AN: Thanks for the feedback...my Spangel soul is doing a happy dance. Please continue with the comments. It helps me write faster to know people enjoy the story!

Long chappy ahead!

Chapter 9

Angel kept a constant vigil at Spike's bedside. He sat on the chair beside her and held her hand. The room was eerily quiet. Spike lay as still as the dead. She occasionally flinched or mumbled. Her condition had not improved in the last twenty-four hours.

The door to Spike's room peeked open. Fred quietly walked through. She took in the scene as her heart ached for her two friends. "Angel?" She said quietly.

As the dark vampire slowly turned his head towards her, she noticed the drawn features and the blood shot eyes of Angel. Fred held up a bag. "I brought you some blood." She attempted to smile. "It's warm."

Angel turned back towards Spike. "I'm not hungry." He said in a monotone voice.

"You should take a break, Angel." She said quietly.

"I can't leave." His voice cracked. "What if she wakes up and all she will see are these gray walls...I can't risk that." Angel paused.

"Angel, you need to feed to keep your strength up." Angel shook his head as Fred changed her tactics. "Spike needs your blood. If you don't feed, it will hurt Spike. Do you want that?" She said with a strong tone in her voice.

Angel thought for a moment and stood up and walked over to Fred. She handed him the container and Angel forced the blood down. His fangs descended as he realized he was drinking human blood. He raised his eyebrow for a moment.

"I'd figure human would be better for Spike." She smiled and was happy to see that Angel reciprocated. "Why don't you go take a quick shower and change your clothes, Angel. I'll sit with Spike until you come back and then I'll go back to the lab." She proceeded to sit in the chair near Spike's bed.

"Thanks, Fred." Angel was exhausted as he stood there. "Are you close to finding any answers?" He asked with hope in his voice.

"We'll figure it out, Angel. I promise. "We just need a little more time."

"That's the problem. I don't know how much time we have left." He said quietly as he took one last look at his Grandchilde before reluctantly leaving. "I'll be back."

After returning, Angel dozed in the chair as he sat with Spike. Suddenly, he startled awake as he heard her moan. He immediately grabbed her hand. "Spike?" Her only response was continued moaning. She sounded as though she was in a great amount of pain. He took a small towel and dabbed her forehead that continued to be wet with perspiration. For the first time in his unlife, Angel felt completely powerless.

He clutched the bedside remote and frantically pushed the call button. A voice came over the intercom. "May I help you?"

"I need to see the doctor." Angel said as he stood.

"As soon as he finishes his rounds, I will send him."

The dark vampire's eyes were yellow. "I don't think you understand." He growled. "I want to see him now. This is Angel."

"Oh, Mr. Angel, sir. Yes, right away." The voice responded as Angel managed a smile. At least something good came out of being the CEO of 'Evil Incorporated.' His smile saddened as he thought about the first time Spike used that term to describe Wolfram and Hart. Angel had been so annoyed with the blond vampire, that he yelled at him. The dark vampire shook his head. He could not think about those things now. He needed to focus his attention.

"No..." Spike whispered but her eyes were still shut.

"Spike?" Angel asked with hope in his voice as he clasped her thin hand.

"School's out..." Her speech seemed slurred and Angel could barely make out what she said.

"Honey? Can you hear me?" He said as he stroked her hair and then her cheekbones.

"The end...no you don't...thanks..." She said quietly but her voice was steadily rising.

"Open your eyes, Spike." He pleaded with her.

"'M burning...burning!" She said frantically and then screamed and bucked in bed and then all of a sudden she was quiet again.

"Spike?" Angel gently shook her as she became quiet. He was desperate when Dr. Smith walked in the room.

"Angel did you need to see me?" He stood quietly for a moment as he noted the despair on Angel's face. "Did something happen?" He said as he went to look Spike over. She appeared unchanged to him.

"She was speaking. It was jibberish, but she spoke." Angel's eyes were wide. "She seems like she is in a lot of pain."

"She may be hallucinating, that's all Angel. It is common when one is poisoned." He placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

"Poison?" Angel stood to face the doctor. "Do you know what type?"

