Something Rich and Strange

by
Tabaqui

19 Reveal

The back room had been mostly cleared, and there were a couple of padded work-out mats stacked against one wall.  Xander grabbed one and Buffy grabbed another and they spread them on the floor - settled cross-legged in a circle.  Buffy looked scared and Willow looked nervous, and Xander took a deep breath, trying to settle his own nerves.  Wonder if leaving Spike out there with deadboy and Giles was a good idea?

Calm, love, calm  

Amusement  from Spike, and protect mine and Xander sighed

"Something wrong, Xander?"  Willow asked, and Xander shook his head.

"Not really.  Just - I hope Spike and Angel don't - you know.  Fight."

"Oh."  Willow looked towards the doorway, frowning.  "Yeah.  Me too.  Maybe Giles will - keep them calm?"  Xander snorted.

"Fat chance.  He's ok right now.  So long as Deadboy doesn't do anything stupid."

"Right.  Like Spike could take on Angel."  Buffy gave a dismissive flick of her hand, and Xander frowned at her.

"Actually, he probably could.  Angel isn't - at his full strength, you know?  Pig's blood and all.  Spike's got some damn good moves.  One time in Istanbul -"

"Xander - please.  I don't want to hear any gory tales from the crypt."  Buffy held up her hand, stopping him,then frowned.  "Isn't it kinda…creepy to have his memories in your head?  To have him in your head?"

"No - not creepy.  I don't remember everything all the time.  The first couple of days I did.  And he did too.  We couldn't even leave the house.   It was crazy.  It was like - this big movie, just playing out in my head.  But now…"  Xander shrugged.  "I have to really want to remember - to try, like you would if you were trying to remember…French or something."  Buffy groaned, and Xander and Willow both smiled.  "I know what he was like before he was turned.  And I know how much he loves me.  It more than makes up for any…creepiness."  Willow looked intrigued at that, if still a little uncertain, and Buffy looked down at her hands, picking at her nail polish.

"I don't…know if I can be happy for you, Xander - not right away.  Spike is - the enemy, to me.  I mean, I know with that chip and everything he can't…  But I just don't trust him, Xander."  

"I know, Buffy.  Just - if you try, that'll be enough, for now.  Ok?  Just try?"  Xander looked at her hopefully, and she smiled finally, nodding.

"I'll try.  Just - keep that wooden shovel in mind.  Ok."  She rubbed her hands up her arms, and her smile faded.  "About this soul-seeing stuff…"

"Yeah.  Are you sure you want me to?   I mean - it's pretty private, what I can see.  I only looked the one time."

"When did you?"  Willow asked, and Xander shifted a little, looking at her.  

"Thanksgiving.  When you guys were arguing about the Chumash spirits.  I just wanted to know…and you were both there.  I've seen Tara, too.  And Oz - everybody, I guess.  Except Dawn.  I - haven't seen her.  Too much teenage angst."  Willow giggled and Buffy rolled her eyes.

"No kidding.  She's just so -"

"So fourteen.  Isn't it awful?"  Willow cut in, and Buffy smiled at her.

"Ok, ok.  I won't go off about Dawn.  More important things to do here.  Go ahead and - and look, Xander, or whatever you do.  I really want to know what you see."

"Ok,"  Xander said, and he reached out and touched her hand.  "It'll be fine.  Taisbean."  The seeing shimmered to life, and Xander smiled.  Buffy's soul was intensely white - the power of the Slayer shining like a beacon.  Her own features shifted and morphed into the features of the other Slayers - all of them, from the First to the girl who had died and made Buffy the One - a shifting so rapid and random it made Xander a little dizzy.  The sparks - the life - that danced around and through her were white as well.  But there was darkness there - black and bloody red, like slashes across her, and Xander looked for a long moment - felt - as well.

Love, for himself - for Willow.  For all of them, strongest for her mother and Dawn.  Loyalty and a fierce protectiveness to match Spike's.  Guilt - for times she felt she had failed them - failed herself.  Fear for them, and a mistrust of Spike that was tinged with the smallest bit of guilt.  Loneliness.  Jealousy - for what Willow had.  For what HE had, with Spike.  Longing for that for herself.  Angel was all tangled up in that longing.  Desperate desire to just be HERSELF - just be Buffy and not the Slayer - not the One.  And resolve - a stubborn resolve to BE the One - to handle it, to TAKE it - to keep them all safe.  One girl in all the world…  Another fear - hidden and pushed away behind walls, but still there.  A fear that she would never have anyone - that she would always be alone - that she would die that way.  That somehow…she was incapable of love…of being loved  Xander took in a hard breath - reached and took Buffy's cold hands in his.  She was looking at him with trepidation, and he smiled a small smile at her.

"I can see how much you love your family, Buffy - how much you love all of us.  How much you would do to keep us safe.  Your power - the Slayer power - is like…a bright, white light.  It just makes you glow.  And you glow - your love and your loyalty.  All the Slayers are there in you - all of them…  And your…loneliness.  And…your love for Angel."  Buffy gasped, and there were tears in her eyes.  Xander dropped his voice down almost to a whisper.  "You aren't alone, Buffy - you aren't.  We're here for you - we can help you, if you let us.  And…you're so love-worthy, Buffy.  There's so much in you to love.  Please don't think that you're…not worthy."   Tears slipping free, tracking down her face, and she leaned across the space between them and hugged Xander hard.  He hugged back, stroking her back, feeling hot tears fall onto his neck.  Then she pulled away and swiped at her eyes, sniffing.

"Where's Anya and her handkerchiefs when you need one?" she said, shakily, and Xander smiled at her.  "God, Xander…I - I'm glad you're my friend.  Thank you for - telling me."

"You're welcome.    And - I'm telling you the truth, Buffy.  Always telling the truth about what I see.  Ok?  You really are…a special person.  And I don't mean the Slayer stuff."  Buffy sniffed again - squeezed his hand.

"You are too."  Beside him, Willow shifted a little and Xander looked over at her.

"Wow.  He's right you know, Buffy.  We'll do whatever we can to help - you can count on us."  Willow smiled softly at Buffy and Buffy patted her hand.

"Yeah.  I know.  I just…don't want you guys to be hurt taking on my job.  But…" A quick, smiling glance at Xander.  "I'll try, I promise."  Xander grinned at her - looked over at Willow, who swallowed nervously.

"Ok.  Me now, I guess, huh?"  

"Yeah, you."  Xander smiled at his oldest friend in the world, and saw her.   Willow's soul was like sunlight - brilliantly golden with a fiery scarlet edge.  The sparks that whirled around and through her were gold and red and black.  And there were black lines through the gold, as well; coiling and almost alive.  Her power.  It's…older than she is.  Darker.  Stronger than she knows.  Willow's power made Xander nervous, and the hyena growled somewhere down in the bottom of his mind not pack  Xander shushed it and concentrated on Willow again.

Oh…  Love again - so much love - and bubbles of happiness for him.  Even though it was SPIKE that made him happy, she was glad he wasn't alone any more.  And there was…fear.  Fear that she wasn't smart enough.  Or strong enough, or just…not ENOUGH, for anybody - anything.  Fear that she would let them all down.  And a desire, so strong, to KNOW and to DO and to LEARN - a desire for more that was as fierce as Buffy's protectiveness.   And through it all, like a thread of purest silver, was Tara - lifeline and grounding wire all in one.  

"Wow - you really love Tara, don't you, Wills?   You're all gold and red, but - your magic is there and it's…its dark.  It's so strong.  You have to be - careful, Wills.  Be careful with it."  Xander saw her frown - then nod, and he hoped she would listen to him.  "And, Willow - you are enough.  You're good enough and smart enough - you always have been.  Don't doubt yourself."  Willow smiled at that - a shaky smile, and she wiped at her eyes a little.  

"You could see Tara in me?"

"Oh yeah - she's…all through you."

"Oh."  Willow's smile got bigger, and then she, too, leaned forward and hugged him.   "I just - get so scared sometimes, Xan.  I mean - I feel like I just never know enough, you know?  The more I learn, the better I can help you guys - help Buffy - and sometimes it just seems like I won't ever have enough magic to do anything.  The magic's...all I've got."  

"Hey - don't be silly, Willow.  You're more than the magic.  You're the big gun in the Scooby gang!"  Buffy joined the hug, and they all sat there for a minute, just enjoying the closeness.  Xander could hear Giles' voice in the other room - Angel's as well, both a little loud.  The link was full of anger hate protect MINE  and Xander was about to jump up when he felt something else.  It was vague - barely there - but it was fear and it was clearly from Oz.  Xander pulled away from the girls.   What's wrong what's wrong  to Spike, and the vampire was there, in the doorway, looking pissed and anxious at the same time.

"Xander, it's -"

"Oz - yeah.  Fuck."

"Oz?  What do you mean?  Is - is something wrong with Dawn?  I didn't hear the phone-"  Buffy was climbing to her feet - Willow was - and Xander just sat there, staring at Spike, trying to feel what was wrong.  Out in the shop, the phone started to ring, and Spike cursed.  His souls were entwined - almost one - and the human part seemed to be soothing the demon - distracting it.  Xander jumped up, hearing Giles saying something in a voice that was tight with anxiety and they all hurried out to the other room.  Spike was snarling a little, baleful golden eyes staring at the Watcher, and they all waited while he finished speaking and hung up the phone.

"That was Tara.  Apparently Harmony and her gang were waiting at the house tonight - to find you, Buffy.  And - somehow - they managed to snatch Dawn."

"Oh my god, Dawnie!"  Willow cried, and Buffy whirled on her heel, getting up close to Spike.

"Where is she taking her - where's Harmony hiding out, Spike!"

"She took over my old crypt.  Sure to have her there.  Watcher, call the house and tell the wolfling -"

"Tara said he was tracking them.   He was knocked unconscious for a few minutes."  Giles said.   Angel was watching them, a strange look on his face.

"Let's go then - we've got stakes in the car."  Xander said, already heading for the door.  

"I don't need any help from Spike -"  Buffy started, and Spike was game-face, snarling.

"Not gonna let Xander go alone, not gonna let anything happen to the Niblet.  So keep up or sod off, Slayer,"  he growled, and bolted past her, catching up with Xander.  They were both through the door and getting into the DeSoto by the time Buffy came out, and she shoved roughly past Xander and climbed into the back seat.

"Giles is bringing Willow in his car - he's got some weapons in the trunk.  Let's go.  If I don't get her home before my mom gets there…"  The DeSoto roared to life and Buffy let out a startled yelp as Spike gunned the car away from the curb and tore down the street.   The stereo was still on and Alice was still singing at top volume.

"God, Spike, where did you get your license - a Cracker Jack box?"  Buffy yelled, hanging grimly onto the back of the seat.

"Never got me a license, Slayer!"  Spike yelled back, still game-face, grinning like a madman now, and Xander and Buffy shared a look that was equally horrified and resigned.   In this moment, when Buffy was on, Slayer-mode, there was nothing but her in the seeing.  The other Slayers had retreated and Buffy's purpose - her focus - was so intense she was like a flare of magnesium in the corner of Xander's vision.   It was somehow...comforting.  

"You see my burning fuse…From a mile away

I took your cruel abuse…Lord took away my shame

I learned to bite the hand…That used to pull my chain

We'll fight, cause we ain't on the same side…

We're in an unholy war, unholy war…I'll try, yeah I'll fight until I die

Unholy…"

Spike watched Xander walk into the back room with the girls - turned slowly and eyed the Watcher from where he was hovering near the display counter.  Spike sauntered over to the counter as well - dropped his cigarette butt into a cup of cold coffee.   Giles edged away and then stopped when Spike smirked at him.  Calm from Xander, and love

"Ssso, Watcher.  Tell me, why don't you, why you thought bringin' the great pouf up here was a good idea?"  Giles frowned, and over at the bookshelves Angel shut his book with a snap, glaring over at Spike.

"Shut up, Spike,"  he grated out, and Spike leaned back against the counter, fishing out another cigarette and lighting it with a snap.

"How's your shoulder, Peaches?  Still sore, maybe?"  Angel growled and advanced on him, and Giles held up a hand, looking nervous.

"Let's all just - just calm down, shall we?  I asked Angel here because, as you said, Spike, he had information about this claim spell."

"Yeah - but that's not why you had him come up here.  He could have told you about the spell on the 'phone.  Why'd you really want him here?  Did you think he could do somethin'?  Did you think he could - break the spell?"  Angel was still glaring, standing a few feet away, and Giles shuffled a little, looking back and forth between the two of them.

"Well, I - yes, Spike.  I was - am - worried about Xander.  He seems to have leapt into this without much thought, as usual, and I-"  Giles stuttered to a halt as Spike turned on him, demon's visage flickering out and back.

