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Longer chapter ahead!

Chapter 15

Buffy, Anya, Tara and Xander sat in the Ex-Watcher's living room laughing and eating pizza.

"Where's Riley, Buff?" Xander asked as he stuffed his face. He reached up wipe the large dollop of tomato sauce sliding down his face.

"Xander, sometimes you are so gross." Anya interjected as she grimaced at the site of her boyfriend.

Buffy chuckled. "Riley is grading papers. I'll see him later for patrol."

Xander stood. "I should have ordered more drinks." He said as he spanned the room and saw empty cans. "I hope G-Man has some soda; I'm so thirsty!" The brunette bounced towards the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. "Jeez!" He exclaimed. "I can't even find anything to drink with all the blood here for Spike. Are you sure there aren't any more out there?" Xander said as he exited the kitchen.

The door to the apartment opened and the girls immediately stopped their chatter as their gaze fell upon Willow, Giles, and the frail, thin appearing Spike wrapped in a blanket between them. His weight was supported by the two. They were astonished at the lifeless appearance of the usually animated vampire. He seemed quite thin and even more pale than usual. He had some bruising to his face and his normally bright eyes were dull. His normally slicked back, shockingly platinum hair was now two tone of brown and blond in a disarray of curls.

Giles looked at the group and sadly smiled as he saw the concerned faces of them all. He nodded and turned to walk towards the right. There was a very small guest room situated behind the kitchen. Willow and he gently turned Spike and started walking towards there.

"Hello! Did you guys hear me?" Xander yelled as he exited the kitchen and nearly ran into the Giles. Xander looked at the blond vampire with wide eyes and stumbled back in surprise. He watched silently as they lead Spike into the bedroom and closed the door.

Xander went back to the girls in the sitting room. No one spoke a word as they all placed their food down as if they lost their appetite. Willow was the first to emerge from the back. She immediately went to Tara and heavily sat next to her. She leaned into Tara's embrace as the blond witch noticed her eyes watering. Tara gently stroked Willow's shoulder length auburn colored hair as she caressed her arm.

Buffy looked at her friend. "Will..." She felt at a loss for words.

Willow looked directly at the Slayer and quietly spoke. "Please...not now, Buffy." She closed her eyes again and concentrated on the calming touch of her girlfriend.

Giles turned down the comforter and helped the exhausted vampire lay down. He pulled the warm blanket over Spike and said quietly. "You are home, Spike. No need to worry." He was going to ask if he wanted blood, but Spike immediately fell asleep. Giles looked down on him once more and then softly shut the door behind him.

Silence had befallen the room once again as Giles emerged. He looked at all the children sitting there. He felt sadness at the loss of innocence they had all endured whilst living on the Hellmouth. He sighed. He knew they would ask for an explanation on Spike's condition. He was too mentally and physically exhausted at this point to even start.

He began speaking. "Tomorrow, I will speak to you all at the Shop. Willow, Tara. We can review the Protection Spell." Tara looked at Willow with a confused expression. Willow smiled and Tara understood she would explain later.

With a nod, Giles began the journey up to his bedroom. The Scoobies quickly gathered their belongings and headed home.

Giles' weary eyes flew open the next morning when he heard a scream in the apartment. He ran down the stairs into Spike's room and found him thrashing about. "Spike!" Giles said as he attempted to restrain the vampire.

Spike sat up and his eyes were wild. "Wha...?" He looked around and saw Giles in front of him. He panted as he willed his breathing to slow down. He backed up a bit from Giles as he noticed his surroundings. He sniffed the air and immediately calmed. The space smelled of Giles. "Sorry." The blond vampire whispered as he looked down embarrassed.

"No need, Spike." Giles looked around. "Why don't we get some blood in you. You need to feed. Alright?"

Spike nodded as he allowed Giles to help him up. They slowly emerged from the tiny bedroom and into the sitting area. Spike crashed down onto the plush green couch. He reveled at the familiarity of this place. It made him feel a bit better.

