The Birthday Present

A/N Make sure that you have read chap 23 before this as posted one after another!

Angel makes an appearance in this chapter and a Spangle warning is added to Spike/Lindsey

Chapter Twenty-Four

The fingers of Angel’s right hand tapped a staccato beat on the steering wheel of his car as he sped towards Sunnydale and, more importantly, Spike. Giles had been supportive of his need to go right away, and had told Angel to take as long as he liked. Angel smiled wryly as he thought of the relationship he now had with the former Watcher, compared with how it had been when he’d been dating Buffy. Back then they had barely tolerated each other, but now they had, to both of their surprise, become good friends and not just work colleagues. When it had been decided a halfway house needed to be established in L.A., it had been the logical step for it to be he and Giles who set it up. That was where The Initiative sent vamps to have their protective coating and so was a good place for a centre.


Buffy. Angel was looking forward to seeing her again but knew that it hurt her when he couldn’t show the emotions to her that he used to before his capture. When he’d first been rescued by her, before he’d even got to his new owner’s home, they both had thought that they’d simply pick up where they had left off, with the added benefit of Angel now able to go outside in the sunlight. But he just had nothing to give to her. He hadn’t resisted the ‘training’, his soul telling him that it was karma for all the harm that he’d done, and self preservation kicked in – it was pointless to resist, so why try? The pain chip was in your brain before you woke up for the first time after capture and that couldn’t be fought against.


Angel’s fingers strayed to the slight depression at the back of his skull. Like all rescued vamps, the pain chip was still there, ready to fire if he attacked a human. The only time that he’d really fought his captors was the first time they buggered him. Despite the chip firing, it had taken four techs to eventually strap him in position. Angel’s features vamped out and he gave a low growl as he remembered how he’d paid for his disobedience. They’d left him there for a day, bent over a pole with his wrists shackled to his ankles. They’d removed the plug that kept the lubrication system working and inserted a ring that held him open, allowing the lube to dry out completely.


Angel had thought that it had hurt when the ring was unceremoniously ripped out but that was nothing to what happened next. He never saw what it was that they rammed up his ass but it was huge and sandpaper rough. He’d still had his voice then and he’d screamed until he was hoarse. When it was finally pulled out, slick with blood, the techs had all taken turns, not that he’d really been able to feel them by then. It had been four days before they’d untied him from there. He’d been unable to walk and had passed out. When he regained consciousness, his voice and hearing were gone. He’d been unable to move his fingers from the first day. The techs had been nervous of him because of his size and bulk.


Angel looked at his fingers now tapping on the steering wheel and shuddered at his memories. He turned on the car’s radio in the hope that it would chase them away. He’d been good after that. Done everything that they wanted him to do. Sucked, what seemed to be hundreds of cocks, suffered through being buggered several times a day in a variety of positions. He had never realised that he was that flexible. Then, that creepy guy came to make sure that his tattoo didn’t show through after being coated. Angel had barely been able to resist trying to bite him; the guy just enjoyed his work that little bit too much.


He’d never spoken to Buffy about what he’d gone through. He knew that she knew though, because she had heard it over and over again from the other rescues. That was why he had been unable to be with her. The looks she’d given, without realising it, when he tensed if she touched him, made everything come flying back to him. Her touch made it impossible for him to get past what had happened. He’d had to leave for the sake of his sanity.


Sanity. Would Spike be insane? Was that why Buffy said that staking would be the kindest thing? Spike wouldn’t have given in. Even when faced with overwhelming odds, Spike couldn’t help but fight on regardless. It was who he was. The fact that he was in that place for so long told Angel that that was exactly what Spike had done after capture.


Angel stamped on the gas pedal, forcing the car to the maximum speed that it was capable of. If ever Spike needed him, he needed him now.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~


Oz looked down at the sleeping figure of Lindsey. His sobs had finally faded away, but not before thoroughly soaking the leg of Oz’s jeans. Now he was asleep with his head still resting on Oz.


Oz gentle manoeuvred his way out from under Lindsey without waking him up and walked to the bedroom to find a blanket to cover him with. He cursed softly as his foot kicked a wooden box just inside the door to the room. The lid of it was open and Oz did a double take when he noticed its contents.


“What the hell?” he whispered as he bent over to take a closer look.

He took a sharp intake of breath as he realised that he’d found Lindsey’s box of sex toys. He shuddered as he saw the assortment of gags and what he presumed where things that he shoved up Spike’s ass. God, could something that big actually fit? What had Lindsey’s dad done to Spike to scare him so badly when his ‘boyfriend’ obviously used this stuff on him? Then he remembered that Spike had been full of drugs that made him love Lindsey; maybe it was okay if you thought someone loved you and that you loved them? Oz glanced back towards where Lindsey was sleeping. He was tempted to get one of the gags and stuff it in his mouth, see how Lindsey liked being on the other side of the games that he played.


