Spike the. . . Cuddly???

It was three hours later that doctor Briant emerged from the small examining/operating room. Three tense and keenly felt hours for the three of them who hadn't passed out from exhaustion. They were painfully aware that if Tara's suspicion proved correct, then they were waiting on the fate of a man they had all come to view as family (no matter how distant). Briant smiled sadly at Xander's slumped form, unaware of the additional drama playing out in his small office. "You should wake him up." He told them in a quiet voice.

"What happened?" Willow's hand tightened over Tara's, "Is Spike. . ."

"He's okay for now."

They all relaxed and Willow shook her friend gently. "Xan. Xander, wake up." He moved a bit and settled back into sleep. "Xander. Spike's . . ."

The rumpled boy was instantly awake and on his feet, "What? Where is he?! Is he okay?!"

The vet smiled, offering reassurance. "He's fine. There's still a chance of infection though. There was a lot of bleeding, some broken bones in one leg, and multiple cuts and abrasions. He went into shock once because of the blood loss, that's one of the reasons it took so long, but for now he's in the clear and resting peacefully. That's one strong little kitten."

"Yeah." Xander's relief was as heavy as his pride in the little one.

"Do you want to see him? He'll have to stay here overnight so that I can observe him and stop and infection from spreading. Then, in the morning I'll run some blood tests and give him some more antibiotic injection once he's processed the last ones. When we get the results of the tests we can go from there." A mantra was going through the vet's mind under his reassuring words. 'please don't let it be rabies. Please don't let him have his kitten back just to have to kill it.' If he had known the 'dog' was actually a demon, he would not have been comforted in the least regardless of the fact that demons rarely carry rabies or tetanus.

"Can I stay with him?"

Doctor Briant nodded, "I thought you would want to. I can set of a cot for you in one of the back rooms okay?"

"With Spike?"

"Yes. With Spike."

"Okay."

"Come on, let's take you to your kitten."

When Xander entered the small room, he had to fight back tears of relief and sorrow both at the same time. Spike was lying in the middle of the cold metal table covered in stitches. His soft and silky fur was matted and shaved in various places and still faintly red from Xander's own blood. On the kitten's front right leg there was a hard cast It must have been from when the Fradglarn tore Spike from it's muzzle. It looked like Spike had been through Hell. But he was breathing. "Spike." Xander whispered, suddenly feeling twelve years old again.

"Come on." The vet offered. "We'll get you settle in for what's left of the night. You need to rest so you can take care of Spike when he goes home with you. I'll tell your friends that you'll be staying and ask them to come back for you tomorrow night."

He nodded and allowed himself to be led away. He was suddenly beyond exhaustion, and now that he knew Spike would be alright and now that his friends were there, he could let go and shut down.


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Spike was given a clean bill of health the following night just as Doc Briant had promised. Even back in his own apartment though, it took Xander a few days to settle down and stop jumping at shadows. It took a few days for him to settle enough to sleep without nightmares. As it was, one of the gang was always present and Spike slept always near, somewhere tucked against Xander's body. It was the only way either of them could sleep anymore.
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B pee peeked into the apartment after her classes were over for the day, "How is he?"

Willow looked up from the couch and motioned the slayer over quietly, "He's been sleeping all day. Spike's curled up in this tiny little ball on his chest. It's so cute!" She gushed. "I got pictures."

After observing the 'cute'ness for herself, Buffy's face darkened a bit. "So. . . what happened really wore him out."

"It brought back a lot of bad memories." She agreed, "And I think that the kitten has become a kind of final link to Spike in Xander's mind. At least subconsciously."

"So. . . what if it really is Spike?"

"Giles is trying to find a counter spell. . ."

"We already have one don't we? Wait a sec! We did that massive spell to bring back all of the victims at once, why didn't it work on that kitten if it's really Spike?"

"Vampires absorb magic differently. A spell for humans won't always work on them."

"Okay, so Giles finds a vamp type spell and tries it and Spike might be Spike. How will Xander react to that? How will Spike? After all the stuff they've been through during this do you think. . . Xander really loves him you know."

"I know." Willow breathed. "Xander has a habit of talking out his angst to his pets. If the kitten is Spike. . . I think Xander will have a lot of explaining to do."

"I hate to admit it, but maybe this is just what they both needed. I mean, Spike needs to have someone to take care of and to love him and Xander. . . honestly, I think Xander just needs Spike."

Willow nodded. "Me too Buffy. But will Spike see that?"

