New Order

A/N: Thanks for the reviews on the last chapter! I was wondering if anyone was still reading this. Dae-glad you're liking it! And here's some more for you!



Beta: carinas_carinae



Xander watched Oz enter his new room and place his bags on the dresser. He saw Angel’s expression and noticed the fury building there. Xander realized he needed to intervene. “Angel, it’s okay. You really didn’t expect him to stay in there with you and Spike, did you? This way I won’t be alone.”



For some reason, that reassurance didn’t make Angel feel any better but he knew he wasn’t going to win this argument so he turned and stalked out of the room. He was going to find something to punch, hard and repeatedly, and if it happened to resemble a certain redheaded wolf, Angel wouldn’t mind one bit.



Oz walked over to the bed and Xander. He wanted to run his hands through Xander’s hair, but refrained. He really needed to figure out what the hell was causing him to act this way.



Xander looked pitiful. His body was so thin, and Oz could feel the pain emanating from his entire person. Not just physical pain, although there was plenty of that in his weakened condition, but the emotional pain of facing the vampires again.



He watched Xander staring down at the blankets and his hands lying on top of them. Oz reached out and laid his hand over Xander’s. “Xan, do you think you could clue me in as to what’s going on here?”



Xander shivered and looked up at Oz. Of course his friend deserved an explanation, so he slowly recounted the events of 3 months ago. Oz couldn’t believe everything that his friend had been through but at least now he understood the vampires’ reactions. And he possibly had an explanation for his own.



“Well, that explains Angel and Spike. I was wondering how all that came about. So, did Willow take care of the spell?” Oz watched Xander’s reaction and saw him pale. “Yes, she said she did, but she wasn’t able to find out who cast it.”



Oz couldn’t resist and climbed onto the bed next to Xander. “It’s okay, Xan. We’ll get this worked out.” Xander curled up against him, seeking more comfort.



“I don’t know if I can do this Oz. I want them so much but it was all a lie. How can I go back to where we were?” Xander couldn’t stop the tears that came again. He was so tired of fighting.



“You don’t have to go back. We go forward. You’ve been claimed by two powerful vampires. There’s nothing we can do to change that. You can’t be away from them. But I’ll stay here with you until it gets sorted out. You won’t be alone.”



As he spoke the words, Oz promised himself that he would help Xander without adding to his problems, but the more time he spent with the man, the more Oz wanted to be with him. They really needed to get to the bottom of the spell so Oz could know what was causing him to react this way.

Oz held Xander close and felt him drift to sleep again. He needed the rest so he could continue to heal. Hopefully the blood from Angel and Spike would help him get better faster.



He looked up when he saw movement at the door. Spike was standing there glaring at him. “Shh. He just got to sleep.” Oz whispered the words and slowly untangled himself from Xander.



Eyeing the vampire carefully, Oz approached the door. “Spike, I don’t think the spell was completely taken care of. I know you don’t want to hear this, but I think it’s impacting me as well.”



Spike growled but didn’t move towards Oz. The werewolf was prepared to defend himself, but didn’t want to have to. He continued to speak. “It’s weird. It’s as if I can’t imagine not being around him even though I’ve never felt that way towards him before.” He looked at the vampire before continuing. “He’s hurting Spike, because he knows what he had with you wasn’t real.”



Spike spun on Oz and pushed him against the wall. His eyes flashed to yellow and his fangs dropped threateningly. “You know nothing about what we have with Xander. It is real and you aren’t going to get in the way.”



Oz gasped for breath as the vampires grip tightened on his throat. When Spike finally eased up he took several deep breaths before trying to speak. “I don’t want to get in the way. I want for Xander to be okay and if he wants me here, I’m not leaving.”



Oz let his wolf come out a little and felt his teeth and claws grow. “I will protect him, even from you, if I have to.” His words enraged Spike and the vampire lunged at him again. Soon they were fighting full out and they didn’t stop until they heard another roar.



Angel heard the sounds from downstairs and rushed to find out what was going on. He knew Spike wasn’t happy about Oz’s presence - hell, he wasn’t either - but he expected his childe to control himself.



Immediately angry at the sight of the two fighting, Angel grabbed Spike up by the nape of his neck and held the struggling vampire as he grabbed the wiggling werewolf and started dragging the two down the stairs. Both stuggled to remain upright and by the time they reached his office, they were no longer fighting against his hold.



“What the hell are you thinking, childe? Attacking the wolf right outside Xander’s door? What if he had woken up and found you like that?” Angel wanted to continue but at his mention of Xander’s name he saw Spike’s stricken face and stopped.



He turned to Oz. “And you. You say you want to look out for him. How? By fighting with us? Is that how you plan to help?” Oz looked similarly chastised and stared at his feet.



“Both of you need to get it together. Xander needs to be our first priority and it’s clear that he needs all of us to get through this.” Angel turned to Spike when his childe grumbled at his words. “Do you want Xander to leave again? Do you want him to leave with Oz?”



Spike settled again when he was confronted with the truth of Angel’s words. He knew Xander was struggling right now and as much as he hated it, his pet did seem to find comfort from the werewolf.



Angel looked back and forth between Oz and Spike. “You two need to find a way to put this aside and get along. For Xander’s sake.” Then he stormed out of the office and they heard the front door of the hotel slam.



Spike looked at Oz, trying to figure out what it was about the wolf that Xander seemed to need. He was cute, in an ‘I’m a werewolf with a hot little body and red hair’ kind of way that Spike could appreciate. He remembered that Oz was supposed to be really smart. He liked smart too, just not when it interfered with his pet.



“So, mate, guess we oughta not beat the crap outta each other anymore, huh?” It was as close to an apology as he was going to make.