All I Need...

* * * * * * * * *

Part 38

Giles groaned loudly when he saw the incoming mail from ‘the Dark Avenger’.

He had only the vaguest recollection of starting to write to the vampire a few nights—mornings, really—earlier, and while he supposed he could have checked his sent messages, he was truly frightened to find out what he might have said.

If he were very lucky, he may have cursed at Angel, he figured, but if so… the much older man likely wouldn’t have replied, and from the looks of things, he had.

The Watcher groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose before placing his glasses back on his face and opening the e-mail with a sigh.

The sigh quickly became a very loud “bloody buggering hell! I’m going to kill that girl!” as he flew from his desk and from the office-cum-library, snatching his jacket on the way.

A series of very curt phone calls later and Giles was in a car on the way to Heathrow where the Council’s jet was currently fueling and filing an emergency flight plan for Los Angeles.

His eyes were hard, face tight as he strode across the tarmac, only then realizing that he hadn’t thought to take his passport. “Bloody… hold the plane,” he snapped, “I’ve forgotten…”

“Nothing!” a breathless voice called and Giles turned to see the last thing he’d expected—Mrs. Cook, who was oddly enough the cook at the Watcher House—hustling her rather large self after him, her face red and beaded with sweat.

“Mister Giles!” she gasped, flustered and exhausted after both driving in the London traffic and then dashing as quickly as her blocky, sensible shoes would let her. “Here… sir…!”

He blinked, taking the small overnight bag and packet of documents she was shakily extending, then broke all the rules of class and position, employer and employee, and hugged her hard. “Mrs. Cook. You are…” Giles shook his head, releasing the flustered woman. “I have no idea of how you knew, or how you followed me so quickly, but I thank you.”

The older woman nodded slowly, still catching her breath. “Go, sir! Hurry! I saw the e-mail on your computer, so go save young Fran from herself!”

Giles nodded sharply and turned away, making a mental note to triple the woman’s salary as soon as he returned… as well as find out how exactly she knew what Fran was up to with an Amphora of Descent.

* * * * *

“You’re where?” Angel demanded, looking at the phone like it had suddenly sprouted feathers, “And… what?”

The heavy brow furrowed as the impatient voice on the other end of the line repeated its words of moments earlier, although more slowly this time.

“Okay. Okay, Giles, just… no, I wasn’t! Come on, why would I tell you to calm down?” Of course, he had been about to say that, but he’d be damned if he’d admit it now. “Look, just… okay. I’ll find her and make sure she doesn’t do anything stupid.”

Angel groaned silently and rolled his eyes. “I did not say Fran was stupid! I said I’d keep her from… you know what? Never mind. I’ll just get Dawn to keep an eye on her so she can’t do anything…” he growled, then snatched at the word the other man offered like it was a life saver, ‘Helpful. Dawn will keep her from being helpful, okay? I’ll have a car meet you at LAX.”

Shit. Why was it that every single Slayer he ran into always made his life more difficult? It was like… their calling. Their other calling, he amended.

He disconnected the call as the steady buzz of an empty line reached him, then hit the intercom button. “Find Dawn for me. I need to see her ASAP.”

He groaned silently. “No, Harmony. Not her ass. Just… find her.”

* * * * *

It was the sensation of being watched yet again that distracted Xander for just long enough to catch one pale fist on his jaw. “Ungh…”

“Bloody… sorry, luv,” the blond frowned, moving closer to rub the reddening spot. He pressed a slow kiss to the skin and pulled back, frowning again. “What happened, pet? You’re usually faster than that.”

Xander frowned, eyes scanning the room. “I… nothing, baby. Should have zagged, I guess.”

If Spike hadn’t been a vampire, Xander would have told him about the being watched feeling, but as it was… his love’s senses were sharper than his own and if Spike didn’t notice, then there wasn’t anyone there, and that meant…

What? That he was going crazy from being cooped up in the office building? Maybe. Hell, he hoped that was all it was, because otherwise… maybe he was finally having some sort of bizarre reaction to the animal spirit he’d bonded with. And if that was the case, then there was nothing he could do other than keep going nuts until he lost himself in whatever paranoid delusion was taking him over, and…

“Have ta be more careful, Xan,” Spike murmured, hands finding his bloke’s waist and tugging at the top of his jeans. “Don’t want ta hurt ya, do I? Ya know,” he chuckled wickedly, “not unless ya ask all nice an’ such…”

Green-tinged brown eyes closed and Xander nodded, taking a deep breath and swirling the scent-taste of his vampire through his mouth. “Yeah. I know, Spike. I… can we go back to your room now? I’m kinda… tired.”

Spike frowned, leaning into his love’s warmth. “If that’s what ya want, luv, that’s what we’ll do, yah? But ya know I can tell when you’re lyin’ ta me, right?” He nipped softly at soft, tanned skin. “You’re not tired, pet… I can tell. So what say we do what ya said an’ once we’re all settled in an’ comfy-like, ya tell me what’s botherin’ ya, hmmm?”