Giles went into the kitchen and warmed up a mug of blood. He sat down on the coffee table and handed it to Spike. The malnourished vampire sipped at first. He then realized it was human and quickly finished the contents. It had been some time since he enjoyed human blood. "Ta." He said as he handed the object back to Giles.

"Would you like some more?" Giles asked. Spike shook his head no. The Ex-Watcher aided Spike and lay him down on the couch. Spike closed his eyes for a moment. Giles stood to return the kitchen. He jumped when he felt a cool hand grab his wrist. He saw Spike looking up at him with tearing eyes. The blond vampire wanted to speak but he found it difficult to form the words to convey his appreciation. But, Giles knew and he understood.

"I know, Spike. I know." Giles patted his shoulder and proceeded to the kitchen to rinse the mug. "We should try to get you into a bath later as well." He said as he wiped his hands and returned to Spike's side. Spike nodded but at the present moment, he looked too exhausted to get up.

"Spike, I do need to go to the Magic Box today to take of a few affairs. Willow and Tara are going to work on a Protection Spell." At the mention of this, Spike's eyes momentarily were wide with fear.

"It is simply a precaution, Spike. We will not likely need it, but..." Giles looked down for a moment and then continued. He picked up an object and moved it closer. "Here is the remote to the telly. Maybe one day you could convince me to get that blasted cable television you are always clamoring about." He grinned when he saw Spike slightly smile at his attempt at light humor. "I am going to shower and leave so I can be back soon. I'll keep some blood next to you. Alright?" Spike nodded his head and quickly fell asleep again. For the first time in awhile, he felt safe.

Giles stood behind the register looking through the files that Anya had kept in his absence. He had to admit that the Ex-Demon kept meticulous records and had managed to continue to turn a profit. The door to the Shop rang as the Scoobies filed through. They spoke quietly as they walked towards their meeting table. They waited for Giles to sit down before asking questions. The Ex-Watcher began after clearing his throat. "Spike was Los Angeles. With the aide of Angel and his co-workers, we were able to locate him." At the mention of Angel, Buffy sat up straight.

"Did Spike do something to Angel?" The Slayer asked suspiciously.

"No, Buffy, he did not. Although, Angel was involved." Giles responded.

"I knew it! Angel should of just killed Spike!" Buffy's nostrils flared with anger and hatred for the blond vampire.

"For heaven's sake, Buffy! Will you please listen?" Giles' voice rose as he yelled at his charge. The whole group sat back in surprise at the anger in Giles' voice. He sighed. "If you cannot be patient to hear the entire story, then please leave." He answered coldly.

"Sorry." She said as she lowered her eyes.

Giles turned his body more to Willow, Tara, and Anya to address them. He knew Xander was in the similar camp to Buffy when it came to Spike.

"There is an evil law firm in Los Angeles by the name of Wolfram and Hart. They are the main adversaries of Angel. They are hell-bent on destroying him and the good that he attempts to do with the help of his friends. Their goal is to either eliminate him or turn him to their side." Thoughts of Angelus permeated the room. Xander, Willow, and Buffy's eyes were wide in fear for a moment.

"They brought back Darla as a human." For the benefit of Tara and Anya he explained. "Darla is Angel's Sire. The lawyers used her to try to manipulate Angel. When this did not work, they used Angel's Childe Drusilla to sire her." Again, a chill passed through the room at the implications of the two vampiress' unleashed upon the world again.

"Angel set them on fire, but they did not die. Darla disappeared. Prior to my departure to England, Spike informed me that Drusilla had visited him. He told her to leave. When we discovered Spike was gone, I recalled our conversation about Drusilla and we went to Los Angeles. It appeared that Wolfram and Hart decided to go after Angel's most favored Childe: Spike."

"Wait..." Buffy interjected. "Drusilla is Spike's sire."

"At Parent/Teacher night, though," Xander added, "Spike did call Angel his Sire. His Yoda."

