A/N Thanks for the reviews all, in answer to a question, I got most of my
spoiler info from a forum I belong to, sparklies.org. a little bit of this
chapter is inspired by an avi a friend of mine made, she'll know what part
lol.
Worth Saving
Chapter 3
"His aura is fading?" asked Gunn interestedly.
"What exactly does that mean?" asked Angel.
"He's losing his hold on the physical world, by rights he shouldn't even have an aura, only living things are supposed to have auras, which indicates some sort of life force," said Lorne.
"I am here you know, it's my bloody aura, tell me, not that ponce," said Spike, getting more than a little hot under the collar of his leather duster.
"Now hang on there sweetie, I was just getting to you," said Lorne, soothingly.
"Spike, listen to Lorne, he has your best interests at heart and apart from me, he's about the most objective ally you could wish for in this room," said Fred.
"Hey! I don't have Spike issues, I hardly know the guy," said Gunn.
"He doesn't improve upon better acquaintance," said Angel
"So what are we gonna do about it? I don't want fiery pokers up my ass for all eternity," said Spike.
Spike noticed the little smirk on Angel's face.
"Oh you are just loving this mate," said Spike to Angel.
Lorne's cell phone went off, he flipped it open and started talking into the handset.
"Sorry guys, I have to take this it's Jennifer, she just broke up with Ben again," mouthed Lorne.
Lorne carried on talking on the phone; Spike walked over to Fred and stood by her side, his hand resting on her shoulder.
"And you can feel that?" asked Gunn.
"Yeah, as real as if a flesh and blood person were touching me," said Fred.
Spike looked around the room at some of the not so friendly faces; he bent his head to whisper in her ear.
"There's more than one green demon in this room love, what's with the ex- watcher over there?" Spike whispered.
"Wes, oh it's complicated," said Fred evasively.
"It always is, let me guess, said watcher has a thing for you," Spike said quietly.
"There's a lot you don't know, we have all been a team for several years, been through a lot together," Fred replied.
Wesley glanced at Fred and Spike, huddled so close together. He sighed inwardly a sense of resignation settled in his chest, he could see there was something between her and Spike, other than her need to help him. Wesley finally realised in his heart that the one kiss they had shared in Angel's office back at the Hyperion was all he could ever hope for.
"I'll hit the books and see what I can come up with," said Wesley.
"Oh great another watcher with a Jones for research," said Spike sarcastically.
"Do you have a problem with me?" asked Wesley.
"No, just watchers in general since old Rupes tried to end my existence," said Spike.
"Really, and why did he deem it necessary to take you out of the picture if you are all good now?" Asked Wesley.
"That's something you'll have to ask him, I don't have the time for trips down memory lane," Spike replied.
Wesley left the room avoiding eye contact with Fred as he went, it didn't go unnoticed by her. It also angered her slightly, it wasn't as if she had promised him anything, but he still meant a lot to her as a friend, and it pained her to think that she may have caused him pain.
"Is this meeting over, I have a case this afternoon, I need to get my ass down to County Court," said Gunn.
"This meeting is officially over, I'll need progress reports though," said Angel.
Gunn smiled at Fred as he left, she was a little surprised at his lack of reaction to her closeness to Spike, but then if rumours were true, he'd been seeing someone who worked in the same department as him. Fred wasn't sure how she had felt when she had first heard the rumours, but then someone had been on her mind rather a lot of late.
Harmony poked her head through the office door, looking at Angel.
"Don't forget your two o'clock with a Malabo demon, oh and try not to kill this one," said Harmony.
Harmony was about to shut the door when she spied Spike and Fred together. Her mouth dropped open in horror and diselief.
"I can't believe it! You're at it again?! Okay I get Buffy, she was the rebound thing after me, but her? You're disgusting Spike, if you think I'd ever take you back now!" she huffed indignantly.
"Harmony!" said Spike
"Yes?" she replied.
"Ever heard the sayings, when hell freezes over, or in a blue moon, or when pigs might fly?" asked Spike.
"Oh, I think so isn't it a song by Madonna?" asked Harmony.
"Bleeding hell Harm, how did you ever get this job?" asked Spike in despair.
"Okay! Keep your shirt on Mr Grumpy," she pouted.
"Harmony, isn't there something you should be doing right now?" asked Angel.
"I don't know, I'd better go check," she said leaving the office.
