6.
Xander Harris hated Spike. He'd hated him for as long as he could remember. In his eyes, he was evil. Nothing could be done to take that feeling away.
He wasn't one to listen to his subconscious. If he had, it would have been telling him that his feelings of hate were mainly based on jealousy. Yeah, Spike was evil, but he was cool. He had a way with the ladies. He was layed back. and, worst of all, he had an attachment to Buffy which wasn't exactly found to be repulsive by the lady in question. But. Xander hated him. Purely and simply. There would be no mourning over Spikes death when the time finally came. And Xander wanted more than anything to be there when it happened.
To see Buffy and Dawn defending Spike, taking Spikes side over Xander - it was more than he could bare! He knew he couldn't do anything to Spike. If he did, all hell would break lose and he'd lose two of his best friends. But he had to think of SOMETHING to do! Couldn't they see he was just bluffing? There was no way Spike had a soul! You don't just go out and buy one, it was all a plot.
He watched them together at the dinner table, Dawn giggling at everything Spike said and Buffy actually blushing every time Spike looked at her. He was disgusted! He didn't speak much, only when a comment or question was directed at him, he was counting down the minutes until he could leave. Eventually dinner was over. He stood up and took his plate out to the kitchen. Buffy noticed he was gone and followed him.
"Xander," Buffy started, "I know you're pissed off at Spike, you have every right to be, but we have to give him a go! I'm not saying I trust him completely yet, but we can't just turn our back on him. You understand that right?"
"Not really. The way I see it, just because he has a soul, he's suddenly forgiven for all the times he tried to kill you, and when he tried to rape you." Xander replied, rather regretful that he sounded so forceful.
"He's NOT suddenly forgiven Xander!" Buffy said, walking up and standing in front of him. "Remember when Angel went evil? We forgave him when he came back with his soul. Even Giles said that Angelus and Angel weren't the same person, so Angel couldn't be punished for what Angelus did. Well, there's not all that much difference between Souled Spike and Unsouled Spike! And that's got to be a good thing hasn't it?" Buffy was pleading with him to understand.
Xander tuned out the second he heard Buffy say Angels name. "Of course!" he thought to himself. He suddenly knew what it was he had to do.
"Whatever Buffy, I'll just need a little time adjusting is all." Xander said, distractedly. "Anyway, I'm going to make a move now, give you a call tomorrow ok?" and with that, he walked into the dinning room, gave Dawn a peck on the forehead, and strode out the door without even a glance at Spike.
"Pleasant chap that." Spike muttered under his breath when Xander was gone.
"Leave him alone Spike. It'll take him a little longer to get used to you than the rest of us because he hated you so much to begin with." Buffy said, sighing.
The phone was ringing as Xander opened the door to his apartment.
"Xander, I'm coming home" an excited Willow screamed down the line.
"Oh Will, you have no idea how happy this makes me! I need you so much right now. Spikes back and getting all cuddly with Buffy and Dawn again, and he claims that he's got a soul, but I don't believe a word of it but whenever I say anything Buffy or Dawn jump down my throat and take his side and it has just occurred to me that I haven't even asked you how you are, so, how are you Will?" Xander was so relieved to hear his best friends voice! She always seemed to sense when he needed her.
"I'm really good Xander! I feel 100% better than the last time we spoke! So, down to business. what is it that is really upsetting you? The fact that he's back with a soul (and I'm still coming to terms with that!) and you can't have a logical reason to hate him anymore?" Willow was giggling, knowing there would never be any love between the two men, but imagining how hard Xander was taking the fact that the demon he hated more than anything, was probably going to end up being a very good person.
"No" Xander said through clenched teeth, "I don't believe him Will! He's up to something, I can feel it."
"Xander, you have to calm down! Buffy can take care of herself and Dawn! I'll be home on Thursday, promise me you won't do anything until I get back." Willow said, suddenly serious. She could hear the tone of Xanders' voice and knew he was genuinely upset.
"Ok Will, I promise. Gotta go, call me and let me know what time your plane comes in and I'll pick you up. Can't want to see you." And with that, he hung up the phone.
He sat for half the night debating what he should do. He'd made a promise to Willow, but he was scared that something might happen in the meantime. There was only one thing he could do in the circumstances. He picked up his pen and wrote a note:
Angel,
Spikes in town, minus the chip.
He's after Buffy and Dawn.
They need your help.
A Friend.
He walked to the post box and sent the letter. "Oh well" he muttered to himself, "there's no going back now!"
