Protective Custody (1/20)COMPLETE

(Disclaimer: We own nothing. Joss owns all. You know the drill.)


"Hey there."

Spike blinked in surprise. When Xander's hands swept over his stomach, he swallowed hard and looked over at him. "Did you...ah...need something?"

"Oh yeah. Need loads of things." Xander breathed, trailing kisses down Spike's exposed neck and worming his hands under the t-shirt. "Decided I wasn't so hungry." He murmured against Spike's skin.

"You did?" Spike hissed as his stomach clenched under Xander's touch. This was better than he'd imagined. Fire and ice. He pushed back and almost groaned at the feel of Xander's erection cradled against him. "So, the leering actually worked..." he put his hands behind him, stroking Xander's sides and thighs. The hot, moist kisses pressed along his throat did things to him, twisted his insides. He didn't know how long he could take this before ending the foreplay... even though they'd only just begun.

Xander moaned when he felt Spike press against him. He'd wanted this for weeks and oh God it felt so good to finally have it. Then he remembered what he had to do.

Focus...you're a Watcher now and you have to do what you have to do.

He abandoned Spike's neck to concentrate on his lips. Licking and nibbling on his lower lip until he could feel the vibrations of a moan, pushing his tongue inside to taste and explore... "Feel so good." He mumbled. "Wanna take this to the bedroom?"

Spike turned suddenly. "Nothing wrong with here," he said, smirking at the boy's sensibilities. He reached for Xander's shirt and started to tug it up.

Xander stepped back, needing to stay in control of this. If Spike started taking off his clothes, he'd forget the plan and just go with the sex. Which would be bad! Very bad even if Spike did feel like a little slice of heaven.

"I want to be comfortable." He pouted. "Tell you what. You go get all naked for me." He came closer to Spike, pressing him against the counter with his body. "And I'll do that strip I promised."

"Uh uh... Not fun getting naked alone." Spike gripped Xander's hips and started walking him backwards out the kitchen door. "If you're thinking missionary... don't," he warned, his hand sliding back over Xander's ass and squeezing. When they reached the bedroom door, he bodily shoved Xander up against the door and kissed him. It was a slow, forceful kiss that didn't take no for an answer. A part of him recognized Xander was holding back. He redoubled his efforts, sliding his hand under the guy's shirt and pushing it up slowly.

Gahh oh yeah that feels good...NO! No feeling good! Bad body! Concentrate!

"Come on Spike I really want to do this." Xander whispered in what he hoped was a seductive manner. "Wanna see you lying on the bed, all spread out for me. See your eyes go all...fuck yeah...wide... and see you touch yourself...don't you dare stop that...watching me..."

"You'll dance?" He tipped Xander's face up. "You'll do a strip dance?" Oh yeah, he could see the potential in that. "Right...getting naked." He guided Xander's hands to his shirt and lifted his arms as Xander tugged it over his head. "Get my fly," he managed to bark it out like an order, seeing Xander's gaze linger on the bulge in his pants.

Xander felt a pang when he saw Spike's excitement. Then there was too much nakedness to feel anything but good old fashioned lust. He came very close to just pulling Spike's jeans down and forgetting about everything but him.

"Oh no...If I do that I won't be able to think of anything but 'must have Spike now'." He muttered and took a step back from temptation. "Get in there, I'll put the music on and come after you." He instructed, taking another couple of steps back.

Spike frowned with displeasure at being thwarted. Still, if the boy had a fantasy he wanted to play out... it could be interesting. Sliding his hand over his rock hard cock, again he wondered how long he would last before making Xander give it up. Patience

He quickly finished stripping, and lay on the bed on his side. "Come on then, I'm ready," he called out, impatience reflected in his tone.

Xander gave a frustrated groan and went to turn on the cd player. Spike was going to be so angry at him after this but damnit he had to do it. He grabbed his coat and the crossbow he had stashed in the cupboard next to the door and quietly left the apartment.

At first, the soft clicking sound didn't register as anything he ought to be aware of. But when it became clear that Xander wasn't about to treat him to a lap dance, anger pulsed through the ex-vampire at being duped.

He scooped his pants up and was dressed in a matter of minutes. So the boy had lied, pretended forgiveness. The whole thing had been an act. Trying to keep a lid on his hurt and disappointment, Spike stoked the flames of his anger. Anger was better than hurt. Slamming the apartment door behind him, he raced up the stairs... from there he could see which way Xander went. He'd tell him to stuff it and then clear out. Yeah, that's what he would do.

*

Xander ran as fast as he could. He needed to get this done as soon as possible. Get everything over with so he could go back home and talk to Spike. He wasn't kidding himself that Spike would just take this calmly but he hoped that once he had a chance to explain things would work out.

Ten blocks later he reached his destination. He stood outside the building, waiting to catch his breath before going inside. He needed as much of an advantage as he could get, going in panting and wheezing was only going to make things worse. Squaring his shoulders, he got the crossbow ready and marched inside.

