Hero
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Summary: The aftermath of the rescue is not quite what Angel expected.
Reviews: Yes, please. Need them almost as much as I need my daily dose of Spike. Readers Rock but Reviewers RULE!
A/N: Thanks very, very much to WayWard Childe for letting me bounce ideas off his head.
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Jake slipped an arm around Dawn's waist and gently pried her away from Spike. She protested mildly but consented to having her vampire freed from her grasp. Buffy took the opportunity to give Spike her own hug. He enfolded the petite blonde into his arms and returned her loving embrace. Xander came in with Faith and smiled when he saw the couple.
Willow approached Lilah. She guided the lawyer over to the sofa and gently pushed her down. "Sleep." The redhead directed and Lilah fell over in a deep slumber.
Lindsey stood there confused. He became even more so when Wesley took him by the arm and began to lead him out of the apartment. "I think we should go back to the hotel now. There are several issues we need to address. I'm sure the guards won't stay unconscious for very much longer."
The others began to follow the former Watcher. Faith noticed Lindsey being led away by Wes. "Hey, why is he going with us? Him being all evil lawyer and all." She wanted to know as she snagged Xander by the elbow and turned around to follow Wes.
"Hello, Faith. It's good to see you. Glad you could make it. We need him as sort of our own hostage. Just until we get out of the building and away, then we'll leave him where he can be easily found." Wesley smiled at the brunette slayer.
Lindsey struggled against Wesley's iron grasp but gave up after Gunn noticed his efforts and took hold of his other arm.
The trip downstairs was accomplished with little fuss. Faith and Angel dispatched any reviving guards with no problems. Buffy held onto Spike's arm as if she were afraid he would take off again. Jake hung back and watched the two blonds with a fair amount of speculation. He noticed that while Buffy was loving and attentive to Spike, the vampire was distant and barely responding to her chatter.
The group separated for the ride back to the Hyperion. Xander and Willow rode with Faith in her rental. Gunn and Lindsey went with Angel. Buffy, Dawn, Jake and Spike ended up riding with Wesley in Susan's Jeep, as neither Dawn nor Buffy were willing to separate from their vampire. Jake observed with a touch of bemusement that the girls didn't notice Spike's distraction.
Giles, Susan, Cordelia, Fred and Krista greeted their triumphant return. In their absence, the elder Watcher had ordered in dinner. The butcher had delivered a supply of fresh blood for the vampires.
Willow led Lindsey over to the sofa and released his handcuffs. "It's over." She said. He sagged onto the cushion as his memory reset itself. The redhead nodded to Giles and he made his phone call.
"Andrew. It's time. Get them out of there. Call when you get back to England." He instructed.
Xander was regaling the girls with Spike's spectacular leap. Faith wandered over to confirm the male Scooby's claims. The general consensus was that the young vampire was a true hero. Spike found himself the reluctant object of speculation. The Daywalker sidled up to Wesley.
"Watcher?" Spike asked quietly.
"Yes, Spike? Or would you prefer Will?" Wes asked.
"Either. Does Peaches have a training room? I need to let off some steam." Spike looked around as he spoke. He didn't want anyone knowing he was leaving the party. Wesley noticed his companion's unease.
"Of course, follow me. I take it you don't want anyone to know?" Wes murmured. At Spike's abashed nod, Wes raised his voice fractionally. "Would you like a tour of the building? It's quite fascinating."
"Sure, lead on." Spike feigned disinterest as he followed the fellow Brit up the stairs. Instead of leading the young vampire on a lengthy tour of the hotel, Wes led Spike straight to the back stairs he'd used earlier to escape. He showed Spike the basement training room Angel had set up.
"Thanks, Watcher." Spike said gratefully.
Wes nodded and withdrew, leaving the still-shaken vampire in peace.
Spike took off his duster and folded it carefully, setting it on a chair. Stripping off his t-shirt, he gave the punching bag a few desultory pokes. Part of him was afraid of testing his new strengths. The seven-floor jump had rattled his nerves. A smoldering resentment of Angel's casual handing of his face and throat burned in his eyes. He wasn't a fledgling any longer. He was a master vampire. A harder punch set the bag to swaying. That punch seemed to release some sort of pressure valve as he set about pummeling the bag viciously. Envisioning Angel's face on the canvas swaying before him, he attempted to transfer all his pent up frustration and confusion onto the hapless piece of equipment.
