Then Things Get Really Scary

Disclaimer: All out of pocket lint jokes, and I still own nothing.

Summary: Spike's magic is getting a little hard to handle.

A/N: Was going to have a nice calm ending in this chapter but it didn't happen. These people are really hard to control.

Reviews: Yes, please. Need to know people are reading the insane ramblings. Thanks to all past reviewers, y'all rock!!

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Dawn cornered Spike in the basement. Lunch was over. The dishes washed and put away. Giles had gone to his own apartment with promises to return to talk to Spike later. The tall brunette teenager stood blocking the staircase with her thin arms folded across her chest. Spike was sitting on his bed smoking a cigarette in a feeble attempt to get her to leave. Willow and Tara had gone over to Xander and Anya's house to avoid any more discussions about magic.

"Okay, Mister. Spill it. What's with the shaky hand syndrome? Are you all right?" She tilted her head as she looked at the blond vampire.

Spike closed his eyes. She was getting far too adult lately. That was the problem with teenagers, they grew up. Opening his eyes, he stubbed out his smoke. "Come here." She rushed across the floor and snuggled up to him. As they sat up against the wall, she rested her head against his shoulder and took his hand in hers. He told her the same story he'd told Giles the night before ending with his levitation and how startled he was to see all the blood in the refrigerator.

"Didn't that old guy know that the magic was supposed to be passed down to his own family?" Dawn asked.

"I don't think he cared. I really don't know what he was thinking. I just wish he'd not done it. It's caused me more problems." Spike told her quietly. "You know Willow's jealous don't you Bit?" He asked.

"Yeah, I caught that. Wish I knew what she was up to. It can't be good though. She doesn't need to build up so much magical power just for patrolling. She doesn't patrol anyway. You and the Buffybot do that." Dawn answered. She felt the uncontrollable shudder running through the vampire at the mention of the robot.

"All this does not explain why you were all with the shaky hands. What happened down here that shook you so much?" Dawn played with his pale cool fingers.

"Was hoping no one would notice that." He said. He told her about the visualization technique that Angel had taught him and how he was unsure he could continue to contain the magic. "It's secure enough for now and I think it will stay that way, but...." He trailed off.

"We'll handle it. Together." Dawn assured him.

Spike stiffened suddenly. "Someone's upstairs." He stilled, listening. "Bloody Hell, it's the Whelp."

Dawn stood up. "Come on, we'll handle it." She took his hand and pulled him to his feet. "Okay, hold up your hands." She instructed.

He grimaced and held up his hands as ordered. They were still, no tremors in evidence. "All right." Dawn cheered. "Let's go up and see what he wants."

The two made their way upstairs to the kitchen just as Xander came into the room. He paused at seeing them.

"Oh Thank God. I was beginning to think something was wrong. What with the front door being unlocked and no one around. Where were you guys?" Xander took a deep relieved breath.

"We were downstairs talking. What's up?" Dawn went over to Xander and gave him a big hug.

He returned her hug. "The boss was asking if Spike was coming back to work tonight or if he needed another day or so off. He really likes you, no accounting for taste, but we have to cover your shift if you're not coming in." Xander looked at Spike as he finished speaking.

The blond vampire cast a panicked look at Dawn. Xander caught the look and immediately suspected all was not cool in the Summers house. It wasn't often that Spike got a trapped expression on his face but it never boded well when he did. "Okay, what's going on?" His brown gaze bounced from vampire to teenager and back again.

"Nothing." Dawn squeaked as she went back to stand beside Spike.

"Riight." Xander drawled. "I have a pissed off witch and her girlfriend in my apartment and a nervous vampire in front of me. Nothing could possibly be wrong. Now spill it." He leaned against the wall and folded his arms across his chest, obviously not going anywhere in a hurry.

Dawn gave Spike the tiniest of nods. The blond fixed Xander with a glare. "Say one word wrong and I'll find a way around this chip and bite you." He growled. The taller man nodded once, unfazed by the threat. They moved over to sit at the table. With many interruptions and several more threats of violence, Spike and Dawn caught Xander up on the events of the past couple of days. Having Xander and Anya know about his problem was not what Spike had wanted but he'd found out long ago that there weren't many secrets among the Scoobies.

"Wow. Does this mean I can call you Draco?" Xander asked with a smirk.

"Only if you want to walk around on broken legs." Spike warned.

"Just kidding. Don't like the little creep. So what are we going to do about this? Are you sure you have it contained? I'll tell the boss that you need a couple more days off. That you have the flu. If you're feeling more secure by then we'll put you back on the schedule. We just can't have any magical mistakes at the site. That would put us all in danger." Xander said.

