Healing

Part 25

Ethan pulled the hood away from his face.

"Ripper! Good to see you again old boy."

"Too bad I can't say the same."

Buffy watched the interaction between Spike and Dru, and Giles and Ethan. She was waiting for the opportunity to strike. She needed to know what they planned, also she wasn't sure where Spike's loyalties lay. Sure, he loved Xander, but he had loved Dru for over a century. He wouldn't hurt Xander, not physically, but he might leave him, or worse - bring him along.

Spike was having similar thoughts. He loved Xander, no doubt about it, but Dru was his sire and he felt compelled to go with her. Now that he was whole again, he could turn Xander, make him his childe and assure that the boy was his forever. They could roam the world, his dark princess, his Xander and himself. But that was the problem, he wouldn't be his Xander. He would be a demon, not the strong, caring, loving man he had fallen in love with. If he joined his sire, he would have to leave Xander behind. He couldn't turn him, he wouldn't and Dru could not be trusted not to kill him if he didn't.

Xander was sure of only one thing, he'd dust Dru before he let her take Spike away from him.

"Drusilla dear? Are you ready?"

Ethan turned slightly to look at the insane vampiress. Dru smiled at him and began to wave her hands around as she chanted. Willow, Tara, Giles, and Wesley strained their ears to try to catch what she was saying. Unfortunately they couldn't make out the words and the spell was cast.

When Drusilla stopped chanting she looked at the group of would be heroes and frowned.

"No fun! Didn't even try to stop me."

"Now, now. It's best that they didn't. You know we're on a schedule."

Dru looked at Ethan and pouted.

"But I wanted to play with the little witch. She looks so tasty, like peaches and cream."

Ethan rolled his eyes and turned back to Giles.

"It's so hard to find good help these days."

Buffy had heard enough. She wanted action and was getting ready to strike. Angel saw her tense up from the corner of his eye and turned to her.

"Buffy, don't. She's done something, something feels different."

Buffy looked around at the other people in the room. Everything looked the same, what was Angel talking about?

"What do you mean?"

"I don't..."

Angel spun around and growled at Dru and Ethan, suddenly he realized what it was he was sensing, or rather not sensing. Somehow, Dru had stripped Buffy of her slayer power. Not only that but she had bound the others magic.

"Ooooh, Daddy's angry. His golden girl is withered and bare, his boy is bound and helpless."

Dru began clapping and spinning in circles.

"Dru, let them go. Undo it, now!"

Ethan, more than a little anxious to get on with things grabbed the vampiress and shook her slightly.

"We don't have time for your madness. The magic users are helpless and the slayer is weak, now is the time to bring back Angelus."

A collective gasp rose from the room. No one wanted to see the return of Angelus. Spike growled at the warlock and his sire, he was not happy. Angelus would try to take Xander, he had no right but he would still try. He wanted to grab the boy and make a run for it. Maybe they could get enough of a head start if they left now.

Xander seemed to sense what Spike was thinking, for he leaned down and whispered in his lovers ear.

"I can't leave them Spike. If Buffy is powerless as well as the others they need me. I have to stay."

"No. You don't."

"I do. Spike, I won't leave them to die. I didn't do that you that night in the park, why would you think I could do it to them?"

Spike knew Xander was right, it was just the boy's nature to help. He wouldn't leave a friend behind, not if it cost him his life. Spike resigned himself to once again helping the good guys and hopefully keeping his insane sire from releasing Angelus. Spike kissed Xander quickly and sighed.

"Right then, let's do this."

The group may not have had any magics, or a slayer's strength for that matter but they did have two vampires. Angel went for Dru, not sure whether he could trust Spike to defend the humans from his sire. Dru was anticipating the move and as Angel grabbed her, she sliced into his chest with a dagger.

Buffy, Cordelia, Willow and Tara weren't able to do much. With no magic, no super powers, and only two opponents they would just be in the way. Buffy made sure to keep the other girls behind her and safe from any attack that might come their way.

Giles, Xander and Wesley all went after Ethan. With no magics to help them, they were having a hard time against the chaos wizard. Spike shook his head and went to help Angel. He saw Dru cut him, and then drop him to the floor. His princess was spinning circles and clapping her hands again. Not a very good sign.

"Dru, what did you do?"

"Mmm, just a little spell. It's a wicked spell, my Spike. It will bring Daddy back, Daddy likes your pet, Spike. He'll make him beg and bleed. Such a pretty boy, his screams will sound like music."

Spike had heard enough. There was no way he was gonna let Angelus anywhere near Xander. He spun Dru around in a circle so she was pressed tightly against his chest. He kissed her, softly.

"You know I love you, right princess?"

Spike closed his eyes as he drove the stake through her back, piercing her heart. He felt her disintegrate in his arms and wiped the lone tear from his cheek. When he looked up Xander was there.


Xander, Giles and Wesley had finally subdued Ethan and knocked him out. Xander left the two former watchers to tie up the wizard and went looking for Spike. What he saw when he found him was shocking.

Angel lay in a broken heap, eyes open and vacant. Spike and Dru were standing over him, Spike holding his sire close. When Xander saw Spike lean in and kiss her, heard his declaration of love, he was about to turn around and walk away. It was only the slight movement of Spike's hand as he withdrew the stake from his coat that stopped Xander. He watched in horror and awe as Spike plunged the stake into Drusilla’s back. He knew then, that he shouldn't have doubted his lover.

Xander pulled Spike into his arms and kissed him. He held Spike as the vampire shook with silent grief. To kill your own sire was almost unheard of, and to do so for a human, even less. He and Angel were probably the only vampires who had ever done that. At that moment all Xander wanted to do was take Spike home so they could have some privacy.

Buffy had seen the entire thing, she was as awestruck as Xander. Spike had actually dusted Dru. For Xander. She had to get everyone out of the school, get Angel some help and break the spell that Dru had cast. First off she needed to talk to Spike and Xander.

Wesley and Giles had finished tying Ethan and were now in the process of lifting Angel off the floor, when Buffy came over. Xander was still holding Spike, who had his eyes closed tightly and was shaking. Xander looked at Buffy and shook his head sadly. She nodded.

"Xander, why don't you take Spike home? We can get Angel and Ethan back to Giles's."

Xander smiled gratefully and made to pull Spike away. Spike lifted his head from Xander’s shoulder and spoke so softly it was almost hard to hear.

"Tie him up slayer, he isn't Angel anymore."

Xander and Spike walked away leaving a stunned and saddened group behind them. Buffy and Giles began tying up the apparently comatose vampire on the floor while Cordelia held a sobbing Wesley.

Tara pulled her girlfriend away from the others and whispered in her ear.

"I still have my power, I think I can break the spell she cast but I can't do it here. The power of the Hell mouth is too negative."

Willow looked at Tara in confusion.

"How? Why didn't it work on you? We have to tell Giles."

"No. I don't want to get their hopes up. My mother gave me this when I little, when I first started practising magic with her..."

Tara pulled a small medallion on a chain out from under her blouse.

"...it has a powerful protection spell on it, it keeps me safe from anyone who would try to take my power."

"Okay, we'll go back to the dorms after we help the others get Angel back to the shop."