Xander was walking quickly through one of Sunnydale's many cemeteries. He knew he shouldn't really be there, but patrolling, with the slayer , had taken most of the night and this was too good a short cut home to be passed up. Besides, he told himself, it was almost daybreak and all the good little vampires would surely be in for the day by now. At least he hoped they would. Just as he rounded one very large tomb stone he heard a groan from somewhere to the right of his chosen path. Now Xander knew, he knew, that he shouldn't investigate any strange noises he might hear. Nope, not happening, really not! He should just ignore any odd sounds and march himself straight on home. That's what he had promised Buffy when they parted after patrol, and that's just what he should do. Course, he hadn't mentioned his little short-cut to her at the time. No, he should just go. Resolving to hurry, he put his head down and started to increase his pace. The funny sound again came from somewhere to the right. Only this time it was accompanied by something that sounded very much like a sob. Xander stopped, looked around he tried to figure out where the sounds came from. By this time, he was next to a very large and very old tree. The tree looked like it had been there since the dawn of time and maybe it had. In the shadows of it's branches, which hung down until they nearly touched the ground anything could be lurking. The sounds had been odd but curiously enough not threatening. As he tried to pinpoint where exactly the sounds had come from, he stepped almost unconsciously toward the tree. He definitely heard a scuffling and the sound of someone in distress as he approached. Someone or something was there. Xander tried but failed to see anyone. He hesitated going further. This could easily be a trap. Still, if it was someone in trouble or hurt he didn't feel that he could leave them there either. Xander glanced up at the sky. The first glow of the new morning was lightening the sky as he watched. Standing there biting his lip in indecision wasn't going to help anyone. He had to decide what was the right thing to do all on his own and had to decide now. Slowly, Xander bent over and stepped under the first branches of the tree. It was so dark under the tree that it looked more like night. That thought just made him more nervous as he advanced towards the trunk of the tree. Then there it was again. The slight sound of someone moving and a soft whimper. This time, however, Xander had been carefully watching and listening, and was fairly certain he knew where this mysterious person was. At least he hoped it was a person. The sound of distress became a bit louder, although he still had to listen carefully to hear it. There over to his right just out of reach was a black mound. Xander stopped and tried to see what was there as best he could in the deep dark of the tree's shadow. It was now or never he thought. Quickly he made a grab for the mound he'd spotted. His hands closed on loose leather and then he quickly pulled the "what ever it was" out into the open to have a look.
What he found nearly floored him. He couldn't believe his eyes. It was Spike. Spike the Vampire. The peroxide menace, that Buffy supposedly had run out of Sunnydale months ago. Only this wasn't the same creature that had been so scary and dangerous before. The creature before him, he refused to call him a person, didn't look scary at all. Spike had fallen on his knees, huddled there on the ground, shaking. As Spiked looked up at him, Xander could tell, there was no recognition in those brilliant blue eyes. In fact, they looked unfocused and stunned. Xander wasn't sure that he saw him at all. Spike was very pale, far paler, if that was possible, than Xander had ever seen him. Thin too, to thin. The bones on his face looked sharp enough to cut right through the flesh. Xander crouched near the huddled figure reaching out one hand to touch lightly on a shoulder. Spike flinched violently, the whimper, for a better word, becoming more pronounced. Xander again looked at the sky. The sun was up. The only reason Spike hadn't burst into flam was that they were still in the shadow of the great tree. Something was very wrong. What could have happened to reduce a master vamp like Spike to this. Xander didn't know but maybe they should find out.
What to do, what to do. Xander know he couldn't drag Spike to his or anyone's house now. He'd only arrive with a handful of ash and no vampire that way. If he left him where he was now, near the outer limbs of the tree, the results could easily be the same. After thinking for a few minuets, Xander came to a decision. There was only one way he could leave Spike with any hope of him still being there when he returned. Slowly, carefully, Xander gathered Spike up in his arms. It really wasn't hard Spike was so thin and light. Despite himself Xander couldn't help but look on the vampire pity. Spike cried out at the contact, whether in pain or fear Xander didn't know, and tried to move out of Xander's arms. It was a rather lame attempt. Spike had neither the strength nor the energy to fight anything. Xander crawled back deep under the tree and deposited his rather unhappy burden near the trunk. He tried to get Spike's attention but he really didn't think he managed it. Never the less, he tried to tell him he would be back. Looking at Spike on last time he crawled out from under the tree and took off running towards Giles.
It took Xander an amazing long time to convince Giles to come with him to see Spike. Giles was of the opinion that Spike's dusty ending really wouldn't be such a bad thing. Still, Xander persisted that this was a mystery and should be investigated. Finally, Giles gave in, if just to get some peace. They arrived bac at the cemetery tree about mid-morning. By this time Xander wasn't sure that they wouldn't find just a little pile of dust under the tree. The sun was shinning so brightly that there was very little shade left even there. Xander asked Giles to wait in the car and he, taking a large blanket with him, crept under the tree limbs. Sure enough, near the trunk, exactly where he had left him, Xander found the curled up form of Spike. After laying the blanket over Spike Xander again gathered Spike up in his arms. This time there was no sound and no movement. Not good. Pausing only to make sure that Spike was totally covered Xander hurried as fast as he could towards the waiting car and Giles.
