Healing

Part 32

By the time Willow and Tara got there, everyone had pretty much accepted the fact that Spike was able to hurt them but wouldn't. Giles had explained his part in Ethan’s being bitten, namely that he had told Spike to do it. Buffy was shocked at Giles actions but she could understand his reason for doing it. Ethan and Dru had violated them, stripping them of their powers and leaving them in a weakened state. She likely would have told Spike to bite him as well.

"Wh - where are Xander and Sp - Spike?"

Everyone turned to look at Tara but it was Giles who answered her.

"They are in the spare room, there was a bit of an incident earlier, with Angelus."

"Oh. Is - is everyone okay?"

"I'm sure they're fine, just a bit shook up is all."

Tara and Willow joined the others, sitting down with a cup of tea. Tara was curious to know if they had gotten any information from Ethan but since she didn't see him she assumed they hadn't. She figured it would be all up to her so she swallowed her fear of addressing large groups, squeezed Willow's hand for support and spoke.

"I have something to tell you all."

As Tara explained about her medallion, and why she was unaffected by Drusilla’s spell the others listened in silence. When she finished, explaining that if her assumptions were correct, their only hope was Angel or Spike. Giles began polishing his glasses as he spoke.

"We were told the same thing by Ethan, after Cordelia and Wesley... er... persuaded him to talk. Only he never mentioned Spike, only Angel. Why do you believe that Spike could undo the spell?"

"Because Dru was his sire, they have a blood connection. Angel would be a better choice as her sire, but I think, with a bit of help, Spike could do it as well. I'm just not sure he will. I mean, he's made it pretty obvious that he doesn't like any of us, so why would he?"

The group couldn't help but smile. They were sure that Spike would help them, even if he hadn't admitted to liking them, he loved Xander so he would do it for him if nothing else. Buffy jumped up and hugged Tara.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you! Don't worry about Spike, he'll help."

"Um, you - you can't beat him into helping us this time, Buffy. You aren't strong like that anymore."

Tara ducked her head and blushed as Buffy gaped at her. Did she really come off as a violent person? As she thought about it she realized she did. Buffy smiled sheepishly and sat down.

"I wasn't going to hurt him. I just meant that you guys weren't here for the whole 'Spike has his bite back but isn't going to hurt us because he actually likes us' speech."

Both Willow and Tara shot up out of their seats. Willow practically bounced as she spoke.

"Spike is fixed? Who fixed him? How?"

"Yes, he is capable of violence toward humans again, Xander, and he used an electro magnet."

"An electro magnet? Of course! It's so simple it would have to work. I can't believe I didn't think of that! And I call myself a geek?!"

Everyone giggled at Willows outraged expression. It was a rather simple solution to a very complex problem, no wonder they hadn't thought of it. Although, none of them were sure they would have done it even if they had figured it out.

"Can we go see Spike? I want to ask him if he will help us."

"Actually, Xander asked that they not be disturbed. Spike was rather... Upset."


While everyone else was downstairs discussing the spell and whether or not they could teach Spike to cast, the vampire himself was lying in bed being held by the only person in the world who made him feel safe. Even with Angelus just down the hall, Spike was content as long as Xander was holding him.

"What did he do to you Spike?"

"I don't want to talk about it, ‘kay pet?"

"No, but I'll drop it for now. I just wanted to know what I'm hurting him for, not that I really need details. He hurt you, I hurt him."

Spike couldn't help the warm glow he felt, Xander wanted to take on Angelus for him. He held his lover tightly, if Xander wanted the truth he would tell him, it was the least he could do.

"He told me that he owned me, now that Dru's gone. That he wanted to hurt me... Rape me."

The last part was whispered so softly, Xander almost missed it, but not quite.

"I'll kill him!"

Xander leapt from the bed and stormed out of the room. Spike followed, bare chested, as his shirt had been torn. Xander walked straight to the weapons cabinet withdrew a crossbow and a water pistol and went straight back upstairs. Spike slumped on the sofa, unable to bring himself to follow He wasn't ready to face Angelus again, not yet.

Tara got up and quietly followed Xander; Wesley and Cordelia behind her. Willow went to Spike and gently tugged him into her arms. She stroked his head in a soothing fashion as she told him not to worry about Xander, that he wouldn't do anything rash. Spike was too stunned by Willow's gentle touch to respond. Besides, they had no idea what he had been through - what Angelus had said to him - to understand why Xander was acting the way he was. Spike was content to just allow the witch to hold him, he'd always liked her.

As Xander slammed into the bathroom Angelus turned to address him, a bored expression on his face.

"Well well, if it isn't the do-nut boy. Come to yell at me for upsetting your little fuck-toy?"

Xander answered him by squirting him in the face with holy water. He then raised the crossbow and aimed it at the vampires chest as Angelus howled in pain. When the vampire quieted, he spoke.

"Spike, is not my fuck-toy. He is my friend, my lover, and my claimant. I will not allow you to hurt him again. You're damn lucky that I like Wesley, and that I don't want him to suffer. Otherwise? Soul or not, I'd have dusted you. I don't like you, I've never liked you. Come near him again, and I will dust you. You got that dead boy?"

When Angelus remained silent, Xander fired the bolt at him. It stuck in the middle of his chest, just under the heart.

"I believe I asked you a question? Do you understand? Spike is mine! You will leave him alone or else."

Angelus glared at the boy but grunted an affirmative and gave a terse nod. Xander put down the bow and stepped forward. He raised the water pistol and aimed it at the vampire. He reached for the bolt.

"No funny stuff, or the bolt stays in."

Xander grabbed the bolt and twisted it hard as he pulled it free. Angelus screamed in pain, Xander found it most satisfying.

"I think I'm gonna keep this, souvenir you know. Maybe I'll hang it on my living room wall. Makes a nice conversation piece"

That said, Xander walked out of the room, past a shocked Tara, an impressed Cordelia and a very upset Wesley. Xander stopped in front of Wesley and rested a hand on his shoulder.

"I didn't do anything permanent. He'll be fine, eventually."

"I - I understand. Thank you Xander."

"Don't thank me, I still might kill him. It's up to him now, he comes after Spike again..."

"I know, perhaps we should join the others in the living room. Tara thinks she has found a solution to part of our problem."

"Which part?"

"The first spell, the one that bound our magics, and weakened Buffy."

Xander nodded and followed Wesley back to the living room. He couldn't help the smile that crossed his face when he saw that Willow was cradling his lover to her chest and whispering soothing words in his ear. If she weren't gay, and very much in love with Tara, he would have been jealous.