Healing

Part 36

Out in the living room Willow and Tara sat and ate their pizza and tried to ignore the sounds coming from the bedroom. It wasn't easy with them being so loud.

"Maybe we should turn the TV on?"

"Good idea. Let's do that."

Tara turned on the TV and they tried to focus on what Ross and Rachel were arguing about instead of the fact that Spike and Xander were having sex in the next room.

"Do you think Spike will be able to do this?"

"I'm sure he will. He spent a century with Drusilla didn't he? He must have picked up a few things about magic."

"Yeah, I guess. I'm just scared that I'll never get my power back."

"Oh, honey. Don't be scared, I promise you'll get better."

"Thanks Tara. You always know just what to say."

Willow gently kissed her girlfriend, but it turned into something a bit more than an innocent kiss. They pulled apart both flush and panting.

"This isn't a good time for this."

"No, it isn't."

They both leaned in and began kissing again. They were so lost in the moment they didn't hear the bedroom door open or the sound of footsteps walking toward them.

Spike and Xander took a moment to appreciate the view in front of them before retreating to the kitchen. They made sure to make enough noise that the girls would hear them. They didn't want to embarrass them at having been caught. Spike reheated his blood while Xander grabbed some pizza for them both and opened a couple of beers.

Spike grimaced at the taste of the pigs blood, it was bad enough in the first place but reheated pigs blood was horrid. He gulped it down quickly and then bit into a slice of pizza to get the foul taste out of his mouth. Xander gave him an understanding smile and pulled Spike toward him.

"When we patrol tonight, we'll see if we can't find some low-life scum you can siphon a couple pints from, okay?"

"Thanks pet. You know I still can't get over the fact that I'm whole again. That you did that for me."

"Told you, I love you."

"Yeah pet, I know. I love you too. Let's get on with this then. I need to go kick some ass."

The spell session lasted for just over two hours. Spike picked up on things rather quickly, it turned out he did have some remedial skills in casting. By the time they finished both girls were confidant that Spike would be able to perform the spell the following evening. The foursome headed over to Giles's to team up for patrol.

On the walk over Spike dropped back and waited for Xander to fall into step with him. Once they were far enough behind the girls he put his hand in Xander’s and gave it a squeeze.

"You think Rupert will keep his mouth shut?"

"About?"

"About earlier. In the kitchen?'

"Oh, yeah. He won't say anything. I'm sure of it. But I won't be surprised if he wants to talk about it some more."

"I'm not discussing this. Period."

"Not you. Me. I think he's starting to figure a few things out."

"Oh. Xan?"

"Yeah?"

"Have the cops found out about the other night yet?"

"Don't think so. My mom won't be back for a couple of days yet."

"You want she should find them like that?"

"Yes. I do. She knew, Spike. She knew and she didn't stop it. Let her find them."

"Right then. Let's catch up to the girls."

Xander and Spike quickened their pace until they were beside Willow and Tara. The four of them made small talk until they reached the apartment complex. Willow opened the door and they filed inside.

Inside the apartment all hell was breaking lose. Buffy insisted that she be allowed to patrol, that Cordy and Wesley stay behind and that just because she was without her strength didn't mean she wasn't still the slayer.

Cordelia and Wesley were both protesting being treated like children. They informed Buffy, none too quietly, that they regularly helped Angel to take out demons in LA and they would not remain behind.

It wasn't helping that Angelus was shouting from the bathroom about how useless they actually were and that they were in the way more often than not. Inciting that the only reason soul-boy kept them around was because Cordy had the visions and was a pretty face to present to the clientele, and that Wesley was good at research and a half decent lay.

Ethan was hollering about mistreatment and how not once did anyone offer him food, drink or a trip to the facilities. Giles stood in the middle of the room, his jaw clenched, his eyes squeezed shut and he was polishing his glasses so hard he had popped the lens out.

Xander and Spike looked at each other, then at the girls, and they backed quietly out of the apartment. As the door closed they let out a collective breath.

"Well, that was intense."

"You said it Wills, I don't think I've ever seen Giles so upset before."

"Well I for one am not goin' back in there. Come on luv, we'll go patrol and leave those tossers to sort themselves out."

It was Tara who offered a solution.

"Maybe I could silence them? I know a spell."

The other three nodded their approval and they reluctantly entered the apartment again.