Breaking away

((Sorry it took so long. The beginning was being stubborn. Took me a bit to get through that. It's a bit bigger then usually though. loll. I just wanted to thank everyone for the great reviews so far. It really keeps me going, knowing that people out there are actually reading and enjoying my work.))

Spike was curled up on Angel's lap as the others settled around the couch where they were seated. Dawn settled herself on the ground before them, leaning her head on Spike's leg. Obviously wanting his closeness. The two witches had settled into the love seat across from them while the watchers took the two chairs left. Gunn stood with his back to the wall to the side. His arms crossed in front of them as he waited patiently.

Everyone seemed to stare at the two vampires as Angel cuddled his childe close. Spike himself refused too look at the others. Instead preferring to study his nails. His face was bruised in several places already. "I thought you hated each other." Willow started. The oppressive silence obviously getting to her. Spike snorted. "Do you always get on with your family?" Angel raised an eyebrow at her. "Let's just say I handled things rather badly once I was cursed and Spike didn't react well to that. But I never hated Spike. And I doubt he ever really hated me. He was however rather angry at me. As he had every right to be."

Spike's eyes widened slightly and looked up at Angel. Something in his gut eased at the admission and his shoulders lost a bit of tenseness. "So what's the deal with you going all Angelus?" It seemed Dawn had decided to play up the attitude. "Is your losing it's grip?" Asked Giles sharply. "Angelus has always been here Giles. The soul doesn't suppress the demon. I do. It is just that Angelus and I don't agree on most things so up until now I repressed him. Completely. But if there is one thing we do agree on right now, it is Will. He is family and he will come first from now on." Spike had stiffened again. His expression stunned.

"You can't be serious. He doesn't have a soul. Without the chip..." Giles interrupted angrily. "He would still not harm any of my employee's. And I have no doubt he would at least stop feeding from humans that are not involved in serious criminal activities if I asked him if he would not be willing to stop feeding from humans altogether while he is staying here. Which is why I have been searching for people that can remove the chip."

"YOU WHAT!!!" Giles jumped from his seat and Spike flinched away from the noise. His face paled slightly as he looked at his Sire with a vulnerable gaze. He could not believe his sire was going to help him. His sire was really going to make it all ok, again. "It isn't any of your business Giles. Spike will be staying here in L.A. I suggest you stop concerning yourself with things that aren’t any of your business and start concerning yourself with your slayer and how to keep her out of my city." Giles gaped at him for a second, his jaw trying to work. "You really mean it?" Spike asked in a small voice. "'Course we do Will m'lad. Not gonna leave my boy defenceless again." Angelus slipping through as he kissed his childe's forehead and ruffled his hair affectionately.

Spike sighed as he was pulled in for a hug and leaned his head on his grandsire's shoulder. Things were finally going to be ok again. He never would have believed the poof if he had told him he was going to take care of him. But he wouldn't say those things to the humans if he didn't mean to follow through. ""M not letting you go again m'lad. You're mine." Spike felt a shiver going down his spine at the possessive tone. Gods he had missed it. Spike immediately bared his neck to Angelus in silent offering. Angelus let his demon face come to the surface and bit down on the offered flesh, renewing the claim mark he had left there long ago.

He let the blonde vampire rest against his chest as he went completely limp in his grasp. "I suggest you find out what is wrong with you slayer. 'Cause I know that isn't the first time she attacked Spike. And as much as she could hurt her lovers with her thoughtlessness I have never known her to be consciously abusive towards them." Giles glared them. "Lovers. Buffy wouldn't touch..."

"She did. She told me... But... About her having sex with you at least. Not about... If I had known. I though it was the other way around. She had bruises. I'm sorry Spike. For the way I acted. I shouldn't have assumed like that." Spike shrugged and tucked his head under Angels chin. "Why didn't you just end it? I mean if she was treating you so bad." Asked Willow in a sharp tone. "She wouldn't let me." He informed them quietly. "I wanted to. Told her to stop and to leave but she just did what she wanted anyway. After that I really didn't care enough to fight anymore. I didn't want to leave 'cause I would be demon meat but in the end I decided to risk it."

"You mean she raped you." Angel clarified in a cold tone. "Buffy wouldn't..." Willow tried to defend her friend. "Apparently she would since she did. I suggest you have someone check her over. The old buffy wouldn't. I agree. But apparently something changed between her dying and her coming back. I suggest you try to figure it out. And Giles. If she comes into this town to bother Spike again Angelus won't have a chance to kill her because I will have her head myself. Is that clear."

Giles paled and glared. "Perhaps it is you that we should be investigating." Gunn snorted. "Nahh. If someone did a number on one of my family like she did on bleach boy over there I would do the same. And I would not be bothering with no warning either. Seems to me he's within his rights. Now, get packing. I wanna have a word with the boss and I don't need you lot hanging around for that." Giles turned his glare to Gunn before aiming it at Wesley. "Surely you don't condone..."

"Whatever happens here is our business not yours. It seems that you have outstayed your welcome." Wesley answered in a cool voice. At that moment Fred burst in waving a bag of Taco's with Cordelia tagging behind. "Sorry it took so long Spike. There was this huge cro... Oh. I don't think I brought enough taco's." Angel smiled at her. "That's ok Fred. They were leaving anyway." Cordelia stared at Spike. "What happened to Blondie." Spike winced slightly. "Got a visit from the slayer when everyone else was out." He said softly. Cordelia put a hand one hip and glared at Giles. "You should do something about her soon cause if poor little miss look-at-me-I-was-pulled-back-from-the-dead-so-now-I-am-going-to-be-a-total-bitch-and-wallow-in-self-pity doesn't get her act together soon she is going to be dealing with me."

Giles glared at them all. "Dawn. Get up. We're leaving." Dawn who had been quiet so far grabbed Spike's cold hand. "I'm staying." Giles tried to walk over but Gunn blocked his path. "Dawn. Now." Dawn glared back at the watcher. "No... She hurt Spike even though he has done nothing but help us out and pretends it is all right because he doesn't have a soul. I am not going to go back and live with her. I don't have a soul either remember. I'm just a little glowing ball of energy. I'm not human. She may have forgotten for now but what is to stop her from remembering and doing the same thing to me. Huh? I'm staying here where she can't get to me and where it is safe."

"Niblet?" Spike's voice was soft as he stroked her hair. Dawn looked up at him, tears clouding her eyes. He pulled her up into his lap. "Shhh. It's all right little bit." Dawn let the tears fall. "I'm scared Spike. What if she hurts me too. I want to stay with you. You wouldn't hurt me. Ever. You would protect me. She never talks to me anymore. She is always yelling at me and angry every time she sees me." Spike couldn't really say anything to that so he just wrapped his arms around her and let her cry.

"It seems she will be staying here. Now that has been settled you can go." Gunn crossed his arms in front of him. Giles looked like he wanted to protest but Tara laid hand on his shoulder. "Dawn has a point. And Wesley and the others won't let anything happen to her. Let's go." She walked outside. Willow followed with a last glare at Spike. After a moment of indecision Giles followed as well.