"We're pretty close to figuring it out and then we can hopefully find a cure or antidote." He paused. "I will have the nurse give Spike some Morphine to keep her comfortable. I'll let you know when anything else occurs." The doctor nodded and left. A few minutes later, a nurse entered the room.

Angel watched as the nurse injected the medicine through Spike's IV. He continued to stroke her cheek and whisper reassuring things in her ear. "Please, Spike. Come back to me. I need you." Angel lowered his head into her lap and fell asleep.

During the early evening, Angel tore himself away from Spike's side and quickly went to his office to feed. He did not even bother to warm it up. He wanted to get back to Spike. His office door opened and he turned to find Wesley standing at the door. The two stared at each other for a time and finally, Wesley spoke. The Ex-Watcher looked devastated. "Angel, if I had known..."

Angel's undead heart warmed as he saw Wesley's emotion. "I know, Wes. I'm sorry I snapped like that. I had no right."

Wesley sighed. "We are all worried about Spike, Angel. I must admit that we-I am a bit confused at your reaction to her illness." He stared intently at the dark vampire.

Angel understood his point. "It's complicated, Wes." Angel said as he sat down on the couch. He leaned over and placed his head in his hands and then looked up. "So much has occurred between the two of us. Spike is-was like my own Childe. But circumstances changed all that."

Wesley understood. "Your soul." He replied. Angel nodded.

"After one hundred years, all that seemed to be left was anger, jealousy, and hate. But underneath everything..." Angel trailed off. He had never spoken to anyone about this. This was his burden to bare. "Spike's change has allowed us to...I don't know...but something has changed between us. I know I'm not making any sense." He rubbed his fatigued eyes.

"You care for Spike." Wesley stated simply. The two sat silent for some time. "She will recover, Angel. Fred is close to isolating the origin of her illness." Wesley smiled and stood up to leave. Before walking through the door, he turned back to the dark vampire. "It is quite clear that Spike cares for you as well." The two smiled at each other as Wesley departed.

Before returning to the Intensive Care Unit, Angel went to the lab on check on Fred's progress. He found Wes and Fred huddled together looking through a microscope. Angel smiled as he saw the state Fred was in: her hair was in a ponytail on top of her head and was quite disheveled looking. Her glasses were on the tip of her nose. He felt blessed to have such devoted friends in his life.

"Fred?" Angel said quietly.

"Oh, Angel!" She responded looking surprised. She pushed her glasses up. "I didn't see you there."

"Any progress?"

"It is definitely a toxin of sort. I am analyzing the biochemical properties of the substance. Once I can identify it, I will run a DNA sequence match in the Wolfram and Hart data systems to see if we have a match on file. We may have an antidote here in the storage facility and…"

"Okay, Fred." Wesley interjected as he saw Angel's eyes glaze over. "She is near to finding out what it is, Angel."

"Thanks, guys." Angel's eyes watered. He placed his hands in his jacket pockets and walked out of the lab. As he neared Spike's room, he heard some activity. He sprinted towards the noise and found numerous people huddled around her bed. His eyes were wide as he saw her shaking again. He rushed through the crowd to find Dr. Smith ordering more medicines to stop her seizures. After ten minutes, Spike was still once more. Angel turned to the doctor.

"She's dying." Angel said quietly as he reached his arm out to find a chair. He felt his strength momentarily leave him. He looked up with pleading eyes, desperately wanting the doctor to contradict him.

The small man sat next to Angel. "It is serious, Angel. I will not lie to you. There is always hope, though. Winifred is still working on a solution." He paused. "Don't lose faith." They both watched the gravely ill Spike for a time and finally, the doctor excused himself.

Angel stared at the increasingly pale face of Spike and pleaded. "Don't leave me, please. I can't do this by myself anymore. I can't."

Angel managed to take a catnap and startled awake the next morning as he felt the warm rays of the sun bathing him. He looked up to see that Spike appeared unchanged. Angel's heart sank as he watched her. He sighed and stood up and walked out of the room to get some fresh air. He saw all his friends congregating in the hall with the doctor. When they saw Angel, they turned to him and smiled.