"You guys are a bit mean to her," said Fred.
"Believe me, most of the insults don't even register," said Spike.
Spike looked at Angel.
"So what are you gonna do? Must be tiresome sitting behind that big shiny desk all day, I'd have been lining up for one of those gipsy cursed souls in the old days if this is what you get for it. Oh yeah, but then there's the not getting any issue, must be very frustrating for you," said Spike.
"Spike why don't you take your incorporeal ass and 'Angel envy' with you back to Fred's lab," suggested Angel.
"As fascinating as this all is, I should have been long gone, Brad's waiting, sold his soul to the devil and now he doesn't want to pay up, these show biz types, you gotta love em" said Lorne.
"And then there were three, oh don't look at me like that, the science chick and me are leaving," said Spike.
"Don't hurry back on my account Spike," said Angel.
Spike looked at Fred.
"See you back at the lab then," he said
And then he was gone.
"A word Fred before you go," said Angel.
"Let me guess what this is about," said Fred a little defensively.
"Spike, can you doubt it?" he asked.
"I thought what I chose to do with my private life, was exactly that, private," she emphasised.
"I'm only looking out for you as friend," said Angel.
"Well, I am a big girl, capable of taking care of myself," Said Fred.
"I am just saying be careful," said Angel.
"People change Angel, try giving Spike a chance, you might be surprised," said Fred.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Spike sat in the Lab, watching Fred's co-workers shuffle around putting things in test tubes, typing up notes. One of the female lab staff was giving him a decidedly dirty look as she swept up broken glass. When he'd appeared in the lab a few minutes ago, she'd taken such a fright that she'd knocked over a stack of glass beakers.
"Sorry love," he said apologetically.
"It might be safer if you waited in Miss Burkle's office," suggested Knox.
"I'm dead mate, I couldn't possibly get any deader, but thanks for the concern," said Spike mockingly.
"I was thinking about everyone else actually," said Knox, looking around the lab.
Fred appeared through the door.
"Everything okay?" she asked.
"Fine, was just about to see what kept you," said Spike.
"Angel wanted to talk to me," said Fred.
"Let me guess how that went, never mind, shall we go up to your office for some quality time?" said Spike suggestively.
"Not now!" She hissed turning several shades of red.
"Later?" he asked hopefully.
"All good things come to those who wait, besides I want to run some more tests on you," explained Fred.
"Didn't know you were into kinky stuff, guess you never can judge a book by its cover, where do you want me?" he asked.
"How about over on that examination couch in the corner," She replied.
"Now you're talking," he said winking at her.
"Will you quit it! I have to work with these people, how am I going to be able command respect from them if you keep acting this way?" she asked.
"Sorry pet, just having a little fun with you, and you blush so prettily, but Spike will be a good boy, scouts honour and all that," he grinned.
"Bet you were never in the scouts," she replied.
"True, might have eaten a couple of scout leaders in my time though," said Spike.
"Do you want some assistance Fred?" asked Knox.
"No I can handle this one all by myself, thanks," She replied.
Fred turned on the scanners on, running them up and down his body, a look of concentration on her face. Her brain was ticking over as she tried to make sense of the readings.
"Don't think you'll find what you're looking for there love, or maybe you will," Spike said.
Fred looked to see where she paused the scanner, she hastily moved on.
"That's quite some ego you have there," she said with embarrassment.
"Thanks, it's always nice to be appreciated," he said.
"You know what I meant! You are impossible, you get me every time," Fred smiled.
"No, but I am working on it," Spike replied.
"I have to study these latest readings, if I am to be of any help to you, I can't be distracted," she said firmly.
"Fine, I'll go piss off Angel, can't be seen to be slacking, I'll see if I can go make his two o'clock a little more interesting," said Spike, already relishing the thought.
"Okay, but don't annoy him too much, give me a couple of hours then hopefully I will have come up with something," said Fred.
He departed, Fred sighed to herself, why did she feel like Alice in Wonderland, but with the difference of Spike being the very sexy, but sometimes exasperating Cheshire cat that kept disappearing and reappearing at will. Fred read her instruments again and scribbled down some notes.
"I'll be in my office, hold any calls, I don't want to be interrupted for anything, okay?" she said to Knox.
"I'll take care of things," he replied.
