Introductions

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Part 19

"He WHAT?" His eyes were wide and disbelieving as he stared at his lover. "He said Spike WHAT?"

Elliot laughed. "Well, according to Harris, Will likes your sister. LIKES her, likes her... at the risk of sounding grade school." He grinned, a bit relieved when Robert laughed as well, the first REAL laugh he'd heard from the young man since they'd found him in Tulsa.

"Wait. WILL. Will... who called her a harpy... and juvenile because we were arguing. THAT Will. He LIKES her? How is that even possible?" Trevor frowned, sure that he looked just as confused as he actually was.

"Well, maybe he's learned better. I understand they spent some time together after we... left the other night." Elliot nodded, turning onto the tree-lined road that lead around the lake.

"Learned what? That she's even more of a bitch than she seemed like?" the brunette rolled his eyes. "Because she is, you know. Stubborn, never listens... always has to have her own way. How... WHY would WILL of all people ever even THINK about her like that?"

Elliot shrugged then waved at the Reservation Police car as he passed, entering the reservation. "A better question might be... why would Harris, except I know all about his bizarre attraction to women like that." He laughed again at the strange sound Trevor made. "Sorry, love, but I've known Harris through a large number of infatuations. I know JUST what it sounds like."

"Gods... gods help them both."

Robert's brow furrowed and he forgot to obsess over what had happened to him. "I... I have a question...?"

Trevor leaned forward suddenly, trying not to startle the young man but thrilled that he'd actually spoken without one of them having to drag words from him. "Just one? Ask away, baby..."

The young blond blushed slightly and gazed at Trevor for a moment from the corner of his eye before blushing more. "I... Harris. He wasn't... upset? That Spike might... want... someone else?" He bit his lip a little, not sure of why he was suddenly feeling so much less... disgraced but glad for it. Maybe it was the food he'd eaten the night before... and that morning.

"No," Elliot laughed, "Harris isn't bothered by it. He and Will... well, they're not exactly gay, you know? I mean, they're claimed and all but they like women too. They just haven't spent much time pursuing any lately." He smiled at Robert, happy to see that young brow unfurrowed for a change. "They're... secure with how they feel about each other, so..."

And Trevor suddenly saw where his El was going with this. "So adding a third to their relationship wouldn't cause any problems. Hell, it would probably make them that much more stable. A tripod IS the most stable three-dimensional shape. You know... assuming they wanted to add a third permanently... like if they loved the third person and knew that person belonged with them." He nodded.

"But... wouldn't they be jealous?" Robert still looked curious... and confused. "They... they're CLAIMED and... I thought..." he sighed. "Never mind."

Elliot frowned and pulled over on the side of the dirt road. "Robert, don't do that, darlin'. Please. You... we've been shut out for days now." One hand released the steering wheel and stroked wind-blown blond hair softly. "Anything you want to know, baby, we'll tell you the best we can, okay?"

Trevor nodded, his hand slipping between the bucket seats to grip long, pale fingers gently. "Really, Robert. We... well, we'll do our best to satisfy your... curiosity." He smiled, catching that quick glance at him again. "So would they be jealous because they're claimed?"

He chuckled when the younger man nodded slowly. "No, baby... they KNOW where they stand with each other. Any third they brought in permanently-- male or female, and Gods let it NOT be Hypatia-- would mean just as much to each of them as they do to each other. Their third would complete their relationship in ways they'd never known they wanted. And... they'd be happy. And equal in each others' hearts."

"They're a good match, darlin'... they fit together. And anyone who was special enough... needed enough for them to want him... or her... to be a part of them? That person would be just as good a match for them both. Eventually." Elliot nodded, giving Trevor a grateful look for helping to plant the seeds at least in their boy's mind. "Does that make sense to you, baby?"

Robert frowned slightly, trying to puzzle it through then shrugged. "I suppose... I... as long as they're happy, anyway." He nodded then nearly jumped from the car as a figure stepped up to the driver's side. He hadn't even seen anyone approaching. Of course, he hadn't been looking, either.

His heart pounded and he pressed himself back against the passenger side door before he realized that the figure-- the woman-- was ancient. She had to be at least eighty if she was a day. "B-bloody hell... I..."

Elliot turned quickly, ready to protect the young man with his life, if need be. He noted vaguely that Trevor had assumed a similarly tense position. NOTHING was going to hurt Robert again. Not on HIS time.

Of course, less than a second later he felt like a complete idiot. "Hoi. Grandmother," he greeted in the language of the tribe, "I apologize for my rudeness. My young friends were startled."

The old woman chuckled, her cataract-inflicted eyes becoming amused slits beneath the silver-streaked flat black of her hair. "As were you, Warrior," she smiled, "But I also apologize. It was not my intention to frighten your young men. The manitou didn't warn that the young one was so shaky. It is well that I found you when I did."

One slender blond brow arched as Elliot gazed at the woman, ignoring the questions coming from the back seat. "I wasn't aware that the manitou had taken an interest, Grandmother."

A slight cackle. "The Mysteries, great and small, take interest in anyone touched by the Trickster as the young one is. The kachina-hey say he is tainted. Ridden by what your people call devils. He dreams, does he not?"

"Yesss... yes, he dreams. Dark and disturbing dreams, but still... dreams."

The woman nodded, pulling a small package from the satchel hanging from one bony shoulder and dropping it in Elliot's lap with a muttered blessing he couldn't quite make out. "You will know what to do with those, Grandson," she said, finally answering his greeting of respect with one of acceptance. "They are... a gift from the manitou."

And that had Elliot's eyes wide as he glanced quickly at Trevor in the rear view mirror. "I need something, Trev," he said quickly in English, his eyes on the woman again. "Shit, I should have planned better.. give me that Walkman you bought this morning. It'll have to do."

"El... what the fuck? I just GOT it and..."

"I'll get you another one! Give it here. NOW!"

The blond smiled at the old woman and nodded his thanks as he returned to her language. "I accept this gift of the manitou, Grandmother... and I ask that you accept this small token on their behalf. From myself and my... young men. I... further thank you for your welcome as we are not of your tribe."

The woman grinned, revealing her five remaining teeth. "It was YOU, Grandson, who saw that our tribe received the remains of our beloved Joseph to be buried in ground sacred to us and with the proper rituals. You are as much of my tribe as he was and is." She nodded, taking the walkman and the package of batteries from him. "The Manitou will be pleased with your gift. Go with our blessing and let it remain over you whenever you are within our lands."

"And that is a greater gift than can ever be returned in kind, Grandmother," he said nervously, remembering the things Joseph had told him in the years before that last mission.

"Your gift is in returning the boy to himself, Ghostwalker. And in your gifts being turned to life these last years. It is... pleasing to the Mysteries. Now go, Grandson, and be grateful for what you have found within you."

Elliot breathed a sigh of relief and nodded. "I am, Grandmother. I... my thanks." And with that he shifted the car into gear and started down the road again, not bothering to look for the old woman in his mirror. If she wasn't there, he didn't want to know.

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(A/N: Yes, I have taken some liberties in this part. It was needed. Deal. *grins*

Many thanks to DaniKitten and TheShadowCat for taking time to review... and yes, I HAVE written het fic before. In fact, I wrote it almost exclusively for a few years (still within this fandom. I used to write Willow fic. Willow with Angel or Spike or Angel AND Spike. LOL). 'Old Enemies' was just my first SPANDER fic! *grins*.

Thanks again, guys... hope you like where this 'verse ends up! More Monday, I think... depending again on the 'four letter word'. LOL)