Healing

Part 38

When Spike and Xander arrived the others had already returned. They gave their report to Giles and were headed out the door when they were intercepted by Buffy.

"Where do you think you two are going?"
"Uh, home, Buff. Why?"
"Home? Uh uh. No way! Xander, it is your turn to stay with Giles tonight. I'm going home."
"But ... Aw man! This sucks!"

Xander could tell that Spike was just as disappointed as he was. They had plans. Plans that involved being naked, sweaty, and maybe even covered in chocolate sauce. Xander was just getting a good pout going when Wesley approached.

"If you would rather not stay, I will. I mean, it's no secret that Spike and Angelus have... history. Perhaps it would be better if they were not forced to be around one another right now."

Xander was so happy he could have kissed Wesley, actually he did and just hadn't realized until he heard Spike growl.

"Oops. Sorry about that Wes, just ... thank you! Thank you so much. Come on Spike. We are so out of here."

Xander Dragged Spike out the door and toward their apartment. Wesley turned back and saw that everyone was staring at him in shock.

"What? Did I do something wrong, or would you rather put up with watching those two groping each other all night?"

Cordelia started to laugh at the bewildered expressions on the others faces.

"I think it's because Xander just kissed you. That and the fact that Spike let you live."
"Oh. Well I can't say it was expected or even wanted, but it happened. Get over it. Now I suggest that we all try to get some sleep tonight. Tomorrow will be stressful enough as it is."

The others filed out leaving Giles and Wesley alone to watch over their 'guests' for the night. At least they would still be silent as Tara was kind enough to leave the spell on them.

Giles looked over at Wesley who was slumped down on the sofa looking like a kicked puppy. He began polishing his glasses and sighed. He wanted to help the man, but how? It wasn't as if he approved of his relationship with the souled vampire, he couldn't. It was different with Xander and Spike. Spike was a souless demon, nothing to lose there. He had proved himself to be capable of love and commitment. Giles believed that Spike truely loved Xander, even if though their relationship had started out as victim and saviour.

Angel was a good man, however he was a horrible demon. The proof of that was shown when he tortured Giles, killed Jenny, and terrorized the children. He didn't trust the vampire, and he was proven right. The powers may have made his soul permanent, but it wasn't fool-proof. Drusilla had managed to bring Agelus to the fore, making the souls presence the weaker of the two identities and if they didn't find some way to break that spell the powers warrior would be forever trapped in his body with Angelus in charge.

"We will figure this out. Tomorrow after Spike performs the spell, we will have our abilities back and we will find away to restore Angel."
"Thank you Rupert. You must think I'm such a fool, getting involved with a vampire."
"It is none of my business who you are involved with. We cannot chose who we fall in love with, I have made greivous errors in that department myself."

Wesley looked up at the older English man.

"Was it the wizard? Ethan Rayne?"
"Yes, sadly I was not always the respectable British watcher. We were involved along time ago, when we were in our teens. I was a very different person then, wild, unrestained. We got into dark magics, raised demons, got wasted. Typical teenager stuff."

Giles smiled at Wesley and was relieved to see the man smile back at him.

"Thank you Rupert. I think I shall try to get some sleep now."
"Take the spare room, I shall sleep out here."
"Are you sure? I don't mind the sofa."
"It's fine, I was going to try to relax with a cup of tea and a book for a while anyway."
"Very well then, goodnight."

Giles put the kettle on for tea as Wesley went up to bed. He had no idea how they were going to help Angel, without the original spell they had no way to know how to counteract it. He only hoped that Willow and Tara had some ideas, because he was fresh out.


Cordelia went back to Buffy's house with the others. Since Dawn was staying at her friends house all weekend there was an extra bed and it was safer if they all stuck together. The four women were sitting around the table in the kitchen drinking hot chocolate. Buffy started to giggle and the others looked at her strangely.

"What?"
"Why are you laughing Buffy?"
"I was just thinking, I mean how strange is this? Both me and Cordy's ex's are getting it on with men."

Cordelia snorted.

"At least your ex is a vamp. I mean they're known for having no sexual preference. Xander is human, and was very much straight when I dated him."

Willow grinned and started bouncing in her chair.

"Oooo, and don't forget about Wesley. Didn't you guys have a thing for each other back in highschool?"

Cordelia mock-glared at Willow, and Buffy started laughing harder.

"Maybe it's Cordy? She turns the men-folk gay."
"Hey! I do NOT make men GAY! If anything, I'm so irrisistable I ruin them for other women."

Cordelia grinned and they all burst out laughing. It was good to lighten the mood, things were too serious at the moment. When the laughter died down Cordy frowned and asked the others what they thought about Spike and Xander as a couple.

"I don't know, they seem to be in love. I know, me being the slayer and all I should stake Spike for Xanders own good but he's not a normal vampire. He loved me once, I remember how that felt. I know he won't let anything or anyone hurt Xander so I'm okay with it."

Tara and Willow smiled at each other, they both were remembering the sweet kiss they saw them exchange in the kitchen at their apartment.

"Yeah, and you should see them together, I mean wow. I didn't know Spike could look so hot in sweatpants."
"Willow! Aren't you gay now? And when did you see Spike in sweatpants?"
"Earlier, Tara and I went to Xander and Spikes to teach him how to cast. They had just woken up and they wereh weh wearing nothing but sweatpants. They kissed in the kitchen, it was so sweet I wished I had a camera."

Buffy and Cordy were looking at the other two with curiosity.

"Sweet? Somehow I just can't picture Spike, 'Mr. torture my boss with hot pokers' doing anything sweet. Sexy? Hell yes, but sweet?"

They laughed again. Buffy shook her head.

"What do you suppose they're doing right now?"

Willow and Tara giggled. They had a very good idea of what they wdoindoing, and they had the soundtrack of it running through their heads. Cordy gave Buffy a 'duh' look and patted her on the shoulder.

"What do you think they're doing Buffy? They tore out of Giles place like the devil himself was after them. I bet they didn't even make it home before they were all over each other."

The girls were all picturing Spike and Xander together and smiled. It was a nice visual after all.