His Worth

Xander didn’t know where else to go or what else to do. It was different when Spike was alone, he could always go there to crash and hide from Angel when needed but now that he was at Buffy’s place, Xander wasn’t sure how she would take it if he showed up in the state he was in. He didn’t have any other option though so he took the bus to the closest drop point neat Buffy’s place and walked, well rather limped the rest of the way trying to ignore the stares of passerby’s taking in his beaten and bloodied form. Angel had gone out and smashed Spike’s Desoto all up after he got through with Xander so he couldn’t drive it back to Buffy’s.

Buffy was up at the crack of dawn, making breakfast, the one meal she actually could cook and getting ready for work. She had let Spike sleep, knowing he was exhausted from last night and needed it.
As she was sipping her coffee and reading the morning paper, she heard a soft knock at the side door.
Xander figured fewer eyes could see if he went to the side instead of the front.
Buffy opened the door and gasped seeing the state Xander was in. He had two black eyes, a swollen lip, his nose appeared to be broken, and blood was encrusted all over him.
“Oh my God! Xander! Are you O.K.? What happened?” she questioned him
“I’m sorry Buffy. If you don’t want me here, I’ll leave. I understand but I didn’t know where else to go and I really need to talk to Spike.” Xander mumbled through his swollen fat lip.
“Come in. Right now! Of course you can come here. I’ll go wake up Spike and get my first aid kit.” Buffy informed him.
Buffy walked to the bedroom to find Spike sitting up on the edge rubbing his eyes and yawning.
“Hey luv, damn but you get up early. Not used to that, being a night person and all” he commented.
“Spike, Xander is here. He needs to talk to you and before you go out there you should know that someone hurt him. He is all beaten up. Oh my God, Spike, I’ve never seen someone in such bad shape. I told him I’d get the first aid kit.” Buffy explained.
“Angel” Spike said with venom. “I’ll kill that bastard.” Spike swore.
He got up and donned his sweats and a t-shirt and went out to find Xander while Buffy retrieved the first aid kit from the bathroom.
“Spike!” Xander said as he entered the kitchen.
“Jesus, mate, bloody fucking ‘ell, I’m gonna kill that wanker. Rip his head off with my bare hands!” Spike vented
“Spike...man...there’s something I gotta tell you. Please don’t be mad at me. Angel kinda fucked your car all up, man. I had to take the bus here. I’m so sorry.” Xander was
on the verge of tears.
“Rip him apart limb by limb…Angel is a dead man. Mark my words” Spike was still ranting.
“Ain’t worried bout the car, Xan. Not your fault. That why he did this cause you were with me?” Spike asked already knowing the answer to his own question.
Xander nodded and looked down.
Buffy came back with the first aid kit. “Here we go…let’s get you fixed up” she said to Xander. “I bet you could use some breakfast too. I can make you an omelet while Spike cleans and bandages your wounds, how does that sound?” Buffy smiled at him.
Xander had never met anyone, besides Spike who was so nice to him. He shyly smiled back and accepted the offer.
“Come sit over here, whelp” Spike said taking out disinfectant, cotton balls and bandages from the kit.
Xander moved to sit down and when he did he winced in pain as his bottom hit the seat and his back hit the back of the chair. He stood back up.
Spike saw red. He went over and turned Xander around, stripping off his jacket and shirt to inspect him. Huge bloody welts crisscrossed his back.
“Bloody fucking ‘ell” Spike gasped.
He looked further down and then noticed since it was no longer covered by his jacket, the red blood stains covering the underside of his bottom and upper thighs. It was obvious Angel had done more to Xander than just beat his face in. He had bled from his rectum clear through his pants.
Buffy gasped behind the two men seeing the evidence for herself. She felt nauseated. How could one person do this to another. Her heart went out to Xander.
Spike had tears of rage in his eyes. “Come on, Xan…let’s take you to the shower. Gonna take more than a few cotton balls to clean you up. I got some clean clothes you can wear too.” Spike started to lead Xander away.
“Shouldn’t we…like call the police or something?” Buffy spoke up.
“Right, you think those pigs give a shit about somelikelike Xander. Getting raped and beat by your pimp isn’t a high priority case for them. In fact, it’s not a priority at all.”
“But...what he did, it’s illegal…you can’t just…” Buffy trained off at Spike’s look for her to can it as Xander was already so embarrassed and uncomfortable.
“It’s O.K. Buffy. Not like it isn’t the first time. My dad used to do it too.” Xander admitted with shame.
“Just leave it alone, Buffy. I’ll take care of him. You better get to work before you’re late.” Spike said and helped Xander to the bathroom leaving Buffy standing in the kitchen alone.

