DT-9
Title: Drunken Tears 9?
Pairing: S/X eventually S/X/A
Summary: Xander has just awoken from an alcohol- induced coma. The gang is trying to understand his unusual behavior.
A/N- only Spike knows why Xander was in a coma.
Disclaimer: As much as I would love to claim them, I own none of these characters. If I did they would be having sex as often as possible.
Feed back: I am a feedback whore, please feed my addiction…
Further disclaimer: This series deals with substance abuse, physical abuse, homophobia, cutting, attempted suicide, and other nasty things that cause much pain. By this point, we've moved passed a lot of the pain but there's still a lot to come. You have been warned. This chapter is relatively pain free though so sit back and enjoy.
Where in Angel explains-
Angel had crowded with the others just outside the door to Xander's room. Angry, accusing whispers were hurled at one another and threatening glances loomed in the air.
"What the hell was that!"
"What!"
"What happened in there? Xander was fine and then…"
"And then Buffy decided to throw Spike across the room," Angel hissed out his former lover's name. Blank stares were shot his way by all but Giles. Giles, on the other hand was processing what Angel meant by those simple words.
"But, he's not."
"I know. That's what has me confused. Have you ever seen something like this?"
"No. It's, I'm not sure what to do about this." Giles began furiously polishing the thin lenses of his glasses. Buffy had quietly watched what secrets passed between them but refused to wait any longer.
"English please?" Buffy begged trying to understand what they were saying.
"In short? Xander exhibited the characteristics of a vampire mate. But it's more than that. He was behaving like a newly turned childe chosen to be a mate."
"What!"
Angel sighed heavily. He motioned for them to go sit somewhere quiet. Fortunately at this hour of night, the hospital was nearly void of visitors. Angel sat protectively beside Willow with Buffy offensively sitting across from them. Giles sat to the side with Dawn resting against him, showing the physical signs of fatigue.
"Explain now!" Two short words uttered with all the anger and bitterness that Buffy could manage were hurled at Angel so quickly that the master vampire physically winced.
"When a consort is turned it's for one reason- to become a mate. That childe is prized above all others. Now before you freak, Xander hasn't been turned. In fact, he's not even a consort, not in the way I know at least. But somehow, that emotional bond is still there. When Xander woke up unable to see his mate, he reacted naturally. You put his mate in danger Buffy and psychologically speaking that damaged Xander more than the coma."
Willow's shattered gasp said what they all realized. Angel's arm draped over her shoulder pulling her close as she cried.
"But we didn't know!"
"I know little one. But no one asked either." Angel soothed Willow's tears. He wanted to do so much more to calm her but he knew he couldn't, not yet at least but soon.
"So what now?" Giles asked sadly, almost broken.
"We help him rebuild. Like I said before, I'm taking them away to heal. Spike's my childe and now in some ways Xander is his. They're mine now." Secretly, Angel blessed the Powers that they gave him this gift. Explaining to the others what this would really mean was too difficult but he knew that Spike and Xander would understand. "My children will heal."