TITLE: Wrong Way
AUTHOR: Clockstopper
RATING: NC-17
PAIRING: Spike/Xander
DISTRIBUTION: Currently playing on FanFiction. Net. You want just ask! Tell me where my baby's going though.
DISCLAIMER: The Characters in this story are not mine. I wish they were, but they aren't. They belong to Joss and Co. I do own the situation I put them in though. It's MY PLOT. You think if I did own these characters I'd have signed on for the cheap free homepage? Don't sue me I have nothing of value but this, my computer and a few Buffy posters.
SPOILERS: None this is taking you all the way to the begin, well the second season, but it totally disregards anything you might have learned in the first season
Summary: The result of Spike/Xander fan fiction and Sublime’s Wrong Way on repeat. Spike and Xander meet sometimes before the parent teacher thing and start a friendship/relationship. If you’ve heard the song you know how it goes. If you haven’t then this is the thing: Xander’s a whore to vampires and Spike’s the broken big bad looking for a little blood. Spike wants to save Xander, but not go against everything he is. Can he do it?
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Chapter 5:

School was a distraction. ‘Work’ was a distraction. Life was starting to become one big distraction. All of it was to get his mind off of Spike. It had been a little less then a week since Xander had seen the vampire at The Bronze, but he couldn’t stop thinking about him. They hadn’t even talked or anything.

It was only a few hot and heavy gazes with no actually words spoken. Xander learned a long time ago that it was pretty hard to read a vampire if they weren’t drunk. He thought he’d seen something in Spike’s eyes or maybe they were just always that intense. It was a possibility. It was also a major possibility that Xander was only seeing what he wanted to see.

It all made for one confused Xander. He never had these feelings before and when he said never it meant never. Having those feelings meant that he actually had time to meet someone and form those feelings. It also meant that his outlook of the world and that people could just fuck off would have to be altered.

Maybe it was his way of not getting hurt or maybe he truly did hate people. It wouldn’t be a huge leap considering what his supposed parents had done to him. It was amazing that Xander wanted anything to do with people at all after Jessica and Anthony Harris just left their only son in the arms of a pimp to vampires for a big lump some.

For some reason Spike squirmed in and was messing around with his head. Was it because he wasn’t human? No, that couldn’t be it. Vampires were infinitely worse then people. They were killers where at least not all people were insane axe murderers. It was just so much easier to talk to Spike then it was to talk to… anyone.

It used to be easy to talk to Willow and Jesse, but it felt like it had been years since he had really talked to them. Even before Buffy came into the picture with her Slayer ways. So what was wrong with him? Why was he getting that weird tingle in the pit of his stomach every time he remembered that look in Spike’s eyes when they were at the Bronze?

“Mr. Harris.” His English teacher who’s name Xander couldn’t properly pronounce interrupted his thoughts by waving a piece of pink paper in his face.

Pink paper was never good. Pink paper meant that he had to go up to the principal’s office. Xander knew those notes on a personal level. He had been sent to the principal’s office a number of times in his first year of high school. Back then it had nice Principal Flutie.

The man was a bit naïve on his knowledge of teenagers, but at least he wasn’t a scary short evil little man. Xander had only meet Principal Snyder once and once was enough to make him never want to see the evil little midget again. He just made Xander feel… inadequate.

Xander got up, took the note and made his way out of his English class. The note didn’t say why he was wanted to the principal’s office and Xander honestly couldn’t think of a good reason. He’d been a good kid ever since he’d moved in with Joe.

At first it had been just so he wouldn’t draw attention to himself, but as the years went by it just became a natural thing. So there wasn’t anything that would prompt this meeting. Xander walked inside Principal Snyder’s office to see Snyder himself and the back of two girl’s heads.

“Oh, Mister Harris. Just the student I wanted to see. Please take a seat.” Synder said pointing to the only empty seat.

Xander recognized the brunette grunge looking girl as a girl named Sheila he had known since he was in the fifth grade. She was chewing some gum and looking very annoyed. The other girl was… Buffy. She was sitting there looking just as puzzled as Xander felt.

