Chapter XII - . . .Kill me.
~~~~~~~~
The murky afternoon that had allowed only a stray ray of sunlight to grace the day had now turned pitch black. Having slept through the evening, the time lost pair in the cave awoke simply because it was freezing cold.
Spike had in fact been awake for quite some time before he felt Xander stir, and unintentionally made a big mistake.
He pretended to be asleep.
Once again, his first instinct had been to get away from the warm body lying next to him, but he curbed that, wanting to know what Xanders' reaction to waking up in the arms of a vampire would be. That curiosity cost him dearly. The vampire had forgotten about Xanders uncanny ability to sense when he was awake and the boys' tendency to jump to self depreciating conclusions.
~~~~~
After a panicked moment of not knowing where he was or who the pair of strong arms he was wrapped in belonged to Xander woke up. Memory came crashing back not unlike a tidal wave and the strangeness of the situation was only increased by the fact that Spike was pretending to be asleep. // why?? // The part of last night that Xanders' conscious mind was carefully avoiding finally sprang to attention. *The kiss.* Suddenly Spikes' reason for faking sleep was all too clear to Xander. // He doesn't want to face this.. can't blame him. Who would? // Suddenly the slayerette felt like crying, without, for once, stopping to analyze how very un-Spike-like it was to avoid anything.
"I know you're awake."
The tone of voice snapped Spike out his musings. Outright hostility was not what he was expecting.
"Good morning sunshine."
Spike said masking his surprise with sarcasm, much like Xander, who was hiding behind the hostility.
// what do I do now. . .?// Spike didn't know what to think when Xander wordlessly rolled out of 'bed' and made his way to the stream to splash some water on his face. The vampire just watched him. Fading light of dusk clung to pale skin and accumulated in droplets of water. An icy stare pierced the equally icy air separating Spike and Xander and once their eyes met the vampire was compelled to say something. He had done something wrong. // what?//
"About last night. . ."
//is it that I kissed him?//
"forget it."
//might as well make it easy for him//
"it?"
//but he kissed me back!//
"look, I can see that you don't wanna talk about *it* , so we don't have to bring *it* up ever again, that's what you want?"
//smug bastard, what did he think I meant?!//
"what about what you want? Change your mind pretty fast don't you?"
// Idiot. Of course he doesn't feel anything for you. You were just there!//
"Since when do you care about what I want? I can't believe I was stupid enough to trust you!"
// . . .with my feelings.//
"Funny, I can!"
Spike saw Xander flinch a little at this comment, and realized that the 'hurt them before they hurt you' may not be the best approach to the situation. He wiped the smirk off his face a little too late though. The whole situation left the distinct impression of heaving started on the wrong foot. Now it was heading to hell and there was nothing that could stop it. // Well, shit!//
"Yes, I imagine it is funny."
Xanders voice was surprisingly calm, and before Spike got a chance to interrupt he went on.
"I hope you enjoyed your little game, Spike! And here I thought that all that was behind you! Gullible little Xander, you had to make me feel something for you?! What, playing on my insecurities wasn't enough? No, you made me believe you had a heart, you bastard! All things considered it wasn't all that hard now was it. . ."
The last sentence was a whispered confession, as opposed to the rest of Xanders' outburst which varied in pitch and tone but not volume. All of it had been ripped from his soul at a scream.
Spike tried to catch up to the meaning of the words. If that was how Xander felt then everything should be alright. But it wasn't. Spike couldn't figure out where and why the situation had taken the wrong turn. // Could we start again please? //
~~~~~~
Somewhere in the void between realities a single syllable graced the silence. 'No'.
~~~~~~
Spike reached out to put a hand on Xanders shoulder, he had to slow this down, it was just a misunderstanding.
"Don't touch me!!"
Suddenly Xander saw the vampires gaze drift over his shoulder and focus on something behind him, squinting. Then he whispered something under his breath.
"Bugger."