Only the fact that, for Spike’s sake, he couldn’t let Lindsey know that he knew what was going on and where Spike was, kept him from doing it. Instead he pulled the quilt off the bed and carried it back to Lindsey, covering his sleeping figure with it. Oz got himself another beer from the refrigerator, found a bag of pretzels in a cupboard and then settled himself back on the couch. Sleep had never felt so far away for him. He hoped that Spike was doing okay.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~


Willow and Xander stared as Buffy led Spike into the kitchen. They were sitting at the table, drinking coffee and Xander was eating some leftover pizza.


“Er…Buff…is that a good idea?” said Xander.


“He can’t stay down there; he’s terrified,” replied Buffy.


A look at Spike confirmed that. The vampire was hunched over as if trying to make himself smaller meant that he wouldn’t be seen. The knuckles on the hand that clung to Buffy’s were white. His eyes staring resolutely at the floor, and was panting slightly.


“There’s nowhere to restrain him up here,” said Willow practically.


Spike’s shudder at her words was apparent to them all. Buffy stroked his arm with her free hand. “It’s okay; you’re not going to be tied up again.” The shuddering didn’t stop.


Buffy turned back to Willow and Xander. “Trust me on this, okay, guys? Angel’s on his way. He knew Spike before and we think that it’ll help him. I’ll sit with him until Angel arrives, and we’ll work out how we handle this situation then,” said Buffy in a voice that brooked no argument.


“We trust you, Buffy. I’m just not so sure –”


“This is how it’s going to be, Xander,” said Buffy, cutting his protest dead.


“Okay, okay,” replied Xander.


He resisted the urge to ask her if she had a stake close at hand. Willow had been telling him about Spike, and the vampire sounded the most unstable that they’d ever worked with. He hoped that Spike wouldn’t turn on them.


“Can you bring some more blood in for him please, Willow?” asked Buffy.


“Sure,” said Willow, getting up and walking to the refrigerator as Buffy led Spike out of the kitchen and into the lounge.


Buffy prised her hand from Spike’s grip and rubbed it to get the circulation going again. “Make yourself comfortable.”


Spike hesitated and then shuffled to the nearest armchair, sat in it, and pulled his legs up to his chest, mirroring the position that she’d found him in downstairs.


“Spike, look at me,” said Buffy. Spike lifted his eyes to hers. “Try to relax, okay? You’re safe. I’ll protect you. Nothing bad will happen to you in this house.”


Spike’s expression didn’t change and as soon as she stopped talking, he let his gaze drop to the floor once more. He jumped when Willow walked in.


“Here’s the blood. Do you want me to give Roger some more too?” Willow asked.


Spike whimpered at the sound of Roger’s name. Buffy and Willow exchanged glances. It wasn’t uncommon for the rescues to be aggressive towards each other. After having to do whatever their owners wanted, they seemed to need to establish that they weren’t at the bottom of the pecking order any more. Roger had definitely upset Spike in some way.


“No, I think that he’s had enough for now. I just want to boost Spike’s intake to speed up the regeneration of his fangs,” replied Buffy.


Spike raised his head at the mention of his fangs. He opened his mouth but closed it again.


“What is it, sweetie? You can talk freely to us,” said Willow, giving him the mug of blood.


“W...will they…really…?”


“What? Grow back?” said Willow. “They should. They’re already breaking out of your gums, so there’s no reason to think that they won’t grow back completely.”


Spike’s eyes filled with tears of relief. He blinked rapidly and concentrated on the mug cupped in both of his hands.


She patted his shoulder gently and looked at Buffy. Without saying a word she managed to let her friend know that she agreed with bringing Spike out of the basement.


“Thanks, Wil,” said Buffy gratefully.


Once Willow had left, Buffy picked up the remote control, turned on the TV and sat down on the couch. Spike had tensed when he’d seen her get hold of the remote. She put it on the arm of the chair that he was sitting in.


“Here, you decide what you want to watch,” she said.


Spike looked at the controller as if it was going to bite him for a while before picking it up in a shaking hand. Don’t be scared. Lindsey had one of these for the TV – not like the one that controlled me. He put it back down and took another sip of blood before he got the nerve to push a button. To his relief, nothing happened to him and the TV came on to a cartoon channel. He stared at the screen. He remembered watching cartoons with Lindsey. His face relaxed from the strained expression it had had since he’d been brought upstairs and a faint smile played on his lips.


Buffy smiled at his reaction. Bugs Bunny – soother of abused vamps; who’d’ve thought it? She settled back on the couch and surreptitiously watched as Spike slowly unfurled his limbs and sat in a more comfortable position. He didn’t tense up when Xander quietly left for home and Willow went upstairs to bed.


When he’d taken another mug of blood, his eyes began to get heavy and though Buffy could see that he tried to stay awake, he lost the battle and soon was fast asleep. Buffy sipped the strong coffee that she’d made and hoped that he wouldn’t have any nightmares. The little vamp needed some proper rest. She glanced at the clock on the mantelpiece; Angel should be here soon if he had left right away.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Angel sighed with relief as he saw the sign for Sunnydale. He’d driven so fast that he was worried that he’d get pulled over by the cops; something that he needed to avoid at all costs. Though he could pass as human on a daily basis, a run in with the police would see him dusted within seconds. Since Willow and Buffy had set up their rescue operation, The Initiative had worked closely with the police to try to track all those registered as missing. Angel was one of those. That’s why he’d thought up the plan of buying them at yard sales and the like – that way the paperwork was in order and the vamps were never listed as missing.