Xander Harris hated Spike. He'd hated him for as long as he could remember. In his eyes, he was evil. Nothing could be done to take that feeling away.
He wasn't one to listen to his subconscious. If he had, it would have been telling him that his feelings of hate were mainly based on jealousy. Yeah, Spike was evil, but he was cool. He had a way with the ladies. He was layed back. and, worst of all, he had an attachment to Buffy which wasn't exactly found to be repulsive by the lady in question. But. Xander hated him. Purely and simply. There would be no mourning over Spikes death when the time finally came. And Xander wanted more than anything to be there when it happened.
To see Buffy and Dawn defending Spike, taking Spikes side over Xander - it was more than he could bare! He knew he couldn't do anything to Spike. If he did, all hell would break lose and he'd lose two of his best friends. But he had to think of SOMETHING to do! Couldn't they see he was just bluffing? There was no way Spike had a soul! You don't just go out and buy one, it was all a plot.
He watched them together at the dinner table, Dawn giggling at everything Spike said and Buffy actually blushing every time Spike looked at her. He was disgusted! He didn't speak much, only when a comment or question was directed at him, he was counting down the minutes until he could leave. Eventually dinner was over. He stood up and took his plate out to the kitchen. Buffy noticed he was gone and followed him.
"Xander," Buffy started, "I know you're pissed off at Spike, you have every right to be, but we have to give him a go! I'm not saying I trust him completely yet, but we can't just turn our back on him. You understand that right?"
"Not really. The way I see it, just because he has a soul, he's suddenly forgiven for all the times he tried to kill you, and when he tried to rape you." Xander replied, rather regretful that he sounded so forceful.
"He's NOT suddenly forgiven Xander!" Buffy said, walking up and standing in front of him. "Remember when Angel went evil? We forgave him when he came back with his soul. Even Giles said that Angelus and Angel weren't the same person, so Angel couldn't be punished for what Angelus did. Well, there's not all that much difference between Souled Spike and Unsouled Spike! And that's got to be a good thing hasn't it?" Buffy was pleading with him to understand.
Xander tuned out the second he heard Buffy say Angels name. "Of course!" he thought to himself. He suddenly knew what it was he had to do.
"Whatever Buffy, I'll just need a little time adjusting is all." Xander said, distractedly. "Anyway, I'm going to make a move now, give you a call tomorrow ok?" and with that, he walked into the dinning room, gave Dawn a peck on the forehead, and strode out the door without even a glance at Spike.
"Pleasant chap that." Spike muttered under his breath when Xander was gone.
"Leave him alone Spike. It'll take him a little longer to get used to you than the rest of us because he hated you so much to begin with." Buffy said, sighing.
The phone was ringing as Xander opened the door to his apartment.
"Xander, I'm coming home" an excited Willow screamed down the line.
"Oh Will, you have no idea how happy this makes me! I need you so much right now. Spikes back and getting all cuddly with Buffy and Dawn again, and he claims that he's got a soul, but I don't believe a word of it but whenever I say anything Buffy or Dawn jump down my throat and take his side and it has just occurred to me that I haven't even asked you how you are, so, how are you Will?" Xander was so relieved to hear his best friends voice! She always seemed to sense when he needed her.
"I'm really good Xander! I feel 100% better than the last time we spoke! So, down to business. what is it that is really upsetting you? The fact that he's back with a soul (and I'm still coming to terms with that!) and you can't have a logical reason to hate him anymore?" Willow was giggling, knowing there would never be any love between the two men, but imagining how hard Xander was taking the fact that the demon he hated more than anything, was probably going to end up being a very good person.
"No" Xander said through clenched teeth, "I don't believe him Will! He's up to something, I can feel it."
"Xander, you have to calm down! Buffy can take care of herself and Dawn! I'll be home on Thursday, promise me you won't do anything until I get back." Willow said, suddenly serious. She could hear the tone of Xanders' voice and knew he was genuinely upset.
"Ok Will, I promise. Gotta go, call me and let me know what time your plane comes in and I'll pick you up. Can't want to see you." And with that, he hung up the phone.
He sat for half the night debating what he should do. He'd made a promise to Willow, but he was scared that something might happen in the meantime. There was only one thing he could do in the circumstances. He picked up his pen and wrote a note:
Angel,
Spikes in town, minus the chip.
He's after Buffy and Dawn.
They need your help.
A Friend.
He walked to the post box and sent the letter. "Oh well" he muttered to himself, "there's no going back now!"