"You sayin' something against my own, Watcher?  Better not be.  Xander isn't stupid - he knew what he was doing.  I told him everything, and he chose it.  He didn't give himself up to me for - for nothing.  For a good shag.  Don't presume you know anything about him, Watcher."  Spike glared at Giles a moment longer, then turned a sneer on Angel, watching the older vampire glower at him from under his brows.

"And Peaches here - he can't do a bloody thing about this spell.  What'd you think, he'd just come up here an' say 'piss off, Spike', and I'd tuck tail and run?"  Spike snorted - took a long drag and blew the smoke at Angel.  Giles fiddled with his glasses.

"Well, yes, actually, I rather thought that, as your Sire, he could-"  

"Sire?"  Spike laughed, and Giles looked bewildered.  "He isn't my Sire.  What, did he tell you he was?  Tell you he could - fix it all?"  Spike laughed again - looked over at Angel who was looking murderous.  "You should know when to shut up by now, you great git."

"Spike,"  Angel hissed, and Spike smirked at him.  Giles was polishing his glasses, looking alarmed.

"Not his Sire?  But you - I thought for sure - is Drusilla your Sire?  Surely not -"

"Course she is, Watcher.  She chose me, she did the deed.   The pouf didn't have a thing to do with it."  Spike finished his cigarette and watched the butt bob in the coffee - felt awe and love and friend from Xander.  He could see - just in flickers - what Xander was seeing.  He could see Slayer.  Her SOUL.  Bloody hell.  THAT'S what he sees?  That's…  Do WE look like that?  He blinked - realized Angel had been saying something.

"Sorry, Irish - wasn't payin' attention.  Was seeing what Xander was seein'.  Slayer's soul - amazing thing."  Angel shut his mouth with a snap, staring at him.

"You can - you saw Buffy's soul?  What-"

"Don't ask.  Maybe Xander'll tell you some time.  Maybe he'll look at your soul, Angel.  Bet that'd be a real treat.  Think your soul does that to its hair, too?"  Angel turned away in disgust, shaking his head, and Spike fished in his duster for his flask - took a long swallow.

"Listen - both of you.  There is nothing you can do to change what's happened.   It's done.  And the more you fight it, the more you hurt Xander.  He won't take you actin' like he's some kind of a soddin' kid - some kind of a fuck-up - very much longer.  He'll leave here, and you'll be lucky if you know he's still alive.  So get over it and move on."  Giles stared at him, open-mouthed, and Angel strode back over, getting up way too close.

"Listen to me, Spike - I won't let you weasel your way into this group just to fuck them over when you're bored of it all.   Giles wanted me up here to make sure you understood this: you're being watched, Spike, and you'd better be on your best behavior or I'll -"

"You'll what, Angel?  Try to take me out?  I think we've done this, and I wasn't the one ended up bleeding, was I?"  Spike's voice was half growl, and he tried to calm himself.    "I've got family here - me and Xander and the wolfling are pack - and they'd both take you out if you fucked with me, you bastard."  Spike clenched his fist around the spiral nail in his pocket, the urge to pull it out and drive it through the solid rock of Angel's stupid head almost overwhelming.  You miserable cunt, you back the fuck off  "You don't order me, or try to make me, or tell me anything, anymore, Angel.  You understand?"  They were toe to toe, demons to the fore, snarling, and Giles was frozen against the counter.  

Fuck.  There's the witch.  She'd better…better watch herself.  That power of hers - like a snake, all twisted around her He shook his head a little, pushing the images away, still snarling at Angel.  Giles fumbled at his glasses and almost dropped them from nervous tension.

"Wha- what do you mean about Oz, Spike?  What does he have to do with this?"  Giles asked, and Spike spared him a hateful glance.

"Just what I said, Watcher.  We're - "   He stopped abruptly.  He could feel - something.  In the link.  It was faint, barely there.   It was Oz.  And he was…afraid.  He struggled for a moment with the demon - finally pushed it away to listen, and Xander was in the link, asking What's wrong and Spike darted into the other room, meeting his worried gaze.

"Xander, it's-"

"Oz - yeah.  Fuck."

His old crypt was silent - seemingly deserted - and they approached warily.  Willow had convinced Giles to take her to the Summers house - she was worried about Tara being alone and about Joyce coming home to no daughters and a terrified stranger; Angel was nowhere to be seen.  Bloody poufter can't even keep up  Spike thought disgustedly before pushing open the crypt doors.   Xander and Buffy both crowded in behind him.  The inside was dark, but he could hear voices, very faintly, from under the sewer access cover.  The faint pulse of fear protect help that had been coming from Oz was stronger - was loud, and Oz was there, graceful wolf trotting up to the crypt and pushing against Spike's leg.  Xander crouched down, running his hands over the soft fur.

"Hey Oz - you ok?"

Dawn  and Oz let out a muffled sort of bark, clearly eager to get on with it.

"Oz?"  Buffy looked down at the wolf - looked at Spike.  "So - are they in there?"

"Down underneath.  I'm gonna heave that cover off.   There's a ladder on this side, but the hole's big enough you can just drop down - nothing underneath to catch on.  You get down there fast, Slayer, and the wolf and me'll be right behind you.  Xander, you get Little Bit, she'd gonna be scared out of her mind."

"Yeah,"  Xander breathed, standing back up and flexing his hand around the stake he was carrying.

"How many?"  Buffy whispered as they glided across the dirt floor.  Spike crouched down and grabbed the stone slab, muscles tense and ready to lift.  Listenin' to me.  Guess you've got some sense, Slayer - keep usin' it and we'll have the Niblet back in a trice

"Only four or five when we met up a couple nights ago.  Dunno if she had more or not.  Didn't seem to.  Ready?"  Buffy nodded, and Oz pushed his muzzle into Spike's shoulder.   Careful from Xander, and Spike sent it right back, careful love you  Then he lifted and swung the cover off in one movement, lowering it as quietly as possible to the ground.  Buffy looked down into flickering dimness - some kind of fire light - and jumped, straight and graceful.  Oz was next, silent on his wolf-paws, and Spike grinned over at Xander and followed, duster rustling like crow's wings around him.  He landed easily and crept forward, hearing Xander land behind him.  There were voices ahead - Harmony stuttering something, a deeper male voice answering - and Dawn's panicked heartbeat, thudding over all.

Sounds like she's losin' her gang.  Stupid chit.  Almost got you, Niblet, be brave  They went down a short stretch of tunnel and then into a larger chamber and Buffy was flying forward, kicking and punching, and Harmony shrieked "Slayer!"  and Oz leaped on a heavy-set female and then Spike was in, full-body slam into a hulking male.  The demon roared, delighted, and Oz answered, yipping howl that had fight pack BLOOD behind it, delight in the mayhem.
 Something - a brief shock of Wha-?  Fuuuck… from Xander, and then nothing, the link shutting down hard.  Peripherally, Spike could see Xander over by Dawn, giving her a quick hug and then attacking the chains that bound her to the rock wall.  The big vamp under Spike grunted and heaved him up and Spike snarled and slashed his straight-razor across his throat - slashed again, putting supernatural muscle behind it and the panicked face fell back - away - as the vamp's neck was severed.  Dust puffed up from his disintegrating body and Spike turned, searching.  Buffy staked another male - her second - and Oz was standing, panting, in an eddy of dust.  Harmony was gone.  Xander did something with a tool - with his multi-purpose knife that he carried everywhere - and Dawn's hands fell, free of the chains.  She threw herself on Xander, crying, and Xander hugged her close, rubbing her back.  Buffy ran over and Dawn went from Xander to her, babbling incoherently.  

"Shhh, Dawn, it's ok, mom'll kill me for letting you get kidnapped by vampires, you better not say one word to her or I'll...   C'mon, it's ok, shhh…"   Dawn pushed back from Buffy, wiping her eyes with the flat of her hand, face blotchy and eyes swollen.

"I'll tell mom you killed vampires in front of me!  You're not supposed to do that!"  She looked over at Spike and smiled a tiny smile.

"Thanks for c-coming to get me Spike.  Oz?  Is that Oz?  Wow!"  Dawn scurried over to the wolf and knelt down, running her hands through the soft fur and Spike smirked at the scratch nice   Oz, in a display of utter doggishness, leaned into Dawn and let her scratch behind his ears, mouth open in a wide, panting grin.

"Wonder where that stupid cow Harm scampered off to?  Guess we'd better go find her.  You up for patrol, Xander?"  Spike lit a cigarette and Xander nodded, looking around.

"Sure.  Guess we'll - tell her to get out of Sunnydale, huh?  I just - I don't think I can stake her, you know?"  Know her  and Spike nodded.  He'd figured they wouldn't be able to off one of their own, no matter how marginally she came under that heading.  He could remember Harmony - most clearly, he could remember her fighting for her life and her classmate's lives against the snake-mayor's hordes, and he reluctantly agreed with Xander's helped us and Oz's frightened girl

"She tried to bite Willow, you know.  And she kidnapped my sister - why shouldn't we stake her?"  Buffy said, tucking her own stake away into the back of her pants.

"'Cause she's…Harmony, Buff.  She went to school with us.  And…she's got a soul, too.  I've seen it."  Xander shifted uncomfortably, glancing at Dawn.  Buffy stared at him.

"You're kidding, right?  Harmony has a soul?  Xander - "  Buffy stopped - pushed her hands slowly back through her hair.  Spike leaned against the wall behind him, watching them.  What's got the Slayer all troubled now?  

"Xander - am I…am I killing - murdering - people like…like Angel?  If Harmony has a soul, could she be - good?  Could she..."

Ooooh, that's it, is it?  Huh.  Doesn't make' kill first ask second' quite so nice now, does it, Slayer?  Xander glanced over at Spike, love you and shrugged at Buffy.

"I don't - know, Buffy.  Kidnapping Dawn wasn't good…  Most of the demons you kill - the vampires - they really are evil.  I looked, out on patrol, and I've looked around a lot, and… they're different, Buffy.  Most of them really do just want to - kill everything.  Some don't.  But the ones that don't - aren't around much, when you are.   A soul doesn't mean instant white-hat status.  If it did, we humans would all be saints, wouldn't we?   It's not - black and white."  Buffy sighed, and looked over at Spike again - looked at Dawn, who was hugging Oz.

"I guess - I guess I'll just…rely on you to tell me the difference, okay, Xander?  I don't want to…slay anyth- anybody that might not…need it."  She sighed again, and pushed a loose strand of hair off her face.

Tired Slayer.  Worried about her mum, her sis…and now this.  Maybe it'll tone her attitude down a notch.  Spike shivered a little, and flicked his cigarette butt away.  Still wanna taste her blood.  See what you've done, love?  Made me…almost feel sorry for the Slayer, for a second  He frowned over at Xander, damn pitiful slayer love you STOP that and Xander stifled a giggle - turned it into a cough.

"Yeah, ok - guess you'd better get Dawn home - where'd deadboy get off to?"

"Don't think he's been gettin' off - probably half his problem…"  Spike muttered, and Buffy shot him a venomous look.

"He's gone.  He said - we didn't need him, he wasn't part of the team and he'd just - be in the way."  She looked angry at that - tossed her head, dismissing him.  "Come on, Dawn - we need to get home."  Dawn nodded and stood up, one hand still on Oz's back, and they all filed back out to the main room.  Buffy looked in utter bewilderment at the collection of unicorn figures that Harmony had apparently been amassing, and Spike sneered at the fluffy bedclothes and throw-pillows she'd heaped on a big four-poster bed.  

How in hell'd she get that down here?  Christ.  Unicorns.  Be a mercy to stake her, sorry excuse for the evil undead.  Makes us all look bad    Buffy went up the ladder first and stood at the top, watching Dawn climb.  Xander was close behind him, fingers edging around the sides of the duster and burrowing up under his t-shirt - trails of fire across his stomach.  Spike leaned back a little, resting against the solid warmth of the man, and Buffy, reaching down to help Dawn climb off the top of the ladder shot them an irritated look.  Oz made a breathy, yipping sound - wolfish laughter - and leaped up, clearing the edge of the hole and disappearing.

Love you want you mine from Xander, and Spike turned in Xander's embrace and pulled him close - kissed him, taste of sweet love love you  running his own hands up under Xander's shirt.  

"Hey!  You guys get up here!"  Buffy yelled, and Xander pulled back, grinning.

"The Slayer shrieks,"  he whispered, and Spike reluctantly let him go; watched him climb the ladder and couldn't resist a grab at the taut body-part in jeans that hovered so enticingly just above him.

"I saw that, Spike!"  Buffy growled, and Spike smirked up at her.

