Gus!" She was grinning up at the joke and held out the stake to Spike, "Guessing this is yours."

Spike smiled shyly and reached out to take the stake from her outstretched, as their fingers brushed and he felt elated that Buffy seemed to warm up to him lately, especially in the dogs presence.

His feeling immediately dropped as Riley rounded the bookcase and glared at him, so he took the stake away from Buffy, no longer hesitating. Buffy sensed the shift and stood up, letting Gus go, she'd really have to talk to Riley about his complete hatred of Spike.

Sure Spike was kind of annoying, well a lot, at times, but the tables turned since he pretty much stopped trying to kill her since her 18th birthday. He has been actually helpful for nearly an entire year straight since the chip.

Plus, she thought, if anyone had a right to be rude, it should be Spike towards Riley for neutering him and Spike hasn't done anything to him personally besides being himself and a vampire.

Riley was looming over Buffy now, making Spike feel even less welcome. Where's the dog, Spike thought, the sooner they can leave here the better. Xander had left Buffy since mean old Riley came over and was now getting pets from Willow at the table.

"Gus, we should get going," Spike spoke up.

Both Red and Gus looked wide-eyed and back, he whimpered, "We can't leave yet, Spike." and grateful Willow spoke up for him.

"Seems like he doesn't wana go yet," She giggled, "How come you stopped by?"

Spike just opened his mouth but found himself shrugging, since it was the dog's idea when Anya walked up from the basement. Xander bounded over to his girlfriend, oh the excitement. She smelt so great! He missed her so much.

"What is this animal doing in my store?!" She said, not completely irked but definitely not petting poor Xander as Buffy and Willow did.

Spike growled lightly, "Gus."

Finding the name Buffy chose for the dog was not all that impactful when used as a threat, but the dog stopped rubbing up against his human ex-demon girlfriend a minute to just look back at the vampire.

"This is Gus, he's Spike's dog!" Buffy stated happily to Anya. Something about seeing Spike being cute with Gus, put her in a good mood. Riley put her arm around Buffy and was leading her back to the table and away from Spike and her face fell a little.

Xander noticed, urg what a lame guy Riley really was, "Hey dude! Buffy doesn't like being smothered!" he barked up at Riley and he glared down at the dog.

Anya lightened up a bit and patted the dog on the head once, and Xander beamed up at her, completely forgetting his anger towards Riley in an instant.

She smiled sadly, "His eyes kinda look like Xander's." She looked up, "Spike, have you seen Xander lately?" She asked and Willow nodded and clarified.

"Xander's been missing since we went on patrol two days ago."

Spike shook his head softly, "Naw, haven't." He looked down on Gus who was now keeping eye contact with Spike, "I'll keep an eye out for him."

Xander thought maybe, just maybe Spike said it like that because he was realizing Gus was Xander and he blinked smiling happily back at his vampire friend.

"It's not like Xander to just dip out like this." Buffy said in commiseration.

The three girls went to sit at the table, Riley was still glaring and crossed his arms as Spike stepped in closer to Gus.

"Maybe Xander left me because I made a big deal about him finding a new apartment." Anya pouted, blaming herself.

Gus whimpered, "Oh no, baby, it's not that. I'm right here!"

Spike crouched down and pet Xander's head gently, but he didn't come to the conclusion Xander was Gus at all. He kinda figured Gus was some kind of empathic dog, sensitive to other's emotions. Xander leaned into the touch wishing he could calm Anya's nerves about him being 'missing'.

"Aw, Spike you're so sweet with him." Willow wooed, not even connecting that Spike was supposed to be a big scary vampire.

If Spike could blush he would have, as all three girls were smiling cutely at him and his dog, albeit a little sadly, because of Xander being missing.

He stood up under Riley's ominous leer which darkened further at Red's comment, "I.. uh... Well, I'm going to go. If we see him, we'll let ya know."

Spike blinked not knowing what else to say, he had intended to patrol before Gus brought him here, and maybe he still would, but he felt so odd right now, under the Scooby Gang's gaze.

