Chapter Three: Arrival
Spike wandered through the streets of LA as if he didn't know where he was headed. He knew though. He knew exactly where he was going which was why it was taking him so long. He'd stopped at four bars, and stayed for five to ten drinks at each. Five in the first, ten in the last. He didn't know how many in between. It was really difficult to get drunk when you were a vampire, the blood just didn't absorb as well when it wasn't human, and when you hadn't fed for a while, well, it was much more difficult. His destination was just a few blocks away when his feet slowed and he came to a stop at the entrance of an alley. He tilted his head to the right. Looking to the left of him he saw two shadows, struggling with each other. He headed towards them.
The vampire who was attacking the girl was well built. Some could even say enormous in comparison to Spike, but it would be his downfall, eventually. 'The bigger they are the harder they fall' Spike thought as he neared the figure. It had crossed his mind to just walk by, let the vampire continue with his hunt, but the girl had caught his eye. She had shoulder length blond hair, and her eyes pierced his heart as they begged him to help.
He struck the vampire without thinking, attacking the neck first, pulling the assailant from the girl. Landing a spinning kick to the vampire's lower leg, he turned to see the girl was okay. Just as he did, he heard a heavy thud behind him, and then his world turned to darkness.
---
"This is him? This is the 'monster' you were talking about? The evil, bloodsucking, well, he does look like Billy Idol, I guess.but. this is.."
"Yes Fred!" Snapped Cordelia.
"Well, he don't look so bad to me." She said as she moved towards him. "Looks kinda sad, like he's got part of him missing."
"He's a vamp ain't he? His whole 'human' life's missin'"
"That's not what I meant Charles! I mean he looks, so." The brunette reached out and gently threaded her fingers through his hair, jumping when the vampire caught her hand and she suddenly became surrounded with crossbows and stakes.
"Get the fuck off me! Where the bleedin' hell am I? Who in the hell are you? And will you get them soddin' things away from me!" He said gesturing towards the weapons pointed at him. He followed the hand that was holding the stake nearest to him, and spoke; the surprise evident in his tone, "Peaches?"
"Fred." Angel's voice was deep and intimidating. "I want you to move away from him now. Very slowly. Then go upstairs while we sort this out."
"But Angel, he's not."
"Now Fred."
Angel's voice was shaking. Fred could tell he was concerned, but she didn't think he was concerned for her. Her eyes were drawn to Spike's, she looked at him in silence, questioning whether she should leave. He dropped his eyes, and she moved. It was as if they were connected somehow, she felt the need to protect him. Something was bound to happen the way that everyone had talked about this supposed 'monster', she needed to stay downstairs. She moved towards the kitchen area.
"I thought I said I wanted you upstairs Fred."
She turned back to Angel and just looked at him, then headed back towards the kitchenette.
Waiting until Fred disappeared from view; Angel lowered the stake and nodded to the others to lower their weapons.
"What's the matter Spike? Why did you come here? What's happened to you?" Angel's eyes were full of concern for his Childe. Spike looked weak, ill, as if he was.dying. Angel sat on the sofa next to the vampire, who was once a vicious, bloodthirsty killer. He placed a hand on Spike's arm and looked into his eyes. They were full of tears, threatening to fall. At that moment, he knew that Spike wouldn't talk to him. Wouldn't tell him why. Wouldn't tell him what. Spike would maintain his silence until it needed to be unleashed.
"You can stay." Spike looked up at his Sire's face with confusion.
"I can stay?"
"As long as you don't feed, especially not on them." Angel pointed to the rest of the 'gang' who were all looking at him as if he'd gone insane. Except for Fred, who was smiling at him.
"But Angel, man, dint he try to kill you? English? Didn't he try to kill him?"
"Yes, indeed, but well. Hell no! Angel, are you insane?"
"Wes, please. I need you to understand this. He's my Childe. Just by turning up in this town he's begged for my help. I can't turn him away. I won't."
"Well, if he kills anyone, I'll stake him."
"I'll beat you to that Gunn." Angel stated firmly, looking at Spike as he did.
"Can't."
"Can't what Spike? Stake you, oh I think I can."
"Feed, can't feed." He said pointing to his head and tapping his skull. "Can't."
Angel watched Spike as he started rocking back and forth. There was more to this than met the eye. Something really bad had happened to his Childe. He controlled his rage, and placed his hand on his Childe's arm, trying to soothe the tremors that were now wracking through the young vampire's body. It didn't work. He tried whispering. It was always calming to Dru when she's had nightmares, and to William when he'd suffered the brunt of her pain after her visions. But it didn't work on Spike.