"He slipped, Slayer - don't want him fallin' now, do you?"  She rolled her eyes.  

"I'm getting Dawn home, and then I still have to go over to that warehouse.   Are you guys gonna find Harmony?"

"Sure - oh…"  Xander looked over at Oz and Dawn, and nodded.  

Naked  from Oz.  

"Oz needs to go home with you, Buffy - his clothes are there."  Buffy blinked - looked at Oz - blinked again.

"Ah - yeah.  Right.  God I hope mom's not home!  Let's go, Dawn, we need to hurry."  Dawn sidled over to Spike - grabbed him in a quick hug that took him totally by surprise.  

Way to piss off big sis, Niblet   She grinned up at him - hugged Xander too.

"Thanks for rescuing me guys.  Sorry you had to do it."  Dawn strode out of the crypt, looking far too bouncy.

"Yeah - thanks, you guys."  Buffy stood for long moment, just looking at the three of them, then she hastily went after Dawn.  Oz yipped - brushed close past Spike and Xander and followed.  Spike leaned back against a tomb, watching Xander  want you  surging over him, wash of fire.

"Sssooo…havin' a little…fantasy, Xan?"  Spike whispered, and Xander came up close to him - put his hands on either side of Spike and leaned into him, heat and weight pressing him back.

"Oh yeah…"  Xander brushed his lips over Spike's - over his cheek and jaw, moth-touches, and Spike shivered.

"I thought about you, in here - thought about comin' over some night, after patrol.  All…worked up from the slaying.  Finding you here, in your…lair."  Xander's hands came up - pushed at the duster and slid it off.  Then his hands were at the hem of Spike's t-shirt, pushing, and Spike lifted his arms, letting Xander pull the shirt up and off.

"What did you think you'd do, when you found me?"  Spike asked, voice low, and Xander put his palms flat on Spike's chest, rubbing lightly.

"Oh, I thought…thought you'd be here, like this, in your jeans and boots - just…drinking some of that whiskey - smoking…  Lurking…"  Xander grinned at him - lost the grin as Spike pulled him close, groin to groin, subtle pressure.

"Yeah?  And what then, love?  What's next…?"  Xander leaned forward again and ran his tongue over the claim mark - lightning down his body, straight to his cock, and Spike arched up, gasping.

"Then - then I'd just push you down, like this - "  Xander pushed him back, laying him back along the cold marble, mouth hot and wet on his collarbones, sternum.  Xander's hands slid down Spike's arms to his wrists - brought them out and up, pinning them.

"Hold you down, taste you - kiss you - bite you…"  Xander murmured, and did that, nipples and ribs and side of Spike's throat - hinge of jaw and the soft underside of his chin.  Sinking his teeth in, just a little, and Spike writhed under him, panting now.

"Xan -"   want you love yours yours

"Mmmm…"  Xander rocked his hips, pushing down tight, their erections crowding close through the denim.  The buttons of Spike's fly pressed in hard and he arched up, hissing, basking in the razor-edge of pain that licked out - became pleasure.  

"Don't move,"  Xander said, and he let Spike's wrists go - wrenched open the buttons and pulled.  Spike put his legs around Xander's waist and squeezed, lifting his hips, and Xander yanked the jeans down.  The tomb was icy under his buttocks and back, Xander like a furnace against his cock, and Spike moaned softly, arching his back.  Xander fumbled for something in a duster-pocket - grinned and held up a squashed tube of gel.

"Never know -"  Spike said, and Xander ducked down - came back up between Spike's legs, the jeans across his back.  He pushed his own jeans down, freeing himself, and then leaned back up, pressing Spike's wrists down again, full-body rub of hot flesh.

"When I thought about this - you let me, let me fuck you - you wanted me…  God…"  Xander sealed his mouth over Spike's, all teeth and push, and Spike kissed back, fucking his tongue into Xander's mouth, tasting the essence of him, letting the demon out so that he could graze a fang over Xander's tongue - taste the rich, sweet blood that welled there.  Xander ground closer, his cock slicking wetness over Spike's belly; a bar of flame that threatened to brand Spike - immolate him.  His own cock jumped, pressed tight between two bellies, and he pulled Xander closer with his trapped feet, wanting more.

Want in me love please and Xander let one wrist go - moved back an inch, and Spike felt the cool gel smearing on him - felt a fingertip stroke and circle and push in, slow.  A ripple of shivers ran out from that point, and Spike moaned into Xander's mouth - pushed the demon away as Xander leaned up a little, moving his lips down over Spike's neck.

"You taste so good…feel good…love this, right here - "  Xander bit gently along the top of Spike's shoulder - pushed the finger deeper, skating over that place, and Spike arched up, gasping.

"Ooh, pet…again, again - "  Xander's finger twisted - thrust - then he pushed in another, rasp of callus and scarred knuckles, blunt fingernails just ghosting over that most sensitive place.  Spike writhed, hips moving in shallow thrusts, and Xander leaned into his neck and rasped his tongue over the scar there - raked it lightly with his teeth.  Beautiful vampire mine want

"You want me?  You ready for me?"  Xander whispered, and Spike turned his head a little, tongue and lips on Xander's throat.

Yours want NOW   "Ready love, ready, in me…"  Xander's fingers slid out - his hips moved back a little, and Spike opened his eyes.  Stared at Xander - into wide eyes that were black in the dimness.   Spike felt the tip of Xander's cock pushing at him - pushed against it and sighed in pleasure as Xander pressed slowly in.  Xander's hand closed around Spike's balls - holding them up, tug and pressure, and then his slick palm covering Spike's cock, rubbing.  Spike reached and pulled Xander down - pulled him closer - and Xander's hand was on his wrist again, holding him still.

"No, no touching, just let me…"  Stronger push, going deeper, and Spike lifted his hips, arched his back - wanted, and Xander smiled at him.  Thrust in hard and froze for a moment.

"Oh, yeah - dreamed about this - you so tight and…cool, like this…  Wanting me - needing me…"  Xander moved back and forth, strong thrusts that rocked Spike back a little, the marble slick under his spine.  Xander leaned over him, faces inches apart, his hands and Spike's wide on the tomb, his hips moving faster, cock pushing deeper.  Spike felt tingles of electricity - of fire - prickling out over his body, centering on the burning brand that was Xander's cock in him.  

"You need me, Spike?  You…need this?"

"Know I do, Xan…you know…you make me alive, you -"   love you love you beautiful my own always

Yours always MINE  Xander kissed him, frantic pressure of tongue and teeth, claiming Spike's mouth with his own, claiming his body with his own - his soul, with his own.   Thrusting harder now, collision of flesh loud in the stillness, and oh there, there love fuck…  and Spike was pulling him closer, legs like a vise around Xander's ribs and Xander suddenly let go of his wrists.  One hand snaked down between them, grasping Spike's cock and pumping it, rough and fast.  The other hand threading through Spike's hair, lifting his head, turning it, Xander's mouth on Spike's throat, on the scar.

"Wanted to make you mine - wanted to have you - want you…"   Mine only mine  and Xander's teeth sank deep, tearing flesh.  Spike's back arched up like a cat and he roared - turned his head and let the demon come, let the demon take;  the sweet and living blood, spiced with magic with love with himself and with the tiniest flash of the wolfling, exotic and heady and needed.  He drank - felt Xander doing the same, good so good want this always and Xander's body pounding into him, the heat of him in Spike doubling as Xander came.  Spike's own orgasm was thunder - fire - and he pulled away from Xander's neck and cried out again, moving helplessly, instinctively, shudder and push against the heat of Xander's body, against his slowing thrusts.  And then - flicker of images; himself, on his back, arched and gasping and glowing...  

Oh, what is - that's...

You love, you, beautiful  He saw himself - the demon and the human parts of himself entwined and glowing, golden-white, almost painfully bright.  Sparks of light, gold and scarlet and white dancing and whirling, around him, through him...  Spike shuddered, gasping, the final moments of orgasm a drawn-out ecstasy.   Finally Xander lay over him, panting, heavy and immobile and Spike hugged him close, kissing shoulder and throat - soothing the bite with his tongue, cleaning the smear of blood away.  Love you pet, oh...love you thank you

"God.  Spike - love you so much.  Did you see - how beautiful you are?  Doesn't seem…real, sometimes.  Too good."  Xander burrowed into Spike's neck, hands slipping under his shoulder blades and pulling him close, and Spike ran soothing hands over Xander's back.

"It's real, love.  Real   Never let you go."  They lay together for a long moment, and Spike heard the whispered Ceil that ended the seeing.   Xander shivered - shivered again when he slipped free of Spike's body, and he pushed himself up.

"Getting cold.  Stupid crypt.  Damn - nothing to clean up with."  Spike sat up, limpeting onto Xander, arms and legs tight around his body.  So warm

"Don't wanna let you go," he whispered, resting his head on Xander's shoulder, and Xander's hands were strong around his back - strong and sure and safe, safe and loved  stutter of images, memories; Dru and himself curled under blankets, sound of rain, dry rushing of a fire.  The whole family around a table - playing cards - Darla laughing and Angelus pouring her spiced cider, slipping a card to Spike under the table - the three of them on the pull-out bed in the living room, casual sprawl of bodies that touched without tension, himself and Xander and Oz…  Family protect  Xander raised one hand - gently turned Spike's face up, the dark eyes searching.  Full of love, full of... understand

"I know, love.  I…know.  We'll have this, for as long as we can.  They know, now - no more hiding it, and we'll just…just be… family ours never leave  Soft kiss, to forehead and each cheek - to lips, and Spike sighed into it, loving it - loving that Xander knew, that he knew and didn't care, how fragile this felt to Spike - how much he wanted it.  Want too much

Don't want enough.  Give you everything - anything -my own always love you love you  Spike hugged Xander hard, then leaned back a bit, smiling at him.

Real smile

"All for you, love.  Better get home.  Wolfling'll wonder what happened.   And - "  Spike made a gesture down at them, at sticky, drying matter that had adhered rather uncomfortably to both of them.  "Need a shower."

"Always with the bath fetish.  Maybe we should have a bath - soak in that tub…"  Spike raised an eyebrow - smirked.

"Sounds nice.  Like to fuck you in there - in all that hot water…"  

Want from Xander, and Spike grinned - leaned back as Xander let him go and watched his boy squirm out from between legs and jeans, stumbling a little.  In the end they sacrificed Spike's t-shirt and walked home in the thick, summer air, Spike's duster over his arm and Xander's arm around his waist, stroking along rib and belly, beautiful through the link.   Spike noticed - as did Xander - a scurrying blonde presence in the bushes, but they both ignored it.  Hunt her another day  Spike thought, and Xander agreed.

20 Key

Xander parked his truck outside the Magic Box and sat for a moment, thinking. The mid-September sun beat down strongly on the roof, and he stretched in his seat, muscles tired from work. There was sawdust on his jeans that he brushed at half-heartedly, and the radio was playing, some new song he didn't recognize - a woman's voice, rapping about a 'One minute man'. Xander listened for a moment, but couldn't concentrate on it. A week since Dawn had been kidnapped. A week since he'd...seen. He'd waited - through the various events of the week - to bring this to Giles. But he couldn't wait anymore. Spike was on his way - he could feel him - and he could just faintly hear the DeSoto, roaring through Sunnydale like one of the resident monsters. It made him smile, and he turned off the truck and got out and went up to the door - pushed inside. The Grand Opening was happening tomorrow - Giles had delayed it for various reasons - and the shop was still a bit of a mess. Some boxes were, in fact, scattered across the larger area right below the landing, and a couple looked as if they had been crushed.

"Hey, Giles? You here?" Xander called, looking around. He heard a noise, and Giles stepped out of the back room. He held a towel to his head, and he looked - woozy. Xander stepped quickly over to him, catching his elbow and guiding him to a chair.

"Giles, you ok? What happened?" Giles pulled the towel away from his head, revealing a large, swollen bruise. There was a smear of blood on the towel.

"Jesus!"

All right?

"I assure you, I'm perfectly - perfectly fine, Xander. Just a small bruise, a slight...concussion." Giles put the towel back onto his forehead with a wince of pain, and Xander heard the ice wrapped inside crunching together.

"Are you sure? Do you want me to take you to the hospital?" He crouched down, looking up at the older man, and Giles smiled faintly at him.

"No, no, I really am fine. I've been hit in the head enough times that I know when I need immediate medical attention, more's the pity."

"If you're sure." Xander looked at Giles for a moment - held up three fingers. "How many fingers, Giles?" he said.

"One too many, pet, you do it like this -" Spike's voice, from the back door, and the vampire strode over, cigarette pluming smoke and smirk firmly in place, blanket tucked under his arm.