// Not now!!//
Spikes' highly attuned senses had been unfocused enough to miss the advancing armada of torch wielding villagers through the forest towards them. He vamped out at the unfairness of it all, nothing that was happening made any sense. Xander glanced around and then looked back at Spike. Shouts of 'There they are!!' and 'The demon is with him!' tore through the fragile silence. It was like the world was once again in real-time for both of them. Xander felt like giving up. Spike searched his eyes desperately for a moment, then, deciding it could wait grabbed Xanders arm and made for the trees.
"Run!!"
~~~~~~
Back at the Magic Box things were going according to plan. Everything needed for the spell was once again in place along with the tangible hope that it would work this time handing in the air. Willow began to chant.
~~~~~~
Branches grabbed at his clothes, undergrowth tangled his legs, and something sharp and pointy pierced his heart. Xander was having a bad day. He knew he had to keep moving, but the non metaphorical obstacles proved to be too much and he felt himself trip over something. A moment of freefall followed by a sharp pain. Trying to get up as quickly as possible Xander realized he couldn't run anymore. He realized this and yet found himself grabbing on to the undergrowth scrambling to his feet, falling again. . . there was something wrong with his ankle.
Finally he just lay on the soft moss panting, and thoughts of how this was like a scene out of a B rate horror flick raced through his mind. He wondered if he should scream. ~~~~~
They were getting closer, Spike could hear the clumsy humans crash through the forest, while he himself moved more swiftly slipping through the trees like a shadow.
// if it weren't for the whelp I'd 'a lost 'em by now. . . //
His metaphorical breath caught at the thought, as, incidentally that precise second the vampire heard Xander trip and fall.
// God, I didn't mean it, please, please be ok//
Spike had been tracking the footsteps close behind him the whole time, and then they got separated. Xander went out to take the clearer path along the river bank, and ended up having to loop back in to the forest when he encountered some boulders he couldn't easily climb over. He was a ways behind Spike at that point, so the vampire slowed his pace. Realizing Xander didn't get up, Spike doubled back towards the oncoming throng of murderous villagers.
Xanders breath was coming in short shallow gasps. He scooted back against a tree in a desperate attempt to hide, but there was no chance of going unnoticed. He closed his eyes for a second in concentration, and when he opened them again he could see a figure crash through the undergrowth and land in a heap next to him.
"Spike!!"
The vampire crouched in front of Xander running his hands over the boy in a frenzied attempt to make sure he wasn't badly hurt.
"Luv, we have to go, we have to go, get up!"
So fast, everything was happening so fast! He heard Spikes' desperate voice whisper to him that they had to move.
"Get out of here! They'll kill you, go!"
Xander didn't bother to whisper, he could see very well what was going on behind the vampire and the advancing mob had already spotted them.
"Not without you, I'm not going anywhere. Come on, pet please, try!"
Xander was dragged to his feet, but both could tell that if Spike let go there would be nothing supporting Xander except for the tree behind him, and it seemed reluctant to move so Xander was stuck. Their eyes met for a brief second and time stilled. The muffled cries were mere echoes now, the flickering lights of torches fading in and out of the trees. Xanders' heart beat seemed unnaturally loud and he couldn't catch his breath anymore. He felt like some one dropped a ton of bricks on his chest and could do nothing more than mouth 'Go!'.
Spike only stared at him trying to comprehend, an emotion flickered in his eyes for a moment, a memory of a time and a place different yet so like now, a time when he would have given up his unlife without question, for his love, that had been Prague, when he and Drusilla were attacked by an angry mob. Luck and his skill had saved both of them , but he knew there were no such chances now. And yet, he didn't care! Suddenly it seemed almost amusing that Xander thought he would leave him there and run! He looked at the boy fondly letting a small smile tug at his lips, before turning away and placing himself between Xander and certain death.
// He's not going anywhere is he. . . . don't, please, not for me! //
Xander realized what was going on and with that time returned to normal, and he wanted to scream and scream until he woke up from the nightmare. Spike turned, slipping in to game face, and stood in a fighting stance a meter in front of him. And then they were out of time.