“Do you know why you’re all here?” Snyder started off. His comment didn’t invoke much conversation so he went on.

“You three are here because you have one thing in common. The three of you have no school spirit whatsoever.” Principal Snyder finished.

“So what are you gonna do? Make us be cheerleaders.” Sheila said.

“Oh, far from it. Do you know who the worst student at this school is?” Principal Snyder asked.

Sheila looked at Xander and then Buffy and snorted. Xander looked puzzled… even more so then he had already been.

“Oh this doesn’t involve you Mister Harris although you are here for a reason.” Principal Snyder said when he saw Xander’s shocked face.

“It’s sort of a tie between the two of you.” Snyder said pointing to Buffy and Sheila.

“On one hand, Buffy’s never stabbed a teacher before. Although, Sheila’s never burnt down a school building.” Snyder said and with one hand movement he silenced any protest the two girls might have had.

“You’re both tied in absences, and fight starting and let’s not start with your GPA’s. I’d say you’re both tied neck and neck.” Snyder said.

“Cool what does the winner get?” Sheila asked.

“Expelled.” Snyder said simply. Buffy made a whimpering noise that Snyder seemed to ignore completely.

“Parent Teacher night is coming up soon. You two will be playing the roles of the dutiful hostesses. What I tell your parents depends on how well you pull this off.” Snyder said.

“Um… not to be you know rude or anything, but why am I here.” Xander asked after about a moment of two of silence.

“Oh, right, well Mister Harris you’ll be assisting them.” Snyder said. Xander’s brow furrowed in confusion.

“But I’m not a trouble maker or anything like that. I mean nothing against you girls, but … I don’t understand why I have to do this too.” Xander said.

“As I’ve stated you don’t have any school spirit. I’m hoping this helps you with that.” Snyder said.

“Okay, but Parent Teacher night is after school. During the night. I’m working and I can’t get out of working and I can’t even go to this Parent Teacher night anyway. My Uncle Joe is working and there’s just no way I can do this because I have to… work.” Xander argued.

“Well I’m sure wherever fast-food restaurant you work at will give you just one day off.” Snyder said.

“But I’ve already used my days off.” Xander said not lying too much. He was given two days off, but any other days were never allowed.

“Well, that’s your time management problem not mine. Work it out. You all may go now.” Snyder said waving his hand towards the door.

Sheila and Buffy bolted out of the door, but Xander stood there for a good minute before he found his legs and was able to move again.

This was not good. This was beyond not good. This was in the realm of terrible with blind panic coming to set in any minute now. Joe told him that the only way Xander could continue to go to school was if it didn’t interfere with his… ‘job’.

Joe’s bosses would not be happy if Xander took Thursday off. Oh yeah they weren’t going to like it at all. As far as Xander knew Joe’s bosses had taken a huge leap in letting Xander work for them. It wasn’t as if he didn’t bring in the money. On the contrary, Xander brought in a lot of money. It was Xander’s age that concerned them. Since Xander was so young they thought he’d want to branch out and do all sorts of things.

Oh were they wrong. Xander hadn’t personally met with Joe’s bosses and Joe said that was a blessing. Apparently they weren’t the nicest people in the world. They were people too. Not vampires, but actual people. It just added more fuel to the fire that Xander had for people.

Sure, Xander knew everyone was at the hotel because they wanted to be, but there was the occasional lost mid-twenties chick or slacker guy that spent more money then he could afford and had to work for Joe’s bosses to pay off the debt. So Xander had been forewarned that at the first sign that he wanted to do something else instead of work, he was supposed to be let go. Whatever that meant.

Joe was always very good at convincing them when Xander absolutely needed time off. It only happened once and he had been very sick with pneumonia at the time. So it was highly probable that he wouldn’t get the night off. No, he’d have to suffer the consequences of Principal Snyder.

It wasn’t that bad when you thought about it. Of course he’d probably be given detention for quite some time but he’d be able to get home right before he had to work and things would work out perfectly. Except… another huge chunk of his life would be ripped out from under him. Wasn’t like he needed one anyway.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Everything was shot to shit. The dutiful flunkey position was getting old and fast. Spike wasn’t sure he could stand another minute of what was left of the Order of Aureilus going on and on about every little thing. They were just so… annoying.