Mmmm, pet, smell good

Giles rolled his eyes and started to stand up. "Spike, what are you doing - oh, yes, that's right." Giles subsided back onto the chair and looked at Xander, frowning.

"Yes, we're still shaggin' like rabbits, Watcher, did you forget? Must've gotten hit a little harder then you thought."

Stop that Xander patted Giles' knee and stood up. "So, what happened, Giles? Who - or what - hit you?"

"Ah - well. That is the mystery of the moment, although I dare say an hour's worth of book-work will answer the question. The - demon - was rather distinctive." Spike hopped up onto the display counter, ignoring Giles' automatic wince and glare. He looked around for someplace to put out his cigarette and dropped it into a half-empty cup of tea.

"So - what made it so distinctive, Watcher? I'm guessin' somethin' other than that stench?"

"Yes, the smell. Well, apart from that, it wanted the Slayer and only the Slayer. Most demons will happily take out anything in their path, but this one was extraordinarily focused and please do not touch that, it may very well transport us all to a dimension that is overrun with creatures that rival Tyrannosaurus Rex for bloodlust and size." Xander hastily put the little velvet box with the oddly-shaped crystal in it back and looked guiltily at Giles, who took off his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"You know, I really could use some aspirin or, perhaps, a drink of something...Irish," Giles said.

"That's what Darla thought, and look what it got her," Spike muttered. He lifted his legs and spun around on the counter, dropping down behind it and rummaging for a moment.

Spike, be nice Xander thought, and Spike snorted in amusement. A moment later he popped back up, grinning, a rather dusty bottle in his hand.

"Let's all have a sip, shall we?" He unscrewed the cap and raised the bottle to his lips.

"Don't you dare!" Giles growled, and Spike glanced over at him, eyebrow raised. "There are cups in the office," Giles sighed, and Spike laughed.

"I'll get them. So, you're ok, and you think you can find out what this demon is. That's - that's good." Xander went back into the cramped office, looking around, and found a stack of paper cups.

"Well, I'm not unconscious or dead, so I say, 'Bully for me'," came Giles' rather peeved voice.

Laughter from Spike and Xander grabbed two cups - hesitated - and grabbed one more.

Might need it. Hate this.

Be all right love Xander came back out and lined the cups up on the counter. Spike cheerfully filled them, and Giles hauled himself out of his chair and came over. He scowled at Spike and picked up his cup.

"Cheers," he muttered, and tossed the whiskey back. Spike did the same, and Xander took a mouthful and tried not to gag. Spike laughed again, earning an amazed look from Giles.

"Here, pet, I'll have yours too, then," Spike said, and tweaked the cup away from Xander. Xander let him have it, coughing.

"I'm just not manly enough for the hard stuff, I guess," he croaked. Giles dabbed at his head gently and then sighed, laying the now-dripping towel down on a crumpled nest of newspapers.

"Now that we've all had a drink, perhaps you'd like to tell me why you wanted to speak to me, Xander? Spike, put it back." Spike growled, but he pulled the bottle back out of his duster pocket and bent down, shoving it away in whatever cubby Giles had secreted it.

"It's about...about the other night, Giles. When Dawn was kidnapped? I - I saw-"

"Oh good lord," Giles whispered, and he went white. Xander made a grab for him and Giles waved him away, leaning on the counter and looking at Xander rather wildly.

"Giles, what -"

"Of course, of course, how stupid of me, it would only take one look and..."

"Giles," Xander said, loudly, and the Watcher stopped talking, frowning at him.

"I suppose that - whatever you saw - you shared it with Spike?" Xander glanced at Spike, who was pawing through a box full of copper figurines.

"'Course I did, Giles. And Oz." He shrugged at Giles' horrified look. "We don't keep secrets, Giles, we're pack. It just - doesn't work that way."

"Yes, Spike said something to that effect that night. What did he - what do you both - mean by it?"

Tell?

No harm from Spike, and his eyes flashed up to meet Xander's for a moment, bright with suppressed laughter. The amusement he was feeling bubbled in the link, and Xander tried to ignore it. Freaking out Giles wasn't exactly what he'd had in mind for this meeting. Although, the mood Spike was in, it was probably inevitable. He'd been in this mood pretty much the whole week. As he'd put it - "They know we're together now, love, so we can do what we like and not have to worry." Xander knew that meant, at least in part, that Spike felt free to touch - or kiss - him at any time. Which was nice. But which also meant that he'd pretty much abandoned all restraint when it came to the gang and what he would do or say. Which could have its drawbacks. Xander smiled at Spike and turned back to Giles.

"Well...it's to do with the wolf and the hyena. They both want a pack. And the - demon, it wants a nest, you know? We all just want...family. So we kind of...claimed Oz." Giles stared at him - at the both of them - and his mouth came open, but no sound came out. Spike rolled his eyes and ducked down - retrieved the bottle and poured another cup-full. Hesitated, then poured a second.

"You - you - you did what? You claimed -? Really Xander, I don't - I simply don't know what to say. What were you thinking - thank you." He took the cup Spike held out automatically and drained it - crumpled the wilting cup in his fist and tossed it over his shoulder.

"Cheers," Spike said, tossing back his own drink and the surprise in the link made Xander giggle. Giles glared at him and Xander choked it off.

"Sorry, you just - oh, never mind. Giles, it wasn't the same as what Spike and I did -"

"Although shaggin' was involved both -"

"Spike!'" from both of them, and Spike subsided, going back to the figures.

Love you sorry STOP that Xander took the elastic tie out of his hair and let it fall, long, down his neck and to the tops of his shoulders. He combed his fingers through it and smirked a little at Spike's instant, unwavering gaze. Giles began to edge around the end of the counter.

"Maybe 'claim' is the wrong word. We didn’t do that spell or anything, it was just... Oz felt like he was being pushed out - like he wasn't a part of our...pack, anymore. It was hurting him, Giles." Xander watched the older man open one drawer and then another and finally come up with an industrial sized bottle of aspirin. He opened it and shook three out into his palm and put the bottle away.

"I'll...I'll reserve judgment on that, Xander, until I've spoken to Oz. Why didn't he come with you today?" Giles looked around, and Spike held out the bottle, not looking at him. Giles sighed and took it - poured a small measure into Spike's cup.

"He's working down at the Bronze a couple nights a week - helping the bands set up and stuff, doing the sound for them. He wanted to get back into music somehow now that the Dingoes have kind of...moved on." Giles tossed the aspirin into his mouth - swallowed them with the whiskey and then eyed the cup with distaste.

"Don't fret, Watcher - I imagine the alcohol killed any vampire cooties," Spike smirked, and Giles scowled at him.

"Come into the back. We need to talk about this. Buffy should be arriving in about ten minutes."

"Buffy?"

"This concerns her sister, Xander - it's only fair she be here." Xander had a sinking feeling in his gut - he didn't want any confrontations. They'd told the gang what was going on, sure. And they'd even kind of worked some stuff out. But the past week had been - crazy - and Xander really didn't want some sort of tension-breaking fight happening. Joyce had had her surgery - and it had gone surprisingly well - but she was still in the hospital, and the gang was on eggshells about it, hoping to hear back about the test results of the tumor that had been removed.

Riley had had his surgery, too - after being chased down by six other Initiative members and Buffy. Spike had heard about that, and Riley had found out a day later that the six soldiers and one doctor hadn't made it out of Sunnydale. The bodies hadn't turned up yet, alive or dead, but there had been one night of total silence from Spike - the link shut down so hard that Xander had felt as if Spike were dead. He knew he wasn't - there was always this pulse of Spike, just below conscious thought that kept him aware of the vampire no matter what - but the total, deliberate, silence had been... It had been horrible. Xander had felt adrift - lost. He'd lain in bed shivering, until Oz had come home, and the rush of concern from the werewolf had been like water in the desert. Oz had come straight to him - slid into the bed beside him. They'd both talked until dawn, hands laced together under the sheet, the slow whir of the box-fan in the window competing with the crickets and the distant surf. Spike had come in with the sun just behind him, through the back door and straight into the shower. Then he'd crawled in between Xander and Oz and finally opened the link, and they'd both just hugged him close, Spike's chaotic and bloody thoughts gradually dimming down to nothing and all three of them finally sleeping. Xander's lack of guilty feelings for knowing what had happened to the missing men had, perversely, made him feel guilty, and it had taken a long talk with Spike and Oz the next afternoon to dispel any notions he might have had of feeling sorry for them. Spike had gotten some information out of the soldiers - what the Initiative was doing at it's installation in Brazil - and it hadn't been pretty. Spike had, Xander suspected, 'lost it' again with those soldiers, and he hoped that this was the last of them to come to town. Spike's duster was lighter for having been emptied of its cache of spiral nails. Riley's buddy Graham had been at the hospital with Riley, who wouldn't leave Buffy, and so had lucked out of any retribution. But Xander suspected Spike had plans for him.

And now - who knew what would happen when he told Giles what he had seen? The three of them walked into the back of the shop, and Xander stopped in the doorway in surprise. The room - once an area for storage - had been cleared and fitted up as a training room, complete with equipment and a place for Buffy to change and clean up.

"Wow - Giles! This is great!" Giles had settled onto an old couch that was against one wall, and he smiled rather tiredly at Xander.

"Thank you. I did it as a surprise for Buffy - she saw it just last night."

"She must have loved it." Xander walked over to a rack of weights, running his finger over them, and grinned over at Spike who had leaped past him and landed a ferocious punch on the heavy bag. It swung alarmingly, creaking, and Spike attacked it again, punches and kicks that were blindingly fast.

Like a cat with a new toy Xander thought, and Spike growled and landed a last punch - turned and pounced, one fluid movement, pushing Xander back against the weights and pinning him there with his body.

"Wanna see what else I can do with toys?" he murmured in Xander's ear, and the accompanying mental image made a flush of desire surge through Xander's body.

Oh fuck yeah

"Can you please not do that where I have to see?" Giles said, and Spike snarled over his shoulder at the older man, flashing fangs.

Be nice or-

Or? Punish me? Another flurry of images, and Xander groaned, pushing weakly at Spike's shoulders.

"Cut it out, Spike. I could really live forever without a hard-on in front of Giles!" Xander hissed.

"Might make him shut up for once," Spike muttered, and let his teeth just graze the claim scar. One hand was on Xander's hip, holding him close, and the other was tangled in his hair, rubbing his scalp, tugging gently. The sensation sent little sparks rippling over his scalp and down to the claim scar - all over his body.

Fuck...love... Xander closed his eyes - took a deep breath of the smoke and leather smell that surrounded him. Spike was doing a full-body, slow-motion grind against him and he shuddered as their groins pressed together. Spike was already hard, and Xander was rapidly getting there.

Watcher would leave if we let him do it the soldier whispered, and Xander groaned again.

No, no, NO! NO sex in front of...anybody! Damnit Spike was kissing him now, whiskey and cloves, the demon there and the fangs just prickling Xander's tongue - and Spike's - as the taste suddenly intensified to copper magic mine mine and the vampire's blood sparked in Xander's mouth.

Spike pulled away abruptly, grinning, human again. He did a final grind of his body into Xander's and then turned around, getting a cigarette out and lighting it.

Slayer

"Oh fuck," Xander said, and straightened up from where he'd half-collapsed against the weights. He could feel the insistent tickle that was Slayer, as well, although he wasn't sure if he was feeling it himself or through Spike. Thank god it was cold this morning he thought, and adjusted the sleeves of the flannel shirt he had tied around his waist. Giles had laid his head back on the couch and shut his eyes, and for a moment he looked so very Old, he looks old, and so tired. This must be hard on him, doing his job without any support...any friends his age. Xander went over to the pommel horse and jumped up on it, letting his feet dangle. Spike came and leaned next to him, and a moment later they heard the door bell jangle, and footsteps.

"Giles?"

"Back here, Buffy!" Xander called. Giles hadn't moved. More footsteps, and then Buffy was in the doorway, the automatic smile for Xander crumpling a bit when she saw Spike - going to open-mouthed shock when she saw Giles.

"Giles! What happened?" The Watcher stirred - lifted his head with a grimace.

"The usual, Slayer - demon came to kill you, found him instead. Now you got somethin' new to hunt down." Buffy shot an irritated glance at Spike and strode over to Giles, sitting gingerly on the edge of the couch and looking at Giles with an air of worry that was just slightly tinged with exasperation.

"I'm all right, Buffy. But what Spike said is, essentially, what happened. However -" Giles pushed himself fully upright and looked over at Xander and Spike. "However, that is not our main concern at the moment. Xander and - and Spike know...something...about Dawn." Buffy stared at Giles for a moment, a look that was part horror and part guilt flashing across her face. Then she turned to stare at Xander.