An arm raised and drawn back, the fire of the torch it held burning almost as brightly as the hate in the mans' eyes. The projectile spun through the air, true to its aim.
~~~~~
"No hope, yet he stays, protecting his heart, they are bound together now by the choice he makes. You were right sister."
Something like pride shone in the guardians eyes as she witnessed the vampire shed his demon, his very nature for the one he loved.
"He is one of us now."
She whispered surprising her sibling with the uncharacteristic show of kinship with the mortals.
"Well done in deed! Now all we have to look forward to is his ugly and agonizing death."
This was said with a reluctant smile, he knew after all that his sister had some plan to return the pair to where they belong before any harm came to them, but she was cutting it close!
~~~~~~
The torch flew through the air and the only thing Spike had time to do was realize that it was going to hit him. To his surprise, it never did!
~~~~~~
The aura of magic shimmered more brightly in the sacred circle and then flared to spectacular intensity. Willow's chanting was joined by another voice. If it could be called that: it was powerful, elemental like the sound of a waterfall, ancient and ethereal.
The vortex appeared, filling the room with noise, everything was momentarily reduced to chaos. It ended suddenly making the room seem too still for a moment.
"Xander!! Spike, thank god, it worked this time!!"
Spike closed his eyes for an instant. They were safe. It was over. He didn't have to turn around to know that Xander was ok, he could hear the strong heart beat and uneven breathing coming from the boy who had now collapsed to the floor.
Willow could barely stand. She was next to Xander on the floor in seconds and then, both him and Spike were surrounded by a flood of questions. 'Are you alright?' 'What happened?' 'Where were you?' 'I'm so glad you're back!' 'Xander, are you hurt?' 'Angel, call an ambulance!'
//Angel? So, my great poof of a sire is here. Just what I need.//
Spike wasn't dreading his sires presence for the usual reasons. Or perhaps they were the usual reasons: Angel could always figure out what his chlide was feeling. Something Spike wasn't eager to share with anyone until he figured out what to do with it back in the real world. To say he was overwhelmed would be an understatement. In fact he was barely holding it together, thankfully most of the scoobies were clustered around Xander.
~~~~~~~~
"Are you hurt?" Xander made no move to get up, he hadn't been able to get a word in since he somehow landed on the floor of the magic box and was surrounded by all his friends.
Willow saw a strange look of horror come over his features for a moment that melted in to panic as he braced himself on his elbows and his eyes searched the throng of people in the room. Taking a shuddering breath as his gaze found whatever he'd been looking for he relaxed and looked at the young witch once more.
"I'm fine Wills. Really,"
He didn't get to finish the thought as he was enveloped in a desperate hug. He felt so weak, like his limbs were filled with lead and he could barley move them to return the embrace. He was vaguely aware of Buffy hugging him too, Giles stuttering something and Tara's comforting touch on his arm. Then the sound of sirens somewhere far away, and then, nothing.
~~~~~~~
"He passed out, we think he fell down the stairs. . ."
"Move please, make some room. . ."
Buffy watched as Xander was strapped to a gurney and wheeled outside in to an ambulance. There was room for one more and she decided to go with him. Willow protested but Giles and Tara insisted that she was not well enough to go anywhere yet. Before heading out of the door she turned, put a hand on Spikes shoulder, and just looked at him for a moment. Then, surprising them both drew him in to a brief hug and sprinted for the ambulance. The slayer decided that the startled look on the vampire's face was worth the extra showers she'd have to take.
Spike just stood there. His eyes were as wide as saucers. He shook his head, hoping they weren't in some kind of alternate dimension. // Did the slayer just give me a hug?? // the thought was too ridicules to dwell on for long and luckily he was saved from that fate by a voice calling out his name.
"Spike!"
Willow all but ran up to him with Tara close behind.
"you. . . !"
Spike pointed an accusing finger at the red head and narrowed his eyes. He couldn't find the words to finish what he was saying, so he just raised his hand and slapped Willow upside the head. It didn't set of his chip, it was really just a token gesture. He tried to look angry but couldn't keep in up much longer.