"Angel," Fred began, "we've isolated the toxin affecting Spike." Her smile was wide.

"Really?" He asked.

"Yes, Angel." Dr. Smith reassured him. "We do have an antidote. We need to have the pharmacy concentrate it and we can administer it to Spike to see if she responds to it."

"If?" Angel asked seriously.

"It will likely work, Angel. But, nothing is one hundred percent." He looked at Fred. "Thank you for your work. Angel, it should be ready soon and we'll start."

Angel stood in front of Fred and tried to open his mouth to talk. Nothing came out.

"It's okay, Angel." Fred said as she embraced the emotionally exhausted vampire. "It'll all be okay."

Over the next eight hours, Spike's color slowly improved as the infusion entered her system. Her temperature returned to baseline as her sweating dissipated. Angel did not leave as he did not want her to wake up and not see him there. He dozed for some time and then he heard the most melodious noise.

"Sire?" A high-pitched weak voice spoke. Spike's eyes fluttered open.

"Gods, Spike!" Angel said abruptly as he sat up and grabbed her hands.

She tried to moisten her cracked, dry lips. "W-What…?" Her eyes were confused as she looked around at her environment.

"Don't try to talk, Spike." He stroked her hand. "After you were shot, you got sick. The bullets had poison on them." He smiled down at her and thought she was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. "But you're okay, now." He caressed her cheek and was so happy to see a hint of color to them.

Spike's blue eyes closed for a moment as she felt Angel's touch. "Angel." She whispered as she stared at her Grandsire. Her chin trembled and a tear escaped her eye as the events of the last few days washed over her. But knowing Angel was by her side gave her a sense of relief. She turned and curled into the fetal position so her head lay on Angel's hand. Angel's other hand slowly stroked Spike's hair. The dark vampire looked up with tear filled eyes and thanked whoever for the return of his Grandchilde.

Angel sat back as he watched Spike rest. He smiled when her eyes opened again.

Her voice was weak. "You look like shit, mate." She said as she attempted to smirk.

"I see that you are feeling better. " Angel chuckled. "Yeah, I haven't showered much in the last few days." He leaned forward. "Someone got sick." He remarked sarcastically.

"Yeah. Sorry 'bout that." She answered jokingly.

Angel's smile faded. "Spike." He hesitated for a moment before continuing. "I..." Angel stopped when he heard a knock on the door.

"Hello?" Fred opened the door. "Can we all come in?" The two vampires nodded as the Fang Gang entered with balloons and flowers. They congregated around her bed.

"You're looking better, Blondie Bear." Lorne started. "You should be in tip top shape in no time, Pumpkin.

"Glad you're better, Blondie." Gunn added while Fred went to hug Spike.

"Thanks, everyone." Spike answered. "I'll be fine." She turned to Wesley who was standing in the back.

"Spike, I would like to apologize for my carelessness in..." His eyes were sad.

Spike interrupted him. "What are you goin' on about, Percy? Just bad luck, that's all." She smiled and then looked at him seriously. "No worries. Okay pet?" Wesley nodded his thanks. Spike yawned.

"Alright guys, let Spike get his rest." Angel said as he stood. Their friends waved goodbye as they left.

Angel helped reposition Spike so she was more comfortable in the hospital bed.

"Ta." Spike said as she lay her head back on her pillow. She suddenly felt extremely fatigued.

Angel stood watching her for a moment and then looked around the room. "Well...I guess..."

"You're leaving?" Spike said as she tried to hide the hurt in her voice.

"I wasn't sure if you wanted me to stay." Angel said almost sheepishly. "I could, though. You know. Stay." Angel mentally kicked himself for sounding like a Scooby.

Spike smiled. She thought Angel looked cute when he was nervous. "Sure. If you want." Angel took the seat next to her and waited until Spike began to slumber before trying to sleep himself.

The next morning the two vampires were awakened when Dr. Smith entered.

"Rise and shine!" The doctor said enthusiastically. "How's the patient?" He said as he walked over to Spike.