And here was Spike, Master Vampire in his own right and the grandchilde of Angelus himself carrying on doing menial tasks just for a roof that wasn’t that great. It was a punishment really. Spike knew he was punishing himself and had been for the last five years, but that didn’t mean he had the capability to stop himself.

If it was really Tuesday and Spike didn’t have any reason to doubt that interesting calendar with the naked women and a few blood splatters on it hanging in one of the minion’s rooms, then it had been four days since his time at The Bronze. Boy, was that a pleasant experience. Spike had never been one to pine for something. He took what he wanted and a lot of the time there wasn’t anyone to tell him that he was taking too much.

Everything in moderation, Angelus used to tell him when they’d go hunting, but it was something Spike never picked up on. Of course Angelus hated that. He’d bitch about how Spike was just a reckless mockery of a vampire. Angelus just couldn’t understand how any vampire wouldn’t enjoy the head games he played on his victims.

Spike was a want, take, have and then discard when it started to smell funny and grow mold. It was frustrating not to just walk back into that apartment complex and just take Xander because he already wanted him. Yes, Spike wanted Xander very, very much and at this point it was becoming painful. Spike just wanted to take that hot, willing body and do all sorts of nasty things to it.

That was the thing though; Xander would never be willing, not for him at least and if it was any judge by how the kid talked he wouldn’t be willing for anyone. That was a hang up Spike had. His lovers had to be willing. Even his most frightened victims wanted it at the end. Xander never would. He was hip to the tricks and he knew how to play the game just right. Those dark brown eyes held years of oppression and Spike desperately wanted to free him from it.

Xander wasn’t broken, but he was closed to the edge and Spike could see it and Spike just wanted to grab him by the collar and pull him back in. The problem with that was that Spike had absolutely nothing to offer Xander.

Sure, he had money and could buy Xander everything he needed, but could he possibly actually succeed in making Xander better. Spike was a wreck his own self. How could he possibly accomplish making anyone else better? Was it selfish of him to want to take Xander even though he could offer him nothing in return?

Argh! You’re not supposed to care. He’s just some stupid kid. Take him if you want to. Make him yours and then just do whatever you want. It’s not like the kid isn’t used to it by now Spike’s demon howled.

Spike was inclined to listen, but something in him was telling him, if only in a small whisper, that that was just wrong. Xander had already been through enough in his few years on Earth, he didn’t need Spike playing the psycho stalker vamp at his window.

“Spike.” A fledging addressed him in a tone that Spike would have ripped his throat out for if it hadn’t been for the fact that it was frowned upon.

“What?” Spike said. He had been shooting for indifferent, but it bordered on the edges of pissed off.

“The Anointed One would like to have a few words with you.” The fledge said before walking off into one of the many hallways in the factory.

“Great.” Spike grumbled to himself.

He made his way through the maze of long corridors and passageways to the Anointed One’s front room. It was like the kid never moved from that high pedestal like thrown. He stood there looking for too young to be a Master of any sort of demons.

“Is this one yours?” He asked simply as he waved a hand.

Two minions came forth dragging a teenage boy. The teenage boy was Xander. Spike stood up straight looked the Anointed One in the eye and nodded.

“Release him to Spike.” The Anointed One said waving his hand again. The minions let Xander go and he straightened out his clothes. Spike watched Xander run his fingers through his brown hair while he walked over to where Spike was standing.

“We need to talk.” Xander said simply and Spike shook his head. He grabbed Xander’s arm and pulled him off into his small room.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Xander wasn’t sure what he was doing. It seemed like a good idea at the time he had thought it up, but as he stared at the factory he wasn’t sure. At least he had the light of day to cover him. Xander had spent most of the day trying to think of ways try and get out of playing host.

He asked Joe to right a note, but all that accomplished was pissing Snyder off more. He had been thinking of another way all day and had managed to spill paint all over one of the banners he and Buffy had just finished. Sheila hadn’t showed up and Buffy, Willow and Jesse who had insisted on giving him and Buffy company were always covering for her.

