Title: Written In The Stars, Part 8 - So

Author: Xanfan

Rating: R/NC-17 for future chapters

Pairing??????

Summary: SLASH Response to challenge from Sparky. Xander and Spike become friends after Spike gets the chip, they are both hurt and Dru rescues them and brings them to Angel to heal.

Spoilers: BtVS up through season 4 and Ats 1st season. I may however take some liberties with the exact timeline, so, any season from either show is fair game.

Warnings: SLASH

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Original Challenge: Spike has been chipped and taken in by the Scoobies. Just as he and
Xander are beginning to become friends something their both hurt and it's up
to Angel to save and care for them. The twist is its Dru that saves them
and brings them to Daddy.

A/N: I may make take some liberties with timelines from both shows. And Anya was just a onetime thing.

Words in Italics indicate thoughts.

Xander tried not to stare at Angel. The others had gone home almost an hour ago. So far, he and Angel hadn't said more than two words to each other. While he certainly felt safe, he didn't feel comfortable.

"So." Xander began, not sure what he was going to say, but feeling the need to say something.

"So." Angel replied, not helping with the whole 'starting a conversation' thing.

"So….How exactly did I get here anyway?" Xander asked.

"Drusilla brought you."

"Can I just say….Huh?"

"Apparently, you and Spike were captured in Sunnydale and Dru had a vision or something that said she needed to help, so she found you and brought you to my office, one of you thrown over each shoulder, both of you unconscious."

"Spike was hurt? But, he looked okay." Xander said in distress.

Angel wondered once again what the relationship was between the boy and Spike.

"He was in pretty rough shape when Dru brought him in, but I gave him some blood and he was able to heal."

"Human." Xander murmured.

"What?" Angel asked in confusion.

"You gave him human blood? That's why he's all better?" Xander asked.

Angel was shocked, not sure how Xander knew that human blood was better at healing vampires, than animal.

"Yes, the local bloodbank…." Angel began.

"Yeah, they sell off the unusable blood. They do the same in Sunnydale, but, it's pretty hot property, that goes quickly. I don't think the blood banks there get very many donations, period. Must be all the involuntary donations that happen. I try and get some human blood for Spike when they have it, and when I have the cash. It's not often that those two circumstances coincide, but, when it does…. We save it for the really bad injuries. You know, the ones where animal blood just doesn't do the job?"

"Yeah, I know." Angel murmured, wondering how often his childe had been injured bad enough to require human blood and how much this boy had sacrificed so that he could have it, when he needed it.

"I don't think the animal blood is very good for Spike. He seems to be getting…not frail exactly, but, less sturdy looking." Xander struggled to explain.

"He may not be getting enough blood period, animal or not." Angel replied gently.

"Giles gets him some, and I try to get more whenever I can, and Spike won't say he needs more or better quality. I'm not sure what to do for him." Xander said, looking a little lost.

"I can help." Angel surprised them both with the offer.

"I can send some funds and you don't have to tell Spike where it comes from, and I'll call Willy and have him send you some blood regularly." Angel said.

"Yeah, I figured Willy would have some, but, Spikes not too popular there, because he helps us, and I'm not too popular there because, well, because I'm me and I hang with Buffy." Xander admitted.

Angel nodded his head in agreement and understanding. He wouldn't want either of them going there unaccompanied. "What about Buffy?"

"What do you mean?" Xander asked.

"Why doesn't she get blood from Willy, she could go with no trouble." Angel asked.

Xander laughed, but there was not humor, only bitterness. "If it was up to Buffy, Spike would starve to dust. She gives Giles a hard time whenever he supplies blood and I've learned to hide any of the good stuff when she comes over."

Angel was shocked by how unsurprised he was by this admission. Moving to L.A. had helped him remove his rose colored glasses, where the blond slayer was concerned. He wasn't sure if it was distance or time, but, he had begun to view her actions and behavior more objectively. He had discovered, that while he loved her, and a part of him always would, he wasn't sure if he liked her, most of the time. If she didn't want Spike to feed, she needed to put him out of his misery. Letting anything, human, animal or demon, starve to death, was cruel.

"Do you want me to have a talk with her?" Angel offered.

"No offense, but I don't think it would help, and it would probably make things worse."

"What do you mean?"

"She would see it as your taking Spike's side over hers and then she would just start being meaner to him than she already is. Plus, knowing her, she would think it was all about her and the breakup, and we would never hear the end of how much you still love her, even though she has moved on…." Xander halted on a blush.

"I know about Riley. Cordelia told me, not long after you told her. She thought I should know."

"Yeah, I thought you should, too. But, Buffy made me us swear not to tell you….but, she didn't make me swear not to tell Cordelia. If Cordy let spill, there was not much I could do about it, right? And I didn't break my promise."

Angel was touched that the boy would look out for him like that. He quickly suppressed the squishy feelings that thought brought.

"Thank you."

"I didn't do anything." Xander defended, with a little smile.

They both lapsed into silence.

After a few minutes of counting ceiling tiles and thumb twiddling, Angel surprised them both by saying, "I'm not still in love with her."

"Huh?"

"Buffy. I'm not in love with her anymore. I mean, I do love her, and care about her, but….I'm not pining away for her."

Angel was not sure, or at least he wouldn't admit to himself, why he felt the need to tell Xander this.

Xander was not sure why Angel felt the need to tell him this, and he wouldn't acknowledge the rush of pleasure and relief that Angel's announcement brought.

"So." Xander said.

"So." Angel said