"How do you know?"

"You - know too? What's going on with her, Buffy? What - is she?" Buffy drew in a sharp breath, looking at Giles again.

"It's a long story, Xander. I want to know how you know." Spike glanced at Xander,afraid in the link, and Xander nodded. Buffy was afraid. But of what? He cleared his throat nervously.

"Well - the night she got kidnapped, when we went to get her? I was still - seeing - and...when we got to the crypt I saw...Dawn. And she..." Xander stopped, biting his lip.

Be all right

Yeah "She looked...different."

"How did she look different, Xander?" Giles asked. Buffy was tense, her hands digging fiercely into her knees.

"She - most people, you look at them, you see their physical body and their soul is like a ghost, kind of. Sometimes the soul is really distinct - almost separate - but most of the time it's like a copy of the person laid over them, just...glowing and kinda transparent, you know?" The other two nodded, and Spike shifted a little until his shoulder was touching Xander's knee. Xander pressed against him, letting his hand slip down and rest on the back of Spike's neck. "But when I looked at Dawn, her - soul, her - ghost... It was just - it wasn't right. It flickered, like it was having trouble staying in place. It kind of shifted, from looking like her to you, Buffy, to Joyce and to - to all of us - then back to herself, but there wasn't any... I'm not saying this right. There wasn't any life to it - it was like still images instead of something that lived in her. And - there was this green glow, this green - energy - all around her. Kind of like a - fountain of light that just kept flowing out and going back in. It was - beautiful, it was really amazing, but... it wasn't right. What is she, Giles?" Giles had been staring at him with wide eyes, and now he blinked - took off his glasses and started to rub his forehead, but winced and stopped when his fingers touched the bruise. Buffy glanced over at him, biting her lip.

"That night that you guys told us - you know -" Buffy made a gesture with her hands and Spike smirked. Don't don't don't Xander thought, and Spike sighed.

"Well, I went back to that warehouse that night. And there was this - monk - there. He was tied to a chair, and there was a - woman. Well, a demon of some kind. He called her the Beast. We fought -"

"Kicked her ass?"

"Not so much kicked her ass as...she kicked mine." Buffy glanced at Giles and Xander twitched a little from the burst of laughter that came through the link from Spike. He pushed his knee harder into Spike's shoulder and rubbed his fingers up Spike's neck, squeezing just a little. Spike shot an amused glance up at him but didn't say a word and Xander focused on Buffy again.

"Wow - ok, so it was some kinda freaky demon mojo or something? I mean - what happened?"

"She's really strong, Xander - I don't know what she is. But - anyway - I grabbed the monk and got out of there and the building kind of collapsed on her, so maybe she's dead, I dunno." Buffy shot to her feet and went to stand by the heavy bag, pushing her fists against it, swinging it just a little. "The monk - he was really hurt - he told me that he and his fellow monks had been guarding a - key. For, like, forever. And the Beast wanted it. And it was really dangerous and they had to keep her away from it. So they -" Buffy drew her fist back and punched, setting the bag swinging. "They did some kind of spell and they turned the key into a person. Into a girl." Buffy punched the bag again, then again, hard as she could, and the eye-bolt holding it in the ceiling creaked. A creeping sort of inevitability was coming over Xander, and Spike was very still beside him, cigarette forgotten in his hand and burning down almost to the filter.

Does she mean...

"No way, Buffy, no way-"

"They said, in order to protect the key, they sent it - her - to the Slayer. To me. They sent me a little sister." Buffy landed a final, crushing blow to the heavy-bag and stepped away, her arms folded tightly around her ribs.

"Jesus, that's..."

"But we remember her." Spike lifted his cigarette - snarled silently at it and pinched it out, stuffing the butt in his duster pocket. "She was in your living room that night, when we made pax... Xander went to the dance with her!"

"I know, Spike! I know! I remember. I remember the day they brought her home from the hospital! I was so upset, but then - mom let me hold her, and she told me I was her big sister and I'd have to help her, and keep her safe -" Buffy stopped and wiped angrily at her eyes, looked over at Giles. "The monks made up her whole life, and they changed - everything. Everybody. They changed us so it would be like she was always here."

"How is that possible?" Xander wondered, and Giles shook his head.

"We don't know. A spell of that reach - of that magnitude - it's almost unthinkable. I've tried to find out about this - Beast - about the Key, but...I'm not having much success."

"So, is this Beast really gone? When the building collapsed, did she die?" Xander slid down off the horse, bumping into Spike who snaked his arm around Xander's waist and pulled him close.

"I don't know. It was pretty destroyed. I guess we'll just have to - wait and see. Find out everything we can and - hope she's gone. The monk - he died." Buffy sat back down on the couch next to Giles. "Xander, do you think - does she have a soul?" Buffy's voice was so small and quiet, and Xander felt a surge of protectiveness sweep over him.

"Course she does, Buffy. It felt like - like she was trying to...make one - grow one. I think - whatever the monks did - it's not finished yet. There wasn't anything bad, in Dawn. Just - love, just...needing her family, being afraid of Harmony. She has a...a baby-soul, I think." Buffy smiled at that, and seemed to relax.

"In the meantime," Giles said quietly, "it is imperative that you tell no-one what we've just said. So far we four -"

"Five," Spike said, and Buffy stared at him.

"What do you mean, five?"

"Wolfling knows, of course. Or, will know."

"Spike, you can't tell him! You can't tell anybody!" Buffy was on her feet and across the floor, glaring up at Spike. Spike gently pushed Xander to one side, glaring back.

Calm love, DON'T

Not pack the demon growled.

"The wolf is family, Slayer. He already knows Xander saw something. We'll tell him this too. Deal with it."

"Listen, Spike -"

"It's ok, Buffy." Xander tried to get between the two of them, and Spike pushed him aside again, that sub-sonic growl shivering in Xander's bones. "Oz is one of us - he wouldn't tell. Spike's right. Did you tell Joyce?" Buffy blinked, open mouthed, then pushed her hands back through her hair in frustration.

"We had to. When she was sick - right before the surgery - she could...she could see Dawn. She kinda figured it out. So we told her. But - damnit, Xander! Why did you tell him? How do you know Spike won't - won't sell this to the highest bidder! Or - sell Dawn out to the Beast! You can't trust him -" Spike growled, and Xander's hands slipped off his duster as he lunged forward, straight into Buffy. His hands were like claws on her shoulders as he propelled her backwards, five or six stumbling steps and straight into the wall with a crash. Buffy shoved him back, hard, and he reeled back a step and then crouched there, demon snarling into her face.

"Fuck you, Slayer! Xander is mine, and anybody he claims as family is family to me, too. Dawn is like his sister, and I wouldn't hurt a hair on her head!"

Spike! Calm, back OFF Xander got up behind Spike and put his arm around the vampire's shoulders - tugged him back.

"C'mon, Spike - it's ok. Relax, ok?" Love you love you calm Buffy was still standing against the wall, her eyes narrowed at Spike. She looked over at Giles - looked back at Spike.

"Why didn't the chip zap you, Spike? That hurt, you shoving me into the wall. What's the deal?" She took a step towards them and Spike snarled at her. NO back OFF Xander got between them - put his hands up.

"Buffy -"

TELL from Spike, and Xander turned around and looked at him - put his hands up to Spike's face, oblivious to the rage and the fangs - trying to block Buffy out, and Giles as well, who was on his feet by the couch.

"Spike - I don't think -"

"It's time, love. Tired of all of this nonsense. Just - tell 'em." Please love tell safe Xander sighed - bowed his head for a brief minute. "Ok, Spike - ok. Fuck." He turned around. Buffy was rigid, her hands clenched into fists, her breath coming in sharp pants.

"Tell me what, Xander."

"The chip - doesn't work any more." Xander said.

"What?'" from Giles and:

"How long, Xander," from Buffy, deadly calm.

"Since - March."

"How - how did this - Xander, what is -" Giles sputtered, advancing on them.

"I can't believe it, Xander - I just can't. Why would you - why would you keep something like that a secret from us?" Buffy's eyes were wide and wet, but she was trembling all over and Xander was pretty sure she was trying hard not to just launch herself straight at Spike.

Calm from Spike and love you

Love you too

Protect pack the hyena was tense - ready to fight.

"Why do you think, Buffy? What was I supposed to do, tell you and then let you kill him? Or try to? Six months, Buffy. Six months and he's still fought for us, and helped us, and hasn't tried even once to hurt you - or anybody. He let you hit him. Six months, Buffy."

"How did it happen?" Giles asked. He stood beside Buffy, his mouth pressed into thin, angry line.

"Jack. He owed me for what I did - said he'd pay the debt, any time, I just had to call him. And - I did. He - did something to it. It's not even what it was, anymore."

"Xander..." Giles was shaking his head, looking tired again.

"Get out. Because I'm going to -"

"Stop it. Just stop it, Buffy!" Xander felt - something. An unaccustomed rage. He got up close to Buffy, trying not to yell - knowing he might, anyway. "You threatened his life when he couldn't even defend himself - you've hit him and belittled him and then expected him to help you, and he's done it. Done everything you asked - helped Giles, helped get Oz out, helped get Adam - he's been keeping the Hellmouth safe while you've been having your - your new college life and your boyfriend stuff and - and helping your mom and you don't get to do this anymore, Buffy! You don't get to threaten him any more." Xander had never shouted like that - had never felt so angry, and Buffy blinked in shock and took a step back. Giles was staring at him, and he closed his eyes for a brief moment.

Love you pet, beautiful MINE from Spike, fierce and warm and comforting.

"Xander, he's -"

"What is he, Buffy? You can't say 'soulless' 'cause that's not true. And you seem to forget that I can see him - I can feel him - everything he's thinking or doing. I know he's not out there murdering people every night. He told me so and I know it's true. He's mine and you won't touch him and you won't treat him like shit anymore." Xander stopped, breathing hard - jumped when Spike's hand slid up his arm and took his shoulder. He turned gratefully under the slight pressure and was folded into Spike's arms, into Leather, spice, smoke, mine my own love you strong arms and solid body, comfort and home

Lovely brave boy love you LOVE YOU

"M'not a boy," Xander grumbled softly, his face tucked into Spike's neck, and Spike chuckled softly.

"Course you're not." Spike kissed Xander's temple, and Xander felt the demon - felt the alien-ness of that face and nuzzled in deeper, not caring for a blissful moment what Buffy or Giles were doing.

"Xander -"

"You said you'd try, Buffy." Xander turned in Spike's embrace, his own arms under the duster and tight around the slim waist. "He's been - one of us, Buffy. Fighting the fight."

"But how can you - Ahhh!" Buffy made that frustrated noise, and held up her hand. "I know, I know. You can feel him. But I can't, Xander - how am I supposed to trust him?"

"Because you trust me, maybe? Because you know me and know that I wouldn't put you or Willow, or Dawn, or any of you in danger? If you can't trust Spike, can you trust me?" Buffy looked down at the floor for a long moment, and then her fists slowly unclenched and she smiled a small, sad smile at Xander.

"Yeah. I guess - I can trust you, Xander. Trusted you with my life before - I guess I can now. How about it, Giles?" The Watcher still looked angry, and he slowly shook his head.

"I'm not - happy with this. But six months - and the claim... Actions speak louder than words, Spike. If you - if you continue to show that you are in earnest with this - with helping us, then -"

"Then you'll what, Watcher? Condescend to notice me? I'm here for Xander, and him alone. I don't drain the lot of you because it would tear him apart. I don't let every demon in the Hellmouth carry on with their bloody stupid scheming because if the Hellmouth opens, Xander gets hurt. You getting it? You live or die on his say so, and no one else's. And the day you hurt him, you're fair game. No threats from you, Slayer, will ever change that. And there's sod-all you can do about it, unless you plan on dusting me. And I think you know what happens then."

"That wasn't nice," Xander said, into the stunned silence that followed. He scratched his nails slowly up and down Spike's t-shirt clad back.

"M'not a nice man, pet. You know that."

"I know that. Nice to me."

"Well, yeah." Spike grinned at him, demon-eyed, ivory-fanged. MY vampire love you always

"So - we've told our deep dark secrets. Are we gonna go get this demon what took out the Watcher or what?" Buffy was shaking her head, looking frustrated, and Giles sighed and wandered back to the couch, sitting down heavily.

"You don't make this very easy, Spike."

"I don't make it anything, Slayer - it is what it is. All you lot have to do is accept it." Xander pressed a kiss to Spike's lips and pulled slowly away, and the demon shivered and was gone.

Love love you nice now Spike grinned at him, eyebrow up, head to one side, and Xander had to laugh.

"Yeah, ok. Nice as the evil undead can be. Let's go demon-hunting, huh?"

