Shadows across the heart

FANDOM: Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Angel the Series
TITLE: Shadows across the heart
AUTHOR: Willie J
EMAIL: wmj166@yahoo.com
ARCHIVE SITE(S): http://parrot.nearheralways.com/index.php; http://www.brain-insane.com/beyondcanon; http://www.adult-fanfiction.org
PAIRINGS: Eventual A/X
RATING: NC-17, issues of non-consenusal sex
DISCLAIMER: I don't own any part of Buffy et all, nor Angel the Series.
FEEDBACK: YES!
DISTRIBUTION: List Archives
SPOILERS:
BETA'D BY:
SUMMARY:
A/N: Those of Buffyverse are naturally Joss' creations, however, any and all other characters mentioned are my own.

Angel sauntered down the stairs in an easy mood. He had a very sated Wesley still sprawled in his bed. Life…was good. Life would be much better once they found a way around his 'condition'. He grimaced sourly, his good mood almost vanishing. He wasn't exactly sure just how many more cold showers a vampire could take. Generally, he hated them. Much preferring nice HOT water. But still, half a sex life was infinitely better than none.

Touching Wes. Watching that long, rangy body dance erotically under his fingers made it all worthwhile. Watching Wes masturbate for him or sliding that thick ivory dildo up his ass...oh, it was sooo worth it. When he saw that look of pleasurable torment on Wes’ face, his name cried out in a shattered voice....It was as close to complete happiness as he dared. Hopefully soon, once they found a way around the curse, he would BE in heaven.

In Wes.

And the first thing they were going to do was put a ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign on the bedroom door. He would be laying a such a Claim on Wesley, that his lover wouldn’t be able to walk straight for days. They were going to be locked in that room and he would be buried balls deep in that hot little body. Or even feeling that sleek, silken shaft that he had worshipped so many nights, pounding inside him. Making HIM scream and beg for more.

Angel felt a rising tide of heat stirring in him. He groaned as his eager cock swelled with anticipation at the thought of finally be able to make love to Wesley. Which was no surprise. Thoughts of Wes seem to have that inevitable effect. Images of that elegant, wiry body sprawled nakedly on his bed. Limbs seductively splayed for his viewing pleasure, a tiny smile and dark look of lust shimmering in Wes’ eyes and face.

A remembered visit to Wesley's apartment eased into his mind. He had following the sounds of ragged breathing to the bedroom and came to a complete halt. Wes had his feet braced on the bed, working an ivory dildo slickly in his ass. His other hand was wrapped tightly around his own organ, while narrow hips lunged up and down on the twin carnal caresses.
An
Angel vaguely remembered crawling to the bed and roughly removing Wes' hand from the dildo. He wanted to be the one easing the artificial device deep into that grasping hole. When it was over, he had spent a lazy, enjoyable time licking the sticky ropes of semen off the heaving belly and chest of his lover. Cleaning the sweaty body thoroughly, until Wes was...

The vampire abruptly cut off his thoughts at the amused smile on Cordy’s face. He thanked God he was dead and was no longer able to blush. Then he became still, his eyes assuming a puzzled look.

“Cordy, why am I smelling blood?”

She blinked. “Uhm, I dunno? 'Cause for sure it ain't me!” As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she blushed crimson. Hastily looking away, harshly admonishing herself that there were certain things females just DID not discuss in mixed company. But Angel didn’t notice, intent on tracing the half-way remembered scent.

Sniffing he traced the smell to the door and wrenched it open. His mouth dropping in surprise at the bloody body that almost tumbled to the floor of the hotel. Only his quick reflexes saved the boy from a painful landing.

“Xander…?!” he exclaimed, his voice rising in astonishment. Though he doubted whether Xander would noticed, he thought distantly. His eyes roved over the numberous contusions, bruises and bleeding wounds on Xander’s face.

Cordy looked up, then jumped ith ith a horrified shriek. She hurried over, to peer at the injury young man.

“An…gel...hellllp....” Xander slurred out, finally losing his tenacious hold on consciousness.

“Jesu' fuckin' Christ!” Angel looked down at the unconscious figure in his arms.

Carrying the boy carefully, with Cordy trailing anxiously behind, the vampire soon had Xander settled in a spare room next to his in the hotel. Laying his limp burden on the bed, he ordered over his shoulder, “Cordy, get some water so we can clean him up!” A frown darkening his face as he gazed down at his former irritating nemesis.

“Omigawd Angel, what the hell happened to him?” The young woman asked worriedly as she came racing back with a bowl of soapy water. In her haste, she slooshed water over her new and expensive strappy, leather sandals.

“I have no idea...” was his terse reply as he gently cleansed the blood from Xander’s bruised and battered face.

“Let me call Willow or Giles and find out what's going on,” she said reaching for his phone.

“No, wait until he comes around. Then we'll call,” Angel replied carefully stroked the cloth down the young man’s arm. His hand stilling as he recognized the pattern of bruises. Fingers.


Xander swam to consciousness slowly, blinking at the sight of Cordy hovering and looking very worried. His eyes slid to Angel’s pale face, and locked on the vampire’s eyes with desperate intensity.

“An...gel....Spike...”

“Spike did this to you?” Angel growled softly, his eyes hard and cold. If his grandchilde did this to Xander, then he almost didn't want to think about what Spike did to the others.

“Noooo....” Xander blinked and closed his eyes. Moisture trickling from under the tightly clenched lids. “Will...iam....”

By now, Wes had arrived and had entered the bedroom along with Gunn and Fred. They all exchanged confused glances.

“William? Xander, can you tell us who William is?” Angel asked gently, not wanting to alarm the boy any further. The scent of terror and fear was almost overpowering to his sense of smell.

“Hu...man...Spike,” came the puzzling croak.

“Okay, Cordy now you can call Sunnydale. Find out what the hell is going on,” Angel said decisively and they were all shocked when Xander began to struggle, crying out weakly to stop them.

“NO! Sha...dows....! The sha...dows got him! He pro...tec...ed...me.” Xander labored to make Deadboy understand. “Mark pro...tec’....fro....sha...dows.”

Angel slowly leaned away, his face absolutely still in disbelief. “You and Spike?” He enuciated carefully to make sure he wasn't hearing things.

“Yessss...”

“Angel...what's he talking about? What's this about a Mark?” Cordy asked warily, looking between the two men.

Angel sighed, rubbing his face absently. “Spike Marked Xander in prelude to Claiming him.”

“Xander's gay?!”

“Lu…ved An....ya...now... luv...Spike...” came the weak reply from the bed.

Angel nodded in understanding. “He loves Spike now and he had loved a woman named Anya as well.”

“Save... Spike...please...” Xander whispered pleadingly, feeling his efforts to remain conscious seeping away. But he had to tell them! had had to warn them!

“From what...?” Angel quietly asked, motioning Wesley closer.

“Sha...dows...e...ve...ry...where. Take...over...bodies...Mark...protect....It...got Giles, Wil...low...Buffy....whole town...full of shadows...look...ing for Shardts....me Shardts...
want me....So...cold...the...sha...dows. Sooooo cold...” Xander's voice trailed off into a faint husk of sound.

*brrrr-ing, brrrrr-ing*

Slowly all eyes turned to the telephone ringing by the bedside. Angel's private number. Flashing an unreadable look at his people, Angel pushed the button, putting the caller on speakerphone.

“Angel...it's me Buffy.”

“Buffy? Is something the matter?” Angel said with the right note of concern in his voice, though his face tightened at the look of bonedeep terror in the boy's eyes.

“The matter? Why would you think something is wrong?”

“It's just that your voice sounds...strange,” he replied hesitantly, throwing Cordy a hard glare when the girl opened her mouth.

“Oh...well, to tell you the truth there is something wrong.” Everyone in the hotel heard the huge sigh the blonde Slayer gave. “It's about Spike. And Xander. You see, without our noticing it, somehow Spike convinced Xander that he was in love with him. I don't know exactly how it happened but Spike’s been whispering vicious things about us to Xander and almost got him to turn on us. We managed to bring him to his senses, but then Xander slipped away from us to confront Spike. I hate to tell you this, but Spike got some of his demon friends to beat Xander up. Me, Willow and Giles got there just in time to pull them off of Xander and fight them ourselves. But somehow, in confusion of the moment, Xander's disappeared. We searched all over and we couldn't find him. We were hoping that he may have come there.”

Buffy's voice sounded so tearful and distraught for failing her friend that Angel probably would have believed her if it wasn't for the fact that Xander was peering up at him, and violently shaking at the sound of her voice, terror reeking from him in waves.