He almost refused; almost tried to play dumb, but… his head jerked up, nostrils flaring as he somehow heard-felt-tasted movement nearby. “Something’s here,” he barely breathed, so softly he hoped only his vampire would be able to hear him. Then he lowered his eyes and nodded slowly. “Y-yeah… okay, baby, but there’s nothing wrong. Really. I just want to get you in bed again,” he said louder, suddenly convinced that he not only wasn’t going insane, but that someone was trying to make him think he was.

One brow arched and Spike pulled his bloke harder against him. “So by ‘tired’, ya mean ‘horny’, then. Got it,” he purred for the benefit of whatever was there. He couldn’t feel anything himself, but if Xander said there was, then he was bloody sure his love was right. “Guess we’d best be off ta… nap, pet. An’ ‘nap’ is a metaphor for ‘fuck’ in this case, yah?”

And that actually wasn’t a bad idea. He and his vampire could talk… later, Xander figured. “Got a whole heap of tired going on, baby,” he said with a small grin. “Might have to… nap… more than once.”

* * * * *

Dawn rolled her eyes yet again as she walked into Angel’s office.

“Okay, I know she was never the sharpest pencil in the Sunnydale box, but what the hell is wrong with Harmony?” she demanded, “And why did she keep asking me if I wanted to borrow a coat? Is that some sort of weird vampire thing or is it just a weird Harmony thing, because I’m thinking it could go either way.”

Angel sighed and shook his head. “Let’s just say her grasp of acronyms is shaky at best, Dawn. Look, I need you to do something for me.”

One sculpted brow rose and slender arms crossed resistantly. “Uh-huh. And asking is out of the question… why, exactly? Because that tone? So not making me want to do anything for you, Angel.”

Gods, those Summers women were the bane of his existence, even if he had loved Buffy to distraction.

“Fine,” he gritted out, trying to sound pleasant, “Would you please do something for me, Dawn?”

The girl cocked her head and gave him a considering gaze before finally speaking. “Maybe. It depends on what it is.” She carefully hid her grin under the peevish expression she wore. “Well?”

Dawn blinked, then groaned as Angel repeated what Giles had told him. She nodded sharply, a determined yet concerned expression on her face. “Got it. Find Fran. Stop her from being a huge idiot. No problem… I hope.”

“What do you mean ‘hope’? Dawn…?” Unfortunately, by then Angel was talking to an empty office.

* * * * *

“What is this place?” Fran asked softly, staring at the seemingly endless expanse of bright white.

“It was once the housing area for the conduit. It is no longer such, as that entity has departed. However, it remains as a place difficult to find, in which you are unlikely to be disturbed.”

Dark hair swayed slightly as Fran cocked her head. “I think you may be right. This will do.” She nodded sharply. “The ritual must begin at precisely midnight. I’ll need the Amphora of Descent here before that.” She carefully avoided thinking about what would happen once she had it. She was willing, not stupid, after all.

Illyria’s head jerked quickly, down then up. “It will be as you say. And when you have expired, I will watch over the Old One.”

“And that’s a bloody load off,” Fran muttered, although she had a feeling Dawn would be less than pleased. The older girl was still somewhat bothered by the blue-tinged creature, after all. “Well. Bring the Amphora here by eleven, then. I… have a few letters to write.”

The one-time God followed the young Slayer to the elevator, frowning at the small bits of Fred within that insisted upon respecting the girl’s decision and bravery. Humans were not brave. It was… inconceivable. Even her pet’s companion had been easily made fearful, and simply by watching him without being seen.

Yes, human bravery was not possible. That much was clear, regardless of the shell’s actions when it had known itself to be dying.

* * * * *

“Cold,” Xander moaned, rocking even more slowly into his vampire’s perfect ass. “Not good… or bad… fuck, baby, so tight… just c-c-coldness…”

One pale hand stroked up his love’s tanned chest and over the top of his shoulder, finding the nape of Xan’s neck and dragging his lips down to his own. “Mmmm… what else… d-did th’ l-look feel like, l-luv…?” he groaned against heated fullness, his crossed ankles pulling his bloke that little bit deeper.

“Gods… can we t-talk ab-bout this later, S-spike…? You feel ssssso…” Xander gasped when the soft laughter suddenly coming from his vamp had that amazing channel rippling around his slow thrusts.

“You’re th’ one what started talkin’ bef-fore we were through, pet… y-yeah, right there, luv… just like that…”

He rolled his hips again, pulling another whimper from the blond. “L-later, th-then…” His lips returned to the cooler ones, tongue pressing deep and writhing slowly with its counterpart as one hand left the top of the desk, finding and pinching roughly at one small, pink nipple. He swallowed the sharp cry the action earned, his hips moving faster, harder, as Spike’s anus flexed again. “G-godsssss…”

Bloody hell, finally! He liked a slow, sweet fuck as much as the next bloke, but they’d done that once already since they’d gotten back to their rooms, and he was still a demon, after all. “Harder,” he growled into his primal’s mouth, his legs pulling that thick, stabbing shaft even deeper.