"I hope so."
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Spike stayed absolutely still until the girls finally left the apartment. He had a lot to think about. Their words echoed through his mind and mixed with Xander's secrets and tears. //They finally caught on.// He breathed out in a kittenish version of a sigh. //Won't be long now in this body.// He looked up at Xander's sleeping face at let out a small mew. //And then what?//

//What'll 'appen pet? Will you be angry at me? Embarrassed? Relieved that 'm not dust?// He licked the strong chin slightly, careful not to move his broken little body too much. //When did I start ta care anyway? Was jus' supposed ta be a place ta stay till I was me again an now. . . I never thought I'd regret the chance ta be me ol' self again.//

The once-vampire kneaded Xander's sleep shirt and mewled plaintively. //Could almost live'appily jus' like this. Jus' bein' 'ere fer 'im. Pet an' confidant. . . but i want more. I want ta be more to him. I want ta be able ta 'old 'im when 'e's cryin'. Licking is good and fine but it's more effective with arms ta 'old 'im to ya. And it's more fun with legs ta wrap round 'is waist.//

"Mmm. Spike?" The soft, whiskey brown eyes opened a bit to blink at him. "You okay? You need food or the litter or something?"

//Need me body back. Need you. Need a bloody miracle I do.// "Mew." He cuddled his face into Xander's skin and closed his eyes. //Go to sleep luv. I'm watching over you.// "Purrrrolw."

Xander laughed, "Yeah. You're my watch cat aren't you."

Spike had learned not to think to much of each moment that Xander seemed to read his kitty type mind.

"G'night Spike."

"Purr." //Night luv.//


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When Xander woke again he felt completely relaxed and rested. He reached up to carefully stroke Spike's soft fur and hummed in contentment. The Fradglarn couldn't hurt them while they were inside the warded apartment. And just as an extra precausion, Spike now sported a thick iron collar. Well, okay, not so thick and iron plated, but it would still be effective. He yawned out his last bit of sleepiness and lifted Spike into his arms. "What say we rake in some new scenery?" He grinned and moved the kitten amd himself into the living room and placed the kitten on a soft pillow before entering the kitchen area. To his surprise, he came face to face with Giles.

"G-man! What're you doing here?!"

The watcher's expression flitted between annoyance, surprise, and happiness. Finally, happiness won and he gathered his young ward into his arms. "Xander! It's good to see you up and about! Are you quite alright?"

He nodded and hugged the watcher back. "Sorry I scared all of you."

"You had better be!" He gave a mock frown, "I had to chase those girls out of this home with threats of bodily harm in order to make them sleep."

"Love you too Giles."

The Englishman was visibly flustered. "Ah. . . well. . . yes, of course."

"How long have I been out of it?"

"Two days and three nights." He quickly added, "We called your employer and he told us to make sure you rest and recouperate and he will see you back on site when you are well again."

He breathed a sigh of releif. "Great. I don't know what I would do without you man."

"Grow fat on twinkies and live to a ripe old age?"

"You take good care of us."

"yes. . . well. . ." oh look, flustered watcher again. "you are my family. It's in the contract for father figure."

He smiled and looked around the kitchen. "Were you doing a spell in here or something?" He aksed as he took in the various jars and herbs spred over the counter tops.

"Ah yes, the girls and I discovered a possible victim of the Fradglarn."

"You missed one?" Xander frowned, "I thought is was one of those 'touches all' spells."

"It was. We are not even sure if it is really a victim or if it is just a real animal, but I tried a more powerful reversal spell anyway."

"Did it work?"

"Hm?" He looked up from packing the jars away and nodded, "Oh, of course I tried, I am not yet sure if it took effect however in a moment we shall see."

"You brought the guy here?!"

Giles looked uncomfortable again. As if he was trying to break something to Xander but didn't know how. That made Xander more nervous than Giles was. "He was already here."

"Wha. . . where?! I had a human/animal living in here and didn't know it? Was the guy a mouse or something?" Even as he said it, things began to click in Xander's mind but he steadfastly ignored the truth that was itching at the back of his mind.

"Buffy has found the Fradglarn's lair, once this reversal is complete we go. go. . . ah. . . slay it."

"Why wait? Is rat boy a wizard or something?" A crash from the living room caused Xander's head to snap toward the couch where he'd left Spike. Spike wasn't there! "Spike! Giles! I thought you said nothing could get it he. . ."

"Bloody fuckin' 'ell!"

The boy froze, eyes wide and jaw slack. He walked to the back of the couch and look over it and onto the floor between the sofa and the small coffee table, where a very battered and naked Spike was snapping an iron collar off of nis neck.

"What the 'ell ya tryin' ta do watcher? Take off me 'ead?! Took ya long enough anyway. Came ta ya fer 'elp first thin' didn't I?"

"spike." Xanders voice was and octive too high.

Familiar blue eyes glanced up at his and the vamp blinked and gave an uncomfortable grin. "Uh. . . collar was a bit tight luv."

"spike." He squeaked.

"You okay pet? Ya look a bit white there. . ."

". . ." Xander nodded calmly.

"Why don't you sit doet?\et?"

The boy gave a hysterical little giggle at the word pet and promptly fainted.

"Shit."