Giles responded. "Angel did confirm to me that he is Spike's Sire." He noted Buffy's gaze fall to the floor again.

"It is unclear what their true plan for Spike was. I have not been able to discuss this with him yet. He is barely coherent. When we located him..." Giles paused as he removed his glasses. He fought back the bile rising in his throat as he recalled the site of Spike. "He was nude, chained to wall. He had been brutally tortured and starved to the point of death. He is extremely frightened and malnourished." He watched their reactions. Even Buffy and Xander looked stunned. "It was his wish to return to Sunnydale. Angel wanted him to remain in Los Angeles to recover."

Tara spoke. "I-Is he g-going to be okay?"

"I think he will recover physically." Giles looked down for a moment. "He seems mentally fragile. I am not privy to what occurred to him. One can only imagine."

The group sat in silence. Their private thoughts were interrupted by the phone ringing. Anya jumped up and ran to pick it up. "Magic Box. How can I help you?" She nodded her head and turned to her Co-owner. "Giles. It's for you." He slowly walked towards the phone and took the receiver form Anya.

"Hello? Yes, Angel...he is sleeping...yes...human blood...he is having some nightmares as expected...no, he has not been able to tell me what occurred...yes, I will let you know when he does...alright then...goodbye." Giles turned his attention back to the group.

"Now, that we have discussed Spike, is there anything else? Any new demons or threat I should know about?" He looked at the children. They shook their heads. "Very well. I am going to finish my work and return home."

When Giles returned, Spike was still on the couch sleeping. He went straight to the kitchen and placed a pot of water on the burner. He proceeded to warm some blood for Spike as well. As he brought it towards the slumbering vampire, he saw Spike's eyes flutter open.

"Hello." Giles said quietly as he watched Spike struggle to sit up. When the blond vampire was in a comfortable position, he took the mug offered. He kept his head down, staring at the mug.

Giles continued. "Spike, when you are ready to talk about what happened, I am here. But, there is no rush. Alright?" He tried to make eye contact with Spike.

Spike continued to look down. "Don't want to be a bother." He felt unworthy of the hospitality of the Ex-Watcher.

"You are not a bother. I assure you of that." Giles smiled when Spike raised his head and looked at him. A small smile crept across the vampire's face.

Giles sat in the Magic Box trying to make sense of the invoices in front of him. But, he could not concentrate. His thoughts were focused on Spike. They had returned from Los Angeles three weeks prior, and Spike physically was improving. He had put on a few pounds since starting his all human blood diet. His cheeks were not quite as hollow, the dark circles under his eyes had dissipated, and his color had improved. Giles worried about Spike's mental recovery though. He barely left the Ex-Watcher's apartment. He managed to get Spike to come to the shop on a few occasions. The vampire would hold up in the training room in the back reading. He rarely interacted with the others, although he did talk to Willow a few times. At the apartment, he would sit on the couch all day watching the television or reading books.

Giles was pleased that Spike felt comfortable around him. The blond vampire even shed some of his Big Bad image by wearing his wire rimmed spectacles around his fellow Englishman. In fact, Giles had seen very few traces of Spike's unique personality since his ordeal in Los Angeles. The vampire was extremely quiet and introspective these days. Giles often wondered if this is what Spike was like before he was turned or as a result of the trauma he endured.

Spike still had not discussed what occurred and Giles did not pry. Spike would come around in his own time.

Giles picked up the phone and dialed. After two rings, there was an answer.

"Angel Investigations. We help the helpless."

"Cordelia? This is Rupert Giles."

"Hey Giles! How's Spike?"

"As best as can be expected given the circumstances." He answered. "May I please speak to Angel?"

"Sure. Just a minute." There was a small pause as Cordelia gave the phone to a concerned looking vampire.

"Rupert. Is Spike okay?" Angel forcefully clutched the phone receiver.