Xander really didn’t care if they covered for Sheila. He thought it was a waste of time considering she would just get expelled for something else sooner or later, but he kept his mouth shut. He was too busy thinking of a way to get out of the Parent Teacher thing. The only thing he could think of was just not to show up. If they called Joe, then it wouldn’t be such a colossus deal although Xander suspected that someone might get tipped off and then hurt.

Xander came up with one more idea besides not showing up. He could pay Joe to buy himself for the night. That kind of thing was very expensive. It was almost nine hundred bucks for one night. Xander had four hundred and thirty seven dollars. He had spent some of the money Spike had given him on food and a new book that he had been reading at the local Barnes and Nobles.

He needed at least four hundred more dollars. Sure the plan looked good on paper, but applying it would be another story. How was he going to get four hundred dollars? After much thought he only came up with one answer. He felt stupid for even considering such a thing, but he had done it anyway.

Joe had said that the ‘That damn Order of Aureilus was so fucking picky’ once before and Xander, although he didn’t know why, had kept that information in the back of his head. Joe had been complaining about how one of the vamps had wanted a person delivered to some factory. It wasn’t a lot to go on, but Xander did some sleuthing and figured out an address.

Let it never be said that I don’t have persuasive skills Xander thought sarcastically.

He had practically begged John, the guy that had been sent over to the factory, to tell him where it was. John was still twitchy from his last encounter and fussed over Xander even thinking about stepping foot in such a dangerous place.

After much conversation, none of it the truth on Xander’s part, Xander had convinced John to give him the address. Now here he stood in front of the building ready to knock and hoping that they wouldn’t just grab him into the building and suck him dry.

Xander gave the big metal door a hesitant knock. It didn’t take long before he heard a raspy ‘Who’s there’.

“Um… I was sent over from Joe’s. Something about a vamp in need of some service.” Xander said trying to sound nonchalant, but his voice had a waver in it.

“That so, for which vamp.” The vampire asked.

“Um… I think Joe said his name was Spike.” Xander said.

“Spike doesn’t strike me as the order in type. He’s a Master Vampire you know.” The vampire said.

“Well, look I’m just doing what I was told to do.” Xander said with a hint of indignation in his voice.

“I bet you are. Just a good little whore. Alright get in here.” The vamp said grabbing Xander’s shirt and pulling him inside the factory.

Xander was shoved and pushed through a number of hallways and corridors before walking inside a big room with a big chair in the center. A small child sat in the chair and he looked irritated and slightly amused by the sight of Xander.

“What is this?” he asked plaintively to the minion that still had a hold on Xander’s shirt.

“He comes looking for Spike. Apparently Master Vamp is ordering his food in instead of going out for the hunt.” The vampire that was holding Xander said.

“Oh, that’s a surprise. Who was he sent from?” The vampire that looked like a little boy asked.

“Says he’s one of Joe’s. You know we can’t mess with them. They’d have us killed faster then you could say ‘blood bath’.” The minion said.

“Does he have proof?” The other vampires asked. Both vampires looked at Xander expectantly.

“Oh, right.” Xander mumbled as he pulled out a necklace from underneath his shirt.

It some sort of symbol that Joe’s bosses acquired after a vampire war had injured many of their workers. Xander wasn’t really sure what it meant, but it looked like a bottle with a snake wrapped around it.

“It’s one of Joe’s.” the vampire said after closely examining Xander’s necklace.

“Well then I suppose we should let Spike have his fun.” The little boy look alike said.

“We aren’t even going to take a turn. I mean Spike did get this one without informing us. Be a shame to just let his sorry ass have a go.” The minion said and Xander would have flinched if he hadn’t been used to it.

“No, I will not have that. The Master would have liked it better if you didn’t mess with Spike. He is the great-grandchilde of his favored childe. Messing with his affairs would be frowned upon. Go! Get him!” the child looking vampire said.

“As you wish Master.” The minion said. He let go of Xander and two more minions came in to hold him.