"I'm sorry."
Willow chewed on her bottom lip.
"are. . . are you alright?"
Tara asked meekly. A tear was running down her flushed cheek as her doe eyes stared up at the vampire. Spike sighed and rolled his eyes annoyed at himself for being such a softie even as a smile tugged at his lips. He'd grown far too close to these two and felt almost as protective of them as he did of Xander. He didn't want them to worry about him so. Wiping the tear off Taras' face he drew both in to a hug.
"No harm done luv."
Another moment of murmured assurances and comforting words saw the witches seated on the couch and Spike leaning against a random wall wondering if this was real? Did they actually care? Could he let himself feel this good? Something was troubling him still, he was desperate to talk to Xander and was dreading it at the same time. Either way, he wasn't up to it right now, his unfocused gaze lingered on the floor unable to do more than promise himself to think about it tomorrow. He felt like crying. Hadn't he been resigned to his death a moment ago? Now he had to live with it, and he had yet to come to terms with that. Feeling a hand in his shoulder the vampire looked up.
"Spike?"
The watchers voice sounded worried. Spike covered up his momentary show of weakness a little too late, Giles had seen the lost look in his eyes before in was replaced by the customary smirking arrogance. The Watcher thought back to all the times he'd seen that look and wondered if the vampire had ever really meant is as more that a disguise for his true feelings. // Scotch! I need some before I start feeling sorry for the poor, misunderstood evil fiend!! // despite his thoughts Giles couldn't help but acknowledge that he didn't harbor any of the feelings the vampire in front of him should elicit. Which was why he was there, talking to Spike.
"Watcher, if you hug me, I *swear*, !"
Giles just smiled a little, knowing that Spike meant that as much as he did his cocksure stance, and arrogant glare.
"I'm glad you're alright."
Giles could hardly believe what he was saying. He could tell he wasn't alone in that but it seemed Spike was too exhausted to be shocked so he just sighed and nodded his thanks.
"Now, why don't you get something to eat? There's blood in the fridge."
Spike's face lit up at the mention of food.
"Weetabix?"
He asked excitedly making Giles have to remind himself that the vampire wasn't a ten year old child because he sure could fool a lot of people acting as he did. Giles just sighed, and did his version of rolling his eyes and gestured for the vampire to help himself. He watched, unable to suppress a small twinge of fondness as Spike all but ran to the kitchen.
~~~~~
Getting tree baggies of blood out of the fridge,
// Human!//
he drained the first without further preparation. Sometime between entering the kitchen and emptying the contents of the second baggie in to a mug, he realized that he was not alone.
// Eat now, deal with annoying poofty sires later. //
Having sorted out his priorities Spike proceeded to ignore Angel as he set about microwaving his mug of O-neg. ~~~~~~~
//why does he have to be different?//
//why does he have to be different?//
//why isn't there more scotch?//
//if I didn't know better I'd swear they're in love//
//they're in love//
The sun was rising in the morning sky over Sunnydale, bringing a strange new day. Angel sat staring at his childe in the training room behind the Magic Box, wishing he wasn't special.
Spike lay pretending to sleep glad that only Xander had the talent of being able to tell the difference, thoughts of the brown haired boy racing through his mind.
Giles paced his office looking for the hidden flask that wasn't where it was supposed to be.
Buffy sat in the waiting room of the hospital, pondering her intuitions. After all, that look, it had to have meant something. Xander was being examined by the doctors, and they said they would like to keep him over night - Xander protested, and then Buffy was shown to the plastic chair half an hour ago. Knowing that until she knew for sure, the thought // utterly ridiculous though it may be // would nag at her, she decided to talk to Spike later.
Tera touched Willows' hair as the red head slept. She knew.
~~~~~~
AN: This is the second time I've uploaded this chapter. Apologies to anyone who read the previous part, ff.net screwed up my paragraphs for some reason.
Alrighty then. Next part coming soon. No really.