Carefully he deposited Spike in the back of Giles car and got in. Giles looked at him strangely as he jumped in the drivers seat and took off. What! Xander asked at the look. I'm still surprised that you are doing this replied Giles. Xander met his gaze only for a moment and then looked down. I know, but you haven't seen or heard him. I don't know, I just couldn't leave anything in that condition. I just couldn't. Giles shook his head and concentrated on driving.
When they arrived at Giles, Xander again gathered Spike in his arms. No sound or movement was apparent from the vampire this time either. Xander worried about that but he had to get him in. Inside he laid Spike on Giles' couch, removing the blanket to get a better look at him. Giles, standing besides him, took a startled breath in at the sight presented by Spike. Not only was Spike very thin but there were definite shadows on his checks and under his eyes. It was very apparent that he had not fed for a long time. Opening his duster they could see the dark stain of blood all along one side of his t-shirt. Giles, after a glance at Xander, reached down and gently raised the t-shirt up. What met their eyes surprised them both. There were two neat incisions on his abdomen. They were roughly stitched together but didn't look as if they had healed very much. What had been done to this vampire? Just then Spike began to come to. Groaning he curled into a protective ball, arms wrapped around his stomach area. Before going after Spike Giles and Xander had made a little stop at the butchers for provisions they thought they would need. Now Giles was very glad they had. After asking Xander to fix a cup of blood for Spike, Giles crouched down by the vampire. He looked into Spike's clear blue eyes and saw only fear. No, beyond fear, he saw terror. Somehow this affected him deeply. What could have scared the cocky vampire so badly. Gently he reached over and ran his hand over Spikes hair, stroking the vampires head. Spike watched the hand approach with a look of horror on his face and with each stroke he flinched. Giles felt bad that he was scaring Spike so badly with this simple act but he needed to be able to touch the vampire in order to help him. He needed somehow to show him that he wouldn't hurt him. Just about then Xander stepped up beside him with a mug full of warm blood and a straw. Spike looked from Giles and starred, not at Xander, but at what he had in his hand. He was so weak that he was only able to produce a faint golden glow to his eyes. Xander seeing that Spike wasn't able to reach for the mug handed it to Giles and reached for Spike. Spike, who's eyes had never left the mug, didn't really see what Xander was doing, until he nearly had his hands on him. Then Spike closed his eyes and curled even tighter, hiding his face with his hands shaking badly. Xander paused in dismay looking over at Giles. He had only meant to help the vampire, not make it worse. Looking at Giles, Xander shrugged. Spike needed to feed and to do that he needed help, whether he wanted it or not. Then he continued taking ahold of Spike, slipping in behind him and holding him up. Both Giles and Xander kept a running litany of soothing words murmured to Spike. As soon as Xander was in position Giles brought the mug in close to Spike. Spike was nearly to weak to suck but after a few tries he managed. His hunger driving him to make the effort. It took a while but he finally managed to get the whole mug of blood down. At Spikes nod that he was done, Xander slipped out from behind Spike and again laid him flat on the couch. Looking back at Spike he realized he was trying to say something, so both Giles and Xander leaned in close, asking him to repeat what he had said. Spike looked up at his two erstwhile enemies and whispered, "thank you" and then he was asleep. Xander looked at Giles astonished. Spike, aka William the Bloody, had thanked them and was grateful. While Spike slept, Xander and Giles had a little talk. What were they going to do with him now?
They considered telling Buffy about him, but the slayer had recently become involved with a government military organization called the initiative and as a consequence had become rather distant. Giles didn't know very much about this organization other than it hunted vampires and demons. That his slayer had some well armed and trained help should have made him feel good about it but there was something about everything he did learn about them that made him feel uneasy. Giles shook his head thinking about Buffy and her new friends and had to admit some of his feelings of unease could and likely were the result of Buffy's not needing him or the Scoobies much anymore. However, this truth still did not account for all of the bad feelings. What would Buffy do if she knew about Spike?
After some discussion both Giles and Xander decided to keep Spikes where abouts to themselves, for the moment, anyway. Days passed and slowly Spike began to regain his strength. They had moved him off the couch and into Giles' guest room by the second day. After all, they could hardly keep him a secret if he was camped out on Giles couch. It was nearly a week before Spike had the strength to hold the mug by himself.
Xander found himself so invested in this project that he even took time off from his job and practically lived at Giles. Spike had to be fed every couple of hours at first and Giles needed the help. They didn't question the vampire about what had happened yet. They just let him be and continued to reassure him that he was safe. Finally, Giles felt that Spike had recovered sufficiently to answer some questions.
Spike looked up and towards the door when Xander and Giles entered. Xander saw the vampire's whole body tense as the door open, as if expecting something bad to come through that door to get him. Slowly he relaxed when he realized who was coming in. When, Xander wondered, did he become a non-threat to the bleached-wonder, and why did the thought of Spike trusting him make him feel so good?