Spike nodded.

Dawn looked relieved that Xander was so accepting of Spike's problem. She really needed to know something. "Do you know what Willow's up to? She and Tara have been spending an awful lot of time at your place lately. I can't figure out what she needs all that magic for."

"I spend all my time in our room watching TV while the girls are there. Anya has been monopolizing all Willow and Tara's time. I don't know what they're planning. If anything." Xander stated carefully.

Spike sent a sharp look at the other man, something was not quite right with the phrasing but couldn't put his finger on it.

They all looked up as Giles came into the room.

"Hey, G-man. How are you? Understand you've had quite a bit of stuff going on." Xander greeted the Scoobies' father figure.

"Don't call me that." Giles said tiredly. "Yes, it has been quite eventful. How did you find out?"

"I came over to find out when Spike was coming back to work and he got the 'deer in headlights' look. I made them tell me what was up." The young man explained.

"I see." Giles said mildly. "Have you decided when you can return to work?" He asked the young wizard.

Spike shook his head. "Xander and I decided to give me a couple of days to make sure I have the little bugger under control."

"Yeah, it would be seriously bad if any magical mistakes happened at the site. So Spike here is on sick leave for a couple more days." Xander added.

"That's good. Spike needs to be certain that he has the magic contained before he can go back to his normal activities. Have you had any more problems?" Giles asked.

Dawn shook her head. "We've been together since the rest of you left. I haven't seen anything happen."

Spike agreed. "No problems here. So far." He sat back and closed his eyes, relaxing for the first time in hours. He felt a sense of dislocation as his subconscious dragged him down.

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He was shocked to see the containment bag where he'd flung it in the corner. He could see a small black paw sticking out of the hole. To his horror, the hole ripped open some more. It would not be long before the magic was completely free and, with the hole in the seam, there would be no way to keep it contained.

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Dawn gasped as Spike slumped down in his chair. He started to slide sideways and fall to the floor. Xander and Giles jumped to catch the unconscious vampire before he hit the hard tile. They laid his limp body down gently.

"What's wrong with him?" The teenager asked fearfully.

"I don't know." The former Watcher murmured as they knelt next to Spike's prone form.

Xander looked up. "Dawnie, get a cold washcloth." He instructed.

She rushed to the sink to comply, returning in seconds. She handed the icy cloth to Xander and watched as he put it across Spike's forehead. Cold droplets trickled down the sides of the pale face. An unneeded gasp shook the young vampire as his eyes shot open. Panicked, he tried to get up.

"Easy now. Stay right there for a minute." Giles pressed a hand to Spike's chest to keep him down for another moment. "Get your bearings before you try to move."

Xander placed a hand on Spike's shoulder as the blond looked around frantically. "Giles is right. Don't try to move yet. It's okay, we're here."

Calming somewhat, Spike gazed up at his companions. Fear shot through his body as he remembered what he'd seen. His dark blue eyes reflected that fear clearly, shocking the three humans looking down at him. Taking a deep unneeded breath, he slowly sat up. Xander supported him as he rose. Giles knelt in front of him as Xander shifted behind him.

"Spike, are you okay?" The Watcher asked softly. Spike nodded, still unspeaking. He was afraid to, afraid that the magic was loose and ready to wreak havoc on his life again. Giles grasped the cool slender hands while Xander braced him from behind. Together they got the shaky vampire to his feet and helped him back into his chair.

Dawn placed a fresh mug of blood in front of him. He gave her a grateful glance but refused to speak. "Spike, tell me what's wrong." She pleaded, tears in her big blue eyes. He gazed up at her, terrified that if he spoke and said something without thinking, terrible things would happen. The magic was getting free and he didn't know how to stop it again. His terror shone in his sapphire gaze, he opened his mouth but couldn't force any words out. His mouth snapped shut and he looked down at the table. He couldn't say anything. Shaking badly, he lifted the mug with both hands and drank deeply.

Giles observed the blond's behavior with concern. Obviously, he was terrified. Something must have happened with the magical containment. It disconcerted the older man to see a master vampire such as Spike struck silent with terror. Obviously, a new strategy was needed to help the young wizard control his power.

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In L.A. Angel froze in the middle of his sentence. He'd been talking to Fred and Gunn when a feeling swept over him. His friends looked at him curiously. The brunette vampire closed his eyes and opened the link between himself and his Childe. Waves of terror washed over the older vampire. Shaking with the effort to contact his stricken Childe, Angel sent comforting messages to Spike. His Childe was too panic riddled to acknowledge the contact. Closing the link, Angel opened his eyes.

"Get Wes and Cordy in here. We're going to Sunnydale."