Part 6
Part 6:
One of the disadvantages of sharing the mansion with Riley was that Buffy came along as part of the deal. Normally, Xander would have thought waking up with Buffy bouncing in his bed was a dream come true, though in his dreams Buffy was not fully clothed with painfully hard shoes. Usually the dreams featured him naked in bed with clothing free Buffy, not him naked in bed with a cold dead... Xander shifted a little, yep, that was what he thought it was, definitely cold dead naked body wrapped around him. He remembered Willow's mother always saying, "Be careful what you wish for. You just might get it," but he hadn't realized that it applied to adolescent wet dreams.
The bouncing Buffy puppy woke the dead, literally. "Oi, Bugger off! The effin' sun hasn't even set yet."
Buffy tilted her head to the side, "Isn't it funny that he wakes up all Spikey and then goes back to Will after he's had his first mug of blood?"
Xander was still trying to figure out how to open his eyes, so thinking was out of the question. "Angel said that Will was never an early riser, and sometimes it took an hour to get him going."
Xander rolled over and pried his eyes open long enough to glance at the bedside clock. "Buffy it's not even noon, why are you awake," he asked, horrified.
"Sunrise sale at the mall. You promised you'd come and get Junior some new clothes." She bounced off the bed while explaining her overly chipper mood. "Come on Xander! The mall's already been open for two hours. We have to get there before everything's gone."
Spike might not be an early riser, but he was more coherent than Xander. "No clothes. Need Sire," he announced, snuggling into the warm body next to him.
"No baby talk," Xander and Buffy automatically instructed the vampire in unison.
"Fuck off. I'm sleeping with MY PRECIOUS." The vampire growled and pulled the young man to the far side of the bed, away from the enthusiastic slayer.
Xander laughed. Buffy was right; the vampire did wake up all *Spike*. "Will, I'm proud of you for dropping the baby talk." He leaned over and rewarded the blonde with a kiss.
"Umm, nummy Precious," Spike sighed, clearly on his way back to sleep.
Xander struggled to sit up. "I promised Buffy. I have to go." He turned to the slayer; "Can you give me a few minutes?" He glanced down at his Childe and saw the pout forming. "After last night, I still need to... you know?"
Buffy had known the human and the vampire would need some alone time, which was why she bounced into the bedroom two hours before she actually wanted to leave. Well, that and they looked so cute together. "Sure. I'll be in the kitchen watching Riley make breakfast."
Buffy paused at the door, turning back to the bed to see Xander petting the blonde head now cradled in his lap. He was murmuring endearments and assurances of love. "Xan," she spoke quietly, "I understand." She remembered the young man's tear stained face of the night before. "He just needs to know that you love him and won't abandon him." She paused wondering what the right thing to say was, "Spike's been hurt before, you know? I think he remembers that much." Buffy gave him a Willow smile and closed the door softly behind her.
Xander looked down at his Childe, not sure if he was asleep, or just laying there with his eyes closed. "I do love you. I will always love you, even when you get your memory back. I'm not Angel or Drucillia; I won't abandon you." He stopped carding the blonde hair and leaned down to kiss it. "I won't stop loving you, even when you become the Big Bad again and don't need me or want me."
Spike rolled over and looked up at the young man. He caught one of the tears creeping down his Sire's face. "I'll always need you, Precious. You're my Sire." He licked the tear off his fingertip. Dark eyes and hair, strong arms holding him; he could not remember another Sire, and he didn't want to.
Xander smiled, wondering how much of this sweet creature existed in Spike. He thought about the rare glimpses he had of Spike and Drucillia together. Spike was capable of a wide range of emotions, including unconditional love, something Xander had never known he was capable of until the Big Bad turned into his Sweetling. He wondered if he was telling the truth though. Would he always love *Spike* or Will?
"I have to go. I promised Buffy. I'll be back as soon as I can." Xander bit his lower lip. He hated leaving Will. "If you can't sleep, Riley will be here. You two can practice fighting."
The solider hadn't wanted to teach the vampire US Army combat skills, but Xander had pleaded and Buffy put her foot down. If Spike was going to accompany her on patrol, he needed to know what he was doing. Buffy won the argument. She seemed to win all the arguments with Riley.
Xander quietly dressed. Before leaving, he leaned over the bed and kissed cool lips one last time. "I love you Sweetling." He ran his fingers threw the vampire's soft hair. "I'll be back as soon as I can."
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"As soon as he could," turned out to be well after the sun had set. Xander had no idea Buffy was such a power shopper. She was even better at shopping than Cordelia. He'd also had no idea he could carry that many bags and boxes.
"Good you're back. Giles just called," Riley greeted them at the door.
Buffy made a face, really wanting to try that new dress on. "Problems?"
"Big demon problems." Riley was in his follow-orders-with-out-question mind set, and had no time for a Buffy fashion show. "He sounded nervous."
"Giles is never nervous. We'd better go." Buffy cast aside all thoughts of what went with her new shoes and slipped firmly into slayer mode.
