Howdy... still don't own jack. Oh wait, do the season collections count?

Chapter 6

Buffy was the first downstairs, followed by the rest of the Scoobies. Clark and Chloe stayed up in the room, and Faith herself even got up to stretch out, shushing off Giles' reprimands for moving about so soon. She headed downstairs, leaving the two Smallville natives alone for the first time since they had arrived.

Clark looked over at Chloe, clearing his throat. "So… you didn't seem all that shocked by what I told everyone earlier."

Chloe smiled slightly. "I've known for a little while now Clark."

He should have been shocked, awed, upset… but all Clark felt was happy. The most important person in his life knew his secret, and she was fine with it. "I should have told you earlier Chloe. So many times I had the chance, and I was too scared."

Chloe tilted his face to meet hers. "Hey, don't say that. This is something major, I can't imagine what it was like not being able to share the biggest thing in your life, something that made you feel like an outsider. Now, let me use my incredibly sexy reporter skills. I'm guessing Pete knew about it?" Clark simply nodded. "And since Pete had to leave after everything that went down a couple of years ago, you've been afraid to tell anyone because they'll have to live with this, with the pressure. And you're scared that eventually, they'll have to leave." Clark nodded again, this time wiping his eyes with his sleeve.

Chloe took his hand, looking into his eyes. "I'm not leaving. No matter what. I'll never leave you Clark Kent."

"Chloe… I… I've been so stupid, missed so many opportunities…"

She looked confused. "Opportunities for what?"

"For this." Clark leaned in, kissing her lips softly. His hands went around her, holding her tightly against him.

Chloe was shocked, but that soon gave way to melting into the kiss.

Things grew heated quickly, with Chloe pushing Clark back and mounting his hips. She started kissing his neck, giving in to every emotion she had ever felt for him.

Before things got even more heated, they were interrupted by someone clearing their throat in the doorway. Both teenagers' heads snapped to the side, seeing Spike at the door trying to conceal the grin that was attempting to burst out. "Uh, they want you downstairs for another meeting. Seems we have another player, and Buffy wants to introduce you to them."

Standing up quickly, Chloe straightened her outfit and hair, then smiled at Clark and Spike as she walked out of the room. Turning back, Spike had to laugh at the way Clark looked. He hadn't moved at all since they'd been busted, and was still breathing hard. "Hey, Clarkie… wake up!" Spike clapped his hands, and Clark bolted up, straightening his shirt.

Walking by Spike, Clark looked down at the older man… vampire… whatever. "Don't call me Clarkie." Clark walked out of the bedroom, heading for the stairs. Spike tried not to bust out laughing. He was just leaving the room when something hit his nostrils. Looking around the room, he noticed something amiss, and headed out of the bedroom. "Clark, why's one of the ceiling fan blades charred?"

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Clark walked down, seeing a tall dark haired man in a leather coat talking to Buffy and Willow and stepped up next to them.

Angel looked up as he sensed someone coming up close to them, and he took in the dark haired man with a slight nod. Looking back at Buffy, he was about to say something when he did a double take, looking up into Clark's eyes. "Wow. You're… tall."

The Scoobies burst into laughter, realizing this was the first time since they'd known him that Angel had to look up at someone else.

Blushing slightly, Clark grinned. "Yea, I've been told that."

Buffy ushered Spike, Clark, and Angel into the dining room and shut the doors. "Ok, Angel has something for us to use, he says it's going to change the face of all of this."

Stepping to the table, Angel laid a cloth on the table, something wrapped up in it. "This was given to me by a higher power. It's a very powerful weapon, to be worn by someone more than human, but with a soul. Buffy says that you fit the bill somehow," Angel said, looking at Clark.

All three men stared as Angel unwrapped the cloth, showing a large clear stone in a metal setting with a chain. Buffy watched each one's reactions. Angel so self assured, positive that he was the man to wear this and save the day. Spike in awe, as if seeing this tool as his chance to help, to do his part to save people. And Clark, she couldn't pinpoint Clark. He just stared at the amulet with an intense gaze, looking much older than he actually was.

Angel stepped forward. "Well, we need someone strong to wear this, and I have been through the most major battles out of anyone here. So this is obvious." Angel reached out and picked the amulet up.

Clark already disliked this guy. He could tell he was up to something, and right now it seemed to be proving himself over Spike. Every word he said was pointed at Spike directly.

Buffy reached out, touching the chain of the amulet. "You know what Angel? You're right, we need a champion to wear this. Someone strong, someone determined. But you know what we need most?" He looked at her, head tilted to the side as he awaited her answer. "What we need most Angel, is someone I can trust." With that, she took the amulet out of his hand. "And that isn't you Angel." She handed it over to Spike. "Someone I trust my life, and my friends' lives with. We need Spike to wear it."

Spike looked up, awestruck. "Pet, I don't think I'm the right guy…"

"You are. I know it." She closed her hands around Spike's, the amulet clenched tightly.

Clark watched with amazement. He had suspected something before, but now it was clear the deep emotions that ran between them.

Angel did his best to hide his fury, then walked slowly to the doorway. "Well, I guess I'm not needed here. I'll just be going."

"Angel wait, we can still use a good warrior." Buffy turned towards him, her hands not moving from Spike's arm.

"No Buffy, if you don't trust me enough to wear the amulet, you don't trust me enough to fight." He turned toward the door, and was turning the handles when he jerked his hands back. "What the hell! That's burning hot!"

Clark was staring at the door handle, then up at Angel. "Look, I don't know you, I don't know what your deal is, but I can tell you one thing. If the only reason you're not going to help out is because your feelings got hurt, you need to grow up."

