Saving Spike

Review Response:

Lilith Snape, Titan of Saturn, and Wicked R

Thank you so much for reviewing. I'm glad you like the story so far, and I hope you like this chapter just as much.

Now on with the story!

Last Time: "What...Spike I'm not Angelus. If you look at me you will find only a Xander shaped person. No vampire."

'Xander shaped person'. What? Angelus doesn't talk like that…only Red and…

"Xander?" Spike asked incredulously.

Chapter 2

Punishments

"Uh…yeah. It's me Spike. Are you alright?" Xander asked while trying to fight down the urge to insult the bleached blonde. Something was obviously wrong here, and as annoying as Spike is, Xander couldn't just leave without knowing that Spike would be alright.

He watched Spike frown at him and tilt his head sideways in confusion. Then Spike suddenly jerked and looked to the left and listened. A minute later he looked back at Xander and said, "You shouldn't be here. I'm not supposed to bring humans back home. Sire will punish me. You have to go before he gets back. Hurry, Dru's already calling for him!" he said panicky.

To say that Xander was confused would be an understatement. Spike appeared to believe that he was back in time, with Angelus and Drusilla. Although he referred to Angelus as his Sire, and Xander was sure that Drusilla had been. Could Spike be under some sort of confusion spell? Maybe I better get Willow and…

"Buffy! Did Angelus invite you here again? He didn't say you were coming. I would've tidied the place up a bit. Drusilla already punished me earlier, I guess she left now, and I forgot to clean up the bloodstains. I can clean them now if you like?" Spike said to the air beside him. "Got to remember to clean up after punishments. Sire gets as testy as you when I forget."

Spike suddenly looked up fearfully at the air beside him again. "I'm sorry. Spoke without thinking. I didn't mean any disrespect. Yes, I forgot my place. I'll wash my mouth out with soap now."

Xander watched incredulously as Spike presumably got up to do just that. As he walked by him though, Xander grabbed Spikes arm to stop him. "Spike," he said to the blonde vampire, "What the hell are you doing?"

"Got to wash my mouth with soap. I spoke badly of my Sire and the Slayer. I'm beneath them. Got to know my place. Always stepping out of line and wearing out my welcome. They're my betters. I have to more respectful. I just forget sometimes, and the lies I've learned come back." Then he looks straight at Xander and asks, "Are you one of the lies too Xander?"

Over the years Xander had gotten used to some seriously strange occurrences. But Spike calling him by his name, twice, took the cake. He was used to Spike calling him Whelp, or Doughnut boy, or one of the Slayer's Sidekicks. Not Xander. Never Xander. What the hell could be wrong with him?

Xander suddenly realized that Spike was still looking at him intently. What was it he had asked again? Oh yeah. "Are you one of the lies too Xander?" What the fuck was that supposed to mean? Spike obviously had a few screws loose inside that head of his. Maybe it was too much hair dye. Sunk so far into his brain that he lost his marbles. Xander was tempted to snort at his mental joke, but managed to refrain himself when Spike's eyes suddenly drop sadly to the floor in front of him.

"Spike? What is it," Xander asked gently, surprising himself.

"It's just…no…never mind. Doesn't matter. I thought for a moment…but I was looking from outside in of the picture that I'm not in because I'm a vampire and don't photograph. Maybe I should take up sketching. I might stay in place then, but Sire would just rip it up. And the other people wouldn't stay still anyway. They'd move around and shift like static on a telly. So like I said…It doesn't matter."

Xander wasn't sure why that statement hit him so hard, but it did, and it felt like a punch to the gut. He knew within that instant that he must do everything in his power to help the blonde vampire he used to hate.

AN: I know that was pretty short, sorry. I'll try and make the next chapter extra long. So…What did you think? Please review!