Caretaker

"Hello welcome to Healing House."

Yeah that's great. Get away from me. Why are we here again? If I'm good maybe Angel will let us go home soon. Don't like it here. It's big and bright and everyone's smiling. Maybe their faces are stuck that way. Weird people. Want to go home now guys.

"You must be Spike."

How do you know? You shouldn't know that. Who've you been talking to? I'll just stand behind Angel and wait for you to go away now. Or maybe we'll all go away home. Hope so. Sire looks mad still and Wesley's putting on that nice face grin that doesn't reach his eyes. Seen that one before.

"We've heard a lot about you."

What have you heard? Heard about when I killed a bitch that looked just like you? Coz I could tell you all the details if you want. Then I could show you exactly how I did it. Wait no bad thoughts. Okay I'll just hide my head inside Sire's coat; maybe the voices will be quieter.

"Would you like anything?"

Yes please. I'd like to go home and go to bed with my sire if that's all right with you. And I'll take Wes and Gunn and Fred and Lorne with me, thank you very much. Wes can read books, Gunn can be tough, Fred can read me a story and Lorne can sing. We'll be going now. Move Sire!

"I'm Kara."

Nah, the cow I killed was called Jesse. Hey! My head's in here for a reason Sire, that doesn't mean you should try and get me out. No! Don't let her see me! She'll punish me for all the things I've done. Okay I'm safe again. Angel's stroking my head through the material of his coat and I'm quite happy in here now.

"Nice to meet you."

Uh huh. That's great. Well now we've said our hellos can we go now? Sire? I really wanna go. I don't like it here. Please? Sire? Fine if we won't move I'll settle for snuggling my head closer into your chest and wrapping my arms around your neck. Safer here. Voices can't get in.

"Are you his current carer?"

Of course he is. He's my sire. He'll always care for me and love me and hold me and chase away the monsters. I love my sire and I always will. Now can we go? This place is too wrong. I wanna go home sire. I wanna go home now. Please?

"What kind of condition is he in?"

Pathetic sob and shudder and I'm being hugged and hushed again. Thank you sire. Take notice of your baby in you coat. He wants to go home and be with you. Please? But till then just keep stroking my hair and murmuring to me. Thank you.

"Does he have any allergies?"

No more questions! I don't want any more questions! Don't you know that questions are bad and they hurt poor William if he doesn't get the answer he needs? Please stop. No more! Sire...

"What breed of demon are we dealing with here?"

Now the voice has changed. Or maybe it's the other voices? I don't know any more. I'm so confused. Please can we go? Angel's sighing and pulling me out of his coat. No don't I need that! But I'm not allowed back in. Was I that bad?

"I specifically asked for fish!"

More voices. It's too loud. Too loud and noisy. Stop it! Please all of you stop talking to me. I can't...I don't...Sire! Fine if I can't go in your coat I'll settle for attaching myself to your arm and shaking in fear.

"No Bernard not in there!"

I'm trying not to cry. Honest Sire. But they won't stop and I don't know who or what it is. Is it here? Can you here them too? Sire please I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I don't mean to cry but it's so hard. Help me please.

"I'm not yelling!"

Angel? Sire? Daddy? Master? Teacher? My Lord? Sir? Majesty? God? Please don't ignore me. I need you to help me get out of here. It's too bright and I don't like it and I want to go home.

"Shut up!"

Yes! Thank you. Thank you Sire. Of course it would have helped if it was you that said it. Was it another voice? What was it sire? Please tell me. Keep holding me and hugging me and talking to me. Thank you. Thank you sire. I love you.

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Angel sighed and finger combed the honey locks on his childe's head. Spike was in one of his worse moods at the moment and wouldn't let go of his arm. Wesley had practically forced Angel to bring Spike and the others to the Healing House so they could look around. And why did they need to look around?

"I'll leave you to decide what you feel is best for Spike." Kara smiled at them all again and left the room they were in.

Decide? What was there to decide? Wes had told Angel that more innocents were dying because all of their attention was focussed on Spike rather than their jobs. Innocents? How many innocents were left? They'd joined Wolfram and Hart for crying out loud. Since when were there any innocents in L.A. anyway?

So they were all here. Wesley had already decided what he wanted. Fred was looking small and lost in her chair. Gunn was watching the door quietly and Lorne was twiddling his thumbs as if he didn't know what to do with them. Angel was sitting in his chair with a shaking Spike attached to his right arm. What to do?

"Wanna go home sire. Wanna go home with you and drink blood and b with you. Please can we go now?" Spike was tugging on his coat sleeve and snivelling into his own shirt. Angel pried Spike away from his arm but reached out to take the younger vampire's hand.

"We'll see William. Just wait a little longer for me. Okay?" Spike nodded and Angel kissed his temple lightly. "There's a good boy." Wesley was watching the vampires with interest and Angel glared that he had the nerve.

Spike was terrified of this place. Any one could see that. And Wesley had the nerve to tell Angel that he thought Spike should stay here for his own good. What was it with that man and taking away his family? "Are we all ready to go now?" Angel asked. Clearly showing the meaning of his words.

"Angel!" Wesley stood and glared down at the vampire. "We all agreed that we came here to see if it was suitable for Spike to stay. These carers are the finest money can buy. They deal with supernatural cases every day and when I spoke to them before, they were certain they could help Spike back to normal."

"You're right. We did come to see if it was suitable. And it's not Wes. We're leaving." Angel stood as well and Spike felt his hand be released so Angel could storm up to the man and growl threateningly in his face. "Do not get between me and my family."

"Angel stop thinking about what you want and start thinking about what is best for Spike. The only reason you want him to come back is so that you can care for him and have someone dependent on you. Well no. You have to realise sooner or later that Spike needs specialist care."

Fred took the opportunity to interrupt the upcoming argument. Spike was looking a little scared at what he was hearing and Fred didn't want Spike any worse than he was already. "Why don't we all take a vote on it? Then it's not just one person's decision."

"Fine. I say he stays here and gets the treatment he needs." Wesley walked away from the glaring vampire and seated himself next to Gunn.

"I don't think it's fair to make Spike stay somewhere he doesn't like. He's scared enough already. I think he should come home." Gunn received and smile from Angel and a scowl from Wesley. He rolled his eyes and waited for Fred to answer.

"I think he should come home. It's what Spike wants." She whispered and avoided looking into Wesley's eyes. She didn't want him to be mad at her for wanting to keep Spike happy.

Lorne answered next. Putting a stop to Angel's 'Told you so' face to Wesley. "Spikeykins should stay here and get help. I'm sorry Angel but I've read him before, I know how bad it is."

Angel was stuck. Two votes each way. Gunn and Fred wanted him home. Lorne and Wes wanted him to stay. He had he decider. So what did he do? Wes and Lorne had good points. Come to think of it, Spike did need more help.

What to do? Make Spike stay? Or let him come home?

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