"As we have discussed, physically he is improved. I worry about him though. He is extremely quiet. Any suggestions I have about training to regain his strength or resuming patrols is refused. I believe it would be healthy to attempt these things."

Angel paused. "I agree. Maybe it's time for me to come see him." Angel tried to keep the hope from his voice.

"Very well. When do you think you will arrive?"

"Well, Cordelia had a vision this morning that will need to be dealt with. After making some other arrangements, how about tomorrow?"

"I will try to have him in the Magic Box. It is our store on Main Street. You cannot miss it. Well, tomorrow then."

"See you then. And thank you, Rupert."

"For what?"

"For being there for William." Angel responded before hanging up.

"Your welcome." Giles answered.

The next morning

The door to the Magic Box opened and Giles looked up to find Buffy walking through. "Hey, Giles!" She said cheerfully.

Giles looked surprised to see her. "Don't you have a class at this time?"

"Yeah." She responded while she effortlessly jumped up to sit on the counter. "There was a burst water pipe in Allen Hall. So yay! Some of my classes are canceled for the day."

"Good. Good." He responded and turned his attention back to his papers.

She hopped off the counter. "Maybe I'll go train in the back." She said as she began to walk.

"Wait!" Giles exclaimed. "Spike is back there, Buffy."

"So?" She said with confusion in her eyes.

"I do not want you upsetting him."

"I'll leave him alone. Alright?" She rolled her eyes and continued walking. She opened the door to the room but did not see anyone. She slowly strode in and then saw Spike in the back corner. It appeared he was reading. She was nervous for a moment. She had not truly been around him in a few months. She proceeded over to some of the gym equipment.

A small voice came from the corner. "What do you want Slayer?" Spike quickly removed his reading glasses when Buffy turned to him.

"I came to do some training. My class was canceled." She looked at the blond vampire. He seemed so small crouched in the corner like that. He was so vulnerable without his duster. She stepped back a moment when Spike stood up. She barely recognized him. His hair was almost entirely free from the platinum color. It was quite curly and fell into his eyes. He was wearing a blue t-shirt and blue jeans instead of his usual black uniform. He looked at her, clutched his book, and began to walk out of the room.

"Wait!" She said suddenly to the retreating figure. Spike turned to her but did not speak. Buffy looked around almost searching for what to say.

"So, could you hold the punching bag for me?" She smiled. She was really trying to be nice. Spike eyed her suspiciously for a moment waiting for an insult or whatever the Slayer did to poke fun at him. It never came. He sighed and shrugged his shoulders. He placed his book and glasses down and walked over to the bag and held it for her. After twenty minutes, Buffy stopped to wipe her brow. Spike simply stood there looking lost.

"Um. I do miss your help on patrol." She said quietly. "I know you just like killing things...but, you know...thanks..." She trailed off. "Anyway, I'm going to go back up front." She grabbed her bag and left. Spike was not sure what to make of that. It was the first time the Slayer was actually nice to him. He shook his head. He was starting to think and he did not like that. He grabbed his book again and went back to the corner.

Buffy closed the door behind her and returned to the main shop. She was saw her friends and then stopped dead in her tracks. Angel stood by the counter talking to Giles.

"Is he in the back?" Angel said anxiously as he turned towards the door. He saw Buffy staring at him. "Hello, Buffy." He said rather coldly.

"What are you doing here, Angel?" Buffy said with her arms crossed.

"To see Spike." He responded. He thought he saw a look of disappointment on her face.

"You did nothing to upset him, Buffy?" Giles interjected.

"No."

Angel turned back to the Ex-Watcher. "Does he know I'm coming?" Giles shook his head. "I don't want to make things worse, but I need to see him."

"I understand. He needs to talk about what happened, Angel. Maybe you could encourage this."

"Well..." Angel took a deep, unneeded breath and readied himself to face his Childe. Angel knocked lightly on the door and stepped in. He left the door open. Angel immediately felt his Childe's presence. The air was filled with fear and despair. He saw Spike sitting in the corner. "Spike?" Angel looked at wide eyes. Spike immediately stood. He kept himself plastered in the corner.

