Altered Perception

Sacrifice

Spike was kicking himself, what on earth had possessed him to say that to Xander? The bloke had just been thanking him and he’d had to go and say that. Before he could say anything to try and explain himself though he saw a look of terror on Xander’s face, those expressive brown eyes that Spike found endlessly fascinating were liquid pools of fear. Pain coursed through Spike, he felt his dead heart shatter, the boy must have figured it out. That he wanted him and that had inspired this terror.

A sharp pain in his leg and Xander looming towards him, it took him a second to realise as he heard the breath from Xander’s lungs whoosh out as his weight settled fully on top of him that Xander had swiped his legs out from under him. He was stunned, barely acknowledging the delicious heat radiating from the boy and seeping into him. He revelled in the scent of Xander’s sweet breath and was shocked at the scent of arousal that slammed into him despite that bloody awful aftershave that the boy had been drowning himself in over the last couple of months and turned with a confused look as Xander sucked in a deep breath.

Spike found himself flipped onto his back with a speed he would never have imagined the boy having. He saw a flash of red and then suddenly his senses were overwhelmed as the scent of Xander’s blood filled the night air. He saw the demon stand looking momentarily confused above them both it’s glance flickering between the pair of them on the ground and a stake it held in it’s hand, the pain and shock that shone in Xander’s eyes and he suddenly realised what had happened.

He rolled them both, settling Xander gently onto his back and leapt to his feet, with an outraged roar that rent the air he charged the demon. There was no conscious thought to his actions just a blind, all consuming fury, Xander had been hurt, perhaps fatally to save him and this creature was the one responsible. Fists and feet flying, he revelled in the pained noises the demon was making. The only thing that could possibly distract him happened and he heard a rattling breath from Xander lying just feet away on the ground. Snarling he wrapped his hands around the demons neck and with strength fuelled by fury and desperation he wrenched its head clean away.

As soon as the corpse hit the ground he flew the 4 feet until he knelt at Xander’s side, lifting his head and cradling it in his lap. He was unable to stop the wetness gathering in his eyes, he looked frantically around the cemetery, spotting the rest of the gang gathered around the damaged Buffy-Bot he shouted “Rupert, get your arse over here now”. He started as a warm hand touched his face and met Xander intent gaze. “Spike” Xander was panting with the pain from the injury he’d received, Spike could feel the warmth of his blood seeping through his hand which was supporting Xander, cradling him to Spike’s body which had unconsciously wrapped itself protectively around the boy, his boy.

He was dimly aware of Red’s wail as she saw the two of them and understood the situation, he heard Rupert pull out his cell phone and call 911 and felt Tara run a calming hand along his back. All of this he was aware of yet his focus was entirely on the boy in his arms. That warm, callused palm was cupping the side of his face and his thumb swiped a lone tear that had fallen unnoticed by Spike “don’t-“ his sentence was choked off by a gasp of pain “don’t be upset Spike”. “ssshh luv, don’t try to speak yeah? Just – just hold on. Rupert’s phoned for an ambulance and it’s gonna be here any second now. We’ll get you to hospital and the doc’s are gonna patch you up and then- then you and me are gonna have a bit of a chat, about stuff ‘kay?”

“You said-“ another rattling breath, Spike shuddered as he realised it sounded wet “that you’d never lie to me. You about to break your promise now?” Xander managed a weak challenging grin. Suddenly Spike heard the distant wail of sirens and relieved he flashed a shadow of his usual smirk at the boy in his arms “not lying” he pouted “ambulance is nearly here” flashing a glance at Giles he said “Rupert, someone needs to meet them at the gate. Direct them to where we are” Giles stood unmoving, apparently not hearing Spike. “I’ll go” Tara said, pressing a quick kiss to Willows lips and saying “he’s going to be OK sweetie” then a swift kiss to the top of Xander’s head she whispered “be back so quick you wont have time to miss me” before standing and running at full speed towards the cemetery entrance.

Spike concentrated on Xander’s vitals, pulse was slightly slow but steady, it was the wet gurgle that accompanied each inhalation that worried Spike, he suspected that the stake had punctured Xander’s left lung. He started into Xander’s eyes convinced that if he held that gaze then nothing bad could happen. He heard the light footsteps of Tara fast approaching, followed by the heavier tread of at least 2 other people. Still he refused to look away, convinced that if he were to look away Xander would die. When the paramedics approached and tried to move Xander he snarled, Willow’s shaky hand on his arm calmed him enough to realise that he needed to let them work on Xander.

Helping them to roll Xander onto his good side, giving them access to the wound on his back and the lesser one on his other side Spike lay down on the damp grass so he was face to face with Xander. Fixing him with a stern look he whispered in a strained voice meant only for Xander’s ears “don’t you dare bloody die on me luv”. Xander gave a wobbly laugh “that’s right, you’d grieve for me wouldn’t you” Xander’s tone was meant to be joking but Spike could see the panic in his eyes as they heard the rapid chatter of the paramedics behind them, Willows frantic questioning to them about whether Xander would be OK, Tara attempting to soothe Willow and a low pained chanting from Giles “not another one, God help me if I kill another one of my children”.

“Yes, I’d bloody well grieve for you, but more than that I’d be pissed off as hell” Xander snorted then winced as one of the paramedics did something behind him. “why the hell would you be pissed?” Spike grinned suddenly, “because I’ve an overwhelming need to kiss you and then hopefully shag you stupid luv, can’t very well do that if you’re not around can I?” He saw Xander’s pupils dilate and quickly glanced at the paramedics working behind him to see if they had given him something for the pain. However he was then blasted with the unmistakable and irresistible scent of Xander’s arousal for the second time that night and he grinned again when he realised that Xander was simply reacting to his suggestion.

He leant in closer, deciding that arousal was a far better smell on Xander than fear or pain and intent on distracting Xander with more suggestions as to what he was going to do to him when he was well again when suddenly Xander gasped and one of the paramedics grabbed his radio, “this is unit 2-12, we’ve got a major trauma coming in ETA 20 minutes. Stab wound to the back, suspected punctured lung. Inform surgery” after receiving confirmation from the dispatcher that his message had been received he turned to face Spike “we need to move him now” before turning to gather their equipment and the stretcher they’d brought with them. Spike saw Xander struggle for breath and a slight blue tinge appear on his lips.

“looks- looks like you’re not going to get that kiss” Xander panted, Spike angrily wiped an errant tear away and growled at him. “Don’t-“ he choked up “don’t say that luv, you’ll be fine, just don’t speak and try to concentrate on breathing ‘kay?” Xander nodded which worried Spike more than anything. That day that Xander Harris agreed with him without an argument was in his own words the day he died. Spike moved to allow the paramedics to put Xander on the stretcher, he glanced around and saw that the ambulance had followed the main path in and was only a few yards away from where they were. He grabbed one end of the stretcher and motioned to one of the paramedics to grab the other, snarling at the other one to go and get the engine started.

They’d barely taken a step when the small beeping box that they’d settled near Xander’s feet beeped erratically then emitted a high pitched, continuous wail. Spike stared bewildered until his ears caught what the machine was already reporting and what the humans had already figured out, Xander’s heart had stopped.