Wreckage

Disclaimer: It's my world and I don't own it either.

Summary: Xander left a wreck and Lorne's trying to fix one.

Reviews: Yes, please. Oh. My. God! I have THREE HUNDRED REVIEWS! I cannot believe it. You all are so awesome. You're so generous with the reviews I love all of you so much! Readers Rock but REVIEWERS RULE!

A/N: Ms Selly: WELCOME BACK. I missed you. Your reviews are always wanted, needed and very appreciated.

WayWard Childe: Um…Peanut? Don't think I want to go there. Doesn't sound safe.

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Absolute silence reigned in Xander's wake. Wesley gazed somberly at the devastation created by the ringing truth in the young man's words. Buffy looked as if her heart had been shattered. Willow was attempting to comfort the petite blonde slayer. Wes's blue gaze landed on Giles, the older Brit appeared thoughtful. Gunn and Fred seemed uncomfortable to have witnessed something so distressing. Susan had tears in her eyes. Wes had a nearly uncontrollable urge to take her in his arms and offer solace. Lindsey had shrunk into a corner trying not to draw attention to himself. The younger Watcher had a moment's empathy for the lawyer drawn into a drama he had no prior knowledge of. Angel's flash of anger seemed to have burned out, leaving an expression of injured guilt on his handsome face. Cordelia had moved over to the tall vampire and clasped his large hand in one of her small ones. She ran the fingers of her free hand up and down Angel's arm attempting to calm her love.

Wesley cleared his throat. "Well. That was certainly…enlightening. I'm sure Xander will be able to sort this out and bring Spike back. Now, could I suggest we get back to our plan to extract Dawn and Jake from Wolfram and Hart?"

Willow gasped in outrage. "How can you be so callous? We have to fix this. We have to get Spike back here and make things right."

Wesley pinned her with his implacable blue gaze. "Spike is fine. However he got to Caritas, he is protected there. You know that as well as I do. Xander will be able to talk to Spike better than any of us. Our main concern right now is to get Dawn and Jake back. Whatever issues Spike still has with his memories will have to wait. Although Lorne may be helping him with them as we speak. In fact, I can't think of anyone better to assist Spike with his problems. Now, if I may. Lindsey, do you know what you have to do?"

Lindsey nodded. Nerves clenched his stomach. This would be the performance of a lifetime. By giving it, he could be saving the lives of himself and his entire family.

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Xander entered the club during the last few seconds of Spike's song. He listened to the thunderous applause for the vampire. He snagged a passing waitress and requested a beer for himself and asked her to give Spike a fresh bottle. He took his drink and melted into the shadows of a booth in the back of the club. He could see Lorne's private booth from where he sat and watched as Spike recovered his composure. He was immensely curious about what the Pylean had read from Spike. As soon as he could tell the vampire had regained his poise, Xander picked up his beer and ambled casually over to Lorne's table.

"Hey. I guess they liked your song." Xander said quietly as he slid into the booth.

Spike groaned softly. "How'd you find me?"

"Willow." Xander said simply.

"Good on Red then." Spike took a long swallow of his drink. "I'm not ready to go back."

Xander nodded. "That's cool. Neither am I."

"Guess Peaches was pissed I left, eh?" Spike opened his eyes and looked at Xander.

"That's one way of putting it." The human stated mildly. "He's not real happy with me either."

The vampire tilted his head curiously. "What'd you do to the old Poof?"

Xander smiled without any humor. "He jumped to an unfair conclusion so I told him a few hard truths."

"And you're still walking? I'm impressed." Spike lifted his beer in salute.

"I don't think Buffy's too thrilled with me either." Xander tapped his bottle against Spike's.

"Oops." Spike snickered. "Got the lot of them, did you? Would I be conceited to think this uproar was about me?"

"It was entirely about you." Xander confided. "Angel swore that you'd cut out to go get drunk. That it's all you ever do when things get difficult." He went on to relate the entire altercation.

Spike turned sideways on the bench and scooted along the booth until his head thudded against the wall. He stretched out his legs and got comfortable. "Damn."