Xander carried the bags and boxes to the couch where he unceremoniously dumped all of them. He grabbed Spike's hand. He had his vampire; he was ready to go.
"Big demon problems" turned out to be an understatement. These demons were 10 feet tall, hyper strong, and they just kept coming. Xander wished for the one millionth time since he'd met Buffy that he had super powers.
Then a demon ripped Spike's throat open with a lash of it's tail. Xander stopped thinking and charged. Nobody or nothing was allowed to hurt his Childe.
Ironically, these demons could only be killed by a metal stake through the eye. Spike greeted the new toy with predicable enthusiasm, his instant affection for his namesake reminding the mortals of who Xander's "sweet little vampire" really was. The efficiency and expertise he handled the weapon with were awe-inspiring, but the maniacal laughter that accompanied the display was horrifying.
This was not Will helping the Slayer, because his Sire wanted to be sure he knew how to fight. This was Spike having a bit of fun.
Xander didn't care either way. It was his Childe and it was time for the demon to die. He attacked the demon who was using its tail to try to sever Spike's head off. After forcing his metal stake almost all the way through the demon's skull, Xander fought off five more. The large monsters had scented the vampire's blood and wanted to finish the job, but they never made it past the enraged man.
When the attacks stopped and he could not see anymore demons, Xander fell to his knees beside Spike. The blood wouldn't stop. The gash cut almost completely around the pale neck, but Xander refused to allow Spike to die.
The human frantically tried to remember what he'd read about vampires and healing, having read everything he could get his hands on after Spike's accident, but it was all a jumbled mess in his mind. Suddenly, he remembered the first thing he learned; he could almost hear Angel's voice. Spike needed blood human blood to start healing.
He placed his wrist over the vampire's mouth. "Bite Sweetling." He raised Will's head with his free hand, "You have to bite me."
"No." Riley placed his hand on the disparate man's shoulder. "He can't hurt you Xander, not with the implant still active."
The young man turned to look up at his friend. "He can bite me." He gazed down at his Will. "It would hurt me if he died. It won't hurt to save him."
Xander knew it was no longer a question of whether the vampire could bite or not. Spike was barely conscious and didn't have the strength to break the skin anymore.
Xander desperately glanced around the area for something sharp enough to open a wound on his arm. He looked at the vampire's hands and the metal stake tightly clutched in the one by his knee, and was glad the vampire had insisted the spikes have razor sharp points.
Xander's laugh held an edge of hysteria. He was using a spike to save *Spike*. He hoped it wasn't too late.
The brunette gritted his teeth and drew the metal across his wrist, pressing down as hard as possible. When he had an open flowing wound, he pressed it to the vampire's lips. Will's eyes fluttered open. "Sire?"
A Childe could not consume his Sire's blood with out permission. "Drink," Xander commanded. "Drink it and heal, my sweet vampire."
Will gulped down the warm liquid. It had been so long; he had forgotten how good it tasted. Soon he was conscious enough to grab the wrist and start sucking the blood from the wound. He'd forgotten the feel of a live heart pumping the blood into his mouth. // A beating heart? This can't be my Sire. //
Then Spike remembered. He remembered everything: being William the Bloody, lovely Drucillia dancing, Angelus laughing, the slayer taunting him, the chip and the horror of not being able to feed, being trapped in his own crypt under a pile of rubble, losing everything and reverting to the baby he was after first being turned, and through it all a Sire with warm brown eyes and strong arms caring for him, training him with kindness not pain.
Xander. Xander taking care of him. Xander was kissing him. Xander hurt if he dies. It was Xander's, not Angel's, blood in his mouth. It was Xander's heartbeat growing fainter. Spike roared and threw the boy away from him. "Fuck!" He hoped he wasn't too late.
The human was pale and his lips were tinged a oxygen deprived pinkish blue. Spike went to him and cradled the boy in his lap. "Xander? Precious? Stay with me luv. Don't go."
He was so dizzy; he just wanted to sleep. He looked up into the gold eyes starting down at him. "Spike you're back." In spite of his weakness Xander remembered what spent the summer riding around in his rear pocket. "Here" He handed the vampire a pack of Lucky Strikes and a Zippo. "I hope they're the right ones. The brand name reminded me of you."
"Yes, and you're a bloody fool." He reached for the cigarettes, pocketing them without even glancing at them. "Xander, I nearly drained you." Spike forced himself not to shake the boy. He was enraged, but the action might be the death of the mortal.
Xander's eyes fell shut. "Sorry Spike. I don't want to leave you. You're my favourite Childe."
The vampire acted quickly. He ripped open his own wrist and let the blood trickle into his Sire's mouth.
"No," Riley shouted, thinking Spike was turning Xander. He tackled the vampire trying to get him away from the human.
Spike kept his body between the solider and his Precious. He wanted to save the boy, but he couldn't act whilst Riley was in the way. The chip prevented him from shoving Iowa Boy out of the picture. "Slayer please, help me," Spike growled. He hated asking for help. Asking the Slayer for help was deplorable, but he was frightened. The heartbeat that brought back his memory was slowing and growing fainter. Riley tripped the vampire and he landed on the rapidly paling young man. Spike looked at Buffy and pleaded, "Xander might die."