Hank had pulled up to Buffy’s place early that morning hoping to confront her before she left for work. He saw a bloodied man walk to the side of her apartment and he got out of his car and followed him. Hiding in the bushes he overheard Xander and Buffy’s conversation. Once the boy was inside, he crept up to the kitchen window which was half way open and proceeded to listen to what was taking place inside.
Not only did Buffy have that hooligan Spike in there with her but now she had some beaten up faggot whore as well. Jesus Christ. Had he not raised her better than this? Joyce would be rolling over in her grave by now he thought.
He silently made his way back to his car and took off before Buffy could come out to leave for work. His destination was Wyndham Pryce’s office. Guess he still needed his services after all. He detested the know it all British stiff but he was the best at what he did. He wanted to find out who this Xander character was and Spike had mentioned the name, Angel. It appeared this Angel hated Spike and Spike felt likewise. Perhaps Hank could strike a deal with Angel and then he could be rid of Spike for good and get Buffy back to his good little girl.
He would have to play it cool for awhile and not let on to Buffy that he knew anything was up. “I’m only doing this for your own good, Buffy. Any other father would do the same” he thought as he drove to see Wes.

Giles looked up Buffy’s number in the phone book. He made three attempts before gathering the courage to dial the number. He hoped she could tell him where William lived and his number. He didn’t expect to get William himself on the line at Buffy’s.
Spike was sitting on the bed waiting for Xander to finish showering when the telephone rang. Buffy hadn’t told him not to answer it and he wasn’t really thinking too clearly now anyway.
“ ‘ello!” Spike said into the receiver.
“William, it’s Dadme Gme Giles voice on the other end. “What are you doing there? Do you and Xander live with Buffy?” he asked.
Spike knew he was going to have to have a confrontation with his father sooner or later but now just wasn’t the time, what with the Xander mess and all.
“Yeah something like that. Can’t talk now Rupert, ta”
“Please…William! Don’t hang up. And stop calling me Rupert. I am your father whether you like it or not.” Giles said with frustration.
“I’ll stop calling you Rupert when you stop calling me William” Spike retorted.
Giles took a deep breath. “Son, we need to talk. Please just hear me out. I love you. I want to be a part of your life. Can’t we make amends?” Giles pleaded.
“Not a good time, need to go help Xan in the shower” Spike absently said not thinking about his words.
“Look son, I can accept you’re a homosexual but there is no need to flaunt the details at me.” Giles told him.
Spike rolled his eyes; Christ his dad was so gullible.
“Can we at least agree to meet, sometime?” Giles inquired.
“Yeah…uhh...why don’t you call back later after Buffy gets home? Don’t feel right inviting people over to her place without her knowing, right?” he explained to his dad.
“O.K. son, I will call this evening. Thank you for giving me a chance. I’ve missed you so much. You know I didn’t mean it when I told you not to come back. I was just so angry.” Giles told him.
“Yeah, whatever...look, Dad gotta go. Talk later.” And with that he hung up the phone.
Giles beamed. William had actually called him Dad.
Xander called out for Spike and he went to the bathroom. He helped apply some antibiotic cream to Xander’s welts, cuts and scrapes and bandaged them all the best he could. He rummaged through Buffy’s linen closet and found a package of feminine napkins and told Xander to wear one over his behind in case some blood was still leaking out. Spike didn’t make a big deal out of it as to try and not humiliate Xander anymore than he already was. He gave him some boxers, sweats and a t-shirt in the largest size he owned which still on Xander’s larger frame clung tightly to his body but at least they fit.
When they got back out to the kitchen, Buffy was already gone but she had left an omelet warming on a hot plate for Xander.
Spike watched Xander scarf his food down. He always ate like he would never eat again. It amazed Spike. Guess he figured he didn’t know from day to day where his next meal was coming from so he ate like it was his last.
It suddenly occurred to Spike how through all the abuse Xander had endured through out his life at the hand’s of his father, Angel and johns how he was always still the first with a joke or a smile, always treating other’s with respect and kindness. Hell he even treated the men who hurt him with respect. He was always defending Angel and his dad.
Spike started to feel like a heel. For 13 years he had blamed his father for his mother’s death and for 11 years he had shut him out of his life. Rupert had been an excellent father. He loved his son and tried so hard especially after Jenny had died. He had never touched his son in anger, save the night Spike left, he had never abused him or touched him inappropriately and he had a loving marriage with Jenny. And what did Spike do, he threw it all away for some chit that ended up just about killing him and who never really loved him. Oh god, Spike thought, what did I do? What have I done? Compared to Xander’s father and Buffy’s father, Rupert Giles was a great father. He was a great father NOT compared to them. There was no comparison. So he made some mistakes. Every parent does. But so had Spike and for the first time, Spike realized it was time to be a man and admit that. He loved and missed his father.
“I love my dad” Spike thought not realizing he had spoken out loud.
Xander looked at him quizzically. “Spike, you alright?”
“Yeah. I believe I am. Xan.” Everything was going to be alright now, Spike thought for the first time in years.

A/N: Thank you all for the lovely reviews. Coming Soon: Chapter 12-Three's Company