Ins and Outs
***
Carrying a vampire up two flights of stairs to the hotel room was not an easy task. Knowing that one block away the Council's forces were looking for them was nerve-wracking. However they couldn't move Spike very far. He was in a lot of pain.
Wesley groaned as he was relieved of the weight of the vampire. He looked at Xander and Melinda.
"You two go out. I want you to be as visible as possible. Throw them off of our scent."
Wesley threw a wad of pound notes at them. He was nervous about being found before Giles could take control of the council. He needed someway to not pin-point their location. He could cover two people with a protection spell, but not all of them. Xander and Melinda could take care of themselves. It was better not to have them go back to the Council yet, not without him. Their job was to run interference. London was full of spies and if they did their job right, playing up to the annoying stereotypes of Americans, Wesley might have a chance to get Spike better.
Xander looked surprised, "I don't think that this is the best idea. I think we should stick together."
Wesley shook his head, "Go. I'll be fine."
Melinda took Xander's arm, "C'mon let's go raise a ruckus in London."
The pair left determined to go out and fulfill their duty. Wesley looked at his patient.
"Thanks," Spike said dolefully, understanding there was going to be a lot of pain and Wesley had saved him from having to be watched as he went through it.
Wesley cut away his jeans and looked at the mangled mass of his legs.
"I'm not a doctor," Wesley said as a warning.
"And I'm not human, so we'll be fine. Just get the bones back in place," Spike said through gritted teeth.
Wesley sighed and prayed that he could do something.
***
Willow brought forth a silver orb.
"Now," Giles said to Holden, "This is the Sphere of Galia. It turns words into actions. You will use it to renounce your seat. When you utter the words then they will be a reality. You will not be allowed to be near anything Council related without feeling a distinct bit of nausea." Giles turned to the rest of the present members, "Then the rest of you will use it to either renounce or swear loyalty to us."
Holden sneered, "And I would do that why?"
This was a man who would never willingly give up any power that he had, but the night was young.
***
Spike couldn't bear much more. Most of the bones in his legs had to be re broken. While Wesley was competent there was no alcohol or anything to numb the pain. Spike had slipped in and out of consciousness.
He had thought initially that it would be easy, but ten minutes into the procedure he was biting down on the pillow. It was agonizing. Finally Wesley splinted his legs and tied them tight.
Spike remembered the last time that he had been paralyzed. He would not loose another woman he loved due to being a cripple. He looked at Wesley, "Don't let her see me until it's healed."
"Spike I don't think that I can keep her away that long."
"I'm a vampire, Watcher, I heal quick."
Wesley saw the pride in the vampire. A woman was waging a war with the council for this man. She had crossed the Atlantic for him. Legs or no legs it wouldn't matter. However the man had his pride, so he promised to do what he could.
***
"We get to hit fifty bars in London while the rest of the gang is doing battle," Melinda muttered.
"Like I said, I get the fun jobs," Xander said.
The two were both noticeably drunk. The night of drinking had turned out not to be as much fun as it would sound. Drinking on some one else's tab should be like fun, but they had too many worries to enjoy themselves. They had thrown fits and fights.
In England the laws stated that each pint had to be exactly poured with ¾ inch head. They had thrown fights about the amount of head. Melinda had gotten into three catfights, Xander had two brawls. They had also had five arguments with each other. All of it was carefully staged in order to draw attention to them in every area of town, just so all spies of the Council would not have any idea of the exact location of Spike. They would know now that holding Spike would be a way to be in power.
"The room is swimming," Xander groaned.
"You're a lightweight," Melinda remarked, not sounding any more sober than Xander.
Xander had a black eye and neither one of them really wanted to start a fight anymore.
"Wesley said that we are supposed to go find our own hotel room," Melinda said lurching to one side as if her seat suddenly had moved.
Xander looked at her with his one good eye.
"Are you taking advantage of me?"
Melinda smiled sweetly, if not completely dreamily, "You're married to an ex-vengeance demon.
"Yep, got a lovely little demon, did you know you were sixteen?"
Melinda seemed to be attempting to remember.
"Thass illegal." Xander hissed as he closed one eye to reach out and grab the top of a centerpiece, which just happened to be the flame to a candle.
"Even here?" Melinda said blinking, clearly thinking she was in the magical land of Oz or something.
Xander nodded solemnly and got up, extending a hand to her. She took it in silence and they went out of the bar.
Melinda leaned into him as they walked down the street looking for a cab.
"You get the floor big guy."