Xander gave out another whimper towards the ladies at the table, kind of not wanting to leave yet, he wanted them to realize who he was. To change him back, but with Riley here giving them both the stink eye, it was probably for the best that they left.

He followed Spike to the door, where he trotted under Spike's outstretched arm while he held it open for the dog.

Spike led him around the town and not back towards the cemeteries. Basically chain-smoking and sighing was all the vampire did for hours.

Xander wondered what in fact they were doing, wandering around, seemingly aimlessly and every so often Spike would lift his head to the sky and close his eyes. Was this how the vampire brooded?

When they arrived at Xander's last job site he pieced it together. Spike was actually looking for him! Oh dang, how many times did dog him have to think that this soulless vampire was actually doing more for him and his friends than he ever believed.

And just because the girls had asked if he'd seen him. They didn't task him with an actual search, but now as Spike leaned against the temporary chain link fence around the construction project and lit yet another cigarette, Xander moaned up to him.

"Yah, pup. I know. I'm a sodding whelp when it comes to Buffy and now even her friends." Spike shook his head and Xander couldn't help but agree with him some, it seemed highly out of character for the vampire.

"Nearly dawn, let's head home." He flicked his butt away and took the shortest route back to Restfield Cemetery.

Spike and Xander had just entered the crypt and he dropped his duster off on the armchair, looking down at the dog, "You want…" he started but was alarmed when the door was kicked open.

Hoping it was Buffy but didn't smell her, he frowned when Riley stormed in, uninvited and unexpected. Spike let himself be pushed against the column in the middle of the crypt by the weaker human because of his chip.

Xander barked, "What the hell! Why are you here?!"

"Hey, soldier boy, what brings you around?" Spike asked sarcastically, letting Riley shake him against the stone column and just protecting his head from getting hurt too bad.

Xander hardly blinked and Riley hadn't even said anything back, just whipped out a stake and stabbed Spike right through the heart.

OMG! Xander lashed out on Riley's ankle, biting with all the force he had. Riley yelled out in pain and kicked Xander away roughly, the dog let out a yelp. Psycho just kicked a dog!

Spike looked at him in abject anger, also shocked that he wasn't dust. Xander too when he shook off the pain of Riley's kick was amazed that Spike was still of the "living".

"Gus!" he yelled. Spike went to grab the stake out of his chest, but Riley pushed him off it and slammed him back into the stone, this time he hit his head as well as the pain from the hole in his unbeating heart.

The vampire was furious, in pain, and the guy just kicked his dog! But he couldn't make out the words and it just turned into a scowl.

"Plastic wood-grain. Looks real, doesn't it?" Riley spat grabbing onto his shirt, "Don't think I don't know what's goin' on with you, Spike."

Xander barked and growled at Riley but didn't go for the ankle, for fear of being kicked again by the bad commando jerk. Riley glared at him before spitting more words into Spike's face.

"Stay away from her. Or we'll do this for real next time."

Spike panted with pain and Riley slapped his cheek hard with a stern look and Xander kept up with the growling as the soldier turned from the crypt. Xander was super grateful he was leaving, but then he heard Spike start laughing.

Xander's eyes widened, oh no, "Spike don't goad him! You're hurt!" he barked as loud as he could.

Spike turned his head slightly to him, with kind, watery eyes, as if he said "Thanks but, I know what I'm doin', doggo." and Riley, as Xander predicted, was turning back in fury.

The vampire chuckled, not reaching for the fake stake again, although it hurt like nothing he's felt in years, "Look at you. All afraid I'm hot for your honey."

"Because you are." Riley did his best growl, but it came out weaker than the vampire or dog could pull off.

Spike grinned in cynicism, knowing full well he was getting to the boy, "Well... yeah. But that's not your problem. Even if I wasn't in the picture, you're never gonna be able to hold onto her."

Riley got right up in Spike's face, pushing him to the column again, Spike continued, "You're not the long haul guy and you know it."

Spike swallowed his pain and looked Riley right in the eye as his hand closed around the back of the stake and pushed just slightly, "Maybe I didn't almost kill you enough." The soldier bit back.