"Don't mind if I do, pet,"

_________________________

The song on the radio is Missy Elliot - One Minute Man

21 Two

It ended up taking until dark to figure out which demon had attacked Giles, and by that time Riley and Oz and the girls were at the shop as well. Dawn was at the hospital with Joyce. Xander made a mental note to go by there later - maybe he and Spike could sneak in - and Spike laughed through the link.

See her every night and Xander looked up from the book he was paging through, staring at him.

You do?

Nice to me Spike sent a flurry of images - himself, slumped despondently over Joyce's work-top, telling her about Dru as Joyce sprinkled mini-marshmallows into his hot chocolate. Joyce offering a drink, the night he'd come to make a deal with Buffy, nodding in confused politeness when he'd told her she didn't have anything he fancied. And Joyce in the hospital bed, bandage on her temple, dark circles under her eyes. She and Spike talking - Spike fetching her ginger-ale and watching her fall into a restless sleep.

Dawn's mum. Watching out for her Xander blinked - smiled suddenly, and Spike smiled back at the Love you niiice vampire

"Sod off, you," Spike muttered, and Xander laughed.

"How do you get in?" he asked softly, and Spike closed the book he had been reading and groped for a cigarette.

"Cousin'a Clem's. That guy - got more family than the Queen Mum."

"Ah - Toth!" Giles exclaimed, and everyone looked up enquiringly. "Toth. Last surviving member of the Tothric clan. A very old and sophisticated line of demons."

"So, what, I discuss the latest fashions from Milan before I chop its head off?" Buffy asked.

"No, no - it simply means it is a tool-using demon. It will use a weapon of some sort instead of brute force." Giles shifted the book, pushing his glasses up on his nose. "Also, very focused. And, well - its focus is obviously -"

"Buffy. So, where does it hang out and how hard can I kill it?" Riley asked, standing up. Spike rolled his eyes and got up as well, heading over to the balcony stairs and settling half-way up, trailing smoke. Willow made exaggerated fanning motions with her hand, frowning.

"It doesn’t posit any particular lair, but I think that, considering its very strong olfactory presence, we'll have little trouble finding it."

"Huh?" Riley asked.

"It stunk," Giles said, and put his book down. "In a 'piles of refuse' sort of way."

Fuck. Trip to the city dump Xander looked mournfully down at this work boots. "I just got these, you know," he said, stretching his feet out towards Willow and Tara.

"Well, maybe you could - could tie plastic bags over your feet? Or - I could do a spell -" Willow rapidly ran through a number of possible spells under her breath as they got ready to go. Xander tried to ignore her, not particularly wanting his new work-boots to be turned into turtles or something. Tara, Willow and Anya were staying behind - they had volunteered to help get the shop ready for the Grand Opening if Giles would provide pizza and soda.

"Ah, a manly-man's outing!" Xander said, clapping his hands together. Buffy looked over at him, raising an eyebrow. "Well, ok, mostly manly with one very not-manly member."

"She's more manly than Captain Cardboard," Spike said, and Riley frowned at him.

"Look who's talking, fang-"

Buffy put her hand on his arm. "Let's just get going, ok, Riley? I need to get to the hospital before nine tonight."

Riley stared at her, then shrugged. "Sure, Buffy. Let's go." He took her hand and they walked out, Giles behind them.

Oz looked at Xander and Spike. What?

Knows about the chip from Spike, and a few images from that afternoon's discussion.

Oz nodded - grinned. "Hope he does something stupid," Oz said softly, and Spike laughed.

The dump did more than stink - it oozed - and Spike jumped over something gooey and greenish and pulled his duster a little tighter around his body.

"Fuck -" Xander did a little catch-step to avoid the same puddle and caught up, breathing through his mouth. Oz had morphed halfway to wolf then changed back, coughing.

"Think I'll just use my mostly-human senses this time," he wheezed. Buffy and Riley were disgusted as well, and Giles had put a handkerchief over his mouth and nose.

"What would make anybody, even a demon, hang out here?" Buffy kicked at an old paint-can and sent it hurtling over a drift of garbage bags. There was an "Ow!" and they all stared at one another.

"All right, come out come out, whatever you are, so I can -"

"Hey, Clem," Xander said to the shuffling figure that scooted out into plain sight. Buffy deflated a bit from her fighting stance, looking over at Xander quizzically.

"You know him?"

"Yeah - Clem did my satellite hook-up for the TV."

"Hey, Xander. And Spike! Wow, never thought I'd run into you here! And - and you must be Oz, got that whole 'wolf' aura' thing." The loose-skinned demon made little air-quotes, smiling at Oz. Oz nodded back. Spike snorted softly. "And - wow, could this be the Slayer? Wow - that's just amazing!" Buffy just stared, smiling feebly and doing a little wave.

"What're you doing out here, Clem?" Spike asked.

"Ah - finding some stuff, you know -" Clem rummaged in the shopping cart that was listing over beside him and pulled out a small lamp with glass-bead fringe. "I hope you don't mind, Spike, but your crypt's vacant again and, well, it's a prime piece of real estate so I kinda - I kinda moved in. Need to furnish it, you know?"

"Yeah? Bully for you, then. Have at it, with my blessing." Spike lit a cigarette and Xander moved into the smoke, looking slightly ill.

Stinks home want you Spike thought, and Xander moved a little closer, brush of warm hand on Spike's wrist.

Soon promise

"So - what brings you to the dump, Spike?"

"We're - we're looking for a demon. Tall, flowing robes, wielding a sort of stick-thing?" Giles said through the handkerchief.

"Oh? Oh! You mean - ah! Like that!" Clem ducked behind his shopping cart and as one the group whirled. Toth stood there, glowering. It raised its hand and bolt of energy crackled from the wand it was holding, exploding a bag of trash and pelting Clem with coffee grounds and potato peelings.

"Ah!" Clem grabbed his shopping cart and wrenched it upright - began to push it rapidly away.

"Jesus!" Xander was going into a crouch - Oz as well, eyes black, claws extending from the tips of his fingers. Spike tossed his cigarette aside and let the demon out. Toth raised its arm again, pointing the wand at Buffy. Spike grinned. Maybe he'll actually hit her. Neat! Giles was stumbling backwards, mouth open in shock. Riley was aiming his crossbow and Buffy was shifting into a fighting stance.

"Look out!" Riley, maybe? Buffy! from Xander, and he moved - shoved Buffy to one side. The energy bolt lanced into Xander, knocking him backwards, to the ground, and Spike roared, leaping at the demon. And - it was gone. Spike hit the ground and rolled upright, casting a wild look around.

"Xander!" Buffy recovered from the shove and scrambled towards Xander, Riley right behind her.

Love wake up XANDER Spike moved, fast - reached Xander just as Oz did. Spike stroked one hand down Xander's cheek, listening, scenting. Strong heartbeat, no blood, love, love wake up Gently, Spike shook Xander's shoulder. Buffy crowded in beside Oz, panting a little.

"Is he ok?" Spike snarled and Oz put his hand on Spike's shoulder, fear-scent and wolf-scent and pack safe Xander's eyes moved under their lids - fluttered open slowly. They flashed green - the hyena's eyes.

"Xander? Pet, you all right?" Xander blinked slowly - looked at Spike, at Oz - focused on Buffy.

NOT PACK slammed through the link so hard that Oz went halfway to wolf, growling, and Xander snarled and lunged at Buffy, knocking her back on her butt. Riley yelped and tried to catch her - went down on one knee behind her. Spike grabbed a handful of shirt and yanked, pulling Xander back a foot.

"What on earth -!" from Giles.

"Xander, what -" Safe love calm safe safe

Not pack not pack RIVAL hurt mine KILL it It was the hyena - purely the hyena - and Spike wrapped his arms around Xander's waist, hauling him back again as he made another attempt at Buffy and Riley.

"Xander, what is wrong with you!" Buffy scrambled to her feet, unconsciously shaking off Riley's helping hand. Oz moved fast, getting between her and Xander, who continued to struggle.

"That wand - it did something. He's not -" and calm calm calm from Oz.

Not pack drive it off kill it

"No, Xander, stop it." Spike yanked Xander back further - forced him around and held his head in his hands. The green-glimmering eyes were furious - eerie - and Spike brought the demon out.

Pack leader STOP Xander growled - literally growled - and Spike growled back, letting his hands slide down to Xander's shoulders - shaking him just a little.

"Stop it, Xander. No killing." Xander was shivering - panting a little - and he turned his head, his eyes narrowing, as Buffy took a step towards them. Not pack not pack not pack in a furious, frantic monotone.

"Slayer - stop! Wolfling's right - something happened. That bloody wand - he's not right."

"What do you mean? What - what's wrong, exactly?" Giles advanced as well, and Xander twitched away from him. A tiny whine rose from his throat and Oz eyed the other three - crowded close against Xander's back, half wolf and just as panicky.

"I dunno, Watcher. It's - only the hyena in here. I think. I'm not getting - anything else."

Xander, love - you there? Safe, you're safe, calm, calm, calm Xander's hands had crept up and were on Spike's arms now, pulling him close. Spike went easily, arm around his shoulder, tucking Xander's head into his neck. Spike's hand on Xander's throat, just enough pressure, prick of fingernails. Showing dominance. Reassuring the hyena that he was safe, in the pack. Oz pushed close, and Xander reached out and ran his hand over Oz's hair - quick caress that seemed to reassure him further.

"It's that spell -" Riley said, and Spike snarled - tightened his arm around Xander as Xander made an effort to go for Riley.

"It's not the spell, you wanker, it's that Toth - that wand. What's the bloody wand do, Watcher!"

"I hadn't - hadn't found that out yet," Giles said, and Spike hissed in frustration. Xander was growling again, his gaze going from Buffy to Riley to Giles, his body tense and quivering with fight/flight. Putting that impulse out so strongly into the link that Oz was losing control - sliding further into the wolf. Spike was fighting as well - desperately trying to keep the demon from taking over and joining Xander in protecting the pack - defending their territory. Trying not to jump onto these invaders - these humans - and rip them to bloody shreds. Xander would never, never get over that.

Calm calm safe now, pack is safe "Listen - Slayer - you get back, the three of you get back to the shop, find out what happened, what we have to do to fix it. I can't let him go - you're not part of the pack - none of you are - he's ready to attack you."

"What?" Buffy's voice was hard - furious, and she advanced three quick steps - froze when a sing-song wail quavered up from Oz, and the werewolf lost more humanity. Xander responded to that, letting loose the hunting shriek of the hyena and making Giles and Riley flinch.

"Watcher'll tell you - just go, before I lose control! We'll - fuck - we'll go find some fledges to kill; I'll see if we can wear him out and get him to the shop. Maybe he'll sleep. Just -" Xander lunged and Spike yanked him back, letting loose with a roar that froze all of them. He sank his fangs into Xander's throat and just held on, sending calm and safe and STOP as hard as he could, and finally he felt Xander's body relax under him - felt the incoherent muddle of rage and frustration and bloodlust that was coming from the hyena ease off into acceptance - into submission. He lifted his head, Xander's blood tingling through his mouth, and Buffy glared at him. Oz had wolfed out, and now stood stiff-legged, growling low in his throat, wolf's eyes flashing as green as Xander's, wolf fangs white and slavering in the faint light of the new moon. Giles looked grim - Riley mutinous, and Spike snarled silently at them.

"Fine, we'll go - why is Oz - we're going!" at Spike's warning hiss. "Come on guys, let's hurry." They jogged away, casting worried glances back over their shoulders, and Spike finally eased up - loosed his grip enough for Xander to step away, if he wanted to. He didn't. Oz came back to himself, shuddering. The full shift had shredded his clothes and he looked down ruefully at his naked self.

"Fuck Spike, he's - he's so strong, in the link, I couldn't..."

"S'okay, wolfling. Let's get out of here - place is gonna choke me. Let's go hunt vamps

"Yeah. Good idea. Damnit, I liked that shirt."

Hunt pack safe from Xander, and he bolted away, Spike and Oz on his heels.

Hours later and they were in the eastern-most cemetery in Sunnydale. They'd just ripped through a nest of five fledges - third nest of the night - and Xander seemed to be calm now. There was blood on his mouth - on his hands - and Spike had just barely kept him from trying to eat the last fledge, broken backed and gutted in the grass. Wouldn't like to remember THAT Spike thought, and they all sprawled down in the grass near the river, panting. There'd been various lone demons, as well - all in all, a good night for the pack, a bad one for Sunnydale's creatures of the night. Can only be good for the 'Master' reputation - a werewolf and a...werehyena? Something. They knew he wasn't all human. Oz went full wolf again and went to the water's edge, drinking, and Xander rose to follow. Spike grabbed him, pulling him back down.