Oh, ‘theirs’ was going to get exactly what he’d asked for, the hyena cackled in the back of Xander’s mind, quickly rolling the human sensibilities and rising above them. “Yesssssss… Ssssssspike…” he hissed, even as the hand braced on the desk slid quickly under the bowing, heaving spine and raised the blond’s body. He pulled back fully, heated cock suddenly cold in the still air of the living room and a twisted smirk crossed his lips as he slammed back inside, penetrating their lover anew.

“B-bloody… fuck!” the vampire gasped out on a snarl, eyes flashing gold as the rough piercing filled him almost to breaking. “Do that a-g-gain!” His legs released Xander’s solid waist, rising to press against the bloke’s ribs as his love obeyed, taking the motion a step further and into repetitive as long, keening cries flew from Spike’s lips.

The way Spike’s stretched but still tight little hole opened for him with each intruding stab was amazing, and the small tinge of blood in the air made it that much better. Fingers dug deeply, roughly, into the blond’s flexing back and Xander felt the beast howling pure pleasure within him and Gods help him but he couldn’t—wouldn’t—keep that sound inside. He forced himself deep again, reveling in the desperate clench around his sensitive flesh and opened his lips wide, the thick, rich, wanton sound flying from him happily.

One more… just one more fast, harsh thrust scraping along his prostate and he’d be gone. His pet didn’t even have to touch him; his cock was going to explode anyway. “X-xander!” Spike growled, hands rough on his bloke’s arms, “Now, pet! Need ta…” His head fell back, his own echoing shout of completion leaving him as his ready shaft pulsed and spilled copious spurts of cool spunk onto his stomach and chest, even as he felt that amazing liquid heat filling him and he cried out again when hard, blunt teeth jabbed deep into his neck, breaking skin.

It was no surprise to Xander that he found sharp, jagged fangs deep in his own flesh a bare moment later. Nor was he shocked to feel himself swell and pulse again, filling Spike to overflowing as the vampire’s cock spewed once more, as well. “Beloved,” he whispered against blood-smeared skin, the word muffled by his tongue as it delved gently into the wound.

If Spike had been willing to pull away from the wonderful fount of purely wild, wicked blood, the word he’d have whispered would have been ‘yours’. But as he wasn’t willing, he’d hold the thought for later.

* * * * *

The fact that Dawn had been attached to her like a barnacle for hours was definitely getting on Fran’s nerves, not to mention the fact that if she didn’t manage to ditch the young woman, she would miss her window of opportunity.

Of course, if she missed her chance that night, there was always the next, but… she just wanted it done already! There was no possibility that she’d change her mind, of course, but at some point a girl had to say ‘enough’, Fran figured, and this was that time for her. She was tired of waiting, tired of knowing what was going to happen to her. It was time to get it done.

With that thought in mind, she gave Dawn a grin and stood. “Drink? I’m fairly certain that I saw some diet something-or-other in the fridge…”

One brow arched and Dawn gave the Slayer a suspicious gaze then nodded. Fran would have to come back out of the kitchen, after all, so it wasn’t like she’d lose her. “Cool. Oh, hey! See if there’s any more of those chips, okay?”

The younger girl laughed. “You know, with the way you eat? You should be as big as a house!”

Dawn shrugged. “Good metabolism, I guess.” She grinned. “Hurry up. I’m hungry, here.”

And she was likely to be even more hungry soon, Fran knew, because Dawn apparently hadn’t noticed that there was a second door in the kitchen. One which hopefully led to somewhere the girl couldn’t see. Otherwise… well, she didn’t want to do it, but worst case, she could always knock her friend out.

“Right, then. Drinks and crisps. I’m on it.”

* * * * *

“Bloody foolish girl!” Giles was still muttering, even as he landed at LAX. “Bloody stupid plan! The Ritual of Cardosa? She has to know it will kill her!”

He stalked quickly through the security station, and thankfully customs wasn’t an issue. He’d dodged that quite handily, simply by the fact that the plane had landed to refuel in Washington, DC. As far as the Los Angeles officials knew, he’d been through customs already, and frankly, he didn’t think too highly of the so-called tightened security measures, but he wasn’t going to call attention to it.

“I’ll bloody well kill her myself…” Of course, the last thing he’d ever admit was that killing the girl was truly the last thing on his mind. Then again, he’d also never admit to what he did want to do to her, either.

“Let’s go,” he snapped to the dark-suited man holding the sign bearing his name. “I’m in a hurry.”

“Isn’t everyone,” the driver grumbled, even as he got the VIP into the car and took off into the night.

* * * * *

tbc...