But Things Still Go Bump In The Night

Disclaimer: I found some pocket lint but my kids stole it. So I still own nothing.

Summary: A little more about Spike's power and the effect it has on him.

Reviews: Yes please. Have to know you're reading. Samson: Thanks for your review of my other little fic. Muchly appreciated. Thanks to everyone else who reviews. Y'all ROCK!!!

A/N: This one is almost done. Gotta tell you there will be a sequel. jonnyG, you'll get your wish as soon as I finish mapping out in my insane little brain how to make it work, almost got it. To everyone else: review it already and tell me how I'm doing. Thanks! And by the way, my little xo dividers are hugs and kisses cause you're reading.

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It was the screaming that first woke Angel. He leapt from his bed, game faced and ready for the attack. His enhanced night vision allowed him to see Spike thrashing about on his bed fighting some unseen assailant. Angel recalled the last time Spike's power had been unleashed. The night terrors had just been the beginning of the problems created by the magic. Relieved that there were no actual attackers, the older vampire rushed across the floor and sat on the bed next to his Childe. Spike immediately retreated, curling up into a ball against the wall. Pushing against whatever it was only he could see, he protested the proximity of Angel.

"No! Get away! I won't let you! Leave me alone!" The last words ended in a wail of pure anguish. Something Angel had hoped he wouldn't ever hear from Spike again. Using his superior strength and speed, Angel grabbed Spike's wrists and prevented the younger vampire from striking out again.

"William! Stop! Calm down. I have you. You're safe." Angel's voice softened with each sentence. Finally the blue eyes opened, unseeing at first, then focusing on the larger being holding him gently.

"Bloody Hell." The blond head fell back against the wall dejectedly. "It's starting again, isn't it?"

"Yes, but we can control it this time. It's not enough to contain it. You have to control it." Angel told him quietly.

"God, Peaches, wouldn't it be easier to just stake me and get it over with?" The blue eyes closed in defeat.

Angel's brown gaze rested on his troublesome Childe. Easier? Oh hell yes. Better? Not by a long shot. As annoying as Spike was, as irritatingly abrasive and hateful as he could be, Angel couldn't imagine his unlife without him. They were family damn it and families stuck together. The biggest regret that Angel had suffered after getting his soul was how he'd treated this sensitive creature. He, Darla and Drusilla had taken a shy, poetic young man and turned him into a monster. All William had ever wanted was someone to love him, something that had carried over when he'd been turned but he would deny it until he was dust.

"No Spike, you're not taking the easy way out. Dawnie still needs you." Angel released his hold.

"Bloody Poof." The blond muttered.

The dark head shook. "You're not pissing me off. I won't let you. There's too much at stake here. Do you think you can go back to sleep? We have a lot of work to do tomorrow."

Spike nodded. "I'll try. Not going anywhere, are you?" He asked hesitantly.

Angel shook his head. "I'll be right over there."

The platinum head nodded as his eyes began to close. "Okay." He fell asleep huddled defensively against the cold cement wall.

Unseen, Giles and Dawn crept back up the stairs. They went into the living room where they could be fairly certain they wouldn't be overheard. Dawn brought a trembling hand to her mouth as she sank down onto the sofa. She was so scared. She'd thought Spike's magic was cool but now she knew it was going to be a huge problem and she wished he'd never gotten it. Giles noticed the tears in the teenager's big blue eyes.

"It will be all right. Spike is very strong. Much stronger than he was when he first got the magic. He can do this. We're here to help him. We'll all help him." Giles soothed the upset teenager. Sitting down next to her, he took her hand in his.

"He never asked for this. All he wants to do is help. Have you noticed that all he does is take care of people?" Dawn gazed up at her guardian.

He nodded. "Amazingly enough. Yes, I had noticed."

Angel came in silently. Giles exchanged a look with the master vampire. "Is he okay?" He asked.

"He's gone back to sleep. He'll sleep for a while but the terrors will be back." Angel ran his hand through his dark hair.

Dawn bit her lip. "How many times a night will this happen?" Both men were startled by the question.

Angel sat down in the easy chair and sighed. "Last time, at first it was two or three times per night. It got progressively worse as the magic got stronger. At one point he wasn't sleeping at all. I don't know about this time. I'm hoping he's stronger."

"No wonder." Dawn murmured.

Giles looked at her with concern. "No wonder what?"

"After that night, I don't know, maybe a week after you moved out, I started getting night terrors. I thought they were just nightmares but that's what Spike called them. It was only once a night and they only lasted about a week. Spike slept in the hall on the floor outside my door so he could hear me. He said he knew how I felt. Come to think about it, I don't think he slept much that week." She explained.

"What were the night terrors about?" Angel asked.

She shot him a 'DUH!' look. "Glory."

"Oh, right. Sorry, I forgot." He looked down, slightly embarrassed.

"You really are a git aren't you?" She teased.

Giles stifled a smile. The teenager obviously spent too much time with her favorite vampire. "Do you know why they stopped?" The ex-watcher asked.