"Maybe better not," he said, wondering if spell-bought longevity could keep Xander from a bout of Montezuma's Revenge. Who knew what got dumped into the river? Xander fell back easily, happily rolling into Spike - rolling onto him, and the faint tingle of arousal that had sifted through the link all night suddenly kicked up sharply.

Pack leader take Xander pushed his face into Spike's neck - licked there, then nipped gently at the claim mark. Spike shivered - rolled them both over again, pinning Xander to the cool, damp grass.

"Wanna, pet? You need to, don't you," he whispered, and Xander's eyes were wide and glowing - inhuman, beautiful.

"Ssspike," he whispered, want now me now

"Anything, love." Spike bent to kiss him - made it a long, slow kiss, leisurely exploring every inch of Xander's mouth. Tasting the blood there and licking it away. He didn't stop to think about it - this was pack, this was Xander, and there was no way he would refuse him. Just about couldn't, at this point. Their rampage through Sunnydale tonight had been...like old times. Only better, because he loved his hunting partners - trusted them - and knew they felt the same way about him. Very nearly paradise. 'Cept it can't be anything good, this. Damn Toth and damn the Watcher - you bloody well don't go on a hunt with only half the facts. Xander's hands were under the duster, fumbling at Spike's shirt - tearing it up the back. His fingers made fiery trails from shoulder blade to waist, nails scraping lightly.

Pack faintly, from Oz, and Spike lifted his head, a wave of extra arousal going through him as he caught site of Oz. The werewolf was crouched a foot away, naked, eyes wide and sheened silver in the moonlight. His mouth was wet - his hair - and he licked his lips, watching them.

"Wolfling - wanna...?" Oz ducked his head - leaned over, one hand flat on the grass. He kissed Spike - taste of almonds and rain, blood and magic. Beneath him, Xander squirmed, freeing a hand, and when Oz pulled back Xander's fingers were in his hair, tugging him down. Another kiss, equally long, and Spike couldn't help his hips moving, grinding down onto Xander; hard flesh and denim, friction making heat.

"Fuck, wolfling..." Spike whispered, and want mine pack from Xander. Oz pulled back, slowly.

"I gotta - this isn't for me, Spike. I'm gonna get some clothes, get to the Magic Box, see what they've found. You - come on in a bit? Gonna be light soon." Spike could smell the arousal coming off Oz - could scent something else, as well, and he caught Oz's hand, stopping him.

"What do you - don't understand, wolf." Oz licked his lips - glanced down at Xander, who was stroking Oz's thigh.

"What we did - it was good. It was..." Oz looked up, eyes searching for and finding the setting moon. Want "It helped. I feel - good, now. But I'm not part of this. It just - wouldn't work. Gonna find my own, you know? Gonna find somebody doesn't mind a little weirdness and bring him home to meet...my family." Love you pack please in the link, begging for understanding. And Spike did understand. Understood completely. He reached up and trailed his fingers gently through Oz's hair - the indigo a little faded now - and smiled. Knew it would come to this. His choice. Doesn't change anything.

"Yeah. Love you We'll be there in a while." Oz nodded - grinned suddenly, and then was the wolf, muzzle pointing to the moon and a howl wavering out. Xander joined him, raucous ululation, and Oz spun and was gone love you love you fading into silence. Spike looked after him for a moment - looked down at Xander. Hair ink-black in the moonlight, long strands webbed across his face and throat. Luminescent eyes, lips swollen. Beautiful boy my own LOVE you Spike bent down for another kiss, but after a moment Xander was wiggling out from beneath him, pushing the duster off Spike's shoulder and yanking at the shredded t-shirt.

Skin taste you want pack pack

"Yeah," Spike breathed, uncaring that someone - anyone - could see them. He got boots and jeans off, Xander's hands everywhere, and had to push him flat to the ground, straddling his hips to get Xander's work boots off. Xander's fingernails scratched up his back - sank into his hips, and Spike's hands were shaking. He swung off - pushed Xander down again and popped open the button on his jeans - got the zipper down and then Xander was pushing at jeans and underwear, wiggling out of them, pulling his shirt off and launching himself at Spike. Spike let himself fall flat in the grass, the cool stems tickling deliciously along his sides - between his thighs.

Want want pack want mine from Xander, without pause and without thought - the hyena at it's most basic. Xander tasted, every inch, licking in broad strokes and tiny dabs along hips and thighs, belly, ribs, chest. He sank his face into the crease of Spike's thigh - nuzzled further, and Spike hissed in delight as Xander took his cock in his mouth, licking slowly up and down the length, pulling the head in and sucking. Spike could feel the head of Xander's cock pushing into his thigh - felt the coolness from the moisture that trailed there, and he sat up - scooted out from under Xander and got behind him. Xander knelt there, his hands fisted in the grass, and Spike got him up, hands and knees. Kissed and licked his way down Xander's back, feeling the quivering of tense muscles. He let his tongue trail down, between Xander's buttocks and Xander whimpered, thrusting back, spreading his legs wider. Spike teased his tongue along the warm, damp skin - sucked Xander's balls into his mouth for a moment and then moved back up, pressing in lightly, lightly. Xander leaned back, a breathy moan coming from him, and Spike pushed his tongue in hard, stabbing in as deep as he could. He gripped the heavy muscles of Xander's thighs in his hands, pulling his legs wider, pushing deeper, and Xander was panting now, making a growling encouraging noise, hips rolling and bucking under Spike's mouth.

Now now now in the link, flashing image of Spike, up on the balls of his feet and thrusting in, and Spike gasped.

"Fuck, yeah -" mine Spike crouched behind the mortal - made a small slit in his palm with a sharp nail. Blood wasn't the best lubricant, but it was better than nothing. They'd used up the small tube he'd had in the duster last week. He caressed himself, slicking the blood over his cock and then got up behind Xander - pushed in, quickly, before the drying blood got too tacky. Pushed into grasping heat, slick and tight. Xander moaned, arching into him, the rough, rapid pace exactly what the hyena wanted. Spike balanced himself, his thighs on either side of Xander's hips and thrust hard, feeling that place in Xander's body rub over the tip of his cock - feeling Xander shudder around him, muscles quivering with strain and Want hard want

"Fuck...so hot, love..." Spike could smell the sharp green smell of grass as Xander's hands tore at the blades beneath them. The ground was damp - muddy - and the wet-earth smell was thickening as they both furrowed the ground. The summer air was like a warm blanket across his back, Xander like living fire, and Spike pounded harder, his right hand leaving bloody smears along Xander's ribs, both hands gripping tight enough to bruise. Xander pushed back, his legs going somehow wider, a whimper building in his throat, ratcheting up to gasping cries.

Yours yours TAKE now and Spike brought one hand around to Xander's cock, stroking furiously, and he leaned over and morphed.

MINE mine always and Xander arched his head to one side. Spike sank his fangs in, growling, and the scalding jet of semen across his hand was enough to bring Spike's own orgasm; they shuddered together, mindless rhythm. Xander howled, and Spike drank blood awash with love and magic and pack, tasting of salt and sweet and Xander. When it was over, they both sprawled in the grass, panting, and Xander rolled over and nuzzled in close, the link a warm, wordless haze of love and contentment.

Love you Spike stroked Xander's sweat-slippery back, breathing deeply of their mingled scents. Xander caught Spike's hand in his and slowly licked the still-bleeding cut on his palm - closed his eyes and made a sound almost like a purr, the blood bright on his lips. Away towards the river a bird called - insistent cheetcheetcheet of a goldfinch - and Spike sighed.

"C'mon, pet, time to head back. Sun's coming up."

Love you sleep from Xander, and Spike sat up - stood up - dislodging Xander and making him sound a half-hearted growl.

"Fuck." Spike looked down at himself - mud, grass, blood - and Xander wasn't any better. Spike looked out at the river - sighed again.

"C'mon." Bath He pulled Xander up by his arm and dragged him down to the river's edge. The water was frigid around his ankles and Spike hesitated for one second - plunged ahead, pulling Xander along behind. They waded in, Xander struggling to escape, the current pushing strongly at their legs. When the water was up to Spike's thighs, he turned and let Xander go. Xander had been pulling back hard, growling, and when Spike let go he flailed for a moment then went down, going completely under.

Cold COLD! and Xander surged up, straight into Spike, knocking him back. They both went under that time and Spike was glad he didn't need to breathe - he didn't think he could have, with the cold constricting his chest and making him shudder all over.

Cold It sounded mournful this time, and when Spike got to his feet and pulled Xander up, the human's teeth were chattering and he was looking a bit blue around the edges.

"I know. M'sorry, pet, but we needed to clean up." Spike scrubbed at dried blood and mud - plucked leaves out of Xander's hair and then pushed him towards the shore. "Clean enough." Clothes

Xander waded ashore and stood shivering, his arms clenched tight around his ribs and his hair running little streams down his back and chest. He looked utterly miserable and Spike cast around for his ripped t-shirt.

"Come on now, love, let me fix you up." Spike used the t-shirt as a towel, rubbing briskly, and after a few minutes Xander was mostly dry and his shivering had eased up. Spike had him lean over so he could wring out his hair, and then he swept up Xander's clothes and pushed them into his arms.

"Get dressed, pet - gotta get going." Spike dried himself as best he could with the now wet t-shirt and then yanked on jeans and socks and boots. He picked up his duster and brushed grass off it.

Home tired hungry Xander was leaning against a tree, eyes shut, and Spike agreed with him completely.

"Me too, pet," home soon love you "C'mon, time to see if the Watcher can fix this. Let's run, Xander - warm us up." Xander pushed away from the tree - lifted his head as if scenting. Not pack

"That's most of the world, love." Wolfling he sent, and an image of the Magic Box, and Xander yipped quietly and trotted up the slope to the cemetery proper - broke into a run, and Spike ran with him, shoulder to shoulder. Above them, the sky was paling towards sunrise; frail green and gossamer yellow, streaked with wisps of clouds. The goldfinch called again, chasing them away.

They burst in through the doors of the Magic Box, panting a little, thoroughly warm - straight into a fight. The demon stood in the midst of the shop, grappling with Buffy. Tara and Willow were holding hands, chanting something, and there seemed to be a sort of cloud of pinpricks of light around the demon's head, distracting it. It was shaking its head, blinking - half blind from the spell. Oz was in the midst of a leap, landing squarely on the demon's back, claws shredding. Riley was on the floor, at an awkward angle against a bookshelf, and Giles was helping him up. Xander growled Pack and threw himself forward, crashing into the demon's legs. As they fell, Oz scrambled free and whirled around, ready to dive back in. Buffy kicked the demon in the throat, making it writhe and gag,

"Sword!" Anya yanked a sword down from a rack behind the counter and tossed it awkwardly to Buffy, who caught it and brought it down hard, through Toth's chest. An ear-piercing shriek reverberated out of the demon and it clawed at the sword - went limp, dead. Xander sidled up close to Oz, leaning into him - put his face down into Oz's hair, scenting, reassuring himself.

Wolf safe pack

"Well, that was neat," Spike said, and pulled out a cigarette. Blood was pooling out from under the demon's body and Buffy wrinkled her nose, stepping away.

"Riley, you ok?" she asked, going over to where Giles had him propped up.

"Sure, Buff. Just - whacked my head a little. Mr. Giles says I'm fine." Giles nodded, a little smile on his face, and Buffy smiled back.

"Wow - ok. Great spell guys, by the way," Buffy said to Willow, hauling Riley to his feet and guiding him to a chair. He slumped there, holding his head.

"Yeah - that was cool, wasn't it? Like a swarm of bees!"

"Well, it is called 'Swarm of Bees'," Anya said, coming out from behind the counter. She eyed the various books, statues, and miscellaneous paraphernalia that had been strewn around in the fight and sighed. "And everything was perfect, too, before that jerk came in, wand all blasting."

"Speaking of wands -" Giles looked around, and Spike strode over - scooped the wand up from where it lay half under a display shelf.

"This thing? Think it only works for Toth?" Spike pointed it at Buffy, who flinched.

"Spike -"

"Ah, don't worry, Watcher - I won't fry your Slayer." Spike swung the wand casually, moving over to where Xander and Oz were still standing. Xander pressed up against him, looking distrustfully at the others.

"You figure out what this did to Xander?"

"Yes, actually, we did. It seems the wand is a 'ferula gemina'. It splits a person into two halves - separating various aspects of their personality. I think what Toth wanted to do was separate Buffy into a 'Slayer' Buffy and a - a 'Not-Slayer' Buffy. Then, he would kill the weaker of the two. If one dies, they both die." Spike raised his eyebrow - looked at the wand.