The minion returned shortly with Spike in tow. Spike did not look at all pleased to see Xander. He stiffened and after a brief conversation with no words on Spike’s part Xander was being tugged into a new part of the factory. He vaguely remembered telling Spike that he needed to talk to him before being shoved this way and that. The ended up in a dim room with a bed, an oak chest and a set of drawers as the only furniture.

“And you said my apartment looked bad.” Xander muttered.

“What are you doing here?” Spike asked.

“I… I… I already said. We have to talk.” Xander said shifting his weight nervously from leg to the other.

“So, talk. I don’t have all night you know. I have to go kill something.” Spike said.

“Look first I’d like to say that this wasn’t exactly my first choice, but I had no where else to turn to.” Xander said and he began to pace the length of the room.

“I don’t exactly like the idea of being in debt to a vampire, but I’m willing to overlook that. I need some money.” Xander said deciding the direct approach was better. Spike looked at him quizzically.

“Uh… what happened to the five hundred bucks I just gave you?” Spike asked wondering what the kid was thinking. He had come into a factory filled with vampires just to ask another vampire for a bit of dosh.

“I still have it.” Xander said taking a deep breath.

“What do you mean you still have it? Why’re askin’ me for more if you still have the five hundred I already gave you?” Spike said a little irritated that even though Xander asked outright what he needed he was still dilly-dallying around the reason he needed so much cash.

“I mean I need a large sum of cash and five hundred isn’t going to cover it. Besides it spent some of the money already. I needed some groceries and stuff.” Xander said.

“So, what, you decided let’s go hit up the nice vamp that already gave you five hundred dollars. If he’s got that much dosh in his pocket he should have more at his home. Is that what you were thinkin’?” Spike asked as he casually leaned against one of the walls.

“Look I just need the money. Do you think you could find it out of the kindness of your undead heart to give me some? I’ll pay you back I promise.” Xander said looking at Spike with his best puppy dog eyes.

Spike wondered if he had push over written on his forehead. Xander really didn’t think those fake puppy dog eyes were going to persuade Spike to give him the money.

“How much do you need?” Spike asked mentally slapping himself because yes he had to have pushover written on his forehead and he just couldn’t see it because he didn’t have a reflection.

“Five hundred dollars.” Xander whispered so low Spike thought it must have been the wind at first.

“Another five hundred. Are you stoned?” Spike asked in an incredulous tone. He didn’t smell drugs on the boy, just a little cigarette smoke.

Xander let out a hollow laugh before straightening himself out again.

“No I try to live a relatively drug free existence. Don’t know why thought. They’d probably take the edge off. I swear I’m clean just slightly crazy. I’d go to someone else, but… well I don’t know anyone with that kind of cash. I figured if I promised to pay you back… some way… you’d you know give me the money.” Xander finished.

Spike knew what he meant by some way and for some reason the idea of paying for something like that especially with Xander repulsed him. He was still trying to get over the fact that in some twisted way he cared about Xander and the idea of taking him while he was unwilling and Spike was just another John with a lot of cash bothered Spike more then it should have.

Spike never went for the pillage and rape part of reeking havoc. It just didn’t appeal to him. Sure, Spike stole stuff, but rape was just so… beneath him. Prostitutes fell under that category. Something in Spike was screaming that if he was going to have Xander, he’d only have the boy when he was very, very willing.

“And you jus’ thought what. You’d walk in here and I wouldn’t kill you.” Spike said.

Xander scratched his head and after a minute or so of thinking he shrugged his shoulders.

“I don’t know, I guess I didn’t think much about that. Figured I was dead either way I looked at it. Might as well try and change things a little. Besides I didn’t think you’d give me five hundred dollars and then kill me.” Xander said.

“Maybe I jus’ hate greedy little fucks.” Spike said walking closer to Xander that predator look in his eye.

“That could be true, but again I’m as good as dead if I don’t get this money so I took a chance.” Xander said gulping slightly as Spike advanced on him.

“Why?” Spike asked simply mere inches from Xander.

“Why what?” Xander asked somewhat distractedly.

“Why do you need the money so bad?” Spike asked closing the gap between them.