“Sorry, Buffy, but I would think that the hotel would be the last place Xander would ever think to come. You know how much he dislikes me,” Angel responded with a weary sigh, and from the corner of his eye, he saw the boy relax.

“I know, but I had to try,” Buffy sighed in return. “But if he should...”

“Yes, don't worry. If he comes here, I'll call you,” Angel lied gently, then hung up.

“Wes, I suggest that we break out the books and start researching whatever the hell these things are. I get a feeling that we are all in a great deal of trouble...” he said calmly. But when he looked up, his eyes had shifted to a solid gold.

Then Willow called the downstairs phone, tearfully claiming that Xander had run away. Saying essentially the same thing that Buffy had said, adding that Spike had taken advantage of Xander who was pretty messed up and vulnerable at the time. The young man had been engaged to be married to Anya, who was a former vengeance demon, and that he called off the wedding at the last minute. Then to top it all off, Spike had a one-night stand with her that was unfortunately caught in living color.

Cordy, with false impatience coloring her voice, asked the redhead if she had gone completely nuts? And if Xander showed up, she would probably pop him in the eye herself before calling them to come get his sorry ass out of her hotel. She grinned sheepishly at Gunn when she hung up the phone. God, how she hated that whiny little bitch!


They began researching. In addition to researching, Angel persuaded Gunn and Fred to carry his Mark. Explaining that he would need to repeat it every three days then after. Telling them that a Mark was only good for that amount of time. In the old days, while it was exceedingly rare but it was used when a younger vampire sought the Master of the his Order approval to take a human as mate. It gave the human protection from other demons and it allowed the Master of the Order sufficient time to determined whether the human was worthy or not. Angel and Wes speculated that with Cordy’s half-breed status that she would be okay if the shadows came after them.

While Xander drifted in and out of quasi-lucidity the only thing they could find was a couple of obscure references to a Dark Queen of Blood and Shadows. Which didn't help answer the burning question about what was going on in Sunnydale. Cordy found a link between Shardts and Guardians but that only led to more unanswered questions. The only thing they managed to piece together was an almost ambiguous note that a vampiric Mark or Claim could somehow protect a human from shadows. Though if the human was Claimed, and the vampire died, so would the human.


For three, long seemingly endless days they poured over book after book. Some books so ancient that even Angel, with his vampiric eyesight, could barely make out the faint words. Yet still they preserved. Feeling an almost sense of desperation as if there was some kind of imaginary clock. Slowly ticking to an ominous countdown.

It was on the third, exhaustive night of researching that they came face-to-face with the evil that held Sunnydale in a slow, tightening grip.

So tired were they, that not one of them noticed a thin, dark vaporous mist seeping under the front door. Most of their weary attention was fixed on the various tomes opened in front on them. The only thing they noticed was a chilly breeze blowing around their ankles…then gone. Tasting them.

In the half lit lobby, their eyes never noticed the shadow that formed out of the mist. That slithered quickly away from them. This was not the one. As it passed the front doors, it gathered mass as inky darkness wafted under the door. The shadowy darkness flowed up the stairs, seeking its target.

Tendrils of fingerlike extensions probed under the various doors it came to until it finally found the one it sought. The person it was sent to imbue with darkness. It flowed under the door and into the room. The dark cloudy vapor bunching together, shifting, forming into a catlike creature. It crept across the floor, a faint illusion of muscles slide sleekly as it prowled closer to the sleeping figure in the bed. Hastily flattening out into a thin mist each time the figure moved restlessly in the bed, then it reformed into the dark shadow creature. Its evil gaze focused intently on the sleeping young man.

Xander's eyes popped open, an unknown terror seizing his heart. His eyes searched frantically for the source of his unease. At his terrified request, Angel made sure the lights shone brightly, playing over every inch of the room. Leaving no room for shadows to creep up on him. His breath caught at the sight of a half-formed shadow shifting in the corner, a sharp startled squeak escaping his mouth before he realized it was just a robe tossed over a chair.

He closed his eyes in relief. Then grunted softly as icy coldness settled on him. His eyes snapped open, gazing in horror at the large catlike creature sitting on his chest…grinning at him. Wisps of vaporous mist dancing faintly around its edges. For half a second, his breath froze in his throat. Fortunately, his instinct for self-preservation overrode his frozen paralysis. Xander opened his mouth to scream. But to his dismay, its mouth opened as well. And a thick cloudy substance was flowing into his opened mouth.

Xander grunted, his eyes wide in fear and terror as he struggled furiously under the tangible weight of the monster. Trying to scream. Trying to summon help. Yet not even able to make a sound. His eyes were bulging in panic, and to his complete horror, he felt something restraining his wrists. All he could do was arch futilely, straining every muscle in an effort to throw the creature off of him. Away from him.

As he struggled to escape, he savagely fought an internal war within his own mind. Fighing the strong impulse to simply gibber in his mind, doing nothing to get this Leech off of him. If he was going down, he was going down fighting. Renewed determination surging through him, Xander threw everything he had into combating the icy wave of numbing cold that slid through him. Consuming him. Again the Bobbsey Twins, Fear and Panic danced madly in his mind at the distinct lack of burning sensation from his Mark. Then he remembered, with hollow sense of despair, of Angel telling the others that a Mark only lasted three days.

Oh, God, he was going to becoming one of THEM. Grimly, Xander settled into a long-drawn out fight.


Downstairs, Cordy stirred restlessly, looking up from the book she was half-heartedly reading. Suddenly her head moved sharply, cocking to the side like she heard something. She stared ahead. Stared at …nothing. But her eyes were slowly beginning to burned with a stark whiteness. Then with a noisy clatter of her chair, she ran for the stairs, taking them two at a time and screaming Xander's name. Her speed now rivaling the vampire’s. The others gave each other worried, startled looks before they took off after her.

Only to find her standing before Xander’s bed, her entire body glowing with a luminous, painfully bright intensity.

And a dark, catlike creature cowered from her unearthly light.

Even Gunn and Fred could feel the evil reeking from the thing. It looked at them. Despite themselves, they reeled back fearfully from the malice in that shadowy gaze. It hissed virulently at them, but Cordy's powerful light kept it away.

To their horror, it spoke, “Give him to me...”

“Damn!” Gunn exclaimed feelingly. He looked desperately for something...anything to throw at it. Seeing an axe on the floor, he seized it and hurled it at the creature.

It laughed mockingly as the weapon only went through it.

“Your half-breed cannot hold out for too much longer can can wait...” it said spitefully. “For your interference, I shall have all of you. SHE will be pleased.”

Fred squeaked, and paled alarmingly. But stood her ground. Though, slightly to the side and behind Gunn's broad back.

“Angel, she's bleeding...” Gunn whispered to the vampire. But Angel had already seen that Cordy was weakening.

The dark haired immortal hurried to the bed, peering at Xander's pale, clammy face. He touched the boy gently and saw the terror lurking within when the young man's eyes fluttered open.

“Betcha didn't think I would be this much trouble, heh?” Xander tried to joke tiredly. He knew he was gonna die. They were all gonna die as soon as Cordy's light failed...then he blinked. And since when the hell did she become Ms. Shining Star anyway?

He smiled shakily, apologetically at Angel. “Sorry man.”

Angel pulled back the covers intending to take the boy from the room and froze. His eyes horrified at where Xander's legs used to be. The young man's legs, from mid-thigh on down, were two columns of softly undulating shadows.

His head snapped up at Wes' choked gasp, and regret flashed across his face. He was going to hurt so many people, but they needed Xander alive.

Wes' jaw tightened at the remorse he saw on his lover's face. He knew what Angel intended to do.

“Wes, it'll just be until we can get to Spike. He'll be able to take care of Xander,” Angel said rapidly as he removed his shirt.

“And you, what about you? What about us?” Wes responded angrily as he watched Angel strip.

“Without the information he has, there is no us. Think, man! Xander has first hand knowledge of what these things look like! This thing kills demons and enslaves humans.”

Xander's eyes flew open when he felt the bed dip. His eyes widening even more at the sight of a very naked Angel crouching between his thighs.

“What the hell are you doing…?” he gasped out. Yelping then struggling when a slickened finger probed his backside. “Deadboy, stop it!”