Fred took her notes and shut herself in her office, she hoped that Wesley would have something to add to the mix, because what she had to go on so far was proving pretty thin.
TBC
Worth Saving
Chapter 3
"His aura is fading?" asked Gunn interestedly.
"What exactly does that mean?" asked Angel.
"He's losing his hold on the physical world, by rights he shouldn't even have an aura, only living things are supposed to have auras, which indicates some sort of life force," said Lorne.
"I am here you know, it's my bloody aura, tell me, not that ponce," said Spike, getting more than a little hot under the collar of his leather duster.
"Now hang on there sweetie, I was just getting to you," said Lorne, soothingly.
"Spike, listen to Lorne, he has your best interests at heart and apart from me, he's about the most objective ally you could wish for in this room," said Fred.
"Hey! I don't have Spike issues, I hardly know the guy," said Gunn.
"He doesn't improve upon better acquaintance," said Angel
"So what are we gonna do about it? I don't want fiery pokers up my ass for all eternity," said Spike.
Spike noticed the little smirk on Angel's face.
"Oh you are just loving this mate," said Spike to Angel.
Lorne's cell phone went off, he flipped it open and started talking into the handset.
"Sorry guys, I have to take this it's Jennifer, she just broke up with Ben again," mouthed Lorne.
Lorne carried on talking on the phone; Spike walked over to Fred and stood by her side, his hand resting on her shoulder.
"And you can feel that?" asked Gunn.
"Yeah, as real as if a flesh and blood person were touching me," said Fred.
Spike looked around the room at some of the not so friendly faces; he bent his head to whisper in her ear.
"There's more than one green demon in this room love, what's with the ex- watcher over there?" Spike whispered.
"Wes, oh it's complicated," said Fred evasively.
"It always is, let me guess, said watcher has a thing for you," Spike said quietly.
"There's a lot you don't know, we have all been a team for several years, been through a lot together," Fred replied.
Wesley glanced at Fred and Spike, huddled so close together. He sighed inwardly a sense of resignation settled in his chest, he could see there was something between her and Spike, other than her need to help him. Wesley finally realised in his heart that the one kiss they had shared in Angel's office back at the Hyperion was all he could ever hope for.
"I'll hit the books and see what I can come up with," said Wesley.
"Oh great another watcher with a Jones for research," said Spike sarcastically.
"Do you have a problem with me?" asked Wesley.
"No, just watchers in general since old Rupes tried to end my existence," said Spike.
"Really, and why did he deem it necessary to take you out of the picture if you are all good now?" Asked Wesley.
"That's something you'll have to ask him, I don't have the time for trips down memory lane," Spike replied.
Wesley left the room avoiding eye contact with Fred as he went, it didn't go unnoticed by her. It also angered her slightly, it wasn't as if she had promised him anything, but he still meant a lot to her as a friend, and it pained her to think that she may have caused him pain.
"Is this meeting over, I have a case this afternoon, I need to get my ass down to County Court," said Gunn.
"This meeting is officially over, I'll need progress reports though," said Angel.
Gunn smiled at Fred as he left, she was a little surprised at his lack of reaction to her closeness to Spike, but then if rumours were true, he'd been seeing someone who worked in the same department as him. Fred wasn't sure how she had felt when she had first heard the rumours, but then someone had been on her mind rather a lot of late.
Harmony poked her head through the office door, looking at Angel.
"Don't forget your two o'clock with a Malabo demon, oh and try not to kill this one," said Harmony.
Harmony was about to shut the door when she spied Spike and Fred together. Her mouth dropped open in horror and diselief.
"I can't believe it! You're at it again?! Okay I get Buffy, she was the rebound thing after me, but her? You're disgusting Spike, if you think I'd ever take you back now!" she huffed indignantly.
"Harmony!" said Spike
"Yes?" she replied.
"Ever heard the sayings, when hell freezes over, or in a blue moon, or when pigs might fly?" asked Spike.
"Oh, I think so isn't it a song by Madonna?" asked Harmony.
"Bleeding hell Harm, how did you ever get this job?" asked Spike in despair.
"Okay! Keep your shirt on Mr Grumpy," she pouted.
"Harmony, isn't there something you should be doing right now?" asked Angel.
"I don't know, I'd better go check," she said leaving the office.
"You guys are a bit mean to her," said Fred.
"Believe me, most of the insults don't even register," said Spike.