From a distance, Spike saw Xander enter a building. Now that he neared it, it looked like a garage... more like one that had been closed for business for a long time. The large metal door was slightly open. Now to see what he'd been left behind for. Still stealthy as a panther, he soundlessly opened the door and entered. It took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the darkness, but then he followed the sound of voices. An argument.

"Oh for heaven's sake Andrew will you stop calling yourself a master vampyre! You're barely out of your grave and they're vampires you stupid idiotic excuse for a fledge! And stop hiding behind the crate."

Xander glared at Andrew, any guilt or pity for the little runt disappearing when he refused to come out of hiding. He knew he had to get this done fast, Drusilla was bound to return any minute now and he couldn't deal with two vampires, even if one of them was Andrew.

"I am too a master vampyre! My sire chose me because of my black soul and cunning brain. Those are what make a master vampyre not the years of his unlife."

Hidden in the shadows, Spike took in the sight. Xander was here to what? Dust Andrew? And Andrew as a vampire? It was just too comical. He'd be laughing if he weren't hanging on so tightly to his anger.

Xander sighed. Why, why was he always stuck with the insane ones? Time to try the ages old your-momma method. "Your sire is nothing but a two-bit tramp who would bite anyone that looked at her twice."

"I will not allow you to speak that way about my sire you worthless mortal!" Andrew declared and stepped out of the shadows, game face to the fore.

Xander raised his crossbow and aimed straight at Andrew's heart. Just as he pulled the trigger he felt a sharp blow at his side. Next thing he knew he was lying on the floor with a very pissed off Drusilla standing over him.

"You shan't have my knight again! You stole my William, you can't have my boy! Bad knight!"

Separating from the shadows, in two strides, Spike was looming over him as well. "Xander, get up and get your arse home, or I'll be having you, but not in the way either of us thought." His voice was rough and savage. He'd never see the boy again and he didn't care. Or he didn't want to. Being vampire was one sure way that would happen. Turning, his gaze locked with Drusilla’s. They didn't need to speak. The message was clear, he would let her turn him.

Xander saw the look that passed between Spike and Drusilla.

"NO!"

He scrambled up and pushed his way between the two. He stood in front of Spike, crossbow in one hand and stake in the other.

"No, I didn't dust your knight, he's still undead. You're not taking mine." He said, every inch the Watcher. Giles had finally trained him up and even Xander had been surprised at how well he'd taken to the role. "You touch him and Andrew dies. I have an army of Slayers at my disposal and you won't be able to guard him all the time, I will get to him and he will die."

Seeing the determination in Xander's eyes, Dru hesitated. She wanted her William back but she liked her new boy. He was so...tasty and loyal.

"I could have three knights." She said, taking a step forward.

"Then you'd have a very pissed off Wicca after you. I know you're insane Dru but you're not stupid." Xander tried to appear as calm as he could. He needed to get them out of here alive. Needed to explain things to Spike. He couldn't let things end like this, with Spike hating him...

Spike hated him.

No don't think about that...Get out of here and then deal with Spike...need to keep him alive so you can fix things.

Spike made a sound of disbelief, "Don't ever call me that. Now run along, or you'll have to kill us both," he pushed Xander's crossbow so it wasn't pointing at Drucilla anymore. When had the boy turned all-warrior? Another piece of the puzzle fell into place in his mind. So that was how it was. Fine. There would be no regrets. In a few minutes, unlife would be sweeter than this life.

Xander glared at Spike and lifted his crossbow again.

"Don't call you what? I'm not letting you die here Spike!"

"Don't call me period." He gripped Xander by the shoulders and started to push him toward the door, "Now, get the fuck out. This has nothing to do with you, yeah? Oh right... you're a good little watcher now. Stick your nose in everywhere. Well you'll end up with it cut off because I won't be so nice in a few minutes. Move." He gave Xander a rough shove and started to turn towards Dru. That was when things went bad.

He saw her hand coming past him. Time slowed to a crawl . He knew her target was Xander. He'd seen this move a thousand times before. Her hand would penetrate the boy's back, she'd squeeze his kidney... pull it out. Let him die watching his insides lying right next to him.

Time sped up. Spike forcibly turned the crossbow in Xander's hand, pulling it towards Drusilla. It bayoneted the vampiress in the chest. For an instant, all three of them had some sort of grip on the crossbow and stood watching each other in horror. Then she crumpled to dust. His companion of so many years.

"Drucilla!" Spike's voice was raw with pain, but when he swung his gaze to Xander, it was filled with accusation. The last piece of the puzzle fell in place. "You used me. All of you. The Powers. The Watchers. You..." his voice broke on the last. "Congratulations, you win." Dropping his hold on the cross bow, he strode away, leaving Xander and Andrew to deal with each other. He'd had enough.


(A/N: Sorry for the ouchies! Shadowcat gets a gold star for seeing the foreshadowing Enjoy and comment please.)