***
***
Carrying a vampire up two flights of stairs to the hotel room was not an easy task. Knowing that one block away the Council's forces were looking for them was nerve-wracking. However they couldn't move Spike very far. He was in a lot of pain.
Wesley groaned as he was relieved of the weight of the vampire. He looked at Xander and Melinda.
"You two go out. I want you to be as visible as possible. Throw them off of our scent."
Wesley threw a wad of pound notes at them. He was nervous about being found before Giles could take control of the council. He needed someway to not pin-point their location. He could cover two people with a protection spell, but not all of them. Xander and Melinda could take care of themselves. It was better not to have them go back to the Council yet, not without him. Their job was to run interference. London was full of spies and if they did their job right, playing up to the annoying stereotypes of Americans, Wesley might have a chance to get Spike better.
Xander looked surprised, "I don't think that this is the best idea. I think we should stick together."
Wesley shook his head, "Go. I'll be fine."
Melinda took Xander's arm, "C'mon let's go raise a ruckus in London."
The pair left determined to go out and fulfill their duty. Wesley looked at his patient.
"Thanks," Spike said dolefully, understanding there was going to be a lot of pain and Wesley had saved him from having to be watched as he went through it.
Wesley cut away his jeans and looked at the mangled mass of his legs.
"I'm not a doctor," Wesley said as a warning.
"And I'm not human, so we'll be fine. Just get the bones back in place," Spike said through gritted teeth.
Wesley sighed and prayed that he could do something.
***
Willow brought forth a silver orb.
"Now," Giles said to Holden, "This is the Sphere of Galia. It turns words into actions. You will use it to renounce your seat. When you utter the words then they will be a reality. You will not be allowed to be near anything Council related without feeling a distinct bit of nausea." Giles turned to the rest of the present members, "Then the rest of you will use it to either renounce or swear loyalty to us."
Holden sneered, "And I would do that why?"
This was a man who would never willingly give up any power that he had, but the night was young.
***
Spike couldn't bear much more. Most of the bones in his legs had to be re broken. While Wesley was competent there was no alcohol or anything to numb the pain. Spike had slipped in and out of consciousness.
He had thought initially that it would be easy, but ten minutes into the procedure he was biting down on the pillow. It was agonizing. Finally Wesley splinted his legs and tied them tight.
Spike remembered the last time that he had been paralyzed. He would not loose another woman he loved due to being a cripple. He looked at Wesley, "Don't let her see me until it's healed."
"Spike I don't think that I can keep her away that long."
"I'm a vampire, Watcher, I heal quick."
Wesley saw the pride in the vampire. A woman was waging a war with the council for this man. She had crossed the Atlantic for him. Legs or no legs it wouldn't matter. However the man had his pride, so he promised to do what he could.
***
"We get to hit fifty bars in London while the rest of the gang is doing battle," Melinda muttered.
"Like I said, I get the fun jobs," Xander said.
The two were both noticeably drunk. The night of drinking had turned out not to be as much fun as it would sound. Drinking on some one else's tab should be like fun, but they had too many worries to enjoy themselves. They had thrown fits and fights.
In England the laws stated that each pint had to be exactly poured with ¾ inch head. They had thrown fights about the amount of head. Melinda had gotten into three catfights, Xander had two brawls. They had also had five arguments with each other. All of it was carefully staged in order to draw attention to them in every area of town, just so all spies of the Council would not have any idea of the exact location of Spike. They would know now that holding Spike would be a way to be in power.
"The room is swimming," Xander groaned.
"You're a lightweight," Melinda remarked, not sounding any more sober than Xander.
Xander had a black eye and neither one of them really wanted to start a fight anymore.
"Wesley said that we are supposed to go find our own hotel room," Melinda said lurching to one side as if her seat suddenly had moved.
Xander looked at her with his one good eye.
"Are you taking advantage of me?"
Melinda smiled sweetly, if not completely dreamily, "You're married to an ex-vengeance demon.
"Yep, got a lovely little demon, did you know you were sixteen?"
Melinda seemed to be attempting to remember.
"Thass illegal." Xander hissed as he closed one eye to reach out and grab the top of a centerpiece, which just happened to be the flame to a candle.
"Even here?" Melinda said blinking, clearly thinking she was in the magical land of Oz or something.
Xander nodded solemnly and got up, extending a hand to her. She took it in silence and they went out of the bar.
Melinda leaned into him as they walked down the street looking for a cab.
"You get the floor big guy."
***