Xander and Giles took chairs and sat near Spike. Spike tried to sit up and after a couple of tries he succeeded. Xander noted the progress Spike had made in the time since he had discovered him under that tree.
Giles took off his glasses and cleaned them. Spike, he said I think now you are better enough to answer some of out questions. Spike nodded, saying softly, "I will if I can." At that Giles asked about what had happened to him? Spike took in a deep unneeded breath, shifting his gaze between the two men and began.
He told them about his capture by the initiative. The enforced starvation, then the fear of eating what little was provided. He spoke of seeing many atrocities committed on quite a few vampires and other demons. Then he spoke of experiments performed on himself, and then how he escaped. Xander could see that reliving these memories was almost more than Spike could bear. He wished they could spare him this but they needed to know what was going on and Spike was their only source. What he told them was, frankly, shocking. Most shocking of all though, was Spikes insistence that the Slayer knew exactly what was going on and was a active participant. She saw me, knew me, and didn't care what was being done to me. Both men listening found this unbelievable. Yet somehow they did believe him. Xander glanced at Giles, met his eyes and held his gaze. Silently a decision was made between them. Buffy would not be told about Spike. Ok, that decision was all well and good, but then what to do with Spike? He couldn't be hidden forever from Buffy, not and stay at Giles. Xander's place was no better option either. This needed discussion, but not in front of Spike. They could both see that Spike was exhausted from telling his tail. They left him to get some sleep.
Quietly both men exited Spikes' room, quietly closing the door. Going down stairs the sat themselves down in Giles' living room to discuss everything they had heard. They decided there was only one thing to do. Giles then made a call that he had never thought he would, he called Angle.
Giles and Angle never got along. Giles hqad never forgiven him for Angelus' killing of Ms Calendar. Angel knew this and so was very surprised to get a call from him. At first Angel was uninterested in any trouble Spike might find himself in. After all, Spike was a big bad vampire, well able to get himself out of anything. Giles had to resort to telling some of the more gruesome stories that Spike had told him. When he was done there was silence on the line for many minutes. For a short moment Giles was afraid that Angel had just hung up. Hello, Angel are you still there? Giles finally said. Yeh, I'm still here came the quiet voice across the line. I'll-I'll be there as soon as I can. With that he was gone. Giles put the phone down and turned to Xander explaining that Anglel would be here later that night. Should we tell Spike Angels coming, Xander wondered? No, Giles said, I don't think so. It sounded like there were problems between them and it will only scare Spike needlessly. Xander had to go back to work, but said he would return before Angle arrival.
About 11:00 a knock came to Giles door. Giles opened it knowing who was there. Angel stood there filling the room with his presents and he wasn't even inside the room really. Xander wondered, how does he do that? Angel didn't mince words. Where is he? He asked. Giles indicated which room and then returned to sit with Xander. What would happen now was between Spike and his sire.
Angel paused, took a unneeded deep breath and entered the room. Before the door closed entirely Giles and Xander heard Spike's voice exclaim, Angelus? NO! The door slammed close. Xander hoped they had made the right decision calling Angel in. Nervously, they waited…. And waited….
Hours past. Giles woke from an uneasy sleep, still siting on the couch with Xander, also asleep, by the sound of the door. The clock on the wall read 4:00. Angel was going into the kitchen when Giles finally was able to completely wake up and focus. Immediately he got up and followed Angel into the kitchen. Angel quietly bade him good morning and asked if there was any blood on hand? Giles directed him to the blood and asked after Spike. Angel assured him that while it was true Spike was still hurt he would be better soon. Also that they had talked things out last night. He's coming home with me, Angel said. Giles was frankly relieved. Good, he said. I believe that is for the best. Xander woke soon after. Angel, Giles and Xander discussed what was going to happen next as they ate breakfast together. Xander had to go to work so he said his goodbyes then and left. Angel and Giles spent the day researching and discussing several things which did include the initiative. It was decided, with Buffy's involvement with the them, that both Spikes and Angels presence didn't need to be mentioned to Buffy.
That night Angel and Spike left for LA. This time Spike managed to get into the car on his own power. Spike thanked Giles over and over and left thanks for Xander before he left.
Shortly after that Giles learned about the existence of the chip from an offhand remark of Buffy's. He later asked Angle about it and learned that they had discovered the chip and the fact that Spike could no longer harm humans. By this time, they had also discovered that he could fight demons. Angle told Giles not to worry about Spike anymore. He was fine and Angel felt that perhaps the chip would prove to be a blessing, in that it encouraged Spike to stay on the side of good. Anyhow, he was working for Angel investigations, at least for the foreseeable future. Giles was glad that he had been able to help Spike and that it was all working out. He and the Sunnydale crowd had their own problems at the moment and with all the worry that his life had in it right now it was good to know that he had help to place the feet of a warrior for the light on the right path. Even if that happened to be Spike.