Angel chuckled at Clark. "That's really funny kid. How old are you? Seventeen? Eighteen?" Clark nodded. "I'm over 250 years old! I've seen things you couldn't imagine, and I've done worse! So where do you get off telling me to grow up!"

Clark stepped right up to him. "Because at least I'm not acting like a spoiled brat who just got his favorite toy taken away."

Angel stared Clark down. Looking down to the ground, he shifted into game face, and then snapped a punch into Clark's gut. Angel hit his knees, gripping his hand, fingers going in wrong directions.

Spike noticed Clark shift a little, but not nearly as much as he should have. Angel stood again and hit a snap kick to the side of Clark's head, then fell back down, holding his shin. "What the hell are you?"

Gripping Angel by the collar, Clark lifted him up from the ground. "I'm a farm boy." Clark held him at arms length, Angel unable to touch solid ground. "Now stop screwing around, there's more important things going on now than your ego."

Angel grabbed a candle stick off the china cabinet and slammed it into the side of Clark's head, making him drop to his knees. "What the hell… I don't usually feel this much from a hit."

Spike wrapped his arms around Angel from behind. "Now now Peaches, don't be hitting the hero who's gonna help us save the world."

Angel elbowed Spike in the ribs, then slammed him over his shoulder, destroying the dining room table. Grabbing a splintered leg, Angel was swinging it through the air in a slow arc when it burst into flames suddenly. "AHHH!" Dropping it, he turned to look at Clark.

"That's a friend of mine. I don't like people who threaten my friends." Clark stamped on the wood, putting it out. "Now back off. Stop trying to fight, or I'll stop pulling punches."

Angel looked over at Buffy. "This is your team? A bunch of girls, some hick, and Spike? Good luck saving the world, bitch." Angel turned to walk out the door, and ran directly into a punch from Clark, sending him flying across the room and landing on top of the decorative table under the window. When he finally hit the floor, Angel was out cold.

Looking at Clark, then at Angel, Buffy walked over to help Spike up. "Are you ok?"

"Yeah luv thanks to the farmer here." He shook Clark's hand. "Thanks much mate. I owe you one."

Buffy hugged Clark. "Thank you. I don't know what's happened to him, but this isn't like Angel has ever acted before. Even Spike would admit that."

Clark nodded slowly. "Do you think he'll still help us out?"

"Once he wakes up he should. Just leave him in here for now." Taking Spike's arm, she headed to the kitchen. "Your head is cut pretty good, let's take care of that."

Clark walked through the kitchen door and into the living room, seeing everyone staring at him. Obviously they had heard the commotion. "Uh… hi?" he waved slightly.

Xander peered around Clark into the dining room. "What the…! Why does the new guy get to knock Deadboy out and I don't?"

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Clark was bunking down in the basement with Spike. He had been awake for nearly two days now, and it was starting to catch up with him. He sat up on his little cot, almost two feet too short for him, and looked over at the other occupant. "Spike? You awake?"

"Surely am mate. Can't really sleep, don't know why."

Sharp eyes catching Spike rubbing his hands over his face, Clark moved over and sat next to him. "You love her don't you?"

Spike knew exactly what he meant. "With all my non beating heart and newly acquired soul."

"She's the reason you went and got your soul, isn't she?"

Taking a swig from the nearly empty bottle of whiskey, Spike coughed. "Right before I did, I did something horrible. Or, I tried to. I thought Buffy would feel for me what I did for her if we were… connected… again. So, I tried to force it." Clark heard his voice break slightly. "She pushed me off, and I couldn't believe what I had done. So, I left town, and tracked this legend I heard of a demon that could do almost anything. So, I went through the trials, and got my soul back."

Clark reached over and took the bottle. "And, I'm guessing things weren't perfect right away?"

"Not even close. When I got the soul, I started to feel bad for everything I did. I deserved it too, I've done things that you would fry me for right now. It was so bad, I almost tried to off myself. But I just couldn't. I couldn't get her face out of my mind."

Clark sighed. "You are a good person Spike. And I believe in you. You've shown me that I can trust you."

Looking at him curiously, spike asked, "What makes you say that you can trust me?"

"I saw you take the knife in your chest to try to keep it from hitting Chloe. You could have reached for it and missed, but you put yourself in front of it, and I know you can still feel pain just like a human."

If he could have, Spike would be blushing. "Didn't know it was that noticeable."

Clark extended his hand to the vampire. "I'm honored to call you a friend Spike. And I don't get to say that to a lot of people."

Spike stared at the hand… and slowly reached out, shaking it. "Same goes for me, Farm Boy."

"Are you gonna keep calling me that?" Clark asked with a smirk.

Spike lit up another cigarette. "Tell you what. Have a drink with me, and we'll work on figuring out another name for you."

"I don't really drink Spike."

"Whatever you say…Farm Boy." Spike puffed away at his cigarette, laughing at the boy's exasperated sigh.

"Spike, I do have one thing that's bothering me. The only things that can hurt me are this certain type of rock that's not anywhere around here, and magic. So why is it that when I was punched by you and Angel, it hit me harder than anything else I've felt?"

Spike sat quietly, then stomped out his smoke. "Think we need to go talk to Red on this one."

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Angel grunted from his position on a kitchen stool. His head still hurt from where that kid punched him. He hit him harder than he had ever been punched. Something wasn't right about the kid.

Looking up, he saw a dark haired girl getting something to drink. He remembered seeing her outside, grumbling about something earlier. "What's wrong with you?"

Kennedy tossed her glass at the sink, smiling as it shattered. "Our fearless leader is pissing me off. Someone should put her in her place. She's not the hot shit she thinks she is."

Angel smiled to himself, seeing something dark in this girl. He stood up, walking around the counter to put a hand on her shoulder. "Let's chat."

End. Chapter 6