"What I wouldn't have given to have this little gimcrack," he murmured. "Catch." He tossed it towards Buffy, who snatched it out of the air and held it, frowning.

"You mean - you don't wanna - use it?" Buffy rolled her eyes. "What am I saying?" Spike shrugged - took a long drag and hugged Xander a little closer.

"Nah. I don’t need a magic wand to take you on, Slayer."

Hungry tired go home Xander slumped against him, eyes half-shut.

"Soon, love," Spike said, smoothing his hand through Xander's still damp hair. "So - if this makes two of someone - where's the other Xander?"

"Well - it didn't say, exactly, how it makes two, so he could be - anywhere. We know he's not dead 'cause - this Xander is still here, but..." Willow looked anxious, and she and Tara sat down at the lighted table, shoving some books aside. "We were gonna do a locator spell, just before -" Willow gestured to the dead Toth, grimacing.

"Well, let's get on with it. Might be Xander - the other one - is in some kinda trouble or something." Spike pulled Xander close to him, doing his best to lock down the fear that threatened to swamp him. Xander - another one, some aspect of this one, something - had been out on the damn Hellmouth all night, alone.

Why can't I hear him? Why isn't he calling? Oh fuck, fuck...

Calm safe from Oz, even though the werewolf looked a bit freaked, as well. Tara was gathering some herbs into a small bowl when suddenly the bell jangled and Dawn burst into the shop - towing a disheveled, frightened-looking Xander behind her.

"Dawn!" Buffy hurried forward, and Xander took one look at Spike and threw himself forward, arms going around the vampire's naked waist, head buried in Spike's neck.

"Xander, love -" Safe safe safe

"Oh god, Spike, god, I'm - I'm s-so glad you're here, I thought -" Xander gulped - coughed. His voice was thick with tears. "I can't hear you, I can't hear Oz, I thought you were - I thought you were all dead, I woke up in the dump and everybody was gone, I thought - Spike, Spike -"

"Shhh, love, shhh, I've got you now, you're safe - we're all safe, got you now..." Spike wrapped his arms around the new Xander, holding him tight, stroking his hands through the human's hair, trying to soothe the shivering body. Oz tugged the old Xander close, trying to distract him.

"Dawn, what's going on? Where did - what happened?" Everyone crowded around Dawn, who looked pleased with her sudden importance.

"I just woke up and somebody was knocking and I thought maybe you'd forgotten your key, Buffy, so I came downstairs and it was Xander. He was really freaked out - he kept babbling about everybody being dead, and -" Dawn took a shaky breath and Buffy put her arm around her sister's shoulders, hugging her close.

"Anyway, I tried to call his house and nobody answered, and then I called here and it was busy, and he was getting really - upset - so I thought we should just come down here." She leaned into Buffy - looked down at the floor. "Eewww!" Is that blood? Is it - dead?" Buffy's eyes went wide and she tugged Dawn away from the dead Toth. Spike heard what Dawn said, but concentrated on the Xander shuddering in his arms.

Love safe now safe love you Xander didn't respond, and Spike gently put his hand under his chin - lifted his head up and looked into bloodshot, teary eyes.

"You can't hear me at all - even now?"

"No! I can't hear - either of you. And I know you can't hear me or you would have - God, it's - I hate it, Spike. Can you - can you fix it?" he whispered, and Spike hugged him close.

"Course I can, love. Well, I think the witches can, or the Watcher. They know what to do. Right?" Spike glared over at the group clustered around the table, and Giles took off his glasses, polishing them sketchily on his shirt-tail.

"Yes, we know what to do - it's a simple spell, really, to reunite them. We just need to make a circle - Riley, Buffy, help me clear a place, and Willow, you look up the proper sigil, will you please? In the 'Crawford's Demonica', I believe." As they swung into action, Spike gently tugged at Xander, and they sank to the floor. The new Xander didn't let go his death-grip on Spike, and the old one crouched down with Oz, studying his twin with a bewildered expression. He reached out and hesitantly touched the new Xander's cheek - ran grubby fingers through his hair. The Xander in Spike's arms shivered and looked up - smiled tremulously at his double.

"Wow. It's kinda - kinda weird, to see me like that. I look like that? It's - different than in a mirror."

"Yeah, you look like that, only usually much cleaner. He - you - were a bit...messy, tonight."

Mine pack me...pack? The old Xander seemed puzzled - a little afraid - and Oz settled down cross-legged, tugging him down with him, arm around his shoulder.

"Yeah, that's you, Xander. It's ok - we'll fix this soon." Oz rubbed the tense shoulder under his hand, trying to soothe the hyena. The old Xander leaned against him, sighing, struggling to keep his eyes open.

Love you Spike thought, directing it at Xander and Oz, and he pressed a soft kiss to his Xander's temple. "Love you. We'll get this fixed - get home soon. No work for you today, pet."

"Oh - it's ok. Before we left the house I called his boss. X-xander was all worried about missing work so I told him he was sick. He seemed really nice." Dawn came up the stairs, skirting widely around the demon corpse. She hesitated, then sat down across from the little group on the landing. The old Xander lifted his head marginally, scenting her, then relaxed.

Pack pretty he thought muzzily, and Oz laughed.

"What?" Dawn asked, looking a little upset.

"Nothing, Dawn - I'm sorry. Just - Xander said - this Xander - " Oz hugged his Xander a little. "He thinks of you as part of our pack. And - he said you were pretty."

"Oh. Oh?" Dawn looked confused for a minute and then grinned. "This is so cool! I never get to be around for the really interesting stuff! Now this! And a couple weeks ago I helped Buffy in a Slayer-related cover-up, when we didn't tell mom she got staked. I could so go on patrol!" Oz grinned at her, and Spike rolled his eyes - looked around for someplace to put out his cigarette. He finally ground it out on the sole of his boot and shoved the butt into his pocket. Gotta remember to get those things out of there. Pockets are gettin' gritty. Hurry up, Watcher - my boy needs to go home

"Maybe you should learn some moves before you try patrolling, Bit," Spike said, and Dawn frowned at him.

"Moves?"

"Yeah - you know - some kicks and things. Don't want to go down to the first vamp that pops up."

"Oh." Dawn crossed her arms, looking disappointed. "Buffy'll never teach me anything. She says I should just stay home safe."

"She's your big sister, Dawn, that's her job, to thwart you." The new Xander smiled at Dawn and snuggled a little closer to Spike. "I'll teach you some stuff if you want, though." Dawn brightened.
"Really? You mean that?"

"Sure, Bit. We all can. After all, you saved the day here, bein' so quick to get my boy down here - takin' care of him an' all."

"He was just - you were so scared, is all," Dawn said softly, and the new Xander shivered a little.

"I'm - I'm alone in here." He pointed at his head. "I haven't been that way for - a long time. It's... scary. Scary not being able to hear S-spike, or Oz or...myself. I hate it." His voice cracked a little, and Spike hugged him close.

"It's all right love, nearly over," Spike whispered. Dawn reached out and patted the new Xander's knee, smiling gently at him. Over by the training-room door, Giles climbed to his feet, chalk in hand, and surveyed the large sigil he had sketched on the floor. Willow stood nearby with a book in her hands.

"Is that it?" Giles asked, and she looked down at the book.

"Yup - perfect. Time to do the spell. Guys? You ready?"

"Past ready," Spike said, and he got up, pulling the new Xander up with him, reaching down and catching the old Xander's hand and pulling him up as well.

"C'mon then, let's do this. You two - hold on to each other." Oz stood as well, and the new Xander took his double's hand - looked inquiringly at Willow.

"What - what do we have to do?"

"Just stand in the center, and I'll say the words. It's a really simple spell. You both want to be together, and all the energy from the wand is working to keep you apart. All I have to do is dispel it and you'll go back together naturally."

"You sure, Red?" Spike asked, following his Xanders over to the chalk design. Oz and Dawn stood on the steps, watching.

"I'm sure, Spike. Don't - don't worry about it. Wow. It's really amazing!" Willow was studying her friend closely, and Spike stifled a growl. The old Xander had no such inhibitions and he snarled at her, pulling his twin close.

"Why is he -"

"You're not pack, Red. He doesn’t trust you. The hyena doesn't."

"Oh. He doesn't? But - but Xander and I are friends!"

"The hyena isn't Xander...not really." Spike said, watching the new Xander maneuver himself and his double into the center of the sigil. Just Xander without a conscious. Xander - as a vampire, almost. Lovely boy Spike grinned a little to himself, thinking of that.

"Are you sure you want to do this, Spike? I mean - look at them! Imagine the possibilities, two of them, in bed..." Anya trailed off thoughtfully, eyeing the two, and Spike raised a smirk for her, eyebrow going up.

"Well now, that is a very...attractive idea. Hadn't thought of that." He completely ignored the various groaning and/or disgusted noises coming from Buffy, Riley, and Giles. He grinned over at the two, then shook his head at the terrified look that was coming over the new Xander's face. "But I want my own back, all in working order. The hyena's too -wild - to be out without Xander keepin' him in check." The new Xander relaxed marginally, and Spike ground his teeth in frustration, hating that he couldn't reassure him through the link.

"It really is incredible," Riley said from his chair. "Don't you just want to lock them in separate rooms and do experiments?" The room was silent, everyone staring at him, and Spike stalked over to the ex-soldier and let the demon out to snarl straight into Riley's face.

"Don't even fuckin' think it, you bastard. Nobody touches my boy." Riley flinched away - looked angry at himself.

"Just thinkin' out loud, there. Back off."

"Fuckin' tosser," Spike hissed, and shrugged away from the restraining hand Buffy put on his arm. He marched grimly over to Willow, fighting to get the demon under control. He finally pushed it away, human again, and Willow swallowed and shifted minutely away from him.

"C'mon and do it, Red - past time."

"R-right, ok. No problem." She cleared her throat nervously - shut the book and concentrated briefly. "Let the spell be ended." The Xanders shimmered, as if they were under water, and Spike felt a moment of vertigo. And then they were one, and Spike?

Love you love you safe now

Thank GOD love you Oz love you Spike took two long strides and had Xander in his arms, the human holding him so tight it was a good thing the vampire didn't need to breathe.

"Shhh, love, it's all right now." Safe safe got you love you and Love you from Oz.

"Well. I, for one, am glad that this is over." Giles yawned, covering his mouth, and looked bleakly around the store. "I have to clean this up. I've put up flyers - the Grand Opening is today and really, I can't delay it any longer." The older man rubbed at his eyes under his glasses, and Dawn bounced down the steps.

"I can help you, Giles - I don't have to be to school for another hour, and my first period is study hall, anyway, I can miss it. Let me help, please?"

"Dawn -" Buffy said, then her shoulders slumped in defeat at the look of pleading Dawn turned on her. "Ok, just this once. You did really good with the - with Xander. I guess you can if you promise to go straight to school when it's time."

"Aren't you gonna be here?" Buffy yawned, covering her mouth.

"I'm gonna go see mom, and then...I've got some stuff I've got to do on campus. You'll be ok here with Giles."

"And me. I may as well stay - no clients today." Anya picked up a book with half the pages crushed and vainly tried to smooth them flat. Spike looked over at Oz, running soothing hands up and down Xander's back.

Love you love you never leave in the link, insistent and heartbreaking, and he just wanted to be home.

"Ready to go, wolfling?"

"Yeah - I brought the van. I'll drive you guys home and then -" Oz looked around the shop. "I'm workin' today, so - I'll be home later."

"Sorry, Giles, but Tara and I both have classes this afternoon, so I think we're gonna go home and get a nap in before class. We'll be back over as soon as we're done - to help with the rush." Giles looked at her. "I'm sure there'll be a rush! Especially if you wear your wizard hat!" Buffy snickered and Giles looked affronted.

"I don't think -" Giles started, and Spike tugged gently at Xander - got him walking towards the door and Oz's van. As they went up the steps, there was a light touch at his arm. Spike looked over to see Tara, proffering his blanket.

"I thought you m-might need this," she said softly, and Spike smiled at her.

"Thanks, Glinda. And - tell Red thanks for me too, ok? For both of us."

"Sure, Spike." Tara handed over the blanket - gave Spike an enquiring look. "Uh, Spike?"

"Yeah?"

"What happened t-to your shirt?" Spike looked down at himself reflexively - grinned at her.

"Oh - that. You really wanna know?" He raised an eyebrow suggestively, doing his best come-hither look, and Tara blushed and backed up a step.

"Oh - uh, n-no, I guess I don't really wan-wanna know. Bye!" She turned and scurried back down the steps and Spike hugged Xander close, swinging the blanket around them both.

Love you always safe safe home he thought, including Oz, and the three of them walked out into the sunlight, going home.