~~~~~~~~
The murky afternoon that had allowed only a stray ray of sunlight to grace the day had now turned pitch black. Having slept through the evening, the time lost pair in the cave awoke simply because it was freezing cold.
Spike had in fact been awake for quite some time before he felt Xander stir, and unintentionally made a big mistake.
He pretended to be asleep.
Once again, his first instinct had been to get away from the warm body lying next to him, but he curbed that, wanting to know what Xanders' reaction to waking up in the arms of a vampire would be. That curiosity cost him dearly. The vampire had forgotten about Xanders uncanny ability to sense when he was awake and the boys' tendency to jump to self depreciating conclusions.
~~~~~
After a panicked moment of not knowing where he was or who the pair of strong arms he was wrapped in belonged to Xander woke up. Memory came crashing back not unlike a tidal wave and the strangeness of the situation was only increased by the fact that Spike was pretending to be asleep. // why?? // The part of last night that Xanders' conscious mind was carefully avoiding finally sprang to attention. *The kiss.* Suddenly Spikes' reason for faking sleep was all too clear to Xander. // He doesn't want to face this.. can't blame him. Who would? // Suddenly the slayerette felt like crying, without, for once, stopping to analyze how very un-Spike-like it was to avoid anything.
"I know you're awake."
The tone of voice snapped Spike out his musings. Outright hostility was not what he was expecting.
"Good morning sunshine."
Spike said masking his surprise with sarcasm, much like Xander, who was hiding behind the hostility.
// what do I do now. . .?// Spike didn't know what to think when Xander wordlessly rolled out of 'bed' and made his way to the stream to splash some water on his face. The vampire just watched him. Fading light of dusk clung to pale skin and accumulated in droplets of water. An icy stare pierced the equally icy air separating Spike and Xander and once their eyes met the vampire was compelled to say something. He had done something wrong. // what?//
"About last night. . ."
//is it that I kissed him?//
"forget it."
//might as well make it easy for him//
"it?"
//but he kissed me back!//
"look, I can see that you don't wanna talk about *it* , so we don't have to bring *it* up ever again, that's what you want?"
//smug bastard, what did he think I meant?!//
"what about what you want? Change your mind pretty fast don't you?"
// Idiot. Of course he doesn't feel anything for you. You were just there!//
"Since when do you care about what I want? I can't believe I was stupid enough to trust you!"
// . . .with my feelings.//
"Funny, I can!"
Spike saw Xander flinch a little at this comment, and realized that the 'hurt them before they hurt you' may not be the best approach to the situation. He wiped the smirk off his face a little too late though. The whole situation left the distinct impression of heaving started on the wrong foot. Now it was heading to hell and there was nothing that could stop it. // Well, shit!//
"Yes, I imagine it is funny."
Xanders voice was surprisingly calm, and before Spike got a chance to interrupt he went on.
"I hope you enjoyed your little game, Spike! And here I thought that all that was behind you! Gullible little Xander, you had to make me feel something for you?! What, playing on my insecurities wasn't enough? No, you made me believe you had a heart, you bastard! All things considered it wasn't all that hard now was it. . ."
The last sentence was a whispered confession, as opposed to the rest of Xanders' outburst which varied in pitch and tone but not volume. All of it had been ripped from his soul at a scream.
Spike tried to catch up to the meaning of the words. If that was how Xander felt then everything should be alright. But it wasn't. Spike couldn't figure out where and why the situation had taken the wrong turn. // Could we start again please? //
~~~~~~
Somewhere in the void between realities a single syllable graced the silence. 'No'.
~~~~~~
Spike reached out to put a hand on Xanders shoulder, he had to slow this down, it was just a misunderstanding.
"Don't touch me!!"
Suddenly Xander saw the vampires gaze drift over his shoulder and focus on something behind him, squinting. Then he whispered something under his breath.
"Bugger."