She tilted her head and thought about it for a moment. "I think it stopped when I realized that Spike would be there to protect me. I felt safe and the terrors went away."

Angel nodded. Angelus hadn't done anything to make Spike feel safe so the terrors had tormented his Childe for several weeks. It had taken containing the magic to stop them but he knew just containing it would not be the answer this time. They all needed to try to make him feel safe.

Giles yawned. "I think it's time we tried to get a little more sleep."

"I want to sleep in the basement." Dawn stated.

"No." Both men protested. Angel continued his argument. "Dawn, when the terrors strike again you might get hurt. He doesn't know what he's fighting against and if he hit you during an attack, he won't be able to handle it. It would kill him if he hurt you."

Dawn pouted but saw the sense in Angel's statement. Giving both men a hug she went back upstairs to try for more sleep.

A little while later, it all started again. This time Dawn stayed in bed and wept for her 'brother' hoping it would be over soon.

The screaming seemed to last an eternity. Spike fought all Angel's attempts to help. Incoherent cries echoed in the darkness as he flailed against phantom attackers. Only Angel's vampiric strength kept him from harm. Finally the older vampire managed to subdue the violent struggles. Positioning himself behind Spike, Angel clamped both his arms around Spike's slender torso, pinning his arms. All the while murmuring soothing phrases. Spike woke up at last and sagged against his Sire. Peace was eventually achieved. Exhausted by his torment, Spike fell into an uneasy sleep. Angel sat up and watched over his Childe, relieved when morning arrived without a third attack. The first two had been painful enough.

It was late in the morning before the four of them made their way into the kitchen. Giles made tea and checked the refrigerator for blood to heat for the two vampires. Unfortunately no one had remembered to visit the butchers. Spike gave the empty space a weary glance and within seconds the shelf was full.

Dawn had checked Willow and Tara's room and found it empty. She was sure they had stayed over with Anya and Xander. Whatever Willow's problem with Spike's magic was, Dawn hoped she'd get over it soon.

Spike gazed at his teenager while she rummaged in the pantry for some cereal. "Bit, do you want me to make you breakfast?"

"NO. I don't." She snapped, banging the box down on the table.

He walked over to her and put his arms around her. She grabbed on almost frantically. "I don't like your magic so much any more." She mumbled into his shoulder.

"Neither do I, Sweetling. But I have to learn to use and control it. If I don't it will control me. Don't fall apart on me now, Bit. I need you." He whispered into her hair, smoothing his hand down its shiny brown length.

Angel and Giles watched the two cling to each other. They couldn't help but be affected by the sight. Wes and Cordy came in through the back door. Cordelia's eyes teared up at seeing the couple. Wesley went over to speak to Giles.

"Has something happened?" He asked quietly.

"Bad night." Angel answered, leaning against the counter with his arms folded across his chest.

Wes nodded. "First of many, I'll wager."

Giles cleaned his glasses. "Let's hope not."

Spike and Dawn realized that they were the center of attention and broke apart. He pointed to the table and a plate of pancakes popped into view. "Now sit and eat." He ordered his girl. He sauntered over to the group watching them and adopted his normal badass attitude. He didn't fool anyone but none of them let on.

"Okay Peaches, what's on the agenda for today?" He asked.

"Don't call me that." Angel growled mildly. "First we eat, have to keep our strength up. Make breakfast for the rest and later we start training. You're going to learn meditation."

The blond scowled. "Tried that the last time. Didn't work then."

The older vampire grabbed the younger one by the shoulders and forcibly turned him toward the table. "Make breakfast. Now."

"Fine!" The table became laden with bacon, eggs and orange juice. Toast was piled high in a basket and place settings followed shortly. "Happy now?" He shrugged out of Angel's hold.

"I don't know about Angel, but I am." Cordelia sat next to Dawn and helped herself. Soon the two were giggling and gossiping.

Giles and Wesley joined them. Angel and Spike sat down and sipped their blood while Spike stole bits of bacon from Dawn's plate. She smacked him with her fork as he smirked at her.

As soon as breakfast was finished Cordelia took Dawn shopping. She stole the credit card from Angel's wallet and swiped the car keys from Wesley. She and Wesley had talked earlier, deciding that she needed to distract Dawn.

Giles filled Wesley in on the night's events. Afterward they did what they did best and hit the books. They researched magic books to see if there were any way they could help Spike learn control. Soon they had the dining table covered with books and papers hoping to find something useful.

Angel and Spike retreated to the basement to begin training. His normally hyperactive Childe sorely tested Angel's vast reserves of patience. Unable to sit still for more that a few minutes at a time while under stress, Spike kept jumping up and pacing around the room. It took all Angel could do not to punch the younger vampire out.

Upstairs in research central, otherwise known as the dining room, Wesley gasped, sitting up straight in his chair. Rupert moved over to see what the younger man was reading. They looked at each other and smiled. They had it.