Xander mirrored Spike's position on his side. "Yeah." They drank companionably for a while.

Spike stirred as a waitress cruised by to collect empty bottles. "Bring us another round, would you, Luv?" She nodded as Xander got out his wallet. "Put that away, Mate. Peaches is footing this tab."

"Gee, I wish I'd known that when I got here." Xander groused. They resumed their positions.

"What did the Sire from Hell want with me anyway?" Spike asked after a while.

"Oh, he didn't really. I went to check on you and you were gone. He got bent out of shape when we couldn't find you. Then Buffy told him you were a Daywalker and he got a bit more bent." Xander explained. "He wasn't going to tell you that Dawn and Jake are being held in exchange for the amulet."

"What?" Spike sat up in outrage. "Why the Bloody Hell are we just sitting here?" He started to get out of the booth.

"Calm down, Evil Dead. The last place you need to be is anywhere near Wolfram and Hart. They don't just want their amulet back. They want the pet vampire they think is attached to it. They don't know it's broken and you're nobody's pet. Let the others handle it. They don't need us. Angel's supposed to be consulting with the Oracles to get some answers about you and the rest of them are following through with a plan to get Dawn and Jake back. Some lawyer named Lindsey is going to do the honors. We're safer here than anywhere else. There's a no violence spell on the place." Xander reached across the table and tugged at Spike's arm until he subsided back into his prior position.

"You better be sure about that. I can still bite, you know." Spike growled. Xander nodded complacently.

Lorne joined the two of them as they debated whether or not they wanted to get something to eat. Spike had consumed a large mug of the 'Angel Special' and felt much better but couldn't decide if it would be worth annoying his sire to run up a huge tab with Lorne. Reflecting back on what Xander had told him, he glanced over at the human and realized they were thinking the same thing. In unison, they leaned forward. "Waitress!"

Their order given, Spike glanced at Lorne. "Get all your business done?"

Lorne nodded. "I'm having someone meet me. She can help us get you back to feeling like you again."

Spike arched his scarred eyebrow in question but refrained from speaking.

Xander made to get up. "Want me to vacate so you can give Spike the lowdown?" He asked Lorne.

"That would be up to the golden voiced one." Lorne looked at Spike.

Spike shrugged. "Don't think Harris and I have many secrets left."

Xander settled back in his seat. Lorne gestured for a server to bring him a drink. It arrived in record time. He sipped the Sea Breeze with a sigh. Each moment that passed increased Spike's apprehension. He began to get the feeling he didn't want to know what the green demon had seen.

Lorne picked up on the vampire's unease. "Don't worry, Precious. I'm just figuring out where to start."

Spike let out an involuntary growl. "How about the beginning?"

Lorne smiled. "Okay. First off, your being in Heaven was a mistake."

Spike's head thumped the wall once, then again harder. His eyes squeezed closed. "Bloody Hell."

"Oh no, Cupcake. It was only a mistake because you weren't supposed to be there yet. Think of it as a promise of things to come. It is in your future. You have earned it. It's just that you weren't finished. You haven't fulfilled your destiny." Lorne rushed to reassure him.

Xander grinned. "Told you."

Spike glared at him with that eyebrow raised again. "Prat." He said without malice.

"I can also tell you that you didn't have to die to be good enough. She was afraid to tell you sooner. So many men have left her that she was scared. Then you were leaving her, even though you didn't want to. She just didn't want you to die not knowing." Lorne ducked his head as he revealed that part. "She was heartbroken thinking you didn't believe her."

"I didn't." Spike murmured.

"Do you believe her now?" Lorne turned his knowing red eyes on the young vampire.

"I don't know." Spike bent his head and studied his beer bottle.

"Believe it, Sweetcheeks. She loves you." Lorne took a sip of his drink. "Now, about who you are. You are the same soulful vampire that dusted in that pit. You just got a little lost, that's all. My friend is going to help with that. You have a choice now."

Spike looked at him in confusion. "A choice?"

The food arrived and Lorne waited a few minutes for the server to it set down. He nodded. "A choice."