Author's Note: Thanks to everyone for the great reviews! They are much appreciated! I don't have computer access on the weekends, so when they roll around, I try to get some handwritten work done on my stories. If you're a fan of Xander/Spike, visit my author's profile for a link to a really good story as I can't put a link here.

Disclaimer: I own nothing of the following, not the characters, not Sunnydale etc. It belongs to Joss Whedon and affiliates. Don't sue me.

Chapter 2: Pillow Fights

Spike woke to Xander's voice. "Man, Spike-why are you in my bed? Now I'll have to burn the sheets."

Spike opened his eyes and mumbled, "Wot? Why would you do a thing like that?" Xander had a grin on his face, "Well, you are an evil vampire and all so who knows what you may have done in my bed." At Spike's glare, Xander chuckled, "Maybe I could just wash them…" The glare lessened. It vanished completely when the brunette grabbed the extra pillow and bopped him on the head with it. Soon a full-blown pillow fight was raging in the basement. Spike landed a blow to Xan's ribs and was shocked when Xander keeled over in pain.

His surprise only lasted a second before the chip decided to kick in. Soon he was curled in the fetal position unaware of anything but the pain. After a few minutes, he realized that someone was saying his name. Another minute with the pain ebbing away and he could open his eyes to see Xander crouched next to him holding a mug and calling out to him. The smell of blood was the next thing to register and he tried to reach out for it. His hands were shaking and seeing this Xander scooted even closer and helped him to drink.

When the mug was drained, Spike watched Xander get up and head to the mini-fridge, where another packet of blood was pulled out from. The blood was emptied into the mug and zapped in the microwave. By this time, Spike had managed to get himself into a sitting position and was leaning against the wall. "That looked painful." Spike just inclined his head slightly at Xander in acknowledgement. Spike took the mug and downed the liquid. He then closed his eyes, took a few unneeded breaths and opened them again. Some sense told him that Xander wasn't going to answer the question that he had to ask. "Thanks for the blood, whelp, but I wouldn't have needed it if you had just told me you were hurt. What happened?" Xander sat across from him on the floor, eyes cast downward, "Sorry, Spike. I didn't realize your chip was that sensitive. You didn't hurt me very much."

"Bollocks. That's not what the searing pain in me head was saying. I haven't felt pain like that since the last time I landed a kick to some bloke's ribs. Lucky me, he was the only human in the group and I had already dusted the other vamps. There was just enough time for me to hear the crack of a couple of ribs before I was on the ground. When I came to, the guy was gone. He could have dusted me, but I think he was in too much pain to think straight. Back to the point, I hurt you. Didn't mean to but with you neglecting to tell me when you're hurt, I can't prevent anything. Now what happened and are you hurt anywhere else?" Spike didn't try to hide his concern, if the boy was injured, he wanted to go right out and kill whatever had done the damage. His demon was in agreement-somewhere along the line, it had claimed Xander.

"Nothing happened, Spike. Just a regular patrol injury, that's all." Xander crossed his arms in front of himself-a self protective gesture that Spike knew well.

"Sorry pet, not buying it. Just tell me so that I can go kill it." Spike looked into Xan's dark brown eyes, mentally willing him to tell him the truth. Xander had surprise written all over his face at the statement.

"Kill it? Why?"

"It's my duty." Xander chuckled at that a little but stifled it at the serious look in Spike's eyes.

"Xander, when I first started helping the Slayer it was o she wouldn't have a reason to kill me-or at least hesitate long enough for me to get outta town. I wasn't real fond of the lot of you – but that's changed." Spike paused but Xan didn't say a word. Xan was beginning to hear some of the cultured accent come through and he was entranced. "There's the Niblet to protect, anything that even thinks it'll hurt her gets to deal with me. I'm useful these days. I've gotten used to having you around and so if something hurts you, I don't want to let it get another chance to do even worse." That was as close as Spike would come to saying how he actually thought of the young man for the moment.

Xander was a smidgen overwhelmed at how honest Spike was being. He wished he could tell the truth but all that would do would have Spike end up in pain and his secret possibly known to everyone. He couldn't do that. It was too scary a thought.

"Thank you Spike. That means a lot to me that you'd be willing to get revenge on what did this. But I can't tell you. It wouldn't do any good." Spike sniffed the air, Xan wasn't lying-he could tell by the way certain pheromones were missing. If what he said was true, then he could only surmise that a human had done it. The question was on the tip of his tongue when he was cut off by a ringing telephone.

Xander moved remarkably fast for someone whose rib's had to be throbbing in pain. He got it on the second ring. "Hello. Oh hey Will. (Pause) All right, I'll be there in a ½ hour. Bye." He hung up the phone and moved to the dryer. As he pulled out some non-work clothes and a towel, he looked over at Spike, "While I'm in the shower, remember to stay quiet okay? I think I heard Mom turn on the TV earlier." Spike nodded his agreement-hoping that going the "I'm not pushing for info so tell me what's wrong sooner" route would work. For the second time that day, Spike listened to the shower run. He thought about using his hearing to see if Xan would talk to himself in the bathroom, but decided to give him some privacy this time. Instead he moved to the bed and sat and concentrated on the muffled sounds from upstairs.

Twenty minutes late, Spike was snapped out of a "zone" by Xander poking him. "Hey, wot do you think you're doing?"

"Well, I said your name at least five times and got no response. Fall asleep with your eyes open or what?" Xander was changed and running a towel over his hair. Spike stood up and grabbed his duster off the wall where he had hung it.

"Wasn't sleeping, just listening."

"Listening to what?" Xander's heartbeat sped up.

"To your folks upstairs."

"What!" Xander's fearscent flooded Spike's senses.

"Calm down, pet. Your mum is the only one home-had the TV on, watching some soap or other." The smell of fear started to fade.

"You wouldn't lie about that, right?" Spike walked closer to him and place one hand on Xan's right shoulder.

"No Xander. I wouldn't lie about that-no fun in it." Xander met the blue eyes and saw the sincerity there.

"Good." Xan grabbed a light jacket, checked the pocket for a stake and headed for the door. "Coming to meeting Spike? Might have a lead on the last demon that wrecked your place."

Spike was planning on following in the shadows to keep Xander from harm, so he swung his duster on and walked out the door. The night air was clear with a hint of cooler weather to come. He turned back to face Xander, "Let's go whelp. If we're lucky, I'll get to fight a demon or two on the way over." Xander shook his head; he would never lose his "demon magnet" status to the vamp. Xan closed the door quietly and joined the blonde in the night.

Sorry if it's too short for you.Let me know if the paragraphs are still difficult to read, i'llbreak them up more.It's mid-terms this week and I don't want to post everything I have pre-written in case I'm totally drained by the end of this eeevilll week. So wish me luck- i'll need it in order to pass Astronomy. 'Till next time-cheersSchwarze-Katze