The young woman heard the desperation in the vampire's voice. She looked at Spike. His memory was back; he looked older and more self-aware. She hesitated, what was he doing? Was he going to turn her friend?
Suddenly, she remembered something Angel told her about vampire's blood. Buffy reacted quickly; she jumped and pinned her boyfriend to the ground. "Spike's blood will keep Xander alive for a short time. It's not enough to turn him." She ripped the cell phone off Riley's belt. "We have to call an ambulance. He'll need a transfusion to live."
She left the solider to alert emergency services and walked over to the vampire. Buffy crouched down next to him, surprised to see tears in the gold eyes. "Spike?" She reached out to touch the vampire, hastily withdrawing her hand when he growled.
"Spike," she tried again in a stern voice. "You have to let him go." She could hear the sirens approaching. "If the paramedics see you, they'll want to examine you." She glanced around at the disarray Riley was attempting cover up. "It's going to be hard enough without trying to explain why you have no pulse."
The vampire stared at the slayer, his face slowly shifting back to it's human form. If Buffy had any doubts about his condition, the visible act of will settled them. Spike controlled his demon's appearance while Will could not. He blinked and gold eyes turned blue. "He loves me."
Buffy sighed. She could see the ambulance rounding the corner. "Yes, he does." She stood up. "Please Spike. Go to the mansion and get cleaned up. I'll call you from the hospital." This time the vampire allowed her to touch him in comfort. "I promise."
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Xander Harris was the worst patient the hospital ever had. He'd lost over half the blood in his body. He should have died. Instead, he waited until the final transfusion was complete and instantly left the hospital. He thought it would be easier than sticking around and trying not to answer the doctors' questions.
He passed Buffy and Riley in the hallway, surrounded by medical and law enforcement personal. He figured they had enough experience between them, and could come up with a believable explanation for his blood loss. He had a vampire to see.
Xander was right. Buffy could explain everything, except her friend's sudden disappearance. Therefore she accused the hospital of loosing him. Mentally she cursed herself for letting Xander spend so much time with Spike, since he was obviously teaching the mortal bad habits.
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Spike was pacing and smoking, while forcing himself to stay near the telephone. He wanted to start ripping down the walls, but he was afraid that he might disconnect the phone. He stopped when he heard the mansion door open. He heard the heartbeat that comforted him and lulled him to sleep all summer long, a heartbeat he was not sure he would ever hear again.
For the second time in a month Xander was greeted by a "charging peroxide cyclone." This time instead of landing on the floor, he was whisked over to the couch. He laughed when Spike dumped the bags and boxes on the floor, before gently laying Xander on the couch.
"Precious." Spike stroked the boy's face. "Why?"
"I didn't want to lose you."
The vampire gingerly perched on the edge of the couch and took the mortal's hand. He needed to ask, to find out it he heard right or if he was dreaming. Xander laughed before Spike had a chance to open his mouth.
"Spike, I'm not a doll. I'm not going to break." He tugged the reluctant vampire into his lap. "I just lost a little blood."
"A little blood." The vampire sat up indigent. He wasn't the baby demon anymore. "I'm the Big Bad. I'm back and I'm a full grown vampire." He pointed at human's chest. "I nearly drained you, Peaches."
"Spike you drank my blood; you got better. The nice people at the hospital gave me more blood. No big deal." The vampire was back to his old behaviour. His mind seemed intact. Well, intact for Spike, Xander amended his thought. He tried not to beam like a proud parent. This was Spike, not his Childe, though he still wanted to kiss and hug the vampire.
The blonde faced the young man and observed the frown line starting to settle on the human's forehead, just like Angel's. What was it about his Sires? Why did they start brooding? He couldn't stop Angel, but he was not about to let Xander start. The human wasn't even dead yet. He kissed the line away and settled back on Xander's chest, right over that delicious heartbeat. "I thought you were going to leave me, Sire."
Xander wrapped his arms around the vampire. Maybe his sweet vampire was still there, underneath or a part of what made Spike *Spike*. "I promised I'd never leave you."
Spike traced patterns on Xander's chest, enjoying the warm embrace for a few minutes before speaking. "How do you feel?"
"A little tired and incredibly horny."
The vampire sat up startled, blinking at the human in amazement.
"What? I'm a man at my sexual peek, and I've been continuously thinking about making love to you for the past," Xander paused to check his watch, "twenty hours." He looked at the still dumbfounded vampire and gloated. He, Xander Harris, had shocked William the Bloody. Score one for the home team!
"Why not? You're here. I'm here. We're alone in this big mansion with nice comfy beds." He pointed to his chest. "I want you." He pointed to Spike's chest. "You want me."
The vampire remained silent and immobile and Xander's confidence began to falter. "Do you still want me? Or was that, just a Sire/Childe thing?"
It wasn't a dream. He was loved. Spike growled and scooped up the human, carrying the laughing man back to their bed while Xander covered the vampire's face with kisses.
~~ END ~~
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