"Right as rain, doc. Thanks for all the work." Spike said as she scooted up in the bed. "Still feel a bit weak, though." She said with a slightly worried tone.

"The amount of poison in your system would have killed a human in a few hours. With your vampire constitution, you will make a full recovery, but there will be residual weakness for a few weeks. I would like you to come to the physical therapy department once a day during the week, so we can build your strength back up. Other than that, you will be discharged today. Is your place far from here?"

"She's staying with me." Angel interjected.

"Very well, that makes things much easier." He smiled. "I want you to drink some human blood once a day and also some of Angel's blood a few times a week. This will help speed up your recovery. Any questions?"

Spike shook her head.

"Thanks, Dr. Smith." Angel added.

The doctor nodded and left. Spike turned to the dark vampire. "So, pet. You've got to give me your blood, huh?" She smirked.

"Guess so. It's your lucky day." Angel answered as he stood. "I'm going to go upstairs and make things ready and have a shower. I feel disgusting." He said as he touched his clothes.

"And your hair is in serious need of that poufy gel you always use." Her blue eyes sparkled.

"My hair gel is not poufy!" He countered as he neared the door.

"Keep telling yourself that, luv!" Spike yelled after Angel as he left. She laughed a hearty laugh.

As Angel returned to Spike's room, he reveled in the fact that he was now clean. He patted his now perfectly gelled hair as he chuckled to himself. He was happy to see Spike return to her snarky self. He heard Spike yell from outside the room.

"GET THE BLOODY HELL AWAY FROM ME WITH THAT, YOU STUPID BINT!" Her voice sounded distressed. Angel ran down the hall to see if she was in danger. He entered the room to find Spike sitting up on the bed. She had clearly been bathed because she was out of her hospital gown and in regular clothes. She was in game face hissing at a nurse who was standing at the bedside.

"What's going on?" Angel said as he tried to calm down now that he realized his Grandchilde was not being harmed. Spike crossed her arms and turned away. Angel looked at the nurse's name tag. "Um. Mary? What seems to be the problem?"

The human's heartbeat was fast. He could sense her fear. "I-I w-was trying to get her in the wheel chair, so w-when you came, she...she'd be ready to go." Tears filled her eyes.

"That's okay." Angel reassured her as he placed his hands on her shoulders and lead her from the room. "I'll take care of it. Thank you for your help." He waited to turn back to Spike until the door closed.

"Spike?" He asked in a somewhat angry tone. "What is your problem? You scared that poor woman!" Spike refused to look at Angel. He reached over to touch her and was surprised when Spike flinched. He saw real fear in her eyes as they teared.

"It's just a wheelchair, Spike." Angel regretted his words after they left his mouth. His eyes were wide as the realization hit him. "Gods, Spike. Honey, I'm sorry." He reached to touch her back and she drew away. He walked over to her and crouched down in front of her. He looked up and was heartbroken to see tears streaming down her face.

She whispered, "I can't...I can't." The memories of Spike's time in the wheelchair and the humiliation and the torture at the hands of Angelus flooded back to her mind.

"I'm sorry, Spike." Angel's eyes were filled with remorse. "This isn't the same. You can walk this time; you're just a little weak. The doctor thinks it will help you get around." He brought his hand forward to wipe her tears; but she turned away again and shook a little. "I'm not him, Spike. I won't hurt you. Never again." He said as his eyes burned with conviction. "He can never hurt you again."

Spike opened her eyes and looked intensely at Angel. Blue eyes met chocolate brown eyes. She could see his soul reflected in his beautiful orbs. She knew he was speaking the truth and wanted to believe him. She sniffed and wiped her eyes and nodded slightly. She held her arm out as Angel stood. He gently helped her out of the bed. They took tentative steps initially. It took most of her strength to walk those few steps to the wheelchair. She hesitated for a moment and then lowered herself into the chair with Angel's help. He wiped a few stray tears from her face and half smiled. He walked ahead and propped the door open. He wheeled her out and started the journey back to the penthouse.

TBC...