Spike looked at Angel.
"So what are you gonna do? Must be tiresome sitting behind that big shiny desk all day, I'd have been lining up for one of those gipsy cursed souls in the old days if this is what you get for it. Oh yeah, but then there's the not getting any issue, must be very frustrating for you," said Spike.
"Spike why don't you take your incorporeal ass and 'Angel envy' with you back to Fred's lab," suggested Angel.
"As fascinating as this all is, I should have been long gone, Brad's waiting, sold his soul to the devil and now he doesn't want to pay up, these show biz types, you gotta love em" said Lorne.
"And then there were three, oh don't look at me like that, the science chick and me are leaving," said Spike.
"Don't hurry back on my account Spike," said Angel.
Spike looked at Fred.
"See you back at the lab then," he said
And then he was gone.
"A word Fred before you go," said Angel.
"Let me guess what this is about," said Fred a little defensively.
"Spike, can you doubt it?" he asked.
"I thought what I chose to do with my private life, was exactly that, private," she emphasised.
"I'm only looking out for you as friend," said Angel.
"Well, I am a big girl, capable of taking care of myself," Said Fred.
"I am just saying be careful," said Angel.
"People change Angel, try giving Spike a chance, you might be surprised," said Fred.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Spike sat in the Lab, watching Fred's co-workers shuffle around putting things in test tubes, typing up notes. One of the female lab staff was giving him a decidedly dirty look as she swept up broken glass. When he'd appeared in the lab a few minutes ago, she'd taken such a fright that she'd knocked over a stack of glass beakers.
"Sorry love," he said apologetically.
"It might be safer if you waited in Miss Burkle's office," suggested Knox.
"I'm dead mate, I couldn't possibly get any deader, but thanks for the concern," said Spike mockingly.
"I was thinking about everyone else actually," said Knox, looking around the lab.
Fred appeared through the door.
"Everything okay?" she asked.
"Fine, was just about to see what kept you," said Spike.
"Angel wanted to talk to me," said Fred.
"Let me guess how that went, never mind, shall we go up to your office for some quality time?" said Spike suggestively.
"Not now!" She hissed turning several shades of red.
"Later?" he asked hopefully.
"All good things come to those who wait, besides I want to run some more tests on you," explained Fred.
"Didn't know you were into kinky stuff, guess you never can judge a book by its cover, where do you want me?" he asked.
"How about over on that examination couch in the corner," She replied.
"Now you're talking," he said winking at her.
"Will you quit it! I have to work with these people, how am I going to be able command respect from them if you keep acting this way?" she asked.
"Sorry pet, just having a little fun with you, and you blush so prettily, but Spike will be a good boy, scouts honour and all that," he grinned.
"Bet you were never in the scouts," she replied.
"True, might have eaten a couple of scout leaders in my time though," said Spike.
"Do you want some assistance Fred?" asked Knox.
"No I can handle this one all by myself, thanks," She replied.
Fred turned on the scanners on, running them up and down his body, a look of concentration on her face. Her brain was ticking over as she tried to make sense of the readings.
"Don't think you'll find what you're looking for there love, or maybe you will," Spike said.
Fred looked to see where she paused the scanner, she hastily moved on.
"That's quite some ego you have there," she said with embarrassment.
"Thanks, it's always nice to be appreciated," he said.
"You know what I meant! You are impossible, you get me every time," Fred smiled.
"No, but I am working on it," Spike replied.
"I have to study these latest readings, if I am to be of any help to you, I can't be distracted," she said firmly.
"Fine, I'll go piss off Angel, can't be seen to be slacking, I'll see if I can go make his two o'clock a little more interesting," said Spike, already relishing the thought.
"Okay, but don't annoy him too much, give me a couple of hours then hopefully I will have come up with something," said Fred.
He departed, Fred sighed to herself, why did she feel like Alice in Wonderland, but with the difference of Spike being the very sexy, but sometimes exasperating Cheshire cat that kept disappearing and reappearing at will. Fred read her instruments again and scribbled down some notes.
"I'll be in my office, hold any calls, I don't want to be interrupted for anything, okay?" she said to Knox.
"I'll take care of things," he replied.
Fred took her notes and shut herself in her office, she hoped that Wesley would have something to add to the mix, because what she had to go on so far was proving pretty thin.
TBC