Xander wasn’t sure how he was supposed to answer that question. He would have ran his fingers through his hair and walked around a little to stall for some time, but Spike was so close and Xander could smell that familiar scent of whiskey, cigarette smoke and leather. It was making his head dizzy.

“To buy myself.” Xander said truthfully.

“Last time I checked a pretty little thing like you cost more then a thousand dollars.” Spike said as he lifted his hand to straighten out Xander’s shirt collar.

He knew he shouldn’t be touching him. He knew he shouldn’t be as close to Xander as he was, but he couldn’t help himself. The heat was calling to him.

“Yeah, well, it’s only for a night. See there’s this thing at school and my principal is making me go and play host to all the parents. Apparently I don’t have enough school spirit. Anyway Joe’s bosses are picky about when their pets are allowed out. I’ve only been allowed a day off when Joe lies about me being sick. They’ve gotten hip to the game and now I have to have a bonafide reason to take the night off. So I need the money to buy myself for the night. Huh, maybe I’ll take myself to some place fancy afterwards.” Xander babbled nervously.

He couldn’t help it. How could he think with Spike that close staring at him with those too blue eyes and all their intensity? Flashes of that night at the Bronze betrayed him by entering his brain. This was not helping.

“So you thought you’d go see Spike and hit him up for some money. You’re really prepared to do anything for this money?” Spike asked in a dangerously husky tone.

Spike couldn’t help the emotion that entered his voice, but since it was having the desired effect on Xander he couldn’t really care.

“Yeah, that’s kind of the motto. Be prepared to do whatever it takes. As long is makes the customer happy.” Xander said suddenly remembering why he was there. Spike was just going to be like all the other vampires he had ‘serviced’ in the past. He was just going to get what he needed anyway possible.

“And you decided that I was just the vampire to give this proposal to?” Spike said and his hand as though it had a mind of its own was brushing up Xander’s arm.

Xander’s eyes closed for a fraction of a second before he gulped down the lump in his throat and said, “I saw you… at the Bronze… I figured you’d be easy to convince.” Xander said wondering where that courage came from and how he was able to form a sentence while Spike was doing what he was doing.

“Is that so? You’re willing to bet your life on that. Must’ve had some look in my eye then, huh.” Spike asked as he slowly walked behind Xander. Spike wrapped his arms around Xander’s waist and pulled Xander’s light form against his own body.

“I could just fuck you right now and then kill you. No one would be the wiser.” Spike said.

“You couldn’t do that. Joe’s bosses don’t taking lightly to killing their workers. You’d cause problems for your little gang.” Xander said his voice sharp and wavering at the same time.

“Oh, those pounces. I could care less really. Let ‘em get killed. I hope they all go down. See I could have my fun right now and those idiot bosses you talk about would never be able to catch me. You’re showin’ a lot of trust right now, Xander.” Spike said.

There was something in the way Spike said his name that made Xander want to melt into a puddle of Jell-O and kick his ass at the same time.

“Yeah, well it’d be better then anything else I could think of.” Xander said.

“I could bite you right here.” Spike said as his lips descended onto Xander’s neck placing light kisses only nipping his teeth against the vein the pulsed there occasionally.

“I could fuck you, then drink you till there was only enough blood left for you to be nothing more then pliable putty in my hands and you’d want it. Oh yes you’d want it because I’d make you want it.” Spike said still kissing Xander’s neck and placing bites here and there.

Xander was dizzy. He’d never felt this feeling around anyone before. It was actual lust. Not that kind he put on so he’d be able to do his job. This was actual lust and it was making him dizzy and weak and terrified and happy and unsatisfied all at the same time. He could only draw in deep shaky breaths as Spike turned him around and ground his hips into Xander’s in a suggestive manner.

Spike was saying something. Probably continuing his almost lecture about how bad it was to trust a vampire. Xander could really care less, because at the moment he really wasn’t more then putty. Oh and he wanted it already and Spike hadn’t even had to drink from him yet.

“You’re showing a lot of trust for someone who hates humans.” Spike whispered in Xander’s ear.