// Not now!!//
Spikes' highly attuned senses had been unfocused enough to miss the advancing armada of torch wielding villagers through the forest towards them. He vamped out at the unfairness of it all, nothing that was happening made any sense. Xander glanced around and then looked back at Spike. Shouts of 'There they are!!' and 'The demon is with him!' tore through the fragile silence. It was like the world was once again in real-time for both of them. Xander felt like giving up. Spike searched his eyes desperately for a moment, then, deciding it could wait grabbed Xanders arm and made for the trees.
"Run!!"
~~~~~~
Back at the Magic Box things were going according to plan. Everything needed for the spell was once again in place along with the tangible hope that it would work this time handing in the air. Willow began to chant.
~~~~~~
Branches grabbed at his clothes, undergrowth tangled his legs, and something sharp and pointy pierced his heart. Xander was having a bad day. He knew he had to keep moving, but the non metaphorical obstacles proved to be too much and he felt himself trip over something. A moment of freefall followed by a sharp pain. Trying to get up as quickly as possible Xander realized he couldn't run anymore. He realized this and yet found himself grabbing on to the undergrowth scrambling to his feet, falling again. . . there was something wrong with his ankle.
Finally he just lay on the soft moss panting, and thoughts of how this was like a scene out of a B rate horror flick raced through his mind. He wondered if he should scream. ~~~~~
They were getting closer, Spike could hear the clumsy humans crash through the forest, while he himself moved more swiftly slipping through the trees like a shadow.
// if it weren't for the whelp I'd 'a lost 'em by now. . . //
His metaphorical breath caught at the thought, as, incidentally that precise second the vampire heard Xander trip and fall.
// God, I didn't mean it, please, please be ok//
Spike had been tracking the footsteps close behind him the whole time, and then they got separated. Xander went out to take the clearer path along the river bank, and ended up having to loop back in to the forest when he encountered some boulders he couldn't easily climb over. He was a ways behind Spike at that point, so the vampire slowed his pace. Realizing Xander didn't get up, Spike doubled back towards the oncoming throng of murderous villagers.
Xanders breath was coming in short shallow gasps. He scooted back against a tree in a desperate attempt to hide, but there was no chance of going unnoticed. He closed his eyes for a second in concentration, and when he opened them again he could see a figure crash through the undergrowth and land in a heap next to him.
"Spike!!"
The vampire crouched in front of Xander running his hands over the boy in a frenzied attempt to make sure he wasn't badly hurt.
"Luv, we have to go, we have to go, get up!"
So fast, everything was happening so fast! He heard Spikes' desperate voice whisper to him that they had to move.
"Get out of here! They'll kill you, go!"
Xander didn't bother to whisper, he could see very well what was going on behind the vampire and the advancing mob had already spotted them.
"Not without you, I'm not going anywhere. Come on, pet please, try!"
Xander was dragged to his feet, but both could tell that if Spike let go there would be nothing supporting Xander except for the tree behind him, and it seemed reluctant to move so Xander was stuck. Their eyes met for a brief second and time stilled. The muffled cries were mere echoes now, the flickering lights of torches fading in and out of the trees. Xanders' heart beat seemed unnaturally loud and he couldn't catch his breath anymore. He felt like some one dropped a ton of bricks on his chest and could do nothing more than mouth 'Go!'.
Spike only stared at him trying to comprehend, an emotion flickered in his eyes for a moment, a memory of a time and a place different yet so like now, a time when he would have given up his unlife without question, for his love, that had been Prague, when he and Drusilla were attacked by an angry mob. Luck and his skill had saved both of them , but he knew there were no such chances now. And yet, he didn't care! Suddenly it seemed almost amusing that Xander thought he would leave him there and run! He looked at the boy fondly letting a small smile tug at his lips, before turning away and placing himself between Xander and certain death.
// He's not going anywhere is he. . . . don't, please, not for me! //
Xander realized what was going on and with that time returned to normal, and he wanted to scream and scream until he woke up from the nightmare. Spike turned, slipping in to game face, and stood in a fighting stance a meter in front of him. And then they were out of time.