Upstairs, Wesley took his time rejoining the others. He made sure his arrival went unnoticed before wandering over to the table where dinner had been set out buffet-style. Buffy approached the younger Watcher as he perused the selection before him.
"Where did Spike go?" The blonde Slayer asked.
"He was here a few minutes ago. I'm sure he's fine." Wes stated noncommittally.
Buffy was not the only one who noticed Spike's absence. Angel had seen the two leave the lobby. He hadn't seen Wes return so he wasn't sure that Spike hadn't come back with him. He wanted to talk to his Childe. The urge to see for himself that Spike was fine began to eat away at Angel's peace of mind. He was still a bit in shock over the revelations from the Oracles. The new abilities that Spike had received would be a tremendous asset in the fight against evil. Angel wasn't aware of Spike's alternate choice. The option that had been given him to retreat from the constant battle and spend his days in peace on Jake's mountain, unaware of the struggle between good and evil. He also didn't know that Spike was seriously considering that option, that his Childe was soul-weary and craving a peaceful existence. All Angel knew was that Spike was back, better than ever and a powerful new force for good.
The dark vampire made the rounds of the large lobby for the second time, ascertaining that Spike had indeed ditched the party. He stood still for long moments and extended his senses in an attempt to locate his wayward Childe. He moved slowly from the lobby and followed his instincts. He found himself in the basement watching Spike pound out his frustration on the punching bag. He knew the instant Spike became aware of his presence. The younger vampire stopped his efforts and his body tightened with tension.
"What do you want?" The low question was laden with hostility.
"I wanted to talk to you." Angel told him.
"Well, that's too bad. I don't want to talk to you." Spike punched the hanging bag in emphasis.
Angel watched in silence for a moment, feeling the waves of anger and resentment pouring off the younger vampire. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Nothing at all. What could possibly be wrong? Me. I'm wrong. Go away." Spike's answer made no sense to Angel.
Walking over to Spike, Angel grasped his arm. "Talk to me."
"Get your hand off me! Who the hell do you think you are? I'm not a fledge any more." Spike knocked Angel's hand away and backed up.
"Spike! Tell me what's going on. What do you mean? I know you're not a fledge." Angel was honestly confused.
"That little display of Sire-hood in front of Faith and Harris. How dare you put your hand around my throat like that? I'm a Master Vampire damn it! I've killed two slayers to your oh, let's see. Zero slayers. I saved the sodding world. I died in your place. I deserve your respect. That means you do not get to treat me like that anymore." Spike turned back to the punching back before he gave into the temptation to lay into his Sire with fists and fangs.
Angel gaped at his furious Childe. "I didn't mean it like that. I just wanted you to believe you could do it."
"Sod off, Angel." More vicious punches accompanied the snarl.
It was in that instant that Angel realized that there was something else seriously troubling Spike. The younger vampire never called him 'Angel'.
"Will. Tell me what's wrong." Angel's quiet plea did not get the reaction he wanted, but it did get the one he should have expected. Therefore, Angel was startled when Spike turned on him and delivered a particularly brutal roundhouse kick to the head. Angel fell heavily to the floor, lying there stunned for a second before jumping to his feet to avoid a follow-up kick to the ribs. Spike swung his fist almost faster than Angel could see, connecting painfully with his nose. Angel stumbled backward to avoid Spike's rage. Spike followed the larger vampire and began raining blows onto his face.
"You let me die." The angry words were ground out between clenched teeth. Spike broke off his attack and backed away. Angel dabbed at the blood trickling from his nose, watching Spike closely. He turned his back to Angel and folded his arms around his waist. "You let me die." He repeated softly, sadly.
"I was finished, at peace. I was warm, loved." A short bitter laugh erupted. "I was finally loved." Spike hunched over as if in pain, unaware of Angel's horrified expression. Spike raised his face to the ceiling, angrily dashing away the tears streaming down his face. Furious at himself for showing that weakness in front of his Sire.
"I was in Heaven." He whispered, shattering Angel's joy at having his Childe back. A terrible sense of déjà vu fell over the elder vampire. Hearing that Spike had been in Heaven and having problems dealing with it from Xander had been one thing, hearing it from Spike gave Angel a crushing feeling of guilt and failure. Unneeded breath hitched in Spike's chest.
"Lorne says I get to go back…someday. But I don't understand. Did they tell you? Do you know?" He turned back to face Angel, the misery in those deep blue eyes tearing at the elder vampire's heart. His voice lowered until it was nearly inaudible even to Angel's vampiric hearing. "Why couldn't I stay?"