Xander felt Spike’s tongue licked his ear and Xander had to hold back a moan. He felt like he should have been doing something other then standing there. Xander turned his head to look at Spike’s eyes. Spike was looking at him with that intensity again. It was such a dizzying feeling. He was staring into the eyes of a vampire and it was making him feel all these unreal feelings.

Feelings he thought he’d never feel for anyone least of all a vampire. Spike’s trailing open mouthed kisses all over Xander’s neck. He takes a small nibble on Xander’s chin before placing an almost chaste kiss on Xander’s lips.

Xander snapped out of his trance. He slowly let his hands travel to the fly of Spike’s ultra-tight jeans. His hands fumbled with the zipper and Xander oddly thinks about how his hands never shook when all those times before. Spike could feel the warm hands travel down the sides of his legs and land somewhere near his crotch. It took him a few seconds before Spike realized what it was Xander was doing and by that time Xander already had those warm hands inside Spike’s pants.

“Stop.” Spike said and Xander looked confused.

He stilled his hand of its motions and looked up at Spike with a mixture of lust and confusion. Spike wanted to believe that Xander really did want it, but how could he. How could he believe that the boy just wasn’t doing his job to save his own skin? Although Xander didn’t seem like he was truly one of those people that only did things to better themselves, Spike couldn’t wrap his mind around the concept that Xander maybe just maybe wanted it a little.

“Gonna need you to take your hands outta my pants.” Spike said and wished his voice sounded less ragged and husky then it had.

Xander complied and Spike zipped up his pants. He stiffly walked over to the big oak chest. Spike grabbed a key from on of the drawers. He opened the chest, threw some of his belongs out of it and looked down at the bottom of the chest.

“Five hundred you said.” Spike asked. Xander nodded his head mutely.

Spike shook his head and grabbed a stack of twenties. He threw the stack over in Xander’s direction and Xander almost didn’t catch it. Xander stared at the money in awe. There it was. Five hundred dollar staring him in the face with a paper wrapping around it that came from the bank.

“Do you always carry around stacks of twenties or is this just a new thing you’re trying?” Xander said resorting to levity to lighten the situation.

Spike didn’t look as pleased as Xander had hoped. He merely smirked and then walked over to the door.

“Alright let’s get you outta here.” He said opening the door and waving his hand to the outside.

Xander thought he was walking, but his brain couldn’t keep up with the whiplash or events. One moment he’s standing in the middle of Spike’s dusty old room ready to do just about anything Spike asks and the next he’s being carted out of the factory.

He stuck close to Spike wondering if he’d remember any of these directions and memorize them in his head forever or if he’d simple just forget this weird day all together. He hadn’t honestly expected to get the money without some sort of way to pay Spike back.

Spike wasn’t sure what he was doing. Only a few years ago he would have made the boy pay dearly for that five hundred dollars Xander was clutching so firmly to his chest. Now he was shuffling the boy off the first sign of want.

Maybe Spike really thought he deserved to be punished for Drusilla’s death or maybe he was just so messed up at the moment that he really didn’t want to take on new responsibilities, but whatever the reason it felt very weird. He could feel Xander standing as close to him as possible and the heat that was radiating off of Xander was almost unbearable, but he wasn’t going to give in. No, Spike was going to remain firm… that he was definitely sure of.

Xander realized in the back of his mind that he was in front of the front exit. Spike was looking at him expectantly and Xander wasn’t really sure what to say. The odd thought of saying Thank You popped into his mind, but wasn’t sure how well received that would be.

Instead he settled for, “I’d better be going.” Spike looked up at him and Xander got the feeling he had interrupted him from some serious thoughts.

“Hum, oh, right, well best be on your way. If you ever…” Spike began, but realized how foolish that statement would sound if he finished it.

“Look, don’t come back here. I don’t want you riskin’ you neck for some money. I don’t care if you were gonna die anyway. Think of something else before knockin’ on my door. Don’t come back here.” Spike said opening the front door and stepping aside from the harmful sun rays that were still lingering in the almost night sky.

“Right, good to see you too, see you around.” Xander said as he walked out into the sunlight glad that it was there because it meant that Spike couldn’t follow him.

More importantly Xander had an excuse as to why Spike didn’t follow him.

Chapter 6