An arm raised and drawn back, the fire of the torch it held burning almost as brightly as the hate in the mans' eyes. The projectile spun through the air, true to its aim.
~~~~~
"No hope, yet he stays, protecting his heart, they are bound together now by the choice he makes. You were right sister."
Something like pride shone in the guardians eyes as she witnessed the vampire shed his demon, his very nature for the one he loved.
"He is one of us now."
She whispered surprising her sibling with the uncharacteristic show of kinship with the mortals.
"Well done in deed! Now all we have to look forward to is his ugly and agonizing death."
This was said with a reluctant smile, he knew after all that his sister had some plan to return the pair to where they belong before any harm came to them, but she was cutting it close!
~~~~~~
The torch flew through the air and the only thing Spike had time to do was realize that it was going to hit him. To his surprise, it never did!
~~~~~~
The aura of magic shimmered more brightly in the sacred circle and then flared to spectacular intensity. Willow's chanting was joined by another voice. If it could be called that: it was powerful, elemental like the sound of a waterfall, ancient and ethereal.
The vortex appeared, filling the room with noise, everything was momentarily reduced to chaos. It ended suddenly making the room seem too still for a moment.
"Xander!! Spike, thank god, it worked this time!!"
Spike closed his eyes for an instant. They were safe. It was over. He didn't have to turn around to know that Xander was ok, he could hear the strong heart beat and uneven breathing coming from the boy who had now collapsed to the floor.
Willow could barely stand. She was next to Xander on the floor in seconds and then, both him and Spike were surrounded by a flood of questions. 'Are you alright?' 'What happened?' 'Where were you?' 'I'm so glad you're back!' 'Xander, are you hurt?' 'Angel, call an ambulance!'
//Angel? So, my great poof of a sire is here. Just what I need.//
Spike wasn't dreading his sires presence for the usual reasons. Or perhaps they were the usual reasons: Angel could always figure out what his chlide was feeling. Something Spike wasn't eager to share with anyone until he figured out what to do with it back in the real world. To say he was overwhelmed would be an understatement. In fact he was barely holding it together, thankfully most of the scoobies were clustered around Xander.
~~~~~~~~
"Are you hurt?" Xander made no move to get up, he hadn't been able to get a word in since he somehow landed on the floor of the magic box and was surrounded by all his friends.
Willow saw a strange look of horror come over his features for a moment that melted in to panic as he braced himself on his elbows and his eyes searched the throng of people in the room. Taking a shuddering breath as his gaze found whatever he'd been looking for he relaxed and looked at the young witch once more.
"I'm fine Wills. Really,"
He didn't get to finish the thought as he was enveloped in a desperate hug. He felt so weak, like his limbs were filled with lead and he could barley move them to return the embrace. He was vaguely aware of Buffy hugging him too, Giles stuttering something and Tara's comforting touch on his arm. Then the sound of sirens somewhere far away, and then, nothing.
~~~~~~~
"He passed out, we think he fell down the stairs. . ."
"Move please, make some room. . ."
Buffy watched as Xander was strapped to a gurney and wheeled outside in to an ambulance. There was room for one more and she decided to go with him. Willow protested but Giles and Tara insisted that she was not well enough to go anywhere yet. Before heading out of the door she turned, put a hand on Spikes shoulder, and just looked at him for a moment. Then, surprising them both drew him in to a brief hug and sprinted for the ambulance. The slayer decided that the startled look on the vampire's face was worth the extra showers she'd have to take.
Spike just stood there. His eyes were as wide as saucers. He shook his head, hoping they weren't in some kind of alternate dimension. // Did the slayer just give me a hug?? // the thought was too ridicules to dwell on for long and luckily he was saved from that fate by a voice calling out his name.
"Spike!"
Willow all but ran up to him with Tara close behind.
"you. . . !"
Spike pointed an accusing finger at the red head and narrowed his eyes. He couldn't find the words to finish what he was saying, so he just raised his hand and slapped Willow upside the head. It didn't set of his chip, it was really just a token gesture. He tried to look angry but couldn't keep in up much longer.