"The girl needs some monster in her man... and that's not in your nature." Spike relayed and surprisingly Riley backed off, considering his words. Thinking back to what little Buffy told him of Angel, but how much Willow had let slip.

Xander growled beside Spike, watching his stance waiver as Riley let him go. Worried the vampire was severely overdoing it, but kind of had to admit, Spike seemed to have a point about Buffy.

"You actually think you've got a shot with her?" Riley's anger seemed waning and edging more towards hurt.

"No, I don't." Spike huffed sincerely and put his hand around the plastic stake feeling how deep it was with each passing moment, "Fella's gotta try, though. Gotta do what he can."

Xander's heart was aching for the poor vampire. This new friend of his, wishing Riley would get the hell out of here sooner rather than later. How on earth does the guy go on with all this pain, physical and emotional, he'd never known.

"If you touched her... you know I'd kill you for real." Riley was back to anger, nostrils flaring, but it really didn't matter at this point.

Xander knew that his message was going to be lost on Spike because Spike was a man (well vampire) of his word. He'd never stop trying after what he loved, and what he loved was Buffy. His resolve of character was pretty epic, to be honest.

Spike smiled, this stupid boy, thought he'd stand a chance with Buffy if she didn't want him, it was endearing, but also. Buffy could fight her own battles, that he was sure of.

"If I had this chip outta my head, I'da killed you long ago." Spike closed his eyes and slid down the column to the floor and Xander whimpered, nudging his face, in comfort, against his cheek.

Riley snarled and looked disdainfully at the vampire and his dog, both looking worse for the wear and Spike coughed, "Sometimes I envy you so much it chokes me."

Riley's eyebrows furrowed and Xander couldn't believe he was still speaking in this clear high amount of pain. Where was the blonde going with this, "Most times I think, I got the better deal."

Spike was laboring to keep eye contact with the commando because of the injury, "But, to be that close to her and not have her. To be all alone even when you're holding her, like you. Feeling her. Surrounding you. The scent…" Spike sighed, his eyes drifting shut for longer, in recollection of Buffy's pure powerful aura, "No, never mind, you've still got the better deal."

"You don't know what you're talking about! I am the guy, her guy!" Riley's anger was surmounting, how dare this vampire insinuate he was just a side piece to his own girlfriend. "Shut it, Spike. And keep your eyes off her."

With that last lame threat, Riley finally made his way out of the crypt and Xander breathed a sigh of relief. He watched as Spike sighed and closed his eyes, shaking his head at the encounter.

Spike leaned into Xander's dog body a little bit, and the dog was trying to give him any sort of comfort he could. He smiled, enjoying his new companion, before reaching for the fake stake and ripping it out of his very own chest.

Xander's eyes were shocked at how much blood seemed to pour out of the vampire at the motion. After all that talking, the stake must have healed inside of his body, and Spike just tore it all loose. Spike was not just leaning in for relief anymore, he was completely passed out.

Xander whimpered. "Why Spike! What should I do?!".

He walked slowly to the side as Spike's heavy dead weight torso followed, getting blood on his fur. Laying Spike's head down as gently on the floor as he possibly could.

Spike definitely needed blood, the cooler! Xander went around the sarcophagus and used his head and shoulder like a ram to push the cooler closer to Spike's paling, bloody corpse…

"Dang, dog body!" Xander knew he couldn't open the cooler and get the pint of blood out without thumbs. He'd probably end up spilling it all over…

"Gotta find some help!" Xander was anxious, sure Spike wasn't dust and that was a good sign but he seriously couldn't just let him, what, sleep it off?! He left the crypt in a hurry, and ran as fast as he could to the Magic Box, panting with his tongue out.

Closed! Of course, why wouldn't it be? It's practically sunrise! Stupid, moron, idiot jerk Riley, honestly, couldn't that guy get a grip? How dare he hurt his friend!

Urg focus, dog brain! Who would be up at dawn who could help?

Xander had one last idea, Buffy!

TBC!
Ah, Riley, what a turd right? Hope you're enjoying the story this far!