“Xander, either I Claim you now or that thing over there will take you,” Angel pronounced in a grim voice as he paused. “Look at your legs!” He shifted to allow the boy to see the inky vaporous columns where once used to be human flesh. He glared into the scared brown eyes of the young man. “It’s not permanent Claim. As Sire to Spike’s Sire, it is within my Rights that I can make a gift of you to Spike. It’s complicated, and involves a lot of pain for me, but you and Spike will be back together again.” Nodding at the reluctant compliance contain within the wide, brown stare.

“I'll try to be as gentle as possible,” he whispered softly as he finished hastily stretching the guan rin ring of muscle.

“Just do it!” Xander grated out, with tightly sealed eyes. Gasping at the first thrust into his sketchily prepared entrance. His mouth opening in a soundless wail of pain as Angel burrowed deeper into him.

Fred's eyes widened at the sight before she swiftly whirled around and put her fingers in her ears. Gunn glared at the two men, having not heard their conversation. His attention drifted sympathetically to Wes.

Giving the young man enough time to loosen around him, Angel slowly began to move. Shifting the direction of his thrusts, searching for the right angle that would bring Xander the most pleasure. At the harsh gasp below him, and the look of angry pleasure on the boy’s face, Angel knew he had found it. He continued to hammer at the boy's joy button. Pleasure surging through him at the incredible tightness wrapping around his length as he plunged deeply into the gripping passage. He hissed, gritting his teeth at the almost impossible tightness wrapped around him. It wasn’t perfect, not by a long shot, but damn, it felt good! Immediately, guilt rushed through him.

Angel slid his hand downwards, taking Xander's thrusting shaft in his hand and working it. His movement wrung a gritted curse from the dark-haired mortal writhing in his arms. He muffled his choked cry of pleasure in Xander's shoulder, shame overcoming him when the sleek walls fluttered and squeezed greedily around him. Stroking him to a painful, aching hardness. Dear God, it felt wonderful!

Angel sped up his movements, feeling the radiance of Cordy's glow lessening. With a short abrupt growl, he sank his teeth deeply into Xander's neck. Feeding deeply, as he found his release. Marking Xander. Claiming the boy as a worthy mate. Grimly smiling at the low howl of mingled pleasure-pain that Xander gave.

Then with a stifled shout of his own, Angel felt pain blossom in his neck. A warm pulling sensation began at his neck. He sighed, shivering in ecstasy as Xander sipped gently from him. Angel came again, thrusting furiously into the heated entrance with a hungry, muted growl.

Claimed and doubleClaimed.

Oh, shit. Those words ran through Angel’s shocked mind.

Xander opened his mouth, allowing Angel’s flesh to be free. He cried out loudly, stiffening in Angel’s arms as he found his unwilling release. Deep inside, he curled up in a ball of misery.

The shadowy creature hissed viciously, making the others flinch back in alarm. Cordy sank to her knees, her eyes blind as she continued to produce searing light, keeping the creature back. Her light was waning, growing less intense as whatever powered the light within her, weakened. Then with a low cry of her own, she collapsed, falling over in a dead faint. Her body still flickering with weak light, but now they could see the cost of her efforts on Xander's behalf. Blood trickled from her ears, nose and mouth.

Gunn and Fred exclaimed in shock and ran to her. They drew back as the shadowthing took a menacing step forward. Then it paused glaring at them with raging white eyes before it screamed and dissipated.

“Babygirl,” Gunn breathed quietly as he dropped to his knees and pulled Cordy's limp body into his arms. “Damn, didn't your mama ever teach you not to pull this kinda shit with your hommes?” He tapped gently at her lolling face, trying to bring her around, incidentally avoiding looking in Wes' direction. He knew his friend had to be hurting like a muthafucker if that one glimpse he had caught of the frozen face as English stared blankly at the bed with the two occupants.

Angel rested his forehead against Xander's. Glad to see the boy had passed out from the force of the dualClaims. Even he felt sorta wobbly from the two Claims ricocheting inside him. At the sound of the door quietly shutting, he closed his eyes at the emotional pain Wesley left behind. Though they had talked about it, discussed this heatedly, very very heatedly, he knew watching him have sex with Xander was killing his lover.

He sighed as he lowered Xander to the bed and dragged a robe from the foot of the bed, over his body before he dared to glance at the boy's legs again. To his profound relief he saw the shadowy darkness retreating and the long golden legs once again visible.

At the soft exclamation from Gunn, Angel glanced up at the big young man. He smiled briefly at the sight of Cordy cradled limply in Gunn's arms. Cordy was gonna freak when she came to or figured out a way to hold this over the man's head.

“Is that what it was doing to him?” Gunn gestured with his chin to the retreating shadow from the boy's legs. Determinedly NOT looking at the nakedness on display. Though he had to hide a smile at Fred's little squawk of dismay and her careful avoidance of Xander's nudity.

“Yeah, it was a lot higher before...”

Gunn sighed at the brooding look on Angel's averted face. Great...just great! Lord of the Brood was back.

“Look man, you did what you had to do,” he said tactfully, trying to suppress all hints of how truly disturbed he was. “Just give Wes a minute. You know how long it takes him to process shit. So just...
chill okay and let him get this mess sorted out in his mind.”

Angel heaved a heavy sigh, but he knew that Gunn was right. But time may not be something he had. “Gunn, once you get Cordy settled, could you run into the basement and get those thick chains with the arm cuffs and bring them up here?” He carefully refused to look at the young black man.

“Why? You about to do some kinky-ass vampire shit up in here?” Gunn asked in shock, looking at Angel with a mixture of uneasiness and stirring anger in his dark brown eyes.

Cordy hit the young man. Gunn looked down at her in wounded surprise.

“No, he's scared that Angelus will get free,” Cordy said hoarsely from her position in Gunn's arms. She frowned, then slapped at his broad arms harply. “Put me down, you overgrown bowling ball!”

With a roll of his eyes, Gunn did as she ordered. Hiding a smirk behind a concern look when her knees buckled and she almost hit the floor again. He caught her. Naturally she didn’t bother acknowledging that she needed help. Not Cordelia 'All-Up-In-Your-Face' Chase. The girl had a real nasty problem admitting that she needed help.

Gunn paused, actually all the guys did...but it was okay when THEY did it. It was all part of that macho bullshit boy babies learned nursing at their mama's breast.

It had t'be the milk.

“No, it’s Claiming thing,” Angel said vaguely, staring down at the youth, laying so still bed. His eyes drifted over the half-healed bruises dotting Xander’s face. He clenched his hand tightly, trembling with the need to touch. He shuddered, his eyes nearly closing as the disturbing sensations of the Claim washed over him. Distantly he heard the trio exit the room, and an unknown tension eased from his muscles. His vision sharpening with a vivid clarity, he gazed at the boy. Motionless. Still. Standing sentry-like over the unconscious, limp form.

To try to set aside this dualClaim would literaly kill them both. His Claim on Xander could be overturned. Sure it would hurt, probably feel like he had his arm cut off, but still he could handle it. Or so he thought. But now…Angel sighed in despair.

“Who the hell is Angelus? He Angel's twin or something?” Gunn said in confusis hes he carried Cordy out of the room.

“Something like that,” she replied with extreme care. At his blank look, Cordy sighed. Grimacing, she revealed the quasi-hidden truth. “Angelus was cursed by some gypsies a long time ago. That nutcase had really bad table manners back then. Anyhow, the curse gave Angelus his soul back, turning him into Angel. Unfortunately, the catch was something like if he experiences a moment of pure happiness, he reverts back to his more evil, sociopathic, All-Humans-Must-Die self.”

Carrying her down the stairs, Gunn was frowning.

“Ya mean that Angel ain't naturally kind and nice and...and...heroic?” Fred drawled out hesitantly as she sat beside Cordy when Gunn had lowered the Seer onto the couch.

“Not in this lifetime, he isn’t!” Cordy snorted with a slightly exasperated look on her face. “Sweetie, even Angel is not exactly kind, nice and whatever else you think he is. Wake-up and smell the coffee, girl! Gunn, you remember those vampires your gang used to hunt? Well, Angelus makes them look like a bunch of milk-fed babies! Trust me, it would be quicker and less painful if you put a bullet in your brain and pull the trigger than come face to face with HIM.” She shuddered, her eyes had darkened to near black as she recalled the days of terror back in Sunnydale when Angelus roamed the streets.

Gunn stepped back at the look of deep fear on her face. Something that he never thought he would ever see. He turned and ran to the basement and fetched the thick chains, wondering if they were strong enough to restrain Angelus. He grabbed the key, stuffing it in his pocket before he hurried back upstairs. With Angel's help, he swiftly had the vampire completely restrained in the bed. Then he went around, intending to pick up Xander and put him in another bed when Angel told him to leave him there.