Suddenly Spike began speaking, but it sounded more like chanting. "I failed, I failed, the chip, the chip. I'm sorry, so sorry." Angel drew back in the shock of hearing an apology from his Childe, and as he did, Fred moved closer. She took Angel's seat and looked at him. The man who had saved her from hell once was scared. Scared for his Childe. She understood, because for some reason, she felt it too. Spike was in so much pain, it scared her. Gently she took Spike's hand in hers, then curled her arm around his body.
Her body heat overwhelmed him, so much so that he pressed his body into her embrace, feeling her heart beating against his chest.
"Sorry, so sorry.didn't mean to. didn't mean to. Failed, I failed. I failed, so sorry."
"Sssh, it's okay," Fred spoke in a near whisper into his ear. "Everything's okay. Everything's gonna be okay now. You're safe now."
Without looking up, She manoeuvred Spike off the sofa, and without looking at the stares she was receiving from her friends, led him towards and up the stairs slowly, being sure to reassure him every step of the way that he was okay.
"You can take the room next to mine. It's nice in there, and there's a big black drape over the winda. Wouldn't wantcha burnin' up to nuthin' in the mornin' now would we? You'll be okay. You'll be okay."
Angel watched the exchange between the recluse and the vampire closely, and with interest. Then he turned back to his friends, and prepared to answer the questions that were bound to be asked.
---
Fred led Spike into her room and sat him on the bed, where he instantly curled up into a foetal position. She placed her hand on his lower back and slowly rubbed small circles there, trying to gently lull him to sleep. When he had stopped crying, she moved from the bed and glanced down at him. His eyes were closed. He looked almost at peace.
'Such a beautiful creature.' Fred thought to herself, as she placed a large blanket over her window. 'No need to disturb him. Let him rest. Looks like he needs it. She exited the room and went downstairs where she heard raised voices from the office. Followed by Angel storming out into the lobby.
As he reached her he spoke. "How is he?"
"Sleepin'. I mean, he looks like he's had it rough, didn't say a word to me about nothin' before you ask. I think he's just got real trouble. Swimming around in his head, not lettin' him rest up 'til it eats him alive. It's a shame really. he looks so sweet and."
"He's a killer Fred."
"So are you."
"He doesn't have a soul."
"Maybe not, but he has a heart. I can tell. And it's broken. Needs someone to help him fix it all up fer him. We can do that. Ain't that what we do? Help the helpless, or is that hopeless, I always get those confused."
"Where is he?"
"In my room." Angel raised his eyebrows questioningly and Fred continued. "I couldn't let him go, not 'til he was settled. I know what's it's like to be lost and need findin'. He shouldn't be alone. Alone is the horrible-ist thing in the world. Alone is, well. well, it's not nice."
"You just be careful. Never forget what he is Fred."
"I know, I know. He's an evil, bloodsucking vampire, Billy Idol look-a-like who's tried to kill most everyone here, cept me, oh, and maybe Charles, that right? Yeah. that's it."
"Fred."
"And what about them?" She asked, pointing to the office.
"They're just worried."
"Bout Spike?"
"About you." "Oh! Well I'm fine. Honest Angel, I am. He didn't bite me did he?"
"No, but he might."
Fred glared at the master vampire.
"Ok, so maybe what he said is true. How do we know for sure?"
"I just know Angel. Just like you knew that you had to save me when you came to Pylea. Like you knew you couldn't chop my head off when they told you to. I just know."
"Okay, but.."
"Be careful. Got it. Just tell the others I know what I'm doin' ok?"
"Ok."
"I'm gonna check on him now."
"You're not gonna sleep with him?"
Fred blushed. "Course not silly! Just checkin' is all!"
Angel watched as Fred flitted upstairs. 'Just checkin' he thought, 'yeah right.' he could just tell that this was going to take a long time to get used to, and that there were going to be plenty of problems along the way.
---
Fred sneaked into her bedroom as quietly as she could. She slipped out of her jeans and into her pyjama bottoms. Tip-toeing across the room, she peeked over at Spike to check he was still sleeping. Smiling lightly, she whispered...
"You're gonna be ok." She said. "I'm here now. You're gonna be ok."
Silently, she took one of the spare blankets from the chair next to the bed, and placed it over the sleeping vampire. Returning to the chair, she sank into herself, wrapping her arms around her slender body, and tumbled into sleep.
Spike wandered through the streets of LA as if he didn't know where he was headed. He knew though. He knew exactly where he was going which was why it was taking him so long. He'd stopped at four bars, and stayed for five to ten drinks at each. Five in the first, ten in the last. He didn't know how many in between. It was really difficult to get drunk when you were a vampire, the blood just didn't absorb as well when it wasn't human, and when you hadn't fed for a while, well, it was much more difficult. His destination was just a few blocks away when his feet slowed and he came to a stop at the entrance of an alley. He tilted his head to the right. Looking to the left of him he saw two shadows, struggling with each other. He headed towards them.
The vampire who was attacking the girl was well built. Some could even say enormous in comparison to Spike, but it would be his downfall, eventually. 'The bigger they are the harder they fall' Spike thought as he neared the figure. It had crossed his mind to just walk by, let the vampire continue with his hunt, but the girl had caught his eye. She had shoulder length blond hair, and her eyes pierced his heart as they begged him to help.
He struck the vampire without thinking, attacking the neck first, pulling the assailant from the girl. Landing a spinning kick to the vampire's lower leg, he turned to see the girl was okay. Just as he did, he heard a heavy thud behind him, and then his world turned to darkness.
---
"This is him? This is the 'monster' you were talking about? The evil, bloodsucking, well, he does look like Billy Idol, I guess.but. this is.."
"Yes Fred!" Snapped Cordelia.
"Well, he don't look so bad to me." She said as she moved towards him. "Looks kinda sad, like he's got part of him missing."
"He's a vamp ain't he? His whole 'human' life's missin'"
"That's not what I meant Charles! I mean he looks, so." The brunette reached out and gently threaded her fingers through his hair, jumping when the vampire caught her hand and she suddenly became surrounded with crossbows and stakes.
"Get the fuck off me! Where the bleedin' hell am I? Who in the hell are you? And will you get them soddin' things away from me!" He said gesturing towards the weapons pointed at him. He followed the hand that was holding the stake nearest to him, and spoke; the surprise evident in his tone, "Peaches?"
"Fred." Angel's voice was deep and intimidating. "I want you to move away from him now. Very slowly. Then go upstairs while we sort this out."
"But Angel, he's not."
"Now Fred."
Angel's voice was shaking. Fred could tell he was concerned, but she didn't think he was concerned for her. Her eyes were drawn to Spike's, she looked at him in silence, questioning whether she should leave. He dropped his eyes, and she moved. It was as if they were connected somehow, she felt the need to protect him. Something was bound to happen the way that everyone had talked about this supposed 'monster', she needed to stay downstairs. She moved towards the kitchen area.
"I thought I said I wanted you upstairs Fred."
She turned back to Angel and just looked at him, then headed back towards the kitchenette.
Waiting until Fred disappeared from view; Angel lowered the stake and nodded to the others to lower their weapons.
"What's the matter Spike? Why did you come here? What's happened to you?" Angel's eyes were full of concern for his Childe. Spike looked weak, ill, as if he was.dying. Angel sat on the sofa next to the vampire, who was once a vicious, bloodthirsty killer. He placed a hand on Spike's arm and looked into his eyes. They were full of tears, threatening to fall. At that moment, he knew that Spike wouldn't talk to him. Wouldn't tell him why. Wouldn't tell him what. Spike would maintain his silence until it needed to be unleashed.
"You can stay." Spike looked up at his Sire's face with confusion.
"I can stay?"
"As long as you don't feed, especially not on them." Angel pointed to the rest of the 'gang' who were all looking at him as if he'd gone insane. Except for Fred, who was smiling at him.
"But Angel, man, dint he try to kill you? English? Didn't he try to kill him?"
"Yes, indeed, but well. Hell no! Angel, are you insane?"
"Wes, please. I need you to understand this. He's my Childe. Just by turning up in this town he's begged for my help. I can't turn him away. I won't."
"Well, if he kills anyone, I'll stake him."
"I'll beat you to that Gunn." Angel stated firmly, looking at Spike as he did.
"Can't."
"Can't what Spike? Stake you, oh I think I can."
"Feed, can't feed." He said pointing to his head and tapping his skull. "Can't."
Angel watched Spike as he started rocking back and forth. There was more to this than met the eye. Something really bad had happened to his Childe. He controlled his rage, and placed his hand on his Childe's arm, trying to soothe the tremors that were now wracking through the young vampire's body. It didn't work. He tried whispering. It was always calming to Dru when she's had nightmares, and to William when he'd suffered the brunt of her pain after her visions. But it didn't work on Spike.
Suddenly Spike began speaking, but it sounded more like chanting. "I failed, I failed, the chip, the chip. I'm sorry, so sorry." Angel drew back in the shock of hearing an apology from his Childe, and as he did, Fred moved closer. She took Angel's seat and looked at him. The man who had saved her from hell once was scared. Scared for his Childe. She understood, because for some reason, she felt it too. Spike was in so much pain, it scared her. Gently she took Spike's hand in hers, then curled her arm around his body.
Her body heat overwhelmed him, so much so that he pressed his body into her embrace, feeling her heart beating against his chest.
"Sorry, so sorry.didn't mean to. didn't mean to. Failed, I failed. I failed, so sorry."
"Sssh, it's okay," Fred spoke in a near whisper into his ear. "Everything's okay. Everything's gonna be okay now. You're safe now."
Without looking up, She manoeuvred Spike off the sofa, and without looking at the stares she was receiving from her friends, led him towards and up the stairs slowly, being sure to reassure him every step of the way that he was okay.
"You can take the room next to mine. It's nice in there, and there's a big black drape over the winda. Wouldn't wantcha burnin' up to nuthin' in the mornin' now would we? You'll be okay. You'll be okay."
Angel watched the exchange between the recluse and the vampire closely, and with interest. Then he turned back to his friends, and prepared to answer the questions that were bound to be asked.
---
Fred led Spike into her room and sat him on the bed, where he instantly curled up into a foetal position. She placed her hand on his lower back and slowly rubbed small circles there, trying to gently lull him to sleep. When he had stopped crying, she moved from the bed and glanced down at him. His eyes were closed. He looked almost at peace.
'Such a beautiful creature.' Fred thought to herself, as she placed a large blanket over her window. 'No need to disturb him. Let him rest. Looks like he needs it. She exited the room and went downstairs where she heard raised voices from the office. Followed by Angel storming out into the lobby.
As he reached her he spoke. "How is he?"
"Sleepin'. I mean, he looks like he's had it rough, didn't say a word to me about nothin' before you ask. I think he's just got real trouble. Swimming around in his head, not lettin' him rest up 'til it eats him alive. It's a shame really. he looks so sweet and."
"He's a killer Fred."
"So are you."
"He doesn't have a soul."
"Maybe not, but he has a heart. I can tell. And it's broken. Needs someone to help him fix it all up fer him. We can do that. Ain't that what we do? Help the helpless, or is that hopeless, I always get those confused."
"Where is he?"
"In my room." Angel raised his eyebrows questioningly and Fred continued. "I couldn't let him go, not 'til he was settled. I know what's it's like to be lost and need findin'. He shouldn't be alone. Alone is the horrible-ist thing in the world. Alone is, well. well, it's not nice."
"You just be careful. Never forget what he is Fred."
"I know, I know. He's an evil, bloodsucking vampire, Billy Idol look-a-like who's tried to kill most everyone here, cept me, oh, and maybe Charles, that right? Yeah. that's it."
"Fred."
"And what about them?" She asked, pointing to the office.
"They're just worried."
"Bout Spike?"
"About you." "Oh! Well I'm fine. Honest Angel, I am. He didn't bite me did he?"
"No, but he might."
Fred glared at the master vampire.
"Ok, so maybe what he said is true. How do we know for sure?"
"I just know Angel. Just like you knew that you had to save me when you came to Pylea. Like you knew you couldn't chop my head off when they told you to. I just know."
"Okay, but.."
"Be careful. Got it. Just tell the others I know what I'm doin' ok?"
"Ok."
"I'm gonna check on him now."
"You're not gonna sleep with him?"
Fred blushed. "Course not silly! Just checkin' is all!"
Angel watched as Fred flitted upstairs. 'Just checkin' he thought, 'yeah right.' he could just tell that this was going to take a long time to get used to, and that there were going to be plenty of problems along the way.
---
Fred sneaked into her bedroom as quietly as she could. She slipped out of her jeans and into her pyjama bottoms. Tip-toeing across the room, she peeked over at Spike to check he was still sleeping. Smiling lightly, she whispered...
"You're gonna be ok." She said. "I'm here now. You're gonna be ok."
Silently, she took one of the spare blankets from the chair next to the bed, and placed it over the sleeping vampire. Returning to the chair, she sank into herself, wrapping her arms around her slender body, and tumbled into sleep.