He pulled the car on to the drive of the house on Revello Drive. He turned the engine off and sat there whilst the engine ticked as it cooled. With a deep breath, he opened the door and climbed out. This wasn’t going to be easy. He could see a light burning in the lounge room as he walked to the door and tapped lightly on its surface. Within seconds, it was opened and there she was; the former love of his existence, Buffy. Even tired, with shadows under her eyes and her hair in tangled disarray, she was beautiful. He cursed The Initiative for driving such a wedge between them.


For a moment, both stared at each other. Angel knew that Buffy was taking in the change in his appearance. He wore his hair longer these days, needing it to hide the scar where his bar code was removed from the back of his neck. The silicon coating prevented it from healing as it should. Even without a reflection, he knew that his face was gaunt. Giles was always telling him to eat more but his appetite just wasn’t what it should be and unless prompted could go days without realising it.


“Angel,” said Buffy eventually, “Come on in. He’s just through here.” She gestured to the lounge.


Angel stepped over the threshold and bent to brush his lips against her cheek, breathing in and savouring her once so familiar scent. “It’s good to see you, Buff,” he said softly.


Buffy squeezed his hand. “You too, Angel.”


She didn’t trust herself to say any more. He hadn’t been in a bad way when they had rescued him but she was shocked by the change in him. The weight loss didn’t suit him and made him look older than he usually did. She knew Giles had said that Angel wasn’t eating too good. Buffy thought of the mess of a vampire sleeping in the lounge and feared for him. Would he be capable of a decent life after this? Or was he just too badly damaged. She was glad that Angel was there to help with that decision. She hated having to stake them after all that they had been through.


Buffy led him to the lounge and they both stopped as Angel saw Spike for the first time in four years. He was sitting on an armchair, his legs curled up beneath him, head resting on his hands on the chair’s arm. He looked so small and frail.


Angel glanced at Buffy; the expression on his face told her how shocked he was at the sight of Spike. She wondered what Angel would think when Spike woke up, as to her eyes, he looked at peace whilst he slept.


“Go and get some rest, Buffy,” said Angel. “I’ll keep an eye on him, and you look beat.”


She smiled at him gratefully. “Thanks, Angel. You know where everything is. Just yell if you need me.” She cast her eyes over Spike. “He’s a mess, Angel. I’m not sure he’s going to come back from this.”


“If anyone can fight stuff like this, it’s Spike,” said Angel adamantly. “He’s tough.”


Buffy shook her head sadly, “Be prepared for the worst. He’s not looking so tough right now.”


“I’ll bring him back, Buffy. I’ve got to,” said Angel quietly.


“We’ll I’ll go to bed. If you need me…”


“I’ll call. Don’t worry; I’ll take care of him.”


Angel didn’t move until he heard Buffy climb the stairs, then he walked over to the couch, sat down and regarded Spike carefully.


Oh, man, why did you have to go and get yourself captured?


Angel wondered if Dru had been with him when he’d been caught. He had no sense of her death but since he’d been coated in the silicon he found that he couldn’t trust his senses as much as he used to – everything seemed a little muted. One thing that he hadn’t missed though was the scent of arousal on Buffy, he’d like to think that it was for him but he’d seen how she’d looked at Spike. Angel hoped that she would do nothing about if for both their sakes.


Spike began to whimper in his sleep. Little frightened noises that Angel hadn’t heard Spike make since he was a fledge. Angel went to him as Spike began to thrash in his sleep, almost falling off the chair.


Spike’s eyes flew open as he felt his wrists being restrained. He panicked and vamped out, growling and snarling at Angel. Angel’s eyes widened as he saw the half grown fangs. He hoped that Spike had been unaware when they’d taken them away. It was one of the most traumatic things that a vamp could be subjected to.


Angel easily held him until his struggles died down and let go as Spike went limp. For a moment, Angel thought that Spike had passed out, but he slowly lifted his head and stared with amber eyes at Angel.


“Lindsey?” he whispered before shaking his head rapidly. No, not Lindsey. Stupid. But something about the figure in front of him seemed familar.


“Hey, Spike. Do you remember me?” Angel said softly, smiling at the trembling figure.


Spike’s face faded to human. He felt something – something similar to what he’d felt with Lindsey. If he wasn’t Lindsey then it must mean only one thing…


Spike smiled sweetly at Angel. At last he’d be safe again. He’d know what he had to do and could stop trying to think. Spike reached out tentatively with his hand and laid it firmly on Angel’s crotch.


“Owner.”


He moved on the chair and began to unzip Angel’s pants. His intent was obvious as he lowered his face to Angel’s groin.


“Got to please owner.”


Tbc