"What are you doin' here?" The blond vampire asked with a slightly trembling voice.

"I wanted to see how you were." Angel did not move closer as he saw Spike start to fidget and place his arms around himself.

"I'm fine." Spike forced the words out as he scanned the room so he did not have to look directly at his Sire.

"No, Will. I don't think you are." Angel responded in a very gentle voice. "I've been talking to Giles nearly everyday checking on you. He tells me you are eating well. You look better. But, he is worried about you. So am I." He tried to smile, but it was difficult. Spike looked at him with vacant eyes. At this point, he would have preferred outright rage over the emptiness he saw before him. He knew how to deal with an angry Spike. Angel surveyed the room but did not move closer to Spike. "Have you started training? It'll help your strength." He turned back to a shaking Spike.

"Go away..." The words fumbled out of his mouth. He moved from the corner trying to make it to the door. Giles walked through and Spike fell away from him as well.

The Ex-Watcher also adopted a very calm tone. "Spike, we want to help you get better."

"I'M FINE!" The blond vampire screamed at the top of lungs. The Scoobies rushed to the training room door when they heard the commotion. Spike backed himself against the wall and clutched his head as he slid to the floor. "I'm fine...I'm fine...I'm fine..." He kept repeating to himself as heavy tears fell from his eyes. Angel immediately crouched in front of him.

"Will, let me help you." Angel pleaded. "Tell me what they did to you. Why they took you. Please..." Tears fell from the chocolate brown eyes.

"No...no..." Spike shook his head violently. "Don't want to remember...don't make me remember..."

"William, tell Sire what happened." Angel softly said in a voice parents use for their children. "They were after me, weren't they?" He paused to give Spike some time. The blond vampire continued to murmur and shake his head.

Spike looked up with wild eyes and saw his Sire. In between sobs, Spike spoke, his voice rising with every word until he was practically yelling. "T-They wanted me to k-kill you...but I wouldn't...why couldn't I?...why couldn't I, Sire? Why can't I hate you like you hate me? Why?" Wide, innocent eyes looked at Angel. He searched for answers that he could not understand.

"I don't hate you, Will!"

"Y-You left me, Sire...left me with Drusilla and your Sire who hated me...why couldn't I kill you?" Spike sobbed as he said these words. "I couldn't..I wouldn't...I would never...I'm so weak...so weak..." He trailed off.

At the door, tears poured from Willow and Tara's eyes as they witnessed their friend's breakdown. Even Buffy's eyes teared and Xander just hung his head. Giles stayed in the back.

"You're not weak, Will. You are so strong!" Angel said as he lightly grasped Spike's shoulders. Spike twisted away from the touch.

"He said you knew...a-and that you didn't care! I called for you and you didn't come...you NEVER come!"

"Will, when I found out I looked for you. I didn't know! Believe me!" Angel was desperate.

"'M not strong!" Spike yelled as he sat on the ground curled into a ball. "I-I couldn't fight!" He sobbed. "L-Lindsey...h-he...he...oh God..." Spike leaned over and proceeded to vomit up blood from his stomach. Even when he had nothing left to vomit, Spike continued to dry heave. Angel gathered a panting, gasping Spike into his arms as Spike continued to repeat: "I couldn't fight...I couldn't fight...I couldn't fight..."

"I know, Will. I'm so sorry." Angel said as he tried to calm the manic vampire. He gently kissed Spike's wet hair as he continued to rock him.

Giles went towards the door and encouraged the group to go back into the shop. He closed the door behind him to give the two vampires some privacy.

"Don't leave me, Sire..." Spike whispered as he felt his body against the cool strength of the old vampire. "Please..."

"I won't, Will. Never again. I promise you. I'm here." Angel closed his eyes for a moment. "My Precious. My Little One. I will always be here."

TBC...