“In order for the Claim to complete its course, he needs to stay beside me for the next several hours otherwise his body will reject the Claim and go into convulsions,” Angel said hoarsely. His body was imperceptibly quivering under the effects of the dual Claim. “And add to the fact that Xander also bit me. I don't know what's going to happen now.” He growled softly as a wave of intense heat washed over him.

“Tell Wes...” he broke off closing his eyes. “Tell him that I'm sorry.”

The young black man cast a resentful glare at Xander's unconscious body. “Yeah, when I see him, I'll tell him.” He promised softly. Angel saved his ass too many times for him to be pissed off over this shit. Remembering the key, he dug it out of his pocket and placed it on the windowsill. Then with a long stare at Xander, he determinedly placed a pillow between the two figures. A nice thick pillow. Making sure they would remain nice and separated before he left.

The two men lay side by side in the king-sized bed. Each undergoing their own internal changes thanks to the double Claim. The mortal young man squirmed, his brow furrowing in his restless unconscious state. He cried out softly as lightening raged in his body, blasting open and creating extremely sensitive nerve endings. He writhed in pain on the bed again, panting harshly, his body gleaming with sweaty exertion as if he had been running a race.

Angel lay shaking with closed eyes and a locked jaw. His mind becoming lost as never before used connections were painfully yanked out and exposed.

So cold...it felt like icy fire! They were going to freeze to death. He and Angelus ran, trying to escape the deadly ice creeping closer to them. They had no time to fight, only to survive. So they raced on...but each knew that separately they were not strong enough to survive. But together...they eyed one another resentfully, then gazed at the approaching rain of icy fire. They backed away, darting into a small enclosed area barely big enough to fit the both of them. Only by clutching tightly together were they able to fit into the small space. By the time the storm finished eating away the rocky space, as it continued its inexorable march, there was only one figure pressed back against the enclosure. His eyes wild and unfocused. Unseeing of the passage of the storm, his eyes turned inwards. Struggling to identify which Who he was.

Xander stirred again, trying his best to wigawayaway from the pain clutching at his mind, his body. He flipped over restlessly, his arm brushing against Angel's face and stilled. Blessed coolness brushed across his quivering, strung nerves. Tangling delicately, gently securing him in a firm, indissoluble grip. He sighed, settling down to a deep sleep, one hand pressed against Angel's face.

The vampire’s tensed body relaxed. Soothing heat swept over him banishing the stinging pain of icestorm that seemed to eat at his flesh. He regarded a glowing shadow, radiating heat. Creeping closer, he purred at the sensuous heat coming from it. Warming him inside and out. Angel smiled faintly in his sleep, feeling a serene sense of peace

Downstairs the phone rang and wearily Cordy staggered over to answer it.

“'lo...”

“You lied to me, bitch...” came a cold, smooth voice at the other end. Cordy blinked rapidly and held the phone out from her ear. She stared at it incredulously for a few seconds then put the phone back to her ear. “Willow?” she asked hesitantly.

“You took Xander from me, well, I'll take something from you. And you won't have a ghost of a chance of stopping me.” There was an eerie chuckle the line went dead.

Fred looked at the amazed look on Cordy's face. “Who was that on the phone?”

“I dunno,” Cordy shrugged helplessly. “It sounded like Willow, but unless she's channeling Angelus it couldn't been her.”

“Couldn’t have been who?” Gunn called as he stepped off the last stair.

“Willow.” Cordy turned to him. “She or whoever, said that I lied and since I took something from her she was gonna take something from me, and that I wouldn't have a ghost...omigod! DENNIS!” She gasped, racing out the door. Gunn gave a quick look to Fred and told her to stay and keep an eye on Angel and Xander before running after Cordy.


Fumbling at her door, Cordy's hands were shaking so hard that she couldn't fit the key into the lock. Gunn snatched the keys from her and quickly had the door opened. They stumbled in, only to watch in horror as Dennis' ghostly body was made visible for the first time as he was slowly consumed by a shadowy darkness. Cordy screamed again, trying to initiate her light but was only able to produce a faint glow. She fought Gunn wildly, scratching his face and arms as he restrained her from running to her ghostly friend's aid.

Dennis smiled at Gunn in gratitude before shoving them out of thartmartment, slamming the door with the last of his remaining power. Despite Gunn's undeniably sturdy shoulder thrusting at the door, they couldn't budge it. Then he tried once more and they fell through.

But he was gone. Dennis was gone. Cordy moaned low in her throat. She couldn't feel his presence in the apartment. Every time she came home, no matter how tired or exhausted she was, she could always feel him. Now she felt nothing. It was just an apartment. Her friend was gone.

Leaning on Gunn, she was barely aware that he guided her back to the hotel.

Later that day, around sunset Xander woke up. Slowly he stretched, feeling the delicious pull of muscles and tendons in his body before he relaxed. Then the vivid image of the previous day's hasty coupling reared its head and Xander lifted his head from Angel's chest, regarding the vampire with startled, dismayed brown eyes. His eyes dropped to the teeth imprint. Oh, this is so not good, he moaned sily, ly, staring with almost hypnotized eyes at the clear impression of a human bite mark marring the thickly corded throat.

In a flash he recalled sinking his teeth into Angel's neck, and with startled dismay, he also recalled waking up and freeing Angel's arms from the shackles. Eyeing the Claim mark on the pale throat his hand irresistibly was drawn to the vivid reminder of Claiming the vampire. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a ivory hand reaching for his neck in turn. With a single touch on their Marks, white lightening raced through their nerves, setting them on fire.

Angel's eyes opened wide, flashing repeatedly between human and demon. He yelped and slid back from Xander, his eyes fixed on the mortal gazing at him with equally startled eyes.

“Deadboy, what the fuck happened?” Xander rasped out hoarsely, struggling under the cascading images of the previous night. He shuddered remembering a shadow crouched on his chest, pressing the air from his lungs, and trying to steal his soul.

Not knowing what to think or how to feel about what had happen, he fell back on a tried and true method: blame Angel.

He refused to listen to the vampire's stumbling apologies, besides he already knew what happened. He came running to Deadboy for help and the sonavabitch fucked him! It was clear that either Deadboy didn't get a happy last night fucking his ass or somebody thankfully shotputted the vampireoul oul back into his body.

That was not the definition of help. Help was when you helped someone. Help did not mean, Oh Mr. Vampire please fuck my ass! Help meant Help!

Xander glared at Angel one more time before rolling over and pulling the covers over his head.

Angel eyed the stubborn bundle of humanity under the sheets and ground his teeth. Dammit, why did he always let that boy get under his skin?! Xander and Spike were made for each other, he thought angrily as he stormed out of the room. Then he stormed back in. His mouth open to rail at the ungrateful brat. He should have known that the boy would twist this all around and blame him. Pressing his mouth in a thin, bloodless line Angel furiously regarded the covered body before turning about. The vampire stomped away, muttering that he was a fool to be concern about Xander’s health. He had half a mind to go ahead and try to break the double-Claim! That’ll learn ‘im, came his dark maliciously thought. That’ll teach the inconsiderate wretch to mind his manners.

A fearsome scowl on his face, Angel headed for the lobby. Hitting the stairs, he began yelling for Fred, for Gunn, for anybody as he descende. Initally he was gratified to see them all coming running. At least until he noticed the number of stakes, wooden crossbows and crosses they carried. Firmly Angel ignored their lack of faith in him.

“Xander’s upstairs hiding under the covers. I'm going out, so somebody needs to check on him every now and then,” he said growled. Angel grabbed his duster and hurriedly slung it on. All he wanted right now was to get the hell away from Xander, this place. Everything.

“Uh uh, Mr. Tall, Dark and Bitey!” Cordy yelled as she slid a bolt home in her crossbow. “How do we know you're not Angelus?”

“Because if I was, Xander's guts would definitely be decorating my bedroom,” he snarled at her. His eyes darting swiftly to Wes' painfilled eyes, then away. Guilt began eating at him at how he betrayed the trust of the last person he had ever wanted to hurt.

“Fred...” Gunn said, and jerked his head at the stairs. Nevering ing his eyes off the vampire as the girl ran fleetly up the stairs. A few seconds later, she ran breathless back to the stairs.

“He's alive y'all,” she called to them. “Mad as hell and feisty but alive.”

Giving them all one last angry burning look, Angel departed.