"I'm sorry."
Willow chewed on her bottom lip.
"are. . . are you alright?"
Tara asked meekly. A tear was running down her flushed cheek as her doe eyes stared up at the vampire. Spike sighed and rolled his eyes annoyed at himself for being such a softie even as a smile tugged at his lips. He'd grown far too close to these two and felt almost as protective of them as he did of Xander. He didn't want them to worry about him so. Wiping the tear off Taras' face he drew both in to a hug.
"No harm done luv."
Another moment of murmured assurances and comforting words saw the witches seated on the couch and Spike leaning against a random wall wondering if this was real? Did they actually care? Could he let himself feel this good? Something was troubling him still, he was desperate to talk to Xander and was dreading it at the same time. Either way, he wasn't up to it right now, his unfocused gaze lingered on the floor unable to do more than promise himself to think about it tomorrow. He felt like crying. Hadn't he been resigned to his death a moment ago? Now he had to live with it, and he had yet to come to terms with that. Feeling a hand in his shoulder the vampire looked up.
"Spike?"
The watchers voice sounded worried. Spike covered up his momentary show of weakness a little too late, Giles had seen the lost look in his eyes before in was replaced by the customary smirking arrogance. The Watcher thought back to all the times he'd seen that look and wondered if the vampire had ever really meant is as more that a disguise for his true feelings. // Scotch! I need some before I start feeling sorry for the poor, misunderstood evil fiend!! // despite his thoughts Giles couldn't help but acknowledge that he didn't harbor any of the feelings the vampire in front of him should elicit. Which was why he was there, talking to Spike.
"Watcher, if you hug me, I *swear*, !"
Giles just smiled a little, knowing that Spike meant that as much as he did his cocksure stance, and arrogant glare.
"I'm glad you're alright."
Giles could hardly believe what he was saying. He could tell he wasn't alone in that but it seemed Spike was too exhausted to be shocked so he just sighed and nodded his thanks.
"Now, why don't you get something to eat? There's blood in the fridge."
Spike's face lit up at the mention of food.
"Weetabix?"
He asked excitedly making Giles have to remind himself that the vampire wasn't a ten year old child because he sure could fool a lot of people acting as he did. Giles just sighed, and did his version of rolling his eyes and gestured for the vampire to help himself. He watched, unable to suppress a small twinge of fondness as Spike all but ran to the kitchen.
~~~~~
Getting tree baggies of blood out of the fridge,
// Human!//
he drained the first without further preparation. Sometime between entering the kitchen and emptying the contents of the second baggie in to a mug, he realized that he was not alone.
// Eat now, deal with annoying poofty sires later. //
Having sorted out his priorities Spike proceeded to ignore Angel as he set about microwaving his mug of O-neg. ~~~~~~~
//why does he have to be different?//
//why does he have to be different?//
//why isn't there more scotch?//
//if I didn't know better I'd swear they're in love//
//they're in love//
The sun was rising in the morning sky over Sunnydale, bringing a strange new day. Angel sat staring at his childe in the training room behind the Magic Box, wishing he wasn't special.
Spike lay pretending to sleep glad that only Xander had the talent of being able to tell the difference, thoughts of the brown haired boy racing through his mind.
Giles paced his office looking for the hidden flask that wasn't where it was supposed to be.
Buffy sat in the waiting room of the hospital, pondering her intuitions. After all, that look, it had to have meant something. Xander was being examined by the doctors, and they said they would like to keep him over night - Xander protested, and then Buffy was shown to the plastic chair half an hour ago. Knowing that until she knew for sure, the thought // utterly ridiculous though it may be // would nag at her, she decided to talk to Spike later.
Tera touched Willows' hair as the red head slept. She knew.
~~~~~~
AN: This is the second time I've uploaded this chapter. Apologies to anyone who read the previous part, ff.net screwed up my paragraphs for some reason.
Alrighty then. Next part coming soon. No really.