Disclaimer: I am not Joss Whedon. Ergo, I don't own Angel: The Series or the characters. Believe me, if I did there would be mucho Angel/Spike snugglings goin' on.

Notes: Well, this is a first for me. I've had plenty of ideas for AtS fics, but my Angel-chan managed to nudge me to write this one. Basically, I'm just picking up from where "Damage" left off. I know I can't be the only Angel/Spike fan to wonder what happened after the last scene ^_^

Long silences were always uncomfortable for Angel. Especially after a night like tonight.

From the moment Andrew had returned with the news that Dana had Spike, it had taken all of Angel's willpower to keep the demon in check. It had wanted to leave immediately, find his boy and deal with the Slayer responsible. It was only the fact that they had no idea where Dana was that kept him from giving in to the demon's desire to go after his Childe.

And yes, in Angel's mind, Spike was exactly that. True, Drusilla had turned the younger vampire, but it was Angelus who had trained him, taught him to hunt and kill and protect his Sires. Therefore, even when they were enemies it took great effort to not go off to fight whatever demon or god or mortal who the blonde had managed to piss off.

This... this was different.

While they had talked quietly, Angel slowly realized that it hadn't just been the demon that had wanted to go rescue the younger vampire. Every instinct he had had been screaming at him to go, find, retrieve. And now, in the silence that stretched on between Angel and Spike, demon and soul alike whispered to him.

Spike had been lost in his own thoughts, and started slightly when his Grandsire half-lifted him off the bed. The blonde's confusion didn't fade any when Angel settled onto the bed behind him before setting him back down, one arm wrapped securely around the younger vampire's waist. Hesitantly, the blonde settled back against the older vampire, relaxing completely when the action was rewarded by a low rumbling purr.

Angel smiled to himself when Spike started purring softly as well, wrapping his other arm around the blonde's shoulders in a protective gesture. Spike shifted slightly, settling with his head tucked beneath his Grandsire's chin. Finally feeling a deep sense of comfort and safety, exhaustion and the sedatives caught up with the blonde and he drifted off to sleep.

The dark haired vampire continued purring long after the younger fell asleep, demon and soul both content that Spike—Will—was safe again and healing. Angel closed his own eyes and rested, senses still alert to possible dangers yet calm when Fred slipped in towards dawn to check on her patient.

No words had been spoken. None had been needed.

And thus ends my first (and possibly only) AtS fic. Reviews accepted, flames will be used to warm myself since it's still freakin' cold in Maryland.