Coming to an unspoken agreement to exclude Wes, the other three members of Angel's team would share the duty of keeping an eye on Xander. Fred took her turn that night, then it was Cordy. However, by midday, Cordy had announced that if she had to listen to Xander bitch and moan one more second, she was gonna kill him.

With a sigh, Gunn went upstairs to sit with Xander. Yet within an hour of listening to the boy bellyache about how unfair his life was, how Angel had totally fucked his life up AGAIN and a whole lot of other nonsense about how miserable he was Gunn finally reached his kill point as well.

“...I come to him asking for help and what does he do? Disappears that’s what!” Xander continued his mini-rant.

“I hate it when she's right,” Gunn muttered, though he did say it loud enough to capture Xander's attention.

“Huh?”

“Cordy.” Gunn had a disgruntled look on his face. “That girl just doesn't know how to act when she's right. All that crowing and dancing, then she has to do that pointing thing all up in your face. That just pisses me off! That ain’t even right. I hate admitting when that girl is right about anything.”

Xander snickered at the look on the man's face. “Yeah, she used to pull that on me too. So what's she's right about?”

“That you're an ungrateful little asshole,” Gunn said calmly, crossing his arms and staring at the dropped-jaw look on Xander's face.

The dark-haired young man closed his mouth with a snap. Then his face flushed darkly with rising fury and he opened his mouth...

“Nah, boy! Uh uh, you see, we all have been sitting up here listening to you badmouth Angel. What?....Do
you honestly think we've been sitting up in this here hotel waitinr yor your skinny behind to show up? You think we don’t have anything better to do or we don’t have lives of our own? There are people and demons out there, ones that we help just about on a daily basis. Nhey hey need to wait until your royal highness gets better?! Man, you's a damn fool! Angel, Cordy, everybody here has something to do. Important things that we dropped to help you! But you had to go and ruin things, dinya?! Why couldn’t you just quietly say thank you and then keep your mouth shut?! ‘Cuz all I’ve heard so far from you is that life ain't fair. So, you can't get your fuckin' groove on with your dead boyfriend. Boy growup! Ain't no-goddamn-body ever guaranteed that your life was gonna be fair! In fact, I’m pretty sure it’s written in a book somewhere that Life ain’t supposed to be fair!”

Xander’s face paled alarmingly at the angry words spewing from Gunn's lips and he opened his mouth to say something....What, he didn't know.

“SHUT UP, I’m still talking! You listen to me, and you listen good. Angel. Had. A. Life. You understand that? He had someone that he cared about and loved. But he gave that up to save your sorry thankless ass! He even thought that he would become Angelus to help you. And all you can do is whine about how he ruined your life! Somebody should have slapped some sense upside your head a long time ago and maybe you would have grown up some.” Gunn was on his feet, shouting and breathing hard. Half-ashamed of the harsh words spewing from his life, but he was just so tired and angry. At Angel, at Wes, himself, at this whole damn, stinking mess.

He opened his mouth to blast er aer again, but checked himself at the tight look on the other man’s face. Gunn eyed the boy uneasily, realizing he had gone maybe a tad too far. While he wasn’t exactly the best judge, but he really didn’t think White people were supposed to look THAT pasty-white.

Relenting, he changed tacks. Resuming his seat, Gunn tried to soften his words. “Look man, all I’m trying to say is this: You're too damn old not to know that shit happens. And when that happens what you gotta do is pick yourself up and deal with the mess the best you can. See, Life ain’t about being fair. Life is about learning, surviving and growing. The way I see it, you have two choices: You can lay back like a little bitch, pissing and moaning about how unfair your life is, or you can get your raggedy-ass up out of the bed, be a man and apologize to Angel and Wesley.”

“Wesley...?” Xander squeaked out, his eyes stretching to the maximum in his astonishment. Surely Gunn wasn’t saying what he thought he was saying? Say it ain’t so, Joe?

“Yeah, Wesley. Him and Angel have been searching for a way around the no-happiness clause for the past several months,” Gunn admitted softly. But there was something in his voice that caught Xander's attention.

“You're in love with one of them...” he said slowly, wonderingly. His eyes a little thoughtful. While not ignoring the harsh things the other boy had said to him, he willingly allowed himself to be sidetracked by this new knowledge.

Gunn smiled bitterly, his eyes distant and tearbright. “If Life was fair, I wouldn’t have had to kill my vampire sister; if Life was fair, Wesley wouldn’t have been gutshot last year; if Life was fair Cordy wouldn’t have had to become part demon to continue serving as Angel's connection to the Powers That Be; if Life was fair Fred wouldn’t have spent five years of her life as a slave on a demon world. Sometimes Life really doesn’t give a fuck about you and what you want.”

“Af lif life was fair, Angel would have Claimed Wesley instead of me,” Xander said in a low voice. Gunn shrugged and looked away.

“Yeah, like I said, Life just doesn't give a damn about you or me. Life… just is. You can scream, pound your fists and deny it all you want. But it isn’t gonna change a damn thing.” The dark young man quietly stated. He sat back down in his chair and began pointedly to read his book again. Leaving Xander alone with his thoughts.

By the time Angel finally returned late that night, the hotel was eerily quiet. He had spent the better part of over 24 hours without letup, questioning and calling in all the favors he had at his disposal, trying to get answers about what was going down in Sunnydale. Added to his angry frustration, he was extremely tired and exhausted as he mounted the stairs. Despite himself, and using every vampire stealth trick at his command, he snuck into Xander’s bedroom. Just feeling a strong inclination to check on the youth. Gazing at the boy, he noted that the boy look better. He turned to leave, his movements as silent as a ghost.

“Angel...?” Came a low sleepy voice from his bed, startling him in a muffled yelp of surprise as he jumped and turned around.

“For God's sake Xander, you could have given me a heart-attack!” He exclaimed in a furious whisper.

“Uhm....I'm sorry?” Xander leaned over carefully and snapped on the bedside light.

“Fine, whatever...” Angel said dismissively. Trying to get out of the room before he got into another argument with the boy.

“No...I mean I'm sorry about being a pain in the ass about all of this...and saving my life. I've been acting like a real jerk and...being all kinds of ungrateful. I'm grateful because clearly you didn't need to save my life, though I'm grateful that you did. Save my life, that is. Because grateful people, grateful MEN say stuff like that though sometimes real manly men just give their savior a hard, manly pat on the back and a significant look that sorta expresses the way they feel but sometimes I think the savee needs to actually speak the words 'cuz that look sometimes really gives the impression that people hafta go to the bathroom really bad and stuff like that...which is kinda ewww when you think about it though lots of people don't really like to think about what people do in the bathroom. Which is really strange because as far as I know, everybody has to piss and do ‘you-know-what sometimes. It all comes out from the same two holes, except women have, you know, a slightly different way of pissing… and you have that look on your face so I'm gonna shut up now,” Xander’s gush of words slowly ground to an embarrassed halt under the bemused expression that was on Angel's face.

Angel drifted over to the bed and gravely studied the anxious look in the boy's wide brown eyes.

“Seriously, you and Willow, you're both demons, right? Maybe one with an extra pair of lungs. I've heard of demons that can stun their enemies with a barrage of words,” he said with a considering air. “Tell me the truth, I promise I won't tell anyone. It's just something I have to know since its been bugging me for years.”

Xander smiled, then began snickering at the serious look on Angel's face. Holding his sore ribs, he fell back on the pillows almost breathless with laughter as the vampire fought to hold his mock serious expression.

Laughing quietly Angel sat on the bed watching the giggling young man, wondering where his anger at the boy had gone. It was still there but somehow...it seemed muted, almost intangible. He sighed, looking down at his hands. Angel began brooding on just how this whole situation got to be so fucked up. He had no idea how or where to start untangling the mess.

Xander's laughter came to a hiccupping stop. Groaning in pain, he carefully sat back up. Sighing as well, Xander picked at the fabric of the boxer shorts he was wearing.

“We're so totally screwed, aren't we?”

“Yeah, and none of my usual contacts can tell me what the hell is going on in Sunnydale. The only thing I can sense is that Spike is still walking the earth,” Angel said, his anger at this damnable situation he was in coming closer.

“I have to go back...” Xander said softly without looking at the vampire that he KNEW was his husband.

“If you go back, you more than likely will die.” Angel pointed out carefully. “And I think, so will I.”

The dark tousled head came up. Doe-like brown eyes met calm whisky eyes steadily. “Then what do you think I should do? I can't leave them like that. There's got to be a way to stop whatever the hell the shadows are trying to do and save my friends.”

“By your own admission, they are not your friends anymore. It was only because Spike had Marked you that you were spared a similar fate. What makes you think that just because you're Claimed that instead of making you one of them, they won't kill you?”

“I dunno,” Xander shrugged, his eyes still fixed on Angel's calmer ones. “I just have a feeling that there's a way to get them back. It's just like when Kirk had this space walk accident and was trapped between dimensions, Spock never gave up on getting Kirk back. Even though these alien dudes were about to destroy the Enterprise, he had faith that his Captain was still out there and that he would find him. And I won't give up on them.” His voice was quietly determined. Come hell or high water he would find a way. Or die trying.

Angel blinked in surprise and drew back. Was this the same, whiny boy he had left last night?

Xander smiled and ducked his head, feeling shy for some reason. “Gunn, he's a real smart man. He said a couple of things that people have been trying to get me to see for years. 'Course they didn't exactly put it the way he did. Probably if they had, maybe I would have listened,” he muttered to himself.

“Hello, my name is Angel. I'm a pig's blood drinking vampire...” Angel said with a half-smile and an outstretched hand.

“Please t'meetcha. I'm Alexander Harris, but my friends call me Xander.” He solemnly shook Angel’s hand, a pleased smile in his eyes. “Why don't you call me Xander?”

“Xander...” Angel said slowly with a pleased smile of his own. But still he wondered warily how long this quasi-truce was going to last.

“Well, back to the Sunnydale problem we still need to do some serious research,” he said warningly at Xander's happy bounce in the bed.

“Oooh, I am soooo good at research. Maybe not as good as Willow...” and Xander's voice faltered for a moment before he swallowed determinedly. Pulling a bright cheerful smile out of tir, ir, he continued,
“...but I'm still lots better than Buffy any day of the week.”

The dark vampire studied the despondency lurking behind the mischievous grin. “You miss her don't you?”

“Wills...?”

“Yeah.”

The young dark haired man’s shoulders slumped desolately. “She was always there whenever I needed someone to help me. When my mom and dad drank and forgot to buy groceries, I could always go to Willow’s and she would fix me a peanut butter sandwich. I couldn't have jelly because we weren't allowed to pick up glass and breakable things like that. She would fix me about or tor three sandwiches and we would wrap them u I c I could take them home with me just in case mom and dad were still drunk. At least then I would have something to eat.” His eyes was soft, lost in memories of his childhood. Angel listened, fascinated at this private glimpse in the lives of two of the Scoobies. He felt a slight chill wash over him at the darkened look of sorrow and pain in the dark, brown eyes. He leaned closer to the half-whispered words.

“My dad…? When he was drunk, he was….” Xander broke off with a wince. “By the time we were seven, she knew something was wrong. She tried to make things better and told her parents. She was actually hoping that her parents would let me come stay with them. Instead a Social Worker came out. But to my house. And for once my parents were sober and the house was cleaned. A couple days after that visit Willow and I played doctor...” his voiced dropped to a soft whisper. “...not the naughty kids version. We played for real, and she never told anybody ever again.” He took a deep shuddery breath, clenching his jaw tightly against the sting of tears. He heard Angel's softly muttered litany of curses, and had time to feel awe at the number of words the vampire knew.

“Shit Xander...”

“A really intelligent person told me that life ain't fair. It ain't never gonna be fair,” Xander retorted harshly. “So I need to learn how to start pissing lemonade when life hands me lemons.” He settled back against the pillows, feeling his adrenaline rush wearing off. “Now, how are we gonna rescue my friends?”

Angel eyed the young man, easily recognizing the classic avoidance tactics. Clearly Xander preferred not to mention the subject any longer. Following the younger man's lead he touched on all the information they had managed to put together over the last few days. Casually reclining against the pillows, despite his extreme tiredness, he tried discussing what they had unearthed. Which was little. Sleep stole so softly across him that he wasn't even aware of it as he slid smoothly into the comforting arms of Morpheus with barely a pause in his words. But Xander had already gotten a sizable lead on the race for sleep.

Waking up, both men believed they were with their loved ones. Angel, feeling the sensation of a warm human male imagined he was holding Wesley in his arms; while Xander wallowed in the cool embrace thinking that he was with Spike. He nuzzled his cheek appreciatively against the smooth chest, smiling at the soft purr his touch evoked. Feeling a cool palm stroke his face, he slid his hand up, running his fingers gently against his lover's neck. At just about the same time, cool digits stroked down his neck and liquid fire raged through them both.

“Angel...” was shakily quivered out as he peered up into startled, slowly fading brown eyes.

Despite himself, Xander slithered and stretched himself over the alabaster chest. He began laying hungry, passionate kisses over the broad expanse of marble flesh, even as Angel clutched him closer. Both men extremely discomfited by the sizzling electricity echoing between them.

“This isn't right...”

Angel moaned as Xander nuzzled at his chest with soft greedy lips. He spread his fingers in the tumbled silken locks and pressed the mortal closer to his aching nipples. He groan harshly when Xander opened his mouth and began sucking on the erect fleshy nubs. Between their writhing bodies, their lengthening organs were hard and ready.

“I know...”

Ruthlessly fisting his hand in Xander's hair, Angel dragged the flushed panting face to his waiting lips and delved into the moist, heated interior. He thoroughly explored the liquid heat, mapping the sweet taste of the boy with a voracious passion that he knew was decidedly unnatural. But he couldn't stop from touching Xander, palming the twin globes of hot succulent flesh that bunched senuously in his hands. Angel pulled back, he could see the aroused bewilderment in Xander's eyes. An emotion he knew was reflected in his own.

“The Bond...” Angel moaned into Xander's arched throat. In between nipping, sweet kisses he murmured, “Oh sweet Jesu, Xander it's the fuckin' Bond.”

Xander rubbed himself against a solid granite shaft, gasping and offering his neck to Angel's cool lips and tongue. Whimpering at the scorching arousal storming through his veins. His cri cried out for Spike, but his body...his body screamed Angel's name endlessly. Tears fell from his eyes as a sense of betrayal washed over him again.

“Angel....oh God yes!...I don't...oh...oh...
please...” he panted arching his ass firmly into Angel's cool hands. He writhed with horrified delight when his cheeks were parted and a thick digit began stroking his puckered opening. Teasing it open, to relax for the invader. Mewling fitfully when the cool, teasing digit was withdrawn Xander stared down into Angel's aroused golden eyes, as the vampire deliberately bit into his own fingers. Then he squirmed lewdly at the cool, wet sensation caressing his opening.

“Oh, God! Angel...I don't want...” His words broke off with a lusty cry when Angel's finger sank slowly into his ass. When the thick digit nudged his prostate, he knew he was lost. Waves of sizzling pleasure caressed every nerve of his body. He couldn’t think, he couldn’t fight….With a low moan, he sank into Angel’s cool heat.


Wes looked up. “Did anyone hear that?” He looked at Gunn and Cordy, then looked at a puzzled Fred. All three shook their heads, they didn't hear anything. Shrugging, he lowered his head again to the thick book he was engrossed in. They were all frantically searching for Xander's shadowy people. But unfortunately, none of them were having much luck. Wes just prayed that Xander would be safe from Angelus predation.

But at a loud scream from above, all four shot to their feet. Exchanging horrified looks with each other, they raced up the stairs and burst into Xander's room, and froze at the sight that met their eyes. Wesley felt his heart shatter in a million pieces at the blind look of passion in the two men's eyes as Angel and Xander made love. Though both men were ed ted towards them, there could be no doubt as to what they were doing, despite the blood red sheets covering their lower bodies. The lazy movements Angel made behind Xander; the corded arm draped over a sweat gleaming hip and hidden beneath the covers; the slow rocking of the young man's body and the shifting movement at his front.

That look of pure bliss...it was unmistakable what they were doing.

Wesley wanted to scream in denial. He wanted to savagely rip Xander away and take his proper place. Hot, bitter jealousy filled him. Angel was supposed to be his, god rot his treacherous soul! What about the tender plans they made while wrapped in each others arms? Or the promises he could see in the dark brown eyes each time he plunged the dildo in his own ass for Angel's pleasure? What about the words of love they exchanged?

Then he shuddered in dread as the vampire's face rippled and shifted into demonface. He was shocked to see Xander arch back and pull the terrifying face down to his neck, moaning with delight when those sharp teeth tore into him. Passion was expressed in every line of both men's bodies.

Yet still the men continued, seemingly unaware of their aghast audience as they shifted in the bed. Now Xander was straddling Angel. The sheets fell down, pooling at Angel's thighs, then Gunn gently drew Wesley away. Shutting the door on the sight of a sweaty Xander riding the thick embedded shaft with a look of ecstasy and Angel pulling on the younger man's lengthy organ with evident pleasure.

But they couldn't help hearing the loud orgasmic cries from the room, causing Wesley to stumble as he walked down the stairs. But he was saved a nasty fall by Gunn snatching at him hastily. The large black man’s face tightened with stifled rage at the blank look Wes turned on him. Only a blind man could see that Wes wasn't with them anymore. He was still inside that room...watching Angel and Xander. Gunn cursed softly under his breath, damning Xander and especially damning Angel.

Cordy placed her hand gently on Gunn's corded forearm, gi him him a hidden sympathetic look. She was also cursing both of the men upstairs for causing Wesley so much pain and incidentally, hurting Gunn. Angel, Wesley, Xander and Gunn reminded her of that damn crazy mess that she, Xander, Oz and Willow had formed. Then and now, both brought pain in the end.

Her eyes took on a flat dangerous look. She wished that she had let the shadowcreature suck the fucking life out of Xander.

“I...I...think I need to get some fresh air,” Wesley said almost desperately. He just had to get away from his friends' sympathy. He felt like he was drowning and he needed to find a nice dark place where he could cry and scream without anyone hearing or seeing. At another loud cry, he jerked his arm from Gunn's grasp. Stammering senseless words, Wesley fled down the stairs and seconds later the front door slammed.

“Cordy, I’m gonna say this once. If another one of your friends from Sunnydale shows up in the hotel, I’m gonna slam the door in their face. Then I’m gonna board up the doors and windows, just to make damn sure they don’t get in,” Gunn stated flatly. But his eyes seethed with rage at the actions of the two men upstairs. He didn’t know Xander all that well, but Angel….Gunn shook his head in disbelief, what the hell was that damn fool thinking?!

“Don’t worry, I know a place where we can get the boards cheap,” Cordy replied shakily. But in her eyes, there was a look of bewildered anger. Why would Angel DO this to Wesley? And especially with Xander. What happened to the healthy, mutual loathing that existed between the men? It was like one of the immutable laws of the universe. Why were people constantly changing?! She turned and glanced at Gunn with angry eyes. “Last time, he almost killed me playing around with another girl behind my back. Does someone really have to die for him to learn? And I sure as hell don’t like the fact that Angel is apparently is following Xander’s lead in this.” Blinking tears of hurt frustration from her eyes, Cordy shortly ordered Fred to come with her. They left the hotel followed by Gunn.


Upstairs, the Bonding process continued within Angel and Xander. Sapping them both of strength until they barely had enough energy to collapse on the bed. Wet spot, schmet spot...neither cared very much. Sleep...now that was something to get excited about. But in the back of their minds was the image of their friends staring in shock at their entwined bodies. And man were they bitterly aware that there were going to be serious repercussions on their waking.


Several hours later, just before sunset, Wesley dithered outside the hotel. Biting his lip nervously as he stared at the doors, hesitant to go through. Afraid of what he would find or see once he stepped through the entrance.

Wesley turned gratefully at his name being called. Hardly surprised to see Cordy, Gunn and Fred strolling towards him. Though he was a bit taken aback by the hard gleam in his oldest friends’ eyes, then understood. He was touched by their concern and anger. He knew what they were feeling was out of worry and concern for him. Wesley gave them a half-hearted smile.

“Hello, I was just about to go in,” he said to them. Where he got the strength to smile at them, he didn't know. But there was no use of him making a bloody show out of being made a fool.

The three exchanged looks. Gunn had spotted Wes at the hotel long before the two females did. While too far to shout his name, the Englishman wasn't too far for them to see him pacing restlessly in front of the door. Pausing every now and then to gaze at the entrance before beginning to pace again. Knowing the anxiety that must be plaguing the proud man, they had hurried their steps to provide at least some support. They just hoped he wouldn't be too upset at them for beating the daylights outta Angel.

“Yeah, us too.” Cordy gave him her widest smile, abruptly frowning when he looked at her nervously. “What?! I can't be nice to people? Sheesh!” Grabbing the doorknob, she swept inside. Her eyes narrowing at the sight of Xander sitting in a chair across from Angel. Both were eerily in the same classic, brooding posture. Heads hanging low, shoulders slumping. They both looked like they carried the weight of the world on their backs. She just wished that the heavy load would break Xander's back.

Mixed with her anger was the feeling of pain and betrayal. Despite what she said to Gunn about Xander, she had always had a soft spot in her heart for her ex-boyfriend. But still he had to pay for hurting Wesley. It was just how life worked. Low-down dirty bastards had to get what was coming to them. Her eyes were flat as she stalked forward.

“Cordy, stop...” Angel said quietly, getting to his feet to stand protectively in front of Xander.

Wesley winced at the telling gesture.

“Angel, don't...” came softly from behind him.

“Yeah, Angel...why don't you move away from the little backstabbing bastard.” The dark-haired girl had a glittering smile on her face as she glided forward, with Gunn and Fred at her back.

Angel’s stomach clenched at the sight of Wesley’s shuttered face, before the man muttered an apology and tried to run out the door.

“Wesley listen, you don't understand!” He shouted and darted after the surprisingly fleet man. Racing out of the hotel, he managed to grab Wesley by the arm.

“What more do you want from me?” Wesley whirled around and yelled. His eyes were painfully bright and glistened with tears that he refused to let fall. He would be damned if he would shed another tear for Angel. If nothing else, he still had a smidgen of pride left.

“Please come back inside, we need to talk,” Angel said softly. Rigid control kept his mind focused only on getting the man back into the hotel. But at the stubborn look on the other's face, he sighed. Stooping swiftly, he slung the stunned ex-Watcher over his shoulder and calmly walked back inside, kicking the door shut behind them.

Cordy, Gunn and Fred stood with their mouths opened, shocked out of their murderous rage. “Okay, is it just me, or did I just see Angel run outside to get Wes?” Gunn’s voice was thoughtful.

“I don't believe it, but I saw it too. You think we need to have our eyes checked or something?” Cordy looked up at the big man uncertainly.

“Put me down, you pea-brain idiot!” Wes shouted furiously. He gasped in surprise as he was lowered to his feet. After adjug hig his clothes, he swiftly punched Angel in the stomach, then his jaw in swift succession before marching away to stand beside his true friends.

Xander covered his mouth to hide his smile at the feisty look on the Englishman's face.

“Now, what's this nonsense about Angel being outside? Of course, he can go outside. He's been doing it for well on two or three hundred years,” Wes snapped irritably.

“Ye-ah, but I thought ya'll said he wasn't able ta do that in the daytime, what with him going up in flames and all,” Fred breathlessly said with a nervous giggle. She peered hesitantly at the stunned ex-Watcher.

“Now are you willing to listen to me?” Angel said quietly to them. His face sad and regretful.

“Talk, but your little boyfriend needs to get the hell out of my sight before I put my shoe up his ass,” Gunn warned the vampire and crossed his arms. There was a pissed off look on his face.

Angel ed. ed. “Gunn, this concerns him and me. It concerns all of us.” He crossed the lobby and sat wearily on the couch. “Look, about what you saw this morning...” then he broke off to swiftly race after Wes, who was equally determined NOT to hear the sordid details.

“Wes, LISTEN to me, dammit! I'm sorry, I can't tell you how sorry I am that you had to witness what happened upstairs but you have to understand what's going on! This is a matter of life or death for all of us.”

“Fine, let's talk!” Wes spat out, trembling almost uncontrollably with frustrated rage as he shook free of Angel's grasp. “Let's talk about all the sweet lies you whispered in my ears! Let's talk about the plans we made to be together! C'mon lover boy, talk! We're all waiting to hear your pretty talk!”

Angel stepped back, his face becoming unreadable. “Give me your hand. I want to show you something.” There was something in his face that made Wes take a fearful step back. His hands, childishly fisted behind his back.

Gunn, Cordy and Fred exchanged puzzled looks. But they were starting to get a little freaked at the eerie smile that was spreading on Angel's face. Cordy more than the others, because she halfway remembered a similar smile from Sunnydale. But this was a little different from Angelus’ twisted, evil smile. Though not by much.

“What's the matter, Wes? Scared?” Angel taunted lightly.

Setting his jaw firmly, Wes thrust out his hand. His lips tightening at the remembered pleasure of Angel's touch and his stomach roiled uneasily.

“No matter what happens, what you see or hear...no one is to move a muscle until I say it's okay. You got it? Don't move a single step,” Angel glared around at his people. At their confused, grudging nods he switched his attention back to a puzzled Wes.

“Do you remember those nights we lay cuddled in my bed? Making all sorts of crazy plans? What we would do the instant my soul was permanently secured in my body? How many times we would make love?” Angel whispered sensually. Bright painful spikes were digging cruelly in his brain as images of Wesley sprawled across his bed paraded through his mind. He clenched his teeth at the ragged shards of agony speared through him. Tightening his grip, he held strong against the other's efforts to pull away.

At first, the remembered look of pleasure in Angel's eyes caused fluttering sensations to course through Wesley. He easily could recall the expression his lover wore. The look of hungry in those dark, golden eyes. Eyes that watched as he pleasured himself on the large dildo purchased especially for him. And sometimes Angel would be the one thrusting the mechanical aid deep inside him in lieu of the real thing. Neither of them were willing to risk Angelus making an appearance.

He felt a smile form on his face. Yet, suddenly something felt horribly wrong. He could feel his skin becoming clammy, his stomach roiling. Wesley blinked rapidly, startled out of his erotic imaginings, unsure of what was wrong. He swallowed hard, raising a hand hastily to his mouth, as sickness rose in his throat. Wesley tugged frantically at his hand. Trying to get away before he became violently ill all over Angel and himself. The more he thought of making love to Angel, the sicker he became and distantly he was aware of harsh screaming but he was striving with all his might to keep his lunch down and not shame himself. His nose began dripping. To his horror, bright blood was pooling then flowing was over his hand.

Xander felt his mind splintering, the longer Angel touched Wesley. He was gasping, struggling to master the agonizing pain. At first he tried to suppress his moans, but it was too much for him.

Clutching his head against the searing assault on his brain, he fell out of the chair, screaming. The young man lay curled in a ball of torment, his mind on fire, barely able to think past the flames licking away at his head. All he could do was scream, then everything went mercifully dark.

“What the fuc...?” Gunn breathed. His head had snapped around at Xander's first shout and when the man fell out of the chair, he made an instinctive movement to go to him. Then he heard an unearthly growl and quickly looked up into Angel's deadly gaze, Gunn checked himself. The words of warning the vampire gave coming suddenly to mind.

When Angel felt blackness dancing around the edge of his vision, he let Wesley go. Watching as the man ran to the wastebasket and dropped to his knees, heaving into the waste container. Again and again came the sounds of someone being violently ill.

Angel rested for a half a second before he approached Xander's unconscious body. Dropping to the floor with a harsh sigh, he simply pulled the boy's head into his lap, softly stroking the sweaty tousled locks. Feeling his pain slowly dying down and the fire in his head cooling to a mere bonfire, then gone. The boy stirred slightly.

“Are we dead yet?” Xander croaked out, then moaned as the movement disturbed his head.

“I still am, you're not...”

“Can you kill me?” Came the hopeful whimper.

“What just happened?” Cordy said slowly. She approached them carefully, then froze at the rumbling snarl Angel sent her way.

“Angel...?” Wes felt his stomach churn at the mention of the name.

Angel closed his eyes. “When we woke up this morning, we were immediately drawn to each other. We tried to fight it, but it was like there was this compulsion within us to mate. We saw you at the door, but we couldn't stop. Our minds were screaming NO but our bodies...” he choked to a stop. Xander sat up carefully and eased against the dark-haired immortal's side, his face becoming painfree as he took up the story.

“After we...anyway I started bitching and moaning about Spike, feeling that I had betrayed him. Naturally I remembered some of the better times me and him had. Every time I did, I felt this stabbing pain in my head.” He tossed Cordy a bitter smile. “But you know how stubborn I am. What's a little pain anyway, huh? So I kept on thinking about him, and the pain just kept on growing with every thought. I felt like my head was a chestnut roasting on an open fire. I probably would have wound up killing myself if Angel hadn't slugged me. Which reminds me, I owe you a punch,” he said in an aside to Angel.

“Are you trying to tell me that whatever is between you two is conditioning you to want only each other? By torturing you when you think of someone else until you're near insensible?” Wes’ voice rose in near astonishment.

“As far as we can tell, that's what it's doing. Though your getting sick and bleeding seems to be adding to its little bag of tricks,” Angel said soberly.

“You mean...” the ex-Watcher choked out, his face flushing at the remembrance of his thoughts. “Dear lord!”

Xander looked down. “So, not only can we NOT think about someone else, we can't really touch you or Spike either,” he said softly.

“But you...you were touching me before!” Wes looked triumphant. “You grabbed me and you were touching me!”

“Yes, but I wasn't really thinking THOSE thoughts about you. The minute I started, the flames began licking at my brain.”

Cordy took a caution step forward, and when Angel didn't growl or threaten her, she took another step. “So, what's with all the growly-bear and stuff then?”

“I don't know. I just know...I feel I have to protect him.” Angel’s face wore a look of extreme frustration at not being able to describe the sensations sweeping through him.

Cordy's eyes were narrowed as she crept closer, thinking furiously. Then she deliberately recalled the hot rage that she felt earlier. She just barely jumped away when Angel made a savage swipe at her. She darted behind Gunn and Fred, praying that this would at least give her a head start.

Angel was in full demonface and on his feet by the time she was safely away from him.

“Holy shit, Angel what the hell happened to your hands?!” Gunn yelled, his eyes wide in surprise.

The vampire face was contorted in menace, as he sniffed the air for the threat to his Mate. But at Gunn's words, Angel frowned in confusion, his face relaxing back into his human guise. He lifted his hands. Even he was startled at the length of thick black claws emerging from his hands.

“What the f...? Goddammit, Cordy what the hell did you just do? Don't try to deny it, cause I know you did something!” Angel shouted looking at the thoughtful look on her face. He was shaken at his response. He still felt a few tremors of violent rage shivering in his limbs.

“Nothing really. I just wanted to know something. When Xander was still hurting you wouldn't let Gunn get close to him. But once he looked okay you didn't have a problem. At least, not until I started feeling like bashing his head in with my ax. Then you would have killed me if I hadn't jumped away.” She shrugged, her eyes guarded as she glanced hesitantly at Wes’ remote features. Wondering just how he was taking all of this.

“How long do you suppose this will last?” Wes finally asked in a soft voice. His face showing little trace of emotion, but he felt like his fate hung on the answer.

“Oh, probably for about fifty years.” Came a smooth response from behind them. They spun around in surprise to find six strangers standing in the doorway of the hotel.

Wes' eyes narrowed along with everyone else. Long experience made them quite adapt at identifying demons. And at least three of the strangers were demons. Of course, the tale-tell signs were the heavy trench coats in the middle of summer. That and faint glimpses of orange, green and blue skin were dead giveaways.

Angel turned his attention to the humans standing next to the demons. Two females and one male. All wore hats that blocked his view of their faces but strangely enough he felt like he had known them forever. Then he felt Xander slip away from his side and he made a hasty grab for him. His instinct to protect the boy was screaming Danger! Danger! but Xander slithered out of his hands like water and he was left clutching at air. He tried to give chase, but he felt like he was moving through quicksand

Xander felt the three humans calling him, though he would swear on a stack of Bibles that their lips never moved. He felt like his life was part of the Twilight Zone Marathon. He tried to stop moving towards them. God knows he tried, cause he just knew in his bones that once he reached them, his life was never gonna be the same anymore. Not that it was perfect right now, but at least he sorta knew what to expect. Demons, doom and gloom.

He fought his body, screaming silently for his legs to stop moving. When he felt his right arm start to rise, he used the left to try to push it back down. He looked at the people in horror when their arms moved, raising in the air like his and he struggled evardearder to push his arm down.

Yet despite his strenuous efforts to stop, and Lord knows he wanted desperately to stop, he couldn’t force his hand down. Then his legs started moving. He was screaming for himself to stop. Predicatably, he ignored himself.

His hand outstretched, Xander reached them.

At the joining of their hands, a tremendous half-circle of light exploded outwards. The force of the massive concussion literally picked Angel, Gunn, Fred and Wes up off their feet. They were slammed harshly into the walls then slid down to the floor, slumping unconscious. Then came another rippling soundless explosion, knocking Xander and the other three humans violently apart.

The hotel interior shimmered, rippling